Business Case Presentation
Value: 30%
Length: 2500
Submission method options
Alternative submission method
Task
Listen to the audio file provided carefully (download it from Resources). This audio file will not be available till after Week 7. [This assignment has no connection from the case in Assignment 2.]
Please select one current, key IT/business topic from the list below and prepare a comprehensive management briefing in how you will be able to expand the company's operations in the following areas:
- Crowdfunding
- Rapid Prototyping (eg. 3D Printing)
- The Internet of Things
Part 1 - Provide an overview of the topic selected; identify its strategic importance to the organisation and/or to industry; discuss the opportunities and benefits it can bring to the organisation and/or industry; and give a considered overview of the issues and potential problems associated with its use. You should also include any other factors that you believe are relevant to your management report on the topic.
Part 2 - Recommend a broad implementation plan for the introduction and implementation of the selected key IT/business topic within your selected organisation.
The overall aim of the report is to bring your management audience completely up-to-date in all aspects of your selected key IT/business topic. Case study examples of how other organisations have used the selected topic/technology should be a helpful part of your report. Your recommended implementation plan should be a high-level management plan for the organisation, not a detailed project plan. [Financials and technical specifications are not required.]
Rationale
This report relates to this subject’s third and fourth learning objectives:
Be able to critically analyse and select appropriate innovative information technologies that can be used to strategically transform organisations.
Be able to critically evaluate an organisation's strategic IT management processes; and create procedural knowledge documentation for continued improvement recommendations
Marking criteria
Criteria HD & DI (75-100%) CR (65-74%) PS(50-64%) FL ( 49%)
Evidence and depth of research: 20% Extensive reading of more than 11 appropriate and relevant journal titles. Newspaper and magazine reports limited to a maximum of 2. At least 8-10 appropriate and relevant titles read. Newspaper and magazine reports limited to a maximum of 2. At least 6-8 appropriate and relevant titles read. Newspaper and magazine reports limited to a maximum of 2. Less than 6-8 appropriate and relevant titles read.
Relevance of content: 20% Detailed analysis of the likely causes of all of the problems experienced by the project. Preventive, relevant frameworks and/or concepts identified for all problems. Detailed analysis of the likely causes of most of the problems experienced by the project. Preventive frameworks and/or concepts identified for most problems.
Satisfactory analysis of the likely causes of some of the project’s problems. Some relevant, preventive frameworks and/or concepts identified.
Unsatisfactory analysis of the likely causes of the project’s problems. Preventive frameworks and/or concepts are not identified.
Application of concepts and principles: 20% Analysis is well supported with relevant case study examples and practical statistics. All assumptions made are clearly noted. Analysis is supported with some relevant case study examples and practical statistics. All assumptions made are noted. Analysis is supported with minimal relevant case study examples and practical statistics. Not all assumptions made are noted. Analysis is not supported with relevant case study examples and practical statistics. Assumptions made are not noted.
Clarity of Structure: 10% The report structure is clear, easy to read and logical, directly addressing the question. Suitable headers used throughout. Good use of graphics and charts. The structure of the report is clear, easy to read and logical, directly addressing the question. Suitable headers used and some use of graphics/charts. The structure of the report is clear and logical in parts. It addresses most of the question. Use of headers and charts could have been improved. The structure of the report is unclear and is not logical. It does not address the question. Use of headers and charts unsatisfactory.
Writing to the audience: 15% Minimal use of technical jargon. Terminology used is appropriate to a management team.
No spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. Minimal use of technical jargon. Terminology used is generally appropriate to a management team. Some spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors (especially mixture of US and UK/Aust English) Some use of technical jargon. Terminology used is not generally appropriate to a management team. Several spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. Too much use of technical jargon. Terminology used is not appropriate to a management team. A large number of spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors.
Correct referencing: 15% APA 6th edition referencing applied to a range (11+) of relevant resources. No referencing errors. Direct quotes used sparingly. Sources all documented. APA 6th edition referencing applied to a range (8-10) of relevant resources. No more than 2 referencing errors.
Direct quotes used sparingly. Sources all documented. APA 6th edition referencing applied to a range (6-8) of relevant resources. No more than 4 errors. Direct quotes used in-context. Sources all documented. Referencing not done to the APA 6th edition standard. Range of sources used is not appropriate and/or not documented.
Presentation
Readers of business reports expect certain information to be in certain places. They do not expect to search for what they want and the harder you make it for them the more likely they are to toss your report to one side and ignore it. So what should you do?
1. Follow the generally accepted format for a business report: Title/Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Introduction, Main Body, Recommendations, Conclusion and Reference List.
2. Organise your information within each section in a logical fashion with the reader in mind, usually putting things in order of priority - most important first.
Report Title/Table of Contents. This is simply the front cover page identifying the report and a Table of Contents page showing each key section of the report and the page number where it can be found in the report.
Executive Summary. Give a clear and very concise account of the main points, main recommendations and conclusion. Keep it very short, a few percent of the total length. Some people, especially senior managers, may not read anything else so write as if it were a stand-alone document. It isn't but for some people it might as well be. Keep it brief and free from jargon so that anyone can understand it and get the main points. Write it last, but do not copy and paste from the report itself; that rarely works well.
Introduction. This is the first part of the report proper. Use it to paint the background to 'the problem' and to show the reader why the report is important to them. Then explain how the details that follow are arranged. Write it in plain English.
Main Body. This is the heart of your report, the facts. It will probably have several sections or sub-sections each with its own subtitle. It is unique to your report and will describe what you discovered about 'the problem'. These sections are most likely to be read by experts so you can use some appropriate jargon but explain it as you introduce it. Arrange the information logically, normally putting things in order of priority -- most important first. In fact, follow that advice in every section of your report.
Recommendations. What do you suggest should be done? Don't be shy; you did the work so state your recommendations in order of priority, and in plain English. Avoid short, dot points that don't carry your thoughts well.
Conclusion. Present the logical conclusions of your investigation of 'the problem'. Bring it all together and maybe offer options for the way forward. Many people will read this section. Write it in plain English.
References. As your business report must be academically sound as well as making good business sense, it is essential that your report is supported by accurate APA 6th edition in-text referencing and the inclusion of a reference list. Although some business reports in the workplace do not require full referencing (and some students may be used to this), it is a requirement in the academic environment and in Assignment 2 (please refer marking guide). This is equitable for all students.
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