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COIT20228 Assignment Two Term 1, 2014
1
Case Study (35%)
Length guide: maximum 3,000 words not counting the reference list.
General Information
In this assignment you will expand your thinking around the management of systems
projects by applying research and knowledge to a Hands-on MIS projects found in section
14.5 (page 446) available in the set textbook. The “Management decision problems” are
mini case studies that can act as springboards for extended study.
You will be expected to reference external material other than the textbook in order
to complete this assignment successfully. Referencing must be in Harvard format.
Plagiarism detection will be used during assessment.
The McDonalds Case Studies and questions
Suggestion: read through all four questions before starting.
McDonalds.
1. First, carefully read the case in the textbook (p.446). Next, search online for any further
information available about the case. Finally, in your own words, summarize in one
paragraph what happened. Be brief but accurate, and use correct referencing.
2. The reasons for the failure of McDonald’s Innovate project have been studied by others
over the years. For example, see
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/student/courses/tech914/summer2004/projectfailur
es/projectfailures/mcd.htm. Study the reasons given in this website and compare it to
one or two other similar websites (e.g. schools of management, universities etc), and
remember to reference the websites correctly. From these, nominate your own “top
three” reasons for the failure of the project, and explain why you think your top three are
the most significant reasons for the failure. Are there any other reasons you think apply
to the McDonald’s case, but which were not discussed in any of the websites you looked
at?
3. What impact does systems development methodologies have on the success or failure of
systems projects according to the literature (look up a few)? Consider a contemporary
approach like SCRUM – could it help in this case? In answering this question, first
briefly explain with references how SCRUM works, then how you might have applied it
to the McDonald’s project if you were the project manager. Then predict – with reasons
- whether this would or would not have made a positive difference to the project.
4. What should management have known or done at the outset to prevent the negative
outcome of the project?
You do not need to study the “Caterpillar” case that follows the Mcdonalds case.
COIT20228 Assignment Two Term 1, 2014
2
Assignment deliverable
Create a report in which you address the four Case Study Questions, using external literature
sources to support your answers. Use the template on the assessment page as the basis
for your submission.
You are required to submit your work as a single document in Microsoft Word format
(.doc or .docx).
You may use the literature you researched in Assignment One if it is appropriate for your
purpose.
Your task is to go beyond the text and explore a few of the concepts in greater depth – you
need to demonstrate that you have done this.
The use of academic literature is essential. How much literature? It is appropriateness
and quality rather than quantity that counts, however, as a rough guideline, it would be
difficult to produce a report of this kind without having read at least eight sources.
Warning: penalties are severe for plagiarism. Plagiarism includes copying the work of other
students, using purchased answers from Internet services, or un-referenced copying from any
other sources. All submitted files are processed through TurnItIn, a copy detection service.
References
All in-text citations and the reference list itself should be in Harvard format.
Hints
While there is no maximum word count for the report, try to limit it to less than 3000
words. If you can say what you need to say in less, then that is fine – don’t write for the
sake of writing.
There is no single “correct” response. You need to give a considered view or opinion and
justify your responses based on the case and supported by external literature.
You may use the course news forum to ask questions or discuss issues with classmates.
Use a formal academic style of writing. It is also important that your writing is concise and
concepts are communicated clearly.
COIT20228 Assignment Two Term 1, 2014
3
Assessment Criteria
Criteria Mark Range Mark Given
Question 1Question 1ICT Improvements
Succinct, accurate and in own words
0 - 5
Question 2Question 1ICT Improvements
Limited response that fails to address most or all of the
discussion points; external literature not used or is not
relevant to informing the response.
0 - 5
Response addresses some but not all of the discussion
points; references used
6 - 10
Thorough response to discussion points (and possibly
beyond) with good linkage to and use of external literature
11 - 20
Question 3Question 1ICT Improvements
Limited response that fails to address most or all of the
discussion points; external literature not used or is not
relevant to informing the response.
0 - 5
Response addresses some but not all of the discussion
points; references used
6 - 10
Thorough response to discussion points (and possibly
beyond) with good linkage to and use of external literature
11 - 20
Question 4Question 1ICT Improvements
Superficial response
0 - 5
Thorough response - succinct, accurate, in own words,
literature used
6 - 20
Clarity of Expression
Report is poorly written and/or concepts and ideas are not
clearly communicated
0 – 3
The report is written to an acceptable standard and ideas
and concepts are communicated effectively
3 – 7
The report is extremely well written. It is concise, yet
ideas and concepts are communicated exceptionally well
7 – 10
Referencing (Penalty Only)
Referencing (-1 per error to maximum of -10)
Note: this criteria relates to citation format or omission
errors (i.e. source appears in reference list but not cited or
not cited correctly). Plagiarism (unreferenced/copied)
material will result in a referral to the office of Learning
and Teaching for action. Severe penalties apply should
plagiarism be proven.
TOTAL 0 - 70
Total marks will be expressed out of 35*
*for example, scoring 60/70 would be expressed as 30/35 (mathematically equivalent)