IT Final Milestone

IT 200: Final Project Guidelines and Grading Guide

Overview Successful professionals in the IT environment need to be familiar with the fundamental IT tools and applications that are used in everyday functions and know how these tools and applications interrelate. The final project for this course is a Company Consult Debrief that illustrates a systems view of a company’s technology infrastructure and the interrelationships between components such as networks, data management, programming, web technologies, and information assurance. A detailed company scenario is provided, with supporting databases, tables, table inventory, and query orders. Three formative milestones support the development of the project. These are designed to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three, Five, and Six. The final submission will occur in Module Seven.

This assessment will assess your mastery with respect to the following course outcomes:

 Apply fundamental IT terminology appropriately in highly structured situations

 Illustrate the applicability of foundational information technologies for specific professional environments

 Assess fundamental IT concepts at the component level in rationalizing recommendations for business environments

 Illustrate interrelationships among key concepts of IT for developing a systems view of information technology

Prompt Scenario: A new owner has purchased Swagger Distribution Company, a company that distributes clothing and apparel. She does not have experience with IT- related problem solving, so she contracting you, an IT consultant, to help. The company has six distinct IT areas that you will need to understand. The six areas are described in detail in the following paragraphs. Throughout the course you will focus on the individual areas of the company, and then toward the end of the course you will summarize the IT infrastructure as a whole.

1. Human–computer interface: Describe the software program most often used by the employees and the HCI. 2. Database: Demonstrate simple additions to the tables provided by the company. 3. Programming: Navigate a provided block of code and make desired changes. 4. Network: Contrast wired and wireless network setups for the company. 5. Web technologies: Examine the key components that would be utilized with a new website. 6. Security: Recommend potential information security adoptions by the company.

Please review the Final Project Scenario document for further details. Your Company Consult Debrief should address the following prompt: The new owner of Swagger Distribution Company, a company that distributes clothing and apparel, does not have experience with IT-related problem solving, so she is contracting you, an IT consultant. You will review the company’s technology

infrastructure and the interrelationships between components such as networks, data management, programming, web technologies, and information assurance. You will assess the current infrastructure and programming modifications, network optimization, and improvements to security procedures, and provide your feedback and recommendations. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) Consult a. Summary – Summarize the human–computer interactions (HCI) problem the company is experiencing. Be sure to list all aspects of the problem

and explain their importance to the usability of the software. For example, you might identify components of Microsoft Office applications such as Word or Visio, discussing all aspects of the HCI and explaining their importance to the usability of this software.

b. Recommendation – Suggest an enhancement to one of the applications for improving its HCI, providing supporting examples/research for your suggestion.

c. Illustration – Create a one-page tutorial for Microsoft Visio, including component screenshots, for new employees who are familiar with Microsoft Word but have never used Microsoft Visio. To comprehensively address this element, you should cover at least two basic functions and/or menu options.

d. Identification – Use fundamental IT terminology to label components in the tutorial and appropriately in the summary. To comprehensively address this element, you would label at least five components in the tutorial.

II. Information Management/Database (IMD) Consult a. Summary – Summarize the information management/database (IMD) items of the distribution company, listing all tables and all queries,

summarizing what the tables contain and what the queries do. b. Edit – Based on the information provided, add a new data type to the table, enter the data, and describe your actions.

III. Programming Consult a. Modification – Based on the request provided by the new owner, change the display message of the provided code that is currently used to a

new display message. b. Illustration – Include the key components of the line of code provided, highlight what needs to be modified, and provide the revised code. c. Identification – Use fundamental IT terminology to label components of the code provided.

IV. Networking Consult a. Summary – Summarize the wired networking configuration from the diagram provided and use this to create and describe a Visio diagram to

represent a wireless networking configuration appropriate for the company. b. Identification – Use fundamental IT terminology to label all aspects of the network components in the visual representation.

V. Web Technologies Consult a. Summary – Summarize key components of a potential website that would effectively address the company’s needs. In order to comprehensively

address this element, you should include at least 10 components in your summary. b. Recommendation – Provide practical suggestions on aspects that would ensure the quality of the website in meeting the company’s needs,

explaining your rationale behind the proposed suggestions.

c. Illustration – Provide a visual representation of these components as deployed in an existing website or websites that will support the functionality you address in your recommendations. For example, this is where you might supply screenshots of aspects of the website that would support the functionality your suggestions offer.

VI. Information Security Consult a. Summary – Summarize the information security issues facing the company and discuss information security practices, providing real examples of

information security assurance failures that can be used in helping the client to understand the risk. b. Recommendation – Recommend information security practices that will address these issues. Provide supporting

examples/research/justification for your recommendations. VII. Summary of IT Systems Consultations

a. Interrelationships – Explain how network, database, web technology, computers, programming, and security systems interrelate using the distribution company as an example.

b. Conclusion – Provide a clear rationale to illustrate the importance for this company to understand IT technologies and to stay informed of changes and new risks to its IT system.

Milestones Milestone One: HCI, IMD, and Programming Consult Summaries In Module Three, you will submit a document summarizing the HCI, IMD, and programming components of the distribution company, including your suggestions for changes. A visual representation will be submitted for each summary using appropriate IT terminology. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Network and Web Consult Summaries In Module Five, you will submit a document summarizing the wired and a potential wireless network configuration and a summary of suggested web technologies for the website for the distribution company using appropriate IT terminology. A labeled, visual representation of the wireless network configuration will be submitted. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Information Security Consult Summary In Module Six, you will submit a document summarizing information security needs and recommended practices of the distribution company. A visual representation of the information security system will be submitted, labeled using appropriate IT terminology. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Final Product: Company Consult Debrief—Overall System Summary In Module Seven, you will submit a final document that builds upon all of the previously completed milestone summaries to provide an overall summary of the distribution company’s IT system as a whole, illustrating how each individual system/component (network, database, web technology, computers, programming, and security systems) interrelates with others. Provide a clear rationale to illustrate the importance for this company to understand IT technologies

and to stay informed of changes and new risks to its IT system. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. It will be graded using the Final Product Rubric.

Deliverables

Milestone Deliverables Module Due Grading

1 HCI, IMD, and Programming Consult Summaries

Three Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric

2 Network and Web Consult Summaries Five Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric

3 Information Security Consult Summary Six Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric

Final Product: Company Consult Debrief - Overall System Summary

Seven Graded separately; Final Product Rubric

Final Product Rubric Requirements of Submission: Written components of projects must follow these formatting guidelines when applicable: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. The paper should be five to seven pages in length, not including cover page and resources, and written in paragraph form. Tables should be prepared in Microsoft Access. Diagrams should be prepared using Visio. Instructor Feedback: This activity uses an integrated rubric in Blackboard. Students can view instructor feedback in the Grade Center. For more information, review these instructions.

Critical Element Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

HCI Consult: Summary

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry-specific language to establish expertise

Comprehensively lists aspects

of the human–computer interactions (HCI) problem and explains their importance to the usability of the software

Lists aspects of the human– computer interactions (HCI) problem, but does not explain their importance to the usability of the software, or description lacks detail or is not accurate

Does not list aspects of the

human–computer interactions (HCI) problem

6

HCI Consult: Recommendation

Meets “Proficient” criteria and suggestion is well-informed and integrates relevant theories and research

Suggests enhancement for improving HCI and justifies suggestion with examples or research

Suggests enhancement for improving HCI, but does not justify suggestion with examples or research, or suggestion is not appropriate

Does not suggest enhancement for improving HCI

6

HCI Consult: Illustration

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides comprehensive details for understanding of Microsoft Visio

Creates a Microsoft Visio tutorial, including screenshots, covering basic functions for new employees who are familiar with Microsoft Word

Creates a Microsoft Visio tutorial for new employees who are familiar with Microsoft Word, but does not include screenshots, or tutorial is unclear or lacks detail

Does not create a Microsoft Visio tutorial

5

HCI Consult: Identification

Meets “Proficient” criteria and establishes expertise using specific industry language

Accurately labels components of the tutorial and summary using fundamental IT terminology

Labels components of the tutorial and summary using fundamental IT terminology, but labels are not accurate

Does not label components of the tutorial and summary

4

IMD Consult: Summary

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry-specific language to establish expertise

Comprehensively summarizes the information management/database items

Summarizes the information management/database items, but summary lacks detail or is not accurate

Does not summarize the information management/database items

6

IMD Consult: Edit Meets “Proficient” criteria and description is comprehensive

Accurately adds new data type to table, enters data, and describes actions

Adds new data type to table but does not enter data or new data type is not accurate

Does not add new data type and data to table

4

Programming Consult: Modification

Meets “Proficient” criteria and modification is described using industry-specific language

Accurately changes the display message of the code as requested

Changes the display message of the code, but change is not accurate or does not comply with request

Does not change the display message of the code

4

Programming Consult: Illustration

Meets “Proficient” criteria and identifies key components demonstrating expertise in using code

Includes the key components of the line of code provided, highlights what needs to be modified, and provides the revised code

Includes the key components of the line of code provided, but does not highlight what needs to be modified or does not provide the revised code

Does not include the key components of the line of code provided

6

Programming Consult:

Identification

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses professional language

Accurately labels components of the code provided using fundamental IT terminology

Labels components of the code provided using fundamental IT terminology, but labels are not accurate

Does not label components of the code provided

4

Networking Consult: Summary

Meets “Proficient” criteria and the proposed wireless configuration is logical and appropriate for the business needs

Comprehensively summarizes the wired network configuration for the company, creates and describes a visual representation of a wireless configuration for the company

Summarizes the wired network, attempts to create and describe a visual representation of a wireless configuration for the company, but key aspects of the configurations are missing or not correctly identified

Does not summarize the network configuration for the company, or does not create and describe a visual representation of a wireless configuration

6

Networking Consult: Identification

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses professional language demonstrating an advanced understanding of networking concepts

Accurately labels components of the network in the visual representation using fundamental IT terminology

Labels components of the network in the visual representation of the wireless configuration using fundamental IT terminology, but labels are not accurate

Does not label components of the network in the visual representation

4

Web Technologies Consult: Summary

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates an advanced understanding of web technology options

Comprehensively summarizes key components of a website that would effectively address the company’s needs

Summarizes key components of a website, but summary lacks detail or does not address the company’s needs

Does not summarize key components of a website that would effectively address the company’s needs

6

Web Technologies Consult:

Recommendation

Meets “Proficient” criteria and makes suggestions for optimal performance

Provides practical suggestions on aspects that would ensure the quality of the website in meeting the company’s needs and explains the rationale behind proposed suggestions

Provides practical suggestions on aspects that would ensure the quality of the website in meeting the company’s needs, but does not explain the rationale behind proposed suggestions

Does not provide practical suggestions on aspects that would ensure the quality of the website in meeting the company’s needs

6

Web Technologies Consult: Illustration

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates the applicability of the recommended web technologies to the company through choice of highly relevant examples for this professional environment

Provides an accurate visual representation of aspects as deployed in an existing website or websites that supports functionality addressed in recommendations

Provides a visual representation of aspects as deployed in existing website or websites but representation does not support functionality addressed in recommendations or is not accurate

Does not provide a visual representation of aspects as deployed in existing website or websites

6

Information Security Consult: Summary

Meets “Proficient” criteria and examples of information security assurance failures are relevant to the company in the scenario

Comprehensively summarizes the information security issues facing the company and discusses information security practices, and provides real examples of information security assurance failures

Summarizes the information security issues facing the company but does not discuss information security practices or does not provide real examples of information security assurance failures

Does not summarize the information security issues facing the company

6

Information Security Consult:

Recommendation

Meets “Proficient” criteria and recommendations are well supported with relevant examples and/or research

Recommends appropriate information security practices that address issues and justifies recommendations with examples and/or research

Recommends information security practices but recommendations are not appropriate or are not justified with examples and/or research

Does not recommend information security practices

6

Summary: Interrelationships

Meets “Proficient” criteria and illustrates expertise demonstrating a systems view of IT

Describes the interrelationships among network, database, web technology, computers, programming, and security systems using the company as an example

Identifies the interrelationships but description lacks detail in how the components are connected with one another within this company

Does not describe interrelationships

6

Summary: Conclusion Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides specific examples from similar organizations encountered during research

Comprehensively justifies the importance for this company to understand IT technologies and to stay informed of changes and new risks to its IT system

Explains the importance for this company to understand IT technologies and to stay informed of changes and new risks to its IT system but rationale lacks detail or key considerations for this company

Does not explain the importance for this company to understand IT technologies and to stay informed of changes and new risks to its IT system

6

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization, and is presented in a professional and easy-to- read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

3

Earned Total 100%