IT Strategy

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ECM40IS: IS/IT Strategy

Coursework: Assessment

Submission date: Dec 24, 2016; 11:00 PM 1. Introduction

This assessment is an individual assignment. The assignment has two sections (Part A and

Part B): in Part A, you are required to write a scholarly academic article based critical

engagement with a chosen topic; part B focuses on critical discussions of key factors that

need to be considered for a medium-term corporate strategy.

 Part A

Mobility plays a critical role in the way we live. Our food, clothes and household waste

all need to be transported, contributing to our economy and quality of life. Movement

of people from one location to another without traffic stress is critical to ensure the

quality of life to the people living in the city. But the increasing use of planes, cars and

other fossil-fuel dependent modes of mobility are causing more pollution, putting at

risk our environment and health. It can also be noted that the traffic accidents are

affecting the society indicating the need for smarter mobility. Cleaner and smarter

mobility/ transport can actually meet Oman’s need for mobility and at the same time

deliver many public health benefits, including cleaner air, fewer accidents, less

congestion and less noise pollution. Carbon-dependent transport sector can be turned

into a clean and smart mobility system.

The purpose of the task is to understand the significance of Smart Mobility, and explore

their connection with IS-IT strategy. Write a research article critically analysing IS/IT

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strategy frameworks/models. Investigate the nature of IS/IT strategies that successful

firms/cities undertake. You are required to focus any one of the following topics:

• Smart City logistics

• Urban Cable Cars – A case study of Oman

• Mobility as a service

 Part B

The objective of Part B is to formulate business processes/objectives and critically

evaluate strategies pertaining to a city with particular reference to information systems

and information technology applications. You are required to imagine a fictitious

organisation belonging to ‘smart transport’ business domain. You can make relevant

assumptions such as annual turnover, contribution to GDP, market share,

products/services etc. You are required to define and discuss the structural identity and

analyze the organization using appropriate concepts and strategic decision-making

models in relation to IS/IT strategy. You should define the various strategic choices

available and identify the barriers to implementation. You are also required to initially

analyse any key characteristics of the sector to which the identified organisation

belong. The assignment must include a critical discussion of any key factors and

important themes that need to be considered in the formulation of a medium-term

corporate IS/IT strategy for the identified organization. The critical aspects of IS/IT

strategy such as demand, control framework and supply concerning the organisation

should be justified. You should define the various strategic choices available and

identify the barriers to implementation. You are also required to initially analyse any

key characteristics of the sector to which the identified organisation belong.

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2. Intended Module Learning Outcomes On successful completion of the assessment, the student will be able to:

i. Demonstrate a mastery of the complex skills and knowledge necessary to evaluate

one or more strategic decision-making models.

ii. Critically define the strategic choices that face organisations, using advanced skills

in conducting research.

iii. Critically identify the barriers to the implementation of strategic choices.

3. Deliverables You should prepare an assignment of approximately 5,500 words in length excluding appendices and references, but is not restricted to, the following.  Part A

a. Produce an article covering the following aspects of research (approx. 1700 words):

• approach to the problem and research questions, objectives

• theoretical framework; rigor of literature review

• methods or empirical analysis techniques, used data sources

• key findings and conclusions

• the importance of the research from the theoretical or empirical point of view

 Part B

a. A brief profile of the sector to which the identified organization belongs - including

any assumptions made as described previously (approx. 700 words).

b. A brief background of the identified organization – organizational details pertinent

to the assignment (approx. 500 words).

c. Assess the need for IS/IT interventions within the identified organization with

particular reference to information systems and information technology

applications. (approx. 800 words).

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d. A critical analysis of the identified organization using appropriate concepts and

strategic decision-making models in relation to IS/IT strategy (approx. 1000 words).

e. A critical analysis of the strategic choices when compared to another company (a

real-world business) of your choice within the same sector. Provide an analysis of

chosen real-word company using appropriate concepts and decision making models

(approx. 800 words).

Your assignment must be referenced using CU Harvard style of referencing and well organised/structured. 4. Assessment Criteria The assignment will be assessed out of 100 marks using the below mentioned criteria.

For a mark of >69% • Show a thorough understanding of the purpose of the activity. • Display knowledge of the major principles, theories, methodologies, and practices

involved and an ability to apply them effectively. • Provide evidence of wide reading, including academic journals. • Demonstrate an ability to select critical points, evaluate them and communicate the

conclusions effectively. • Provide approaches that are creative, practicable, and supported. • Provide a sound, supported critique of your own work. • Provide sound and supported discussions of further research that may be needed. • Provide a very good individual contribution For a mark of 60-69% • Show a clear understanding of the activity. • Display knowledge of most of the principles, theories, methodologies, and practices

involved and an ability to apply them effectively. • Provide evidence of wide reading. • Demonstrate an ability to select critical points and analyse them and draw sound

conclusions. • Provide approaches that are creative and pragmatic. • Provide a supported critique of your own work. • Provide supported, discussions of further research that may be needed. • Provide a good individual contribution

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For a mark of 50-59% • Show an adequate understanding of the activity. • Display knowledge of some of the principles, theories, methodologies, and practices

involved and an ability to apply them. • Provide evidence of some reading related to the proposal. • Demonstrate an ability to select key points in the exercise and analyse them. • Provide approaches that are less creative or might not be entirely practical. • Provide a critique of your own work. • Provide discussions of further research that may be needed. • Provide an adequate individual contribution For a mark of 40-49% • Show a barely adequate understanding of the purpose of the exercise. • Display knowledge of some of the principles, theories, methodologies, and practices

involved and attempt to apply them. • Provide evidence of reading limited relevant literature. • Attempt some analysis and discussion. • Show some ability to link theory to problems and provide solutions. • Provide some individual contribution For a mark of 25-39% • Made an attempt to complete the exercise. • Show little or no understanding of the principles, theories, and practices involved. • No evidence of academic reading. • An inability to recognize the key points.

For a mark of <25% • Work lacks any academic merit as adjudged by the foregoing.

5. Submission dates Softcopy of the assignment must be uploaded to Moodle by 24 Dec, 2016; 11:00 PM 6. Important note Any assignment submitted after the submission date will be subject to MEC Regulations on late submission of work. Please do not search the internet for an article and merely present it as your own. Plagiarism will be dealt with as per the regulations.

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Assignment Acknowledgement Sheet – Individual Assignment Module Title: IS/IT Strategy (ECM40IS) Module Instructors :

Robin Zarine, Dr. Nagesh Poojary, Santhosh John

Semester: Fall 2016

Programme: MBA(IT) / MSc (IT)

Assessment: Individual Assignment

Intended Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, the student will be able to: 1. Demonstrate a mastery of the complex skills and knowledge

necessary to evaluate one or more strategic decision-making models.

2. Critically define the strategic choices that face organizations, using advanced skills in conducting research.

3. Critically identify the barriers to the implementation of strategic choices.

Task : Individual assignment

Name and ID of student:

Due Date:

Submitted on:

Submitted to: Nagesh Poojary/Robin Zarine/Santhosh John

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MARKING CRITERIA FOR IS/IT STRATEGY ASSESSMENT

Marks Maximum

marks

Pre-Task

Work proposal 10

Deliverable (a)

Research article

 approach to the problem and research questions;

objectives; (5 marks)

 theoretical framework; rigor of literature review; (5

marks)

 methods or empirical analysis techniques; used data

sources; (5 marks)

 key findings and conclusions; (5 marks)

 importance of the research from the theoretical or

empirical point of view. (5 marks)

20

Deliverable (b)

A brief profile of the sector to which the identified organization

belongs

5

Deliverable (c)

 A brief background of the identified organization (5

marks)

 Organizational details pertinent to the assignment (5

marks)

10

Deliverable (d)

Assess the need for IS/IT interventions within the identified

organization

5

Deliverable (e)

 A critical analysis of the identified organization using

appropriate concepts (8 marks)

15

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 Strategic decision-making models, in relation to IS/IT

strategy (8 marks)

Deliverable (f)

 A critical analysis of the strategic choices when compared

to another company (a real-world business) of your choice

within the same sector (8 marks)

 A critical analysis of the real-word company using

appropriate concepts/ decision making models (8 marks)

15

 Depth of understanding of problem context, extent of

clarity in evaluation (5 marks)

 Relevance, creativity, evidence of professional approach

(5 marks)

 Rigor of literature sources and referencing. (5 marks)

15

Structure and layout of report 5

Marks received /Total marks 100

Marks out of 70

Comments: