IT Solution

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Technology Solution– Individual Assignment

Before you begin this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study and completed the first two Sections of the Business Case.

Purpose of this Exercise

This activity allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the components of a technology solution and demonstrate your grasp of the concepts covered in the IFSM curriculum (hardware, software, data, networks, etc.). This assignment specifically addresses the following course outcomes to enable you to:

· Evaluate, select, and apply appropriate analytical and measurement methods/tools and system development life cycle (SDLC) – methodologies to meet organizational needs.

· Research, assess, recommend/select, and implement information technology that aligns with business needs and meets business objectives.

· Effectively communicate with stakeholders orally, visually, and in writing to determine stakeholders' business requirements, explain how their requirements will be met, and provide ongoing audience-appropriate information.

· Responsibly protect organizations' critical information and assets by integrating cybersecurity best practices and risk management throughout global enterprises.

It also addresses the business strategy, project management, risk management, SDLC, and the enterprise themes.

Assignment

Using the Case Studyand the first two Sections of the Business Case developed by your group, you should independently identify a viable technology solution that will address the business need identified in Section II of your team’s Business Case.There are multiple possible technology solutions that could improve the business described in the case study. Your assignment is to come up with one and develop a three- to four-pagepaper (not counting illustrations) that describes the technical components of your proposed solution. In addition, you are to provide a graphical representation of your solution and a spreadsheet of costs. You will want to be sure that you do not identify a solution that is so broad that you cannot describe the components in the number of pages specified for this assignment, or that is so broad that the number of components would require a complex diagram and an extensive cost spreadsheet. Similarly, the solutionmust be robust enough to allow you to address all aspects of this assignment. The three parts of this assignment are more fully described below.

Pre-Approval of Proposed Solution: Before working on this assignment, you must obtain the instructor’s approval of the overall proposed technology solution. After your team has identified the business need it plans to address in its business case, you should determine what solution you will propose. Send a Private Message to the instructor identifying the business need the group came up with and describing your proposed solution at a high level - for example: “CRM systems for sales force” or “SCM system for the manufacturing facility” or “integrated xxxx system for the enterprise.” This is to ensure you have an appropriate solution and scope prior to doing this assignment.

1. Begin your paper with a brief (1 paragraph) description of the business need identified by your Group in Section II of the Business Case. Then, describe the overall functionality of your proposed solution and each of the components of your proposed solution, to include:

· resources:

· people

· hardware

· software

· data

· network

· and activities:

· input

· processing

· output

· storage

· control

Your paper should explain how these components work together to support the business need identified and how the solution as a whole is appropriate to the business described in the Case Study. The who, what, when, where and how of the system should all be covered, as you envision it being implemented and used.Remember to consider security and include it as appropriate. While external resources are not required, you must correctly cite and reference any resources you use in APA format.

2. You should include at least one original graphical representation of your specific technology solution. It should include all major components of the solution. The file “Example_Network_Diagram” shows the level of detail needed and provides sample icons for use in constructing your drawing, if you choose to use them. You should include labels as to what the purpose of the component is, e.g. email server, database server, system administration PC, etc. The make/model/capacity/etc of the devices does not need to be included – simply their generic device type (router, switch, server, etc) and their function (email, database, etc).

3. You should attach an Excel spreadsheet with the list of components, the quantity of each required and a unit cost and a total cost associated with each one. These general cost estimates may be obtained from any source, but the sources should be cited – for this you can use a footnote type of reference. In your spreadsheet beside the item, you can put the number of the reference used and list the references at the end. For example: Database Server (1) and then below show: 1. Dell website xxxxxxxx(properly listed in APA format). Personnel and other “soft costs” do not need to be included; however, if you specify software (e.g., xyz accounting package) then you need to show the cost of that. Every item in your description of resources and your graphical representation needs to be included on the cost spreadsheet.

Submitting Your Assignment

You should prepare this as a total package that is tied together in a professionally presented and logical manner. These are not 3 separate deliverables, but a single deliverable with multiple parts.

Submit your documents via your Assignment Folder as Microsoft Word and Excel document with your last name included in the filenames. If you can, include the diagram in your paper. If you use Visio or some other drawing tool, be sure it can be opened without special software other than Microsoft Office.

In addition to submitting your paper for grading via your Assignment Folder, you are to also post

itin your Study Group area for your teammates to review and consider as one alternative solution. (See Week 4 Group instructions for further information on this activity.)

Use the Grading Rubric below to be sure you have covered all aspects of the assignment.

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

Explanation of Proposed Solution

9-10 Points

Proposed IT solution is clearly and thoroughly described, is logical and is appropriate to the Case Study and to the previously submitted sections of the Business Case.

8 Points

Proposed IT solution is clearly described, is logical and is appropriate to the Case Study and to the previously submitted sections of the Business Case.

7 Points

Proposed IT solution is described, is logical and is appropriate to the Case Study and to the previously submitted sections of the Business Case.

6 Points

The proposed IT solution may not be clearly described, may not be logical and/or may not be appropriate to the Case Study and/or the previously submitted sections of the Business Case.

0-5 Points

No proposed IT solution provided.

Description of Resources

13-15 Points

Descriptions are thorough and cover people, hardware, software, data and network resources and how they work together; clearly apply to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study; and demonstrate sophisticated analysis and critical thinking and sophisticated writing.

12 Points

Descriptions are complete and cover people, hardware, software, data and network resources and how they work together; apply to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study; and demonstrate analysis and critical thinking and clear writing.

10-11 Points

Descriptions cover people, hardware, software, data and network resources and how they work together; apply to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study.

9 Points

Some resources may not be covered completely or at all; explanation of how they work together may be lacking or incomplete; some descriptions may not apply to proposed IT solution and/or the Case Study; may be lacking in demonstration of understanding of concepts, analysis, and/or critical thinking.

0-8 Points

Few or no descriptions of resources are provided.

Description of Activities

13-15 Points

Descriptions are thorough and cover input, processing, output, storage and control activities and how they work together; apply to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study; and demonstrate sophisticated analysis and critical thinking and sophisticated writing.

12 Points

Descriptions are complete and cover input, processing, output, storage and control activities and how they work together; apply to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study; and demonstrate analysis and critical thinking and clear writing.

10-11 Points

Descriptions cover input, processing, output, storage and control activities and how they work together; apply to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study.

9 Points

Some activities may not be covered completely or at all; explanation of how they work together may be lacking or incomplete; some descriptions may not apply to proposed IT solution and/or the Case Study; may be lacking in demonstration of understanding of course concepts, analysis, and/or critical thinking.

0-8 Points

Few or no descriptions of activities are provided.

Graphic

22-25 Points

Graphic illustration is professionally presented, appropriately labeled, applies to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study, and demonstrates sophisticated analysis and critical thinking and sophisticated writing.

20-21 Points

Graphic illustration is professionally presented, appropriately labeled, applies to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study, and demonstrate analysis and critical thinking and clear writing.

17-19 Points

Graphic illustration is presented, has labels, applies to proposed IT solution and to the Case Study.

15-16 Points

Graphic may not be professionally presented, may not be appropriately labeled, may not apply to proposed IT solution and/or the Case Study; may be lacking in completeness or demonstration of understanding of concepts, analysis, and/or critical thinking.

0-14 Points

No graphic provided or very minimal effort is demonstrated.

Cost Spreadsheet

22-25 Points

Spreadsheet is professionally and creatively presented, appropriately formatted and formulas used as appropriate. Costs are shown for all components listed in paper and/or shown on graphic. Costs are reasonable and sources of costs are presented.

20-21 Points

Spreadsheet is well presented, appropriately formatted and formulas used as appropriate. Costs are shown for all components listed in paper and/or shown on graphic. Costs are reasonable and sources of costs are presented.

17-19 Points

Spreadsheet is appropriately formatted and formulas used as appropriate. Costs are shown for all components listed in paper and/or shown on graphic. Costs are reasonable and sources of costs are presented.

15-16 Points

Spreadsheet may not be professionally presented, may not be appropriately formatted or use formulas appropriately. Costs may not be shown for all components listed in paper and/or shown on graphic. Costs may not be reasonable and/or sources of costs may not be presented.

0-14 Points

No cost spreadsheet included, or very minimal effort is demon-strated.

Report Format

9-10 Points

Report reflects effective organization and sophisticated writing and is presented as a cohesive whole; follows instructions provided; uses correct sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; presented in a professional format with appropriate transitions and explanations of tables, etc.; references are appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style.

8 Points

Report reflects effective organization and clear writing and is presented as a cohesive whole; follows instructions provided; uses correct sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; presented in a professional format; references are appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style.

7 Points

Report is organized and is presented as a cohesive whole;follows instructions provided; uses correct sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; references are appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style.

6 Points

Report may not be well organized, and/or may not be presented as a cohesive whole; and/or does not follow instructions provided; and/or contains grammar and/or spelling errors; and/or does not follow APA style for references and citations.

0-5 Points

Report is extremely poorly written and does not convey the information.

TOTAL Points Possible

100