Project introduction and Project Plan
j.m494
instruction.docxCapstone Project Overview
The purpose of this capstone project is for students to assume a senior management approach and apply project management techniques to create an integrative information technology solution to address organizational issues in order to satisfy an executive team and venture capital group. Students will critically assess existing information systems infrastructures, emerging technologies, and how enabling technologies affect organizational strategy. Deliverables 1 through 6 focus on preparing students toward the final capstone project. Skills, experience, and knowledge gained through the completion of prerequisite courses will be used throughout each deliverable. The project contents to be addressed are as follows:
1. Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception. In this deliverable, you will create a project introduction that includes background information of the company, the type of business that the company is involved in, speculation upon outsourcing and offshoring opportunities, identification of skilled information systems personnel need for project, specific types of data that the company collects, and a description of the integrative information systems that the company should have to support the business. You will also create a project plan to record tasks, subtasks, and resources, and identify the schedule of the project. Additionally, the plan will outline the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases of your project.
Submission Requirements
0. Project Introduction (MS Word)
0. Project Plan (MS Project)
1. Project Deliverable 2: Business Requirements. In this deliverable, you will create an original business requirements document for the project plan using the template provided under Additional Resources in the Student Center tab of the online course shell. You will be asked to describe the detailed project including the scope, possible risks, constraints, and assumptions, integration with other systems and infrastructure, and relevant terms that will be used throughout project. You will also need to update the project plan.
Submission Requirements
0. Business Requirements Document (MS Word)
0. Revised Project Plan (MS Project)
1. Project Deliverable 3: Database and Data Warehousing Design. In this deliverable, you will create a database schema that supports the company’s business and processes, explain and support the database schema, create database tables, normalize the database tables, create an Entity-Relationship (E-R) Diagram and create a Data Flow Diagram (DFD). You will also be asked to create sample queries that will support the organizational reporting needs and screen layouts that illustrate the interface that organizational users will utilize. You will need to update the project plan.
Submission Requirements
0. Design Document (MS Word)
0. Revised Project Plan (MS Project)
1. Project Deliverable 4: Analytics, Interfaces, and Cloud Technology. In this deliverable, you will support the need for the use of analytics and cloud technology within your company, create a workflow diagram to illustrate how analytics and cloud technology could align with the company’s business processes, create screen layouts that illustrate the interface that organizational users will utilize, and give a recommendation for partners that could help your company secure a firm advantage by using analytics and cloud technology. You will need to update the project plan.
Submission Requirements
0. Design Document (MS Word)
0. Revised Project Plan (MS Project)
1. Project Deliverable 5: Infrastructure and Security. In this deliverable, you will design a logical and physical topographical layout of the computing network, illustrate the possible placement of infrastructure components such as servers, explain rationale for the logical and physical topographical layout of the planned network, create and describe the comprehensive security policy for the organization, and update the project plan.
Submission Requirements
0. Infrastructure Document (MS Word)
0. Revised Project Plan (MS Project)
1. Project Deliverable 6: Project Plan. In the final project, you will provide a high-level technical overview of the project. This includes the five (5) previous deliverables with revisions surrounding instructor feedback. All documentation will be recorded on the business requirements document revised from an earlier submission in this course. Additionally, you will submit the final project plan and create a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation for the executive team and the venture capital group. The PowerPoint presentation, along with the executive summary, will convince the group that your solution is optimal.
Submission Requirements
0. Written Project Plan (MS Word)
0. Revised Business Requirements Document (MS Word)
0. Project Plan PowerPoint Presentation (MS PowerPoint)
0. Finalized Project Plan (MS Project)
Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception
This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a project introduction and a project plan. You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment. Label each file name according to the section of the assignment it is written for. Additionally, you may create and / or assume all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of this assignment.
The use of specific software has been suggested however equivalents such as OpenOffice, Dia, and Open Project are also permitted. If equivalent tools are used, files must be saved for grading using extensions that are readable by their equivalent Microsoft Windows edition. Assignment submissions that fail to follow this request may result in a reduced grade.
You are a newly appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a $25 million dollar data collection and analysis company that has been operating less than two (2) years. It is expected to grow by 60% over the next eighteen (18) months. Your company currently collects data using Web analytics and combines it with operational systems data. Web analytics is an increasingly important part of most business marketing plans. Your company is looking for ways to leverage the collected data but wants to ensure that the information technology infrastructure will support the expected growth that the company is anticipating. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has given you sixty (60) days to deliver a comprehensive information systems project plan to address the organizational growth that the company is experiencing. The company will be expanding from one (1) floor to three (3) floors within six (6) months. Since this is a relatively new company, there is currently limited technology infrastructure to support the business. All information technology (hardware and software) must be redesigned to meet organizational needs. The solution should be implemented in either a hosted solution, on-site solution, or a hybrid model. The CEO is expecting you to integrate different technologies from different partners and incorporate industry best practices and cost-effective solutions in connection with the development of technological systems. In addition, the CEO is extremely interested in cloud computing technologies and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) but is leery of security issues that may be associated. However, he is sure that you will implement proper security protocols. The company currently consists of twenty (20) employees of which four (4), including yourself, are dedicated to the IT organization.
Section 1: Project Introduction
1. Write a four to six (4-6) page project introduction that documents the current state of the organization, expands upon the information given above, and includes the following:
0. Background information of the company.
0. Details regarding the type of business that the company is engaged in.
0. A description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities.
0. Identification of current skilled information systems personnel in position and responsibilities.
0. The specific types of data that the company collects.
0. A description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business. The description at a minimum should include the following:
5. Operational Systems and Databases
5. Analytics and Interfaces
5. Infrastructure and Security
0. The use of at least two (2) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.
Section 1 of your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
1. Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
1. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
Section 2: Project Plan
Use Microsoft Project to:
1. Create a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project. The project plan should:
0. Record all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project.
0. Outline the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases.
0. Develop in accordance with the systems development life cycle (SDLC).
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
1. Describe the various functions and activities within the information systems area, including the role of IT management and the CIO, structuring of IS management within an organization, and managing IS professionals within the firm.
1. Use technology and information resources to research issues in information systems.
1. Write clearly and concisely about strategic issues and practices in the information systems domain using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.
Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.
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Points: 110 |
Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception |
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Criteria |
Unacceptable Below 60% F |
Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D |
Fair 70-79% C |
Proficient 80-89% B |
Exemplary 90-100% A |
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Section 1: Project Introduction |
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1a. Include background information of the company. Weight: 10% |
Did not submit or incompletely included background information of the company. |
Insufficiently included background information of the company. |
Partially included background information of the company. |
Satisfactorily included background information of the company. |
Thoroughly included background information of the company. |
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1b. Include details regarding the type of business that the company is engaged in. Weight: 10% |
Did not submit or incompletely included details regarding the type of business that the company is engaged in. |
Insufficiently included details regarding the type of business that the company is engaged in. |
Partially included details regarding the type of business that the company is engaged in. |
Satisfactorily included details regarding the type of business that the company is engaged in. |
Thoroughly included details regarding the type of business that the company is engaged in. |
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1c. Include a description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities. Weight: 5% |
Did not submit or incompletely included a description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities. |
Insufficiently included a description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities. |
Partially included a description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities. |
Satisfactorily included a description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities. |
Thoroughly included a description of current outsourcing and offshoring activities. |
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1d. Include identification of current skilled information systems personnel in position and responsibilities. Weight: 5% |
Did not submit or incompletely included identification of current skilled information systems personnel in position and responsibilities. |
Insufficiently included identification of current skilled information systems personnel in position and responsibilities. |
Partially included identification of current skilled information systems personnel in position and responsibilities. |
Satisfactorily included identification of current skilled information systems personnel in position and responsibilities. |
Thoroughly included identification of current skilled information systems personnel in position and responsibilities. |
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1e. Include the specific types of data that the company collects. Weight: 5% |
Did not submit or incompletely included the specific types of data that the company collects. |
Insufficiently included the specific types of data that the company collects. |
Partially included the specific types of data that the company collects. |
Satisfactorily included the specific types of data that the company collects. |
Thoroughly included the specific types of data that the company collects. |
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1fi. Include a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including operational systems and databases. Weight: 10% |
Did not submit or incompletely included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including operational systems and databases. |
Insufficiently included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including operational systems and databases. |
Partially included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including operational systems and databases. |
Satisfactorily included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including operational systems and databases. |
Thoroughly included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including operational systems and databases. |
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1fii. Include a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including analytics and interfaces. Weight: 5% |
Did not submit or incompletely included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including analytics and interfaces. |
Insufficiently included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including analytics and interfaces. |
Partially included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including analytics and interfaces. |
Satisfactorily included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including analytics and interfaces. |
Thoroughly included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including analytics and interfaces. |
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1fiii. Include a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including infrastructure and security. Weight: 5% |
Did not submit or incompletely included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including infrastructure and security. |
Insufficiently included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including infrastructure and security. |
Partially included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including infrastructure and security. |
Satisfactorily included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including infrastructure and security. |
Thoroughly included a description of the information systems that the company currently has to support the business, including infrastructure and security. |
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1g. 2 references Weight: 5% |
No references provided |
Does not meet the required number of references; all references poor quality choices. |
Does not meet the required number of references; some references poor quality choices. |
Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices. |
Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices. |
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Section 2: Project Plan |
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2a. Create a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, recording all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project. Weight: 10% |
Did not submit or incompletely created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, recording all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project. |
Insufficiently created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, recording all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project. |
Partially created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, recording all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project. |
Satisfactorily created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, recording all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project. |
Thoroughly created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, recording all tasks, subtasks, resources, and time related to the project. |
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2b. Create a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, outlining the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases. Weight: 10% |
Did not submit or incompletely created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, outlining the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases. |
Insufficiently created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, outlining the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases. |
Partially created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, outlining the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases. |
Satisfactorily created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, outlining the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases. |
Thoroughly created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project, outlining the planning, analysis, design, and implementation phases. |
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2c. Create a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project developed in accordance with the systems development life cycle (SDLC). Weight: 10% |
Did not submit or incompletely created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project developed in accordance with the systems development life cycle (SDLC). |
Insufficiently created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project developed in accordance with the systems development life cycle (SDLC). |
Partially created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project developed in accordance with the systems development life cycle (SDLC). |
Satisfactorily created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project developed in accordance with the systems development life cycle (SDLC). |
Thoroughly created a project plan (summary and detailed) using Microsoft Office Project developed in accordance with the systems development life cycle (SDLC). |
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3. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements Weight: 10% |
More than 8 errors present |
7-8 errors present |
5-6 errors present |
3-4 errors present |
0-2 errors present |
