Ashford INF 620 Week 3 Assignment

Cogent Communications

Read the Real World Case 3, Cogent Communications, Intel, and Others: Mergers Go More Smoothly When Your Data Are Ready (pp. 213-214). 

In a three- to five-page paper (not including the title page and reference pages), respond to the following:

1. Place yourself in the role of a manager at a company undergoing a merger or acquisition. Explain your customer’s expectations during the merger with at least three examples and describe what role IT would play in meeting those expectations.
2. Focus on what Andi Mann in the case calls “tribal knowledge.” Explain what you think is meant by that, and why it is important to the process. Provide at least one strategy you would suggest for companies that are faced with the extensive presence of this issue in an acquired organization.
3. Most of the discussion on the case focused on hardware and software issues. However, these are essentially enablers for underlying business processes developed by each of the companies involved. Analyze the different alternatives that companies have for merging their business processes, and discuss the role IT would play in supporting those activities. Be sure to address data management and governance issues.

Your paper must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center, and it must include citations and references for the text and at least two scholarly sources.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Reference:

O’Brien, J.A. & Marakas, G.M. (2011). Management Information Systems (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Grading Rubric

Total Possible Score: 8.00

Explains Customers' Expectations During the Merger With at Least Three Examples and Describes What Role IT Would Play in Meeting Those Expectations

Total: 2.50

Distinguished - Offers an in-depth explanation of the expectations of the customer during the merger with at least three relevant examples. Clearly describes the role IT would play in meeting those expectations.

Proficient - Offers an explanation of the expectations of the customer during the merger with least three examples and describes the role IT would play in meeting those expectations. The explanation or description is slightly underdeveloped, or one of the examples is irrelevant.

Basic - Offers a limited explanation of the expectations of the customer during the merger with at least three examples and partially describes the role IT would play in meeting those expectations. The explanation or description is underdeveloped, and at least one example is irrelevant.

Below Expectations - Attempts to offer an explanation of the expectations of the customer during the merger with at least three examples and describe the role IT would play in meeting those expectations; however, the explanation and description are significantly underdeveloped, and the examples are irrelevant.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the expectations of the customer during the merger with at least three examples and description of the role IT would play in meeting those expectations are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Explains What is Meant by Tribal Knowledge and Why It is Important to the Process, and Suggests at Least One Strategy for Companies that are Faced With the Extensive Presence of Tribal Knowledge

Total: 1.50

Distinguished - Clearly and fully explains what is meant by tribal knowledge and why it is important to the process, and suggests at least one relevant strategy for companies faced with an extensive presence of tribal knowledge.

Proficient - Explains what is meant by tribal knowledge and why it is important to the process, and suggests at least one relevant strategy for companies faced with an extensive presence of tribal knowledge. Minor details are missing or unclear.

Basic - Somewhat explains what is meant by tribal knowledge and why it is important to the process, and suggests at least one limited strategy for companies faced with an extensive presence of tribal knowledge. Relevant details are missing or unclear or the strategy is irrelevant.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain what is meant by tribal knowledge and why it is important to the process, and suggest at least one strategy for companies faced with an extensive presence of tribal knowledge; however, significant details are missing or unclear.

Non-Performance - The explanation of tribal knowledge and why it is important to the process and the suggestion of at least one strategy for companies that are faced with the extensive presence of tribal knowledge are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Analyzes the Different Alternatives That Companies Have for Merging Business Processes and Discusses the Role IT Would Play in Supporting Those Activities

Total: 2.00

Distinguished - Thoroughly analyzes the different alternatives for merging business processes and comprehensively discusses the role IT would play in supporting those activities by completely addressing any data management and governance issues.

Proficient - Analyzes the different alternatives for merging business processes and discusses the role IT would play in supporting those activities by addressing any data management and governance issues. The analysis or discussion is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Partially analyzes the different alternatives for merging business processes and discusses the role IT would play in supporting those activities by somewhat addressing any data management and governance issues. The analysis or discussion is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze alternatives for merging business processes and discuss the role IT would play in supporting those activities; however, data management and government issues are minimally addressed, and the analysis and the discussion are significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The analysis of the different alternatives and discussion of the role IT would play in supporting those activities are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Critical Thinking: Explanation of Issues

Total: 0.40

Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient - Clearly explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic - Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations - Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Critical Thinking: Conclusions and Related Outcomes

Total: 0.40

Distinguished - Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and clearly reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Proficient - Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Basic - Conclusions and related outcomes are identified and minimally reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Below Expectations - Conclusions and related outcomes are not logical or reflective of student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Content Development

Total: 0.40

Distinguished - Uses appropriate, pertinent, and persuasive content to discover and develop sophisticated ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Proficient - Uses appropriate and pertinent content to discover ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Basic - Uses appropriate and pertinent content, but does not apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall, content assists in shaping the written work.

Below Expectations - Uses content, though it may be unrelated or inappropriate to the topic. Content does not contribute toward the development of the written work, and may distract the reader from its purpose.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics

Total: 0.20

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

APA Formatting

Total: 0.20

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic - Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements.

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Page Requirement

Total: 0.20

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Resource Requirement

Total: 0.20

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.