Tasks
There are ten (10) tasks, one for each week: the tasks are detailed below. There is a table to complete for each task. Please fill in the information required. An example of a completed task is below. Note the first response (resource 1) is good – so aim for something like this. The second response (resource 2) is not acceptable, so if you submit anything like it, you won’t pass the assignment!The reasons? Poor resource selection (Wikipedia), no Harvard reference and a block cut and paste from the site (no citation, no original content).
Example
Task Find two resources that explain aspects of IT Service Management.
Resource 1
(Good Response) Title and Reference:
COBIT versus ITIL
IBARAKI, S. 2014. COBIT versus ITIL [Online]. Available: http://blogs.technet.com/b/cdnitmanagers/archive/2014/04/06/cobit-versus-itil.aspx [Accessed 29/01/2015 2014].
Summary:
This resource is a blog entry discussing the differences between CoBIT and ITIL. I chose this resource as there is a lot of confusion about the way in which ITSM is applied and the distinction between the CoBIT and ITIL implementations is frequently unclear. Ibaraki explains that CoBIT provides the governance and metric structures while ITIL delivers on the actual mechanics and “how-to” processes. The author makes an interesting observation that it is wrong to simplify COBIT as providing the ‘why’ and ITIL providing the ‘how’ because both ITSM mechanisms have considerable overlap and both need to be used at the same time. I found this article very useful in explaining the differences and similarities between these two aspects of ITSM.
Resource 2
(Bad Response)
Title and Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IT_service_management
Summary:
This pages talks about ITSM.It says that IT service management (ITSM) refers to the entirety of activities – directed by policies, organized and structured in processes and supporting procedures – that are performed by an organization or part of an organization to plan, deliver, operate and control IT services offered to customers. It is thus concerned with the implementation of quality IT services that meet the needs of customers, and is performed by the IT service provider through an appropriate mix of people, process and information technology.
Week 7
Task Internet-based collaboration products (software/environments) are critical to productivity in most modern organisations. Collect and summarise two resources that discuss examples of these products. The resources must not be about the same product.
Resource 1 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here
Resource 2 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here
Week 8
Task “Big Data” is regarded by some as the challenge of the decade. Collect and summarise two resources that discuss technologies that can be used to store, manage or analyse Big Data sets. The resources must not be about the same product or technology.
Resource 1 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here
Resource 2 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here

Week 9
Task Outsourcing of “off-shoring” and organisation’s IT function, particularly the development and operation of its major Information Systems, is a contentious decision. Collect and summarise two resources that discuss the pros and cons (benefits and risks) of outsourcing. One resource must be about the “positives” and one must be about the “negatives”.
Resource 1 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here
Resource 2 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here
Week 10
Task The text discusses three dimensions of project risk: project size, project structure and experience with technology. Collect and summarise two resources that exemplify the result of not managing these risks successfully (i.e. resources that discuss projects that have failed because of one of these risks). The resources must not be about the same risk.
Resource 1 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here
Resource 2 Title and Reference:
Provide the Title of the resource and full Harvard reference here. This should include the URL of the resource
Summary:
Provide a summary of no more than 150 words discussing what the resource is about and why it is relevant to the task here