Assignment Handout

Please realize that the notes in the ‘callouts' on Page 5 showing a sample tech alert are REQUIREMENTS, not suggestions. Remember to explicitly tie your article summary back to the material presented in the text. Read the chapters BEFORE you look for articles.

TA #1: Tech Alert on IT & Strategy (Ch 3 or 4) -OR- Hardware/Emerging Technology (Ch 5)

Ch 3 or 4 IT Strategy option: Find one article that relates to the content covered in Chapters 3 or 4 in our text. For this option, choose one of the following approaches:

• Summarize a recent ‘real-world' example that illustrates one topic presented in one of these chapters or find a related article that extends the book's discussion on IT and strategy, and/or;

• Discuss or provide an example of a key term shown in the book margins from Chapters 3 or 4.

• Look at the discussion questions at the end of the chapter sections and find an article that helps you answer a question that is posed, or;

• Follow-up on a specific case study that is presented in the text or find comparable examples. If you choose this option, you must focus on new information about the organization that is not included in the text.

Chapter 5: Moore's Law and More

• Look for an article that discusses emerging technologies or trends discussed in the text, focusing on the use or potential use by organizations or individuals. Try to find examples of new products that illustrate the "fifth wave" of technology (RFID, wearable computing, emerging technologies).

• Other options would be to find an article that discuss Moore's law, the move toward mobile technologies (smart phones), advances in hardware technology, grid computing, or e-waste.

TA #2: Tech Alert on Software (Ch 11 or 12)

Chapter 11: Understanding Software or Chapter 12: Software in Flux

• Find an article that focuses on managerial advice or trends relating to Cloud Computing, Open Source Software, Service-Oriented Architecture (SoA), Enterprise systems, ERP, Software as a Service (SaaS), or;

• Look for an article that covers user interface design and/or trends/advances in the user interface (speech, gesture recognition, mobility, etc.), or;

• Find an article that discusses new system development or implementation in an organization--Success or Failure; or

• If you have participated in the implementation of a new information system deployment at work (even as an end-user), you can write up your experiences. No article is required if you choose this option, but the rest of the tech alert requirements must be followed (quote from text, etc.)

Technology Plan Assignment

Creating a business plan is the primary activity of BA 499 Business Planning, the capstone course required for business majors. The purpose of this assignment is for you to think about 1) how your type of business could achieve competitive advantages through the use of technology and 2) how information technology can be used to support your core transaction processing. To do this, you will need to find and examine two different software applications that could be used by your business. (If you don't have an idea for a business plan yet, that's okay - just pick a specific type of business that you could potentially be interested in.) Note: Many classes evolve around your business idea so it will benefit you in the long run to decide on a business type and use the same business for your remaining courses.

Secondly, you will need to develop your information system that is intertwined within your marketing strategy. Information systems will aid in customer data collection and can be used to facilitate customer retention if properly used to its full potential. You will develop a strategy that uses your information system to attain and retain current and future customers.

Formatting and Content Requirements: Your report must be a minimum of three full pages (max 5) and should be professional in appearance. Specifically, include a centered title at the top of the first page, and create a page footer with your name, date, and page number (in Page x of y format as shown in this document). The following five sections should be included with underlined headings, paragraphs should be single-spaced with double-spacing between and no extra spacing between lines. Use Times New Roman 12-point font.

Business Description:

• Provide a thorough description of your potential business: products/services your business will provide, your target market, an estimate of the size of the business, and where your business will be located. If you are proposing a unique type of business, be sure that your business model (how do you make your money) is evident. Copying and using an existing business is not permissible. Be able to discuss why you chose a particular target market and location for your business.

Social Media and Marketing Strategy:

• Discuss your social media and e-commerce strategies. Some possible questions to consider: What types of Web 2.0 strategies would you employ? Would you have a web site? What purpose(s) would it serve? Do you anticipate conducting any B2B or B2C e-commerce? How can you use social media to increase your competitive advantage? Which social media sites will you use (you must specifically name the ones you will use)?

Information System:

• List at least five different pieces of data (other than name, phone, email) that you will collect from your potential customers - assume you can get any information you would like such as birthdate, social security #, etc.

• Two of the five pieces of data must be unique to your industry (e.g. if selling alcohol, you would need a birthdate). Be specific and use all five pieces of data. This is the heart of your information system so attention to detail is crucial. Specifically address what processes you will use to attain and retain your customers with your information system. For example, will you mail them a postcard on their birthday?

Data processing needs

• Look for a software solution that is specific to your type of business. General applications are available for common business tasks (such as payroll and accounting), but there is also a wide range of "vertical software applications" that address the needs of specific types of businesses, such as retail management, service management, restaurant management, fundraising, etc. Often, there are even more focused solutions within an industry type - for example, there is retail software specific to bicycle shops, restaurant management software addressing the unique needs of pizzerias, etc. Find software that is customized as much as possible to your specific business type.

• Describe why your company needs a software program and what type you are searching for.

• Find and compare two like applications (purchasable software or a web-based "cloud computing" solution) that address your core transaction processes. For example, if your business is a retail store, focus on a system that streamlines point of sale (POS) and inventory processes.

• Create a table (sample table shown below) to compare your selected programs using the format shown below. In the first column, list at least eight software requirements for your business, and indicate whether the solutions that you are considering would meet these requirements.

Example of selected software requirements for a Property Management Company. Start each requirement with a VERB - each requirement should complete the sentence: "The system will be used to ."

• Choose one of the two applications that you looked into and state why you would choose that application over the other.

• In narrative form, specifically describe two business processes that are automated or streamlined through the use of your chosen software.

Operating Environment

• Your solution will determine your hardware needs. What are the specifications of the hardware/operating system needed to run your chosen software? Most web sites include specific information on system requirements. List all of the requirements in this section.

• For every piece of equipment that your business needs, you need to provide the specifications of that hardware (processor speed, memory, OS, etc.).

• If your chosen solution is a web-based SaaS offering, you will still need to supply the specifications of the hardware and operating system that you will be using to access the SaaS.

• You will not get credit for this section if you merely put that you need a computer that can access the Internet.

Attachment:- Assignemnt_Handout.pdf