Strategic Use of Technology

  

Stage 2: Strategic Use of Technology

Before you begin work on this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study and reviewed the feedback received on your Stage 1 assignment. Refer to the Business Analysis and System Recommendations (BA&SR) Table of Contents below to see where you are in the process of developing this report.

Overview

As the business analyst in the CIO's department of Chesapeake IT Consulting (CIC), your next step in working towards an IT solution to improve the hiring process at CIC is to explain, in general, how CIC can use IT for strategic purposes.

  

Business   Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents

 

 

I. Background and   Organizational Analysis (Stage 1)

 

A. Introduction 

 

B. Organizational Strategy

 

C. Components of an Information System

 

1. People and Technology

 

2. Processes

 

3. Data/Information

 

II. Strategic Use   of Technology (Stage 2)

 

A. Decision Making

 

B. Communication 

 

C. Collaboration 

 

D. Relationships

 

E. Structure

 

F. Competitive Advantage 

 

III. Strategic and   Operational Outcomes (Stage 3) 

 

A. Strategic Outcomes

 

B. Process Analysis

 

C. Requirements

 

IV. System   Recommendation (Stage 4)

 

A. Benefits of an Enterprise Solution

 

B. Proposed IT solution

 

C. How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements

 

D. Implementation Steps

 

E. Conclusion

Assignment

The first stepis to incorporate the feedback you received on your Stage 1 assignment, making any needed corrections or adjustments. For this assignment, you willaddSection II of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR)and identify and explain how the organization in the case study can use technology for strategic purposes in the areas listed below.This analysis lays the ground work for Section III – Strategic and Operational Outcomes of the BA&SR (Stage 3 assignment) which will explain how technology can be used to support the strategic outcomes of the organization.

Using the case study, assignment instructions, Course Content readings, and external resources, develop your Section II on Strategic Use of Technology.  Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information

As you review the case study, including the description of CIC as well as the "interviews" that are documented, list opportunities for CIC to use technology for strategic purposes in the areas of: decision making, communication, collaboration, relationships, structure, and competitive advantage. Keep in mind, these are to be aligned to the business strategy and the organizational goals; the uses described in this section should not be just automating manual processes. Begin with Section I (the Stage 1 assignment), making changes based on feedback you received and add Section II. Note: In addition to the criteria for Stage 2, as indicated in the grading rubric, the incorporation of improvements based on substantive feedback (more significant problems with content) from the previous stage will also be evaluated. 

Apply specific information from the case study to address each area listed below.

II. Strategic Use of Technology 

A. Decision-Making - In the Information Systems course module (included in the Week 4 Learning Resources), you were introduced to the information requirements of various levels of the organization. First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section. Then, for each of the processes listed below, complete the table with the appropriate level) and an example of a decision supported by the Hiring System to be made at that level. (Provide an introductory sentence then copy the table and insert information within.)

  

Role

Level

Example   of Possible Decision Supported by Hiring System. 

 

Senior/Executive Managers

(Decisions made by the CEO and the CFO at CIC supported by the   hiring system.)

 

Middle Managers

(Decisions made by the Director of HR and the Manager of   Recruiting supported by the hiring system.)

 

Operational Managers

(Decisions made by the line managers in the organization who are   hiring for their projects supported by the hiring system.)

B. Communication - Explain how a hiring system would improve internal and external communications. (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences) 

C. Collaboration- Explain how a hiring system would improve collaboration internally within CIC. (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences) 

D. Relationships - Explain how implementing an enterprise hiring system would foster stronger relationships with applicants/potential employees.  (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences) 

E. Structure - Explain how a system would improve the CIC hiring process by providing a consistent structure for each participant to perform his/her part in the hiring process. (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences) 

F. Competitive Advantage - Explain how and why CIC can use the new hiring system to increase its competitive advantage. Your explanation should demonstrate your understanding of what competitive advantage is as well as how improving the hiring process will help achieve CIC’s competitive advantage. Include how CIC can use the type of data/information that will be in the hiring system for strategic advantage. (Paragraph of 4-5 sentences) 

Formatting Your Assignment

For academic writing, the writer is expected to write in the third person. In third person, the writer avoids the pronouns I, we, my, and ours. The third person is used to make the writing more objective by taking the individual, the “self,” out of the writing. This method is very helpful for academic writing, a form in which facts, not opinion, drive the tone of the text. Writing in the third person allows the writer to come across as unbiased and thus more informed.

· Include Section I, revised according to any feedback received and add to it Section II.

· Write a short concise paper: Use the recommendations provided in each area for length of response. Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced. It’s important to value quality over quantity. Section II should not exceed 4 pages. 

· Ensure that each of the tables is preceded by an introductory sentence that explains what is contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.

· Use at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference.  Use at least one external reference and one from the course content. 

· Compare your work to the Grading Rubric below to be sure you have met content and quality criteria. 

· Submit your paper as a Word document, or a document that can be read in Word. 

· Your submission should include your last name first in the filename: Lastname_firstname_Stage_2

GRADING RUBRIC:

  

Criteria

90-100%

Far   Above Standards

80-89%

Above   Standards

70-79%

Meets   Standards

60-69%

Below   Standards

< 60%

Well   Below Standards

Possible   Points

 

Decision- Making

Types of decisions supported by the system   for each of the three levels of the organization

11-12 Points

Identified   correctly and fully, clearly and logically explained; are derived from the   Case Study; and demonstrate sophisticated analysis and writing.

9-10 Points

Identified   correctly and clearly and logically explained; are derived from the Case   Study; and demonstrate analysis and effective writing.

8 Points

Identified   correctly and explained; and are derived from the Case Study.

7 Points

Not all   provided; and/or are not correct and/or not derived from the Case Study.

0-6 Points

Very   incomplete or missing.

12

 

Communication

Selection   of a technology to support communication and explanation of how the system   will support the organization's strategy.

11-12 Points

Clear,   logical and fully supported using a sophisticated level of writing.

9-10 Points

Identified   correctly and clearly and logically explained, and demonstrates analysis and   effective writing.

8 Points

Identified   correctly and explained.

7 Points

Not   provided and/or not clear, logical and/or supported. 

0-6 Points

Not   included or demonstrate little effort.

12

 

Collaboration

Explanation   of how the system will support the organization’s internal collaboration

11-12   Points

Explanation is clear, logical and   fully supported using a sophisticated level of writing.

9-10   Points

Explanation is logically explained,   and demonstrates analysis and effective writing.

8   Points

Explanation is provided and related   to the Case Study.

7   Points

Explanation is not clear, logical   and/or supported.

0-6   Points

Explanation is not covered, or   little effort is demonstrated.

12

 

Relationships

The   explanation of how the system would foster stronger relationships with   potential employees

11-12   Points

Clear, complete and logical, and   demonstrates sophisticated analysis and writing. 

9-10   Points

Clear, complete and logical, and   demonstrates analysis and effective writing. 

8-Points

Provided, may lack specifics and/or   clear logic.

7   Points

Not complete, clear, and/or   logical. 

0-6   Points

Little or no explanation   provided. 

12

 

Structure

The   explanation of how the system would improve the process by providing a   structure

11-12   Points

Clear, complete, logical, derived   from the Case Study, and demonstrates sophisticated analysis and   writing. 

9-10Points

Clear and logical; is derived from   the Case Study; and demonstrates analysis and effective writing.

8   Points

Explanation is provided, may lack   specifics and/or clear logic.

7   Points

Incomplete   or inaccurate.

0-6   Points

Little or no explanation   provided. 

12

 

Competitive   Advantage

Explanation   of how the system and its data can be used for competitive advantage

11-12   Points

Complete and accurate; demonstrates sophisticated analysis and   writing.

9-10   Points

Complete and accurate; demonstrates   analysis and effective writing.

8Points

Explanation   is provided, may lack specifics and/or clear logic.

7   Points

Incomplete or inaccurate.

0-6   Points

Missing or extremely incomplete or inaccurate.

12

 

Incorporation   of Feedback on Previous Stage

Substantive   feedback related to key content is addressed and previous sections are   improved

8   Points

Substantive corrections very effectively incorporated to reflect   feedback received on Stage 1. 

6-7 Points

Substantive   corrections incorporated to reflect feedback received on Stage 1.

5 Points

Corrections incorporated to   reflect feedback received on Stage 1. May not have addressed all key points   or sufficiently corrected.

3-4 Points

Minimal corrections made based on feedback   received on Stage 1.  Some improvements still needed.

0-2 Points

No corrections made based on   feedback received on Stage 1 and/or incorrect changes made.

8

 

Research

Two or more sources--one source from within the IFSM 300 course content and   one external (other than the course materials)

9-10   Points

Required resources are incorporated and used effectively.   Sources used are relevant and timely and contribute strongly to the analysis. References are appropriately incorporated   and cited using APA style.

8 Points

At least two sources are incorporated and   are relevant and somewhat support the analysis. References are appropriately   incorporated and cited using APA style.

7 Points

Only one resource is used and properly   incorporated and/or reference(s) lack correct APA style. 

6 Points

A source may be used, but is not properly   incorporated or used, and/or is not effective or appropriate; and/or does not   follow APA style for references and citations.

0-5 Points

No course content or external research   incorporated; or reference listed is not cited within the text.

10

 

Format

9-10   Points

Well organized and easy to read. Very few or no errors in sentence structure, grammar, and spelling;   double-spaced, written in third person and presented in a professional   format.

8   Points

Effective organization; has few errors in   sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; double-spaced, written in third   person and presented in a professional format. 

7   Points

Some organization; may have some errors in   sentence structure, grammar and spelling. Report is double spaced and written   in third person.

6   Points

Not well organized, and/or contains several   grammar and/or spelling errors; and/or is not double-spaced and written in   third person.

0-5   Points

Extremely poorly written, has many grammar   and/or spelling errors, or does not convey the information.

10

 

TOTAL   Points Possible

100

            

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