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."

Purpose of this Assignment

This assignment gives you the opportunity to apply the concepts of this course to address the selection, planning, development, implementation and on-going management of a technology solution for the UMUC Haircuts business. This assignment specifically addresses the following course outcome to enable you to:

• identify and plan IT solutions that meet business objectives

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 chosen genericstrategy 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 the IT requirements by 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 Morningstar has 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 and is designed for a Salon type of business. 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 include everything 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. (One well-constructed paragraph that clearly and concisely presents the context and information required to engage the reader and indicate what's to come.)

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. (One well-constructed paragraph that describes a solution that is SaaS or cloud-based and is designed to meet the needs of improving the customer appointment and employee scheduling processes.)

III. Implementation Steps: Identify and explain the steps Myra will have to take to implement the system you have proposed. Include information for each area under its appropriate heading. Be sure you are addressing what needs to be done as it relates to the recommended solution and meeting the needs of UMUC Haircuts:

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? What licensing or Term of Use/Service does the vendor require?

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 areas would likely need to be configured for this solution? 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? (Remember: Testing is contained with SDLC phases)

e. Employee preparation - What will Myra need to do to prepare her employees to use the new system? It's important that employees know why the change is happening and how they will be prepared for it.

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? (Remember: current schedules are kept on paper.)

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 an external resource for the vendor you have chosen to support the information you are providing. In addition, provide at least one external resource to provide additional information to support your recommendations for successful implementation. (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 for each reference used. Then, place an APA style list of references at the end of your paper. All references listed must be represented by in-text citations within your writing to show specifically where information from these sources was incorporated.

Formatting:

• Write a short, concise paper, 3 pages in length. Papers greater than 6 pages including references will not be accepted.

• Your paper should be double-spaced.

• Use at least one external resource (two for full credit) with APA formatted citation and reference.