Assignment 3
Case Study Report
Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date
ASSIGNMENT 3 100.00 5th August 2016
This assignment must be your own work. It is acceptable to discuss course content with others to improve your understanding and clarify requirements, but solutions to assignment questions must be done on your own. You must not copy from anyone, including tutors and fellow students, nor allow others to copy your work. All Assignments will be checked using collusion monitoring tools to ensure that each assignment is the original work of the submitting student. Assignments that do not adhere to this requirement will be deemed as being the result of collusion or plagiarism. This may lead to severe academic penalties as outlined in USQ Policy Library: Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. It is your own responsibility to ensure the integrity of your work. Refer to the USQ Policy Library for more details:
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Academic Integrity Procedure
In completing this assignment, you are expected to use available resources such as the practical activities in the study modules, the Course Study Desk – especially the Discussion Forums (click the Study Desk link on UConnect – http://uconnect.usq.edu.au ), as well as exploring and experimenting on your own.
Applicable course objective:
• apply ethical research and inquiry skills and demonstrate an understanding of the social impact of information technology and the need for security, privacy and ethical implications in information systems usage;
• demonstrate problem-solving skills by identifying and resolving issues relating to information systems and their components, and proficiently utilise different types of information systems software (especially gaining proficiency in utilising databases, spreadsheets, and presentation applications).
• apply academic and professional literacy skills and demonstrate an understanding of the importance of and differences between information and computer literacy; the basic types of software including system software (operating systems and utilities) and applications software (proprietary, off-the-shelf software applications and cloud computing); the basic hardware components of a computer system, including system unit, storage, input and output devices and the way that they interact to form a single computing system; understanding computer-based telecommunications and networking concepts; the basic concepts surrounding databases, database management systems and understanding the need for information management; the concepts surrounding the Internet, e-commerce/e-business and supply chain activities, and business intelligence, knowledge management and other business information system tools (TPSs, ERPs, MISs, DSSs etc) widely used in organisations today; and the processes involved in information system project management;
• apply written communication skills by understanding basic information, communication and technology (ICT) terminology for effective communication and applying it within a business environment.
Applicable graduate qualities and skills gained from this assessment instrument:
• Problem Solving (Skill U2)
• Written & Oral Communication (Skill U4)
This assignment is quite complex, and exposes you to many different components in Microsoft Word 2007/2010/2013, some or all of which might be very unfamiliar to you. The assignment description provides some explanation of how to use these components, but you are also expected to use available resources such as Online Help and the course discussion forums, as well as exploring and experimenting on your own.
Submissions
Students must work and submit this male up assignment individually. Working in groups may result in academic misconduct – collusion.
Ensure that you do not re-use part or all of previous assignments, either your own or that of another student.
Referencing Requirements
References are required and the Harvard AGPS standard of referencing must be used. This standard is detailed on USQ Library Site http://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing .
Plagiarism, collusion and cheating will be severely penalised. Refer to the USQ Policy Library for more details:
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Academic Integrity Procedure
Ensure that your reports are fully referenced, including any reference to the text book. Your report should include in-text references and a List of References.
Do not repeat verbatim large slabs of information from other sources such as the text – you must put the ideas/information in your own words.
You must use at least ten (10) academically sound sources other than the textbook in completing this report.
Preamble
Dr Nikola Tesla retired in 2012 after a long career in Logistics Management. To keep busy and to fulfil a lifelong dream, Dr Tesla started a Steampunk Merchandise mail order business called the “Ye Olde Steampunk Emporium” and began selling various types of imported Steampunk merchandise such as ladies’ and gentlemen’s clothing, ladies’ and gentlemen’s boots, headwear, goggles and other assorted Steampunk related paraphernalia to customers via mail order around Australia. These types of Steampunk merchandise have become very popular, especially with the development of steampunk games (e.g. Bioshock II), steampunk graphic novels (e.g. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), and even steampunk movies (e.g. Sherlock Holmes, Hugo, the Golden Compass, Sucker Punch and the Three Musketeers) and TV shows (e.g. Warehouse 13) have brought the phenomenon into the public’s attention; and Dr Tesla’ business has experienced a rapid growth in their mail orders. When Dr Tesla first retired, the business bought a personal computer to help manage the books and finances.
Ye Olde Steampunk Emporium is located at Shop 7, 1 Edison Boulevard, Toowoomba (about 100 km west of Brisbane). Dr Tesla can be contacted via phone on (07) 4632 1856; fax on (07) 4632 1943; or email on enquiries@steampunk_emporium.com.au.
Dr Tesla is extremely impressed with our computing firm “Einstein Technologies” and the business has contracted our firm to assist them in setting up their various computer-based information systems.
Dr Nikola Tesla realises that the business has a lot to learn and that the business will need to invest considerable money to bring the business into the modern online business world, from their current single computer mail order set-up. Dr Nikola Tesla has contracted our firm to advise the business on how they can grow their mail order business into a cutting-edge online presence. The business has asked us to develop a report to provide them with information about the following topics that they see as key to their business’ growth:
• What Information Technology Strategies should the Business consider to obtain / retain competitive advantage in their marketspace?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapters 1 & 9 Section 2 – Business Information Systems / Enterprise Information Systems: SCM)
• How can the business move from mail order to being an online presence?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapters 2 & 3 – A Brave New Connected World / E-Business & Mobile Business to assist you in answering this topic)
• What would be the benefits to the business of a solid enterprise architecture?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapter 7 Section 1 - Enterprise Architecture to assist you in answering this topic)
• What would be the benefits to the business of implementing a customer relationship management system?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapter 10 Section 1 –Enterprise Information Systems: CRM to assist you in answering this topic)
• What privacy issues should the business be aware of when embarking on an online presence?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapter 11 Section 1 – Ethics & Privacy to assist you in answering this topic)
YOU ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALTZAN ET AL 3RD EDITION TEXTBOOK AS YOUR STARTING POINT TO ANSWERING ALL THE ABOVE QUESTIONS – USE OF GOOGLE SEARCH IN PLACE OF THE TEXTBOOK MAY RESULT IN LOWER OR FAILING MARKS.
www.steampunktribune.com, Karl Edwards Studios.
Mrs Ada Lovelace, your manager, has set up the following tasks for you to complete this project:
Refer to the marking criteria for details of mark allocations.
ALL PHASES IN THIS PROJECT MUST BE DEVELOPED WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND USER-FRIENDLINESS IN MIND.
Task 1: Journal (max. 500 words) 10%
Prepare a journal that records your activities and progress related to completing this assignment. In date order, clearly list the following:
• Date of research activity/discussion
• Full description of research activity / discussion (at least 25 words)
• List of all appropriate web sites visited to collect information; other references accessed (using Harvard AGPS Referencing style – submitted separate to the List of References in Task 2).
• Time duration of the activity
Submit this journal as an appendix to Task 2 (after the List of References and include in the Table of Contents).
Any references to web pages and online documents, such as white papers, should be listed at the end of the journal.
Task 2: Case study (max. 4,500 words) 90%
Report Structure and Presentation 5%
Your report should include a professional title page, computer generated Table of Contents (including List of Tables and List of Figures) and Appendices.
Note: Make sure to state the names of all students involved in the report on the title page.
Report Letter of Transmittal, Executive Summary and Introduction 5%
Your report should include a letter of transmittal, executive summary, and introduction to the report.
Report Section 1 – Business Strategy 10%
What Information Technology Strategies should the Business consider to obtain / retain competitive advantage in their marketspace?
• Using Porter’s Five Forces Model, discuss how each of the five forces relates to Dr Nikola Tesla’s business.
• What should be the business’s focus? Discuss the business’s focus in relation to Porter’s Three Generic Strategies.
• What are the benefits to the business of Supply Chain Management and the types of metrics should the business be using to measure the performance of their Supply Chain Management.
• Discuss what are the Upstream and Downstream steps involved in the business’s Supply Chain Management.
o Include a diagram of the business’s current Supply Chain based on the information you have from Assignment 1, 2 and 3.
(Use Baltzan et al Chapters 1 & 9 Section 2 – Business Information Systems / Enterprise Information Systems: SCM)
Report Section 2 - E-Business and Mobile Business 10%
How can the business move from mail order to being an online presence?
• What are the benefits and challenges that the business should be aware of before becoming an e-business?
• What are the characteristics of Web / Business 2.0? How should the business address these characteristics when setting themselves up as an e-business?
• Which type(s) of e-business model(s) should the business be considering implementing? Why?
• What type of e-commerce tools should the business consider utilising to connect and communicate with their customers? Why?
• What tools should the business use to measure their e-business success?
• Should the business also consider implementing m-business? What are the benefits and challenges Dr Nikola Tesla will need to be aware of?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapters 2 & 3 – A Brave New Connected World / E-Business & Mobile Business to assist you in answering this topic)
Report Section 3 - Enterprise Architecture 10%
What are the benefits to the business of a solid enterprise architecture?
• How should the business maintain and secure its information architecture to support its business operations? Propose the steps that the business should follow.
• Before Dr Nikola Tesla acquires the hardware, software and networking infrastructure proposed in part 2, outline the seven (7) primary characteristics of a solid infrastructure architecture he should be aware of and how they may impact on the business.
• Cloud computing offers an alternative to some of the infrastructure architecture proposed in part 2.
o How could cloud computing be utilised to reduce the acquisition costs for the hardware, software and networking infrastructure to the business?
o What would be the benefits and challenges of these emerging cloud services to the Dr Nikola Tesla’s business?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapter 7 Section 1 - Enterprise Architecture to assist you in answering this topic)
Report Section 4 - Customer Relationship Management 10%
What would be the benefits to the business of implementing a customer relationship management system?
• How could the business support its customer facing day-to-day operations through the use of an operational customer relationship management system for marketing?
• How could the business support its customer facing day-to-day operations through the use of an operational customer relationship management system for sales?
• How could the business support its customer facing day-to-day operations through the use of an operational customer relationship management system for customer service?
• In what different ways could Dr Nikola Tesla use metrics from the business’s customer relationship management systems to track and monitor performance for sales, service and marketing.
(Use Baltzan et al Chapter 10 Section 1 –Enterprise Information Systems: CRM to assist you in answering this topic)
Report Section 5 - Privacy 10%
What privacy issues should the business be aware of when embarking on an online presence?
• What Australian laws should Dr Nikola Tesla be aware of regarding privacy? How do these laws affect how the business collects and uses information collected from its customers?
• How should the business communicate its commitment to the privacy of customers? Provide two (2) examples of how similar businesses achieve this communication of commitment of customer privacy.
• As the business’s potential client base is international, what other global information privacy issues should Dr Nikola Tesla be aware of?
(Use Baltzan et al Chapter 11 Section 1 – Ethics & Privacy to assist you in answering this topic)
Report: Conclusions and Recommendations to the Business 10%
Your report should include separate conclusions and recommendations sections.
• Conclusions provide a summary of your key findings from the body of the report.
• Recommendations provide a summary of the recommendations to the business based on the research conducted in the report.
Report: Referencing and Appropriateness of Sources 20%
References are required and the Harvard AGPS standard of referencing must be used. This standard is detailed on USQ Library Site http://www.usq.edu.au/library/referencing .
Ensure that your reports are fully referenced, including any reference to the text book. Your report should include in-text references and a List of References.
Do not repeat verbatim large slabs of information from other sources such as the text – you must put the ideas/information in your own words.
You must use at least ten (10) academically sound sources other than the textbook in completing this report.
YOU ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALTZAN ET AL 3RD EDITION TEXTBOOK AS YOUR STARTING POINT TO ANSWERING ALL THE ABOVE QUESTIONS – USE OF GOOGLE SEARCH IN PLACE OF THE TEXTBOOK MAY RESULT IN LOWER OR FAILING MARKS.
Note: the word count does not include letter of transmittal, executive summary, references or appendices.
Submission Guidelines
Attach the Word 2007/2010/2013 files using the naming convention below, to your online assignment submission in the Assignment 1 area on the CIS5100 StudyDesk before midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on the day the assignment is due.
1. [student lastname] / [initial] _ [student number] _ [student number] _ [course code] _ MakeupAssign.docx
(eg. GenrichR_0050051005_cis5100_MakeupAssign.docx).
Note: Simply changing the file extension to .docx on a Word 2003 file will not result in a suitable submission. If the assignment files cannot be opened by the marker, it may be treated as late until a suitable replacement is received.
Upon completion of the submission process, check your uConnect email account for an automatically generated confirmation email (if you do not have an email account, print out the Submission Complete screen before exiting the Submission System). You must check that the file name and file size are listed correctly - if there is a problem with either, please email the course leader immediately.
If you have difficulties submitting through the StudyDesk Assignments submission tool, please review the Student Instructions document listed also on the CIS5100 StudyDesk. As a last resort only, email the course leader for instructions on an alternative course of action.
Please note that:
• The following is the USQ Assessment – Assignment (Late Submission) and Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances procedure that relate to Extensions and Late Assignments. They can be found under the following links:
? Assessment – Assignment (Late Submission) Procedure: http://policy.usq.edu.au/documents.php?id=14749PL#4.2_Assignments
? Assessment of Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances Procedures: http://policy.usq.edu.au/documents.php?id=131150PL
• Students seeking extensions for any Assignment work must provide appropriate documentation to support their request before the due date of the assignment (see points 4.3 and 4.4 in the Assessment of Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances Procedures above to see what is considered as Compassionate and Compelling reason for an extension and the level of documentation that will be needed).
• An Assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension of time will be penalised. The penalty for late submission is a reduction by five percent (5%) of the maximum Mark applicable for the Assignment, for each University Business Day or part Business Day that the Assignment is late. An Assignment submitted more than ten (10) University Business Days after the due date will have a Mark of zero recorded for that Assignment.
? The StudyDesk Assignments submission tool will accept late assignments up until 23:55pm on the 10th University Business Day after the due date.
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