Before you begin this assignment, be sure you:
1. Have completed all previously assigned readings, particularly those assigned in Weeks 3 and 4 of the class.
2. Re-read the “UMUC Haircuts Case Study” and the Stage 1, 2 &3 assignments, and review the “Walmart Example.”
3. Review Instructor feedback from previous assignment submissions.
Overview of IT Solution and Next Steps for UMUC Haircuts
For your Case Study Stage 1 assignment, you performed a Five Forces Analysis and justified Myra’s chosengeneric strategy for competitive advantage and the business process that she would like to improve through the application of technology.
For your Stage 2 assignment, you identified the inputs, processing, and outputs of Myra’s selected business process.Those inputs, processing, and outputs form the functional (business) requirements for an IT system to improve the process.
In Stage 3, you identified theIT requirementsby evaluating their applicability and importance in a new system to be implemented to improve the identified business process for UMUC Haircuts.
Following your analysis of the business environment and the business and IT requirements, Myra Morningstarhas decided to move ahead and implement an IT solution. She has asked you to identify an IT solution and explain what the steps would be to implement it.
Since UMUC Haircuts is a small business, Myra should take advantage of a Software as a Service (SaaS), or a cloud-based system, that has already been developed and is maintained and operated by a vendor. You should do some research and find a vendor-provided solution that will support the process that is being improved. Refer to the process model and your Stage 2 inputs, processing, and outputs that define the business requirements; and refer to your Stage 3 IT requirements as you select an appropriate solution. Consider the cost of the solution as you make your choice, so that your recommended solution will be affordable for Myra.
For this assignment, you will prepare a short paper explaining your proposed IT solution and the next steps in the implementation of that solution. The next steps will includeeverything that Myra needs to do, from getting a subscription to the software (or otherwise arranging to use it), to purchasing hardware, to preparing employees and implementing the system. The specific steps and how they are accomplished will be different for different system solutions.
Assignment: UMUC Haircuts Stage 4: Write a short paper that includes:
I. Introduction: Introduce what is to come in your paper, and include the generic strategy for competitive advantage and the business process to be improved.
II. Proposed IT Solution: Identify the vendor and the system you selected to improve the process at UMUC Haircuts. Explain why you selected that system over others, including how it best meets the business requirements (see Stage 2) and IT requirements (see Stage 3) of UMUC Haircuts. Explain if/how cost was a factor in your selection.
III. Implementation Steps: Identify and explain the steps Myra will have to take to implement the system you have proposed. Include:
a. Vendor agreement – What does Myra need to do in order to be able to start using the system? How much will it cost to use the system?
b. Hardware and Telecommunications – What hardware will Myra need to install at UMUC Haircuts in order to implement the solutions? What kind of telecommunications will be needed for the solution, including local connectivity inside UMUC Haircuts and Internet access? How will she acquire the necessary hardware components and Internet access?
c. Configuration – What options does the vendor offer for configuring the system to UMUC Haircuts’ needs? How will the configuration be done, and by whom?
d. Testing – How will Myra test the system to see if it is working properly for her needs?
e. Employee preparation – What will Myra need to do to prepare her employees to use the new system?
f. Data Migration – How will the current employee work schedules be entered into the system to get started?How will the customer appointments that have already been made for future dates be entered?
g. System use – Who will use the system and for what purposes? When users have questions about how to use the system, how will they get answers?
h. Maintenance – Who will provide updates and corrections to the system?
IV. Conclusion: Close your paper with a brief summary of the entire project and what benefits Myra can expect to gain from it.
References: Incorporate at least one external resource (NOTE: two or more external resources are required to receive all possible points) into your paper on an area of your choice. An external resource is a resource other than those provided in the class or textbook. Incorporate a properly formatted APA citation in the text of your document. Then, place an APA style list of references at the end of your paper.
Formatting:
• Write a short, concise paper, about 3-4 pages in length.
• Your paper should be double-spaced.
• 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 our. 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.
• Use at least one external resource (two for full credit) with APA formatted citation and reference.
• Include a title page and a reference page.
• Compare your final work to the rubric 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 _4
GRADING RUBRIC:
Your assignment will be graded according to the rubric below. The “right” and “wrong” answers have to do with whether or not you correctly incorporated the concepts from the course and addressed all areas of the assignment. Your “next steps” must be defined specifically for UMUC Haircuts, addressing its operation and its environment and your proposed technology solution. Use the Rubric below to be sure you have covered all aspects.
Case Study, Stage 4 Rubric : IT Solution and Next Steps
Criteria
90-100%
Far Above Standards
80-89%
Above Standards
70-79%
Meets Standards 60-69% Below Standards < 60% Well Below Standards Possible Points
Proposed IT Solution
18-20 Points
Proposed solution is appropriate to process and case study and is convincingly justified. Clear and accurate description of proposed technology solution; covershow it meets functional and technical requirements; and an explanation of cost effectivenessis provided. Uses course vocabulary. 16-17 Points
Proposed solution is appropriate to process and case study and is well justified. Concise description of proposed technology solution effectively covers functional and technical requirements and provides an explanation of cost effectiveness. 14-15 Points
Proposed solution is appropriate to process and case study and is justified. Adequate description of proposed technology solution is provided and includes functional and technical requirements and an explanation of cost effectiveness. 12-13 Points
Proposed technology solution description may be unclear or incomplete. 0-11 Points
Proposed technology solutionis not described or description cannot be understood; or few areas covered. 20
Vendor Agreement 9-10 Points
This section includes a clear, complete, and accurate discussion of the arrangement to be made with the vendor and the associated costs; is clearly aligned to case study and technology solution; demonstrates thorough understanding of course vocabulary and concepts, analysis and critical thinking. 8 Points
This section includes a clear discussion the arrangement to be made with the vendor and the associated costs; is aligned to the case study and technology solution; demonstrates understanding of course vocabulary and concepts, analysis and critical thinking. 7 Points
The vendor agreement and costs are described and are appropriate to the case study and the proposed solution. 6 Points
The vendor agreement and costs are partially covered and/or are somewhat appropriate to the case study project; and may be lacking in demonstration of understanding of course concepts, analysis, and/or critical thinking. 0-5 Points
Vendor agreement and costs are not included; very few details provided; or are not applicable to the case study or the proposed solution. 10
Hardware and Tele-communi-cations 9-10 Points
The hardware and telecommuni-cations needed at UMUC Haircuts and how they will be acquired are thoroughly covered and well aligned to the proposed solution and the case study; and clearly demonstrates an understanding of course vocabulary and concepts, analysis, and critical thinking. 8 Points
The hardware and telecommuni-cations needed at UMUC Haircuts and how they will be acquired are well covered and aligned to the proposed solution and the case study; and demonstrates understanding of course vocabulary and concepts, analysis, and critical thinking. 7 Points
The hardware and telecommuni-cations needed at UMUC Haircuts and how they will be acquired are included and adequately aligned to the proposed solution and the case study. 6 Points
The hardware and telecommuni-cations needed at UMUC Haircuts and how they will be acquired are not covered, and/or explanations are not aligned to the proposed solution; may be lacking in demonstration of understanding of course concepts, analysis, and/or critical thinking. 0-5 Points
The hardware and telecommuni-cations needed at UMUC Haircuts and how they will be acquired arenot included; are incorrectly addressed; or paper demonstrates little effort. 10
Configur-ation
&
Testing 9-10 Points
Configuration options and who will configure the system, and how the system will be tested are fully and clearly explained and well aligned to the proposed solution and appropriate to the case study. 8 Points
Configuration options and who will configure the system, and how the system will be tested are clearly explained and are appropriate to the proposed solution and to the case study. 7 Points
Configuration options and who will configure the system, and how the system will be tested are appropriate to the proposed solution and the case study. 6 Points
Configuration options and who will configure the system, and how the system will be tested are somewhat appropriate to the proposed solution and/or the case study. 0-5 Points
Configuration options and who will configure the system, and how the system will be tested are not addressed correctly or are not appropriate to the proposed solution and/or the case study. 10
Employee Prepar-ation
&
Data Migration 9-10 Points
Employee preparation and data migration are fully and clearly explained; and are well aligned to the proposed solution and to the case study; clearly demonstrates critical thinking. 8 Points
Employee preparation and data migration are explained well; and areclearly appropriate to the proposed solution and to the case study; demonstrates critical thinking. 7 Points
Employee preparation and data migration are explained; are appropriate to the proposed solution and to the case study. 6 Points
Employee preparation and data migration are partially explained; and/or are somewhat appropriate to the proposed solution and/or case study. 0-5 Points
Employee preparation and data migration are not addressed and/or are not appropriate to the proposed solution and/or case study. 10
System Use
&
Mainten-ance 9-10 Points
Users, their purposes and how they will be supported, and how the system will be maintained are fully explained and clearly aligned to the case study and the proposed solution;demonstrates sophisticated analysis, and critical thinking. 8 Points
Users, their purposes and how they will be supported, and how the system will be maintained are explained well and are aligned to the case study and the proposed solution; demonstrates analysis, and critical thinking. 7 Points
Users, their purposes and how they will be supported, and how the system will be maintained are explained. 6 Points
Users, their purposes and how they will be supported, and how the system will be maintained are partially covered; and/or are somewhat appropriate for the solution and/or the case study. 0-5 Points
Users, their purposes and how they will be supported, and how the system will be maintainedare not included; and/or are not appropriate to the proposed solution and/or the case study. 10
Conclusion 9-10 Points
Well-written conclusion summarizes the project and includes several benefits to be expected from the project; demonstrates sophisticated analysis and critical thinking. 8 Points
Good conclusion summarizes the project and includes several benefits to be expected from the project; demonstrates analysis and critical thinking. 7 Points
Conclusion summarizes the project and identifies some benefits to be expected. 6 Points
Conclusion summary and/or benefits to be expected are inadequate or incomplete or irrelevant to the solution and/or the case study. 0-5 Points
Conclusion summary and/or benefits to be expected are not included or poorly addressed. 10
External Research 9-10 Points
Two or more sources other than the course materials are appropriately incorporated and used effectively. Sources used are relevant and timely and contribute to the analysis and support conclusions.
References are listed and cited using APA style. 8 Points
At least one source other than the course material is incorporated and used effectively. References are appropriately listed and cited using APA style.
7 Points
At least one external resource is used and properly incorporated. Reference is listed and cited using APA style. 6 Points
A source other than the textbook 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 external research incorporated; or reference listed is not cited within the text. 10
Report Format 9-10 Points
Report is very well organized and is 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
Report reflects 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
Report has some organization; may have some errors in sentence structure, grammar and spelling. Report is double spaced and written in third person. 6 Points
Report is 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
Report is 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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