IT Policy & Strategy Team Project: A Problem Solving Proposal

You will be assigned to work in a group of 1-2 or 2-3 classmates. Then, you will begin to investigate possible timely information technology policy and strategy interests, situations, or needs to suggest to the group look for areas that need improvement and can be solved with outstanding leadership and innovation.

• Introductions. As soon as you are assigned to a group, meet with the other group members to introduce yourself, to exchange email addresses, phone numbers, and class/work schedules. You may want to look for possible meeting times out of class. Time will be allotted for meeting in group rooms online.

• Solution-selection. Meet to consider individuals' suggestions about information technology policy and strategy related problems. Discuss alternative choices and come to a consensus on the ONE problem the group will deal with.

Only then, begin to discuss possible solutions to the problem. Discuss the extent, origins, and possible causes of the problem, consider alternative solutions, and select the solution that seems most practical and that meets these criteria:

• Entails research that can be done by all group members

• Is acceptable to all group members

• Is complex enough to generate a proposal whose body is at least fifteen pages long.

If the group cannot achieve consensus on a solution, go back and select another problem.
Assign someone to take or record this discussion; it will grow into the proposal's "Background" and "Statement of Need" sections.

• Division of Work. At the same meeting or at soon after, decide who in the group will gather what data and how. The group must make sure the work is divided fairly.

The "Questions for Problem-Solving Proposals" suggest what information will be needed. You may need to cover other areas not listed. To gather data, you will probably use some or all of the following:

• Articles on successes of a similar solution elsewhere

• Observations

• Interviews

• Questionnaires/Surveys, etc.

• On-going Meetings. Meet regularly (electronically/phone/otherwise) to share data. Each group member should provide all other members with copies of a brief outline of his/her findings to data. Also discuss and resolve any problems in data-gathering that arise.

• 5. What if the group feels that one member isn't doing what he/she has agreed to do? Then the group needs to find the reason. If the reason is convincing, assign him/her another, equal task. If all else fails, see the instructor. If the instructor intervention fails, the student will probably not complete the course.

• 6 What if a student drops the course and the group is now short a person? Contact the instructor immediately. Adjustment will be made.

• 7. Proposal Organization. After each group member has had time to read all members' work and make written comments on the content, verify that all needed questions have been answered so that everyone understands what everyone else has written. As a group, begin to arrange the material in the order suitable for a proposal. Decide what illustrations are needed and who will be responsible for each. Visuals are required.

Meet for the first and second revisions of sections of the body. Provide copies of revisions for each group member.

• Introduction and Conclusions/Recommendations. Discuss and agree on the content of the proposal's introduction, conclusions, and recommendations. Assign individuals to write the sections and distribute copies of them to group members before the final approval meeting.

• Final Approval and Supplements. Approve final revisions. At this point, each group members should have a revised copy of the whole paper, except for prefatory and end parts.

Assign individuals to prepare the paper's abstract, table of contents, and table of illustrations, title page, any needed appendix (es) and reference list.

• Final Document. Remember that all group members will earn the same grade, so if you think something is incomplete, unclear or mechanically incorrect, say so. After all have approved the final draft, prepare a copy to submit for grading. The title page should carry the names of all group members. Each member should initial his/her name.

• Oral Report Presentation.(Blackboard Collaborate) Decide on the organization of the informational report the group will make to the class on your research and findings. Assign general sections of the oral report to each member within the time limits announced by your instructor. Meet to review the presentation's format so there is continuity between speakers and that there is no redundancy.

The following elements should be demonstrated in this assignment:

• Timely information technology policy and strategy issue

• Clear information technology policy and strategy needs and interest of targeted department

• Logical progress and trends related to the issue

• Clear impact of issue on workplace

• Topically related leadership and innovation issues

• Appropriate instruments used to collect information

QUESTIONS FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING PROPOSALS

Definition of a Problem: A situation, issue, policy, or practice this is difficult and perplexing but can be improved or solved.

• What is a current situation, policy, practice that you see as a problem?

• How do you know the current situation, practice, or policy is not beneficial ?

• Can it be improved, changed, eliminated? How do you know?

BACKGROUND

Extent: Who/what does the problem hurt? In what way? When? For how long? With what results?

• Evidence that negative results are caused by this problem?

Origin: When did the problem start?

• Evidence of its origin?

Causes: What are some of the causes of the problem?

• Evidence that these are the causes?

• Evidence that these are the only or even chief causes?\

Attempts at Solutions: Has anyone before tried to solve this problem here or elsewhere? When? How? With what effect?

• Lessons learned from past attempts?

• Lessons learned from solutions to similar problems?

STATEMENT OF NEED

• What is your proposed solution?

• Why did you choose it over alternative solutions?

• If your solution is accepted, what benefits will be gained. By whom? How soon?

PLAN OF ACTION

• What steps need to be taken to get ready to start putting your proposed solution into effect?

• What people need to be involved in planning the implementation of the solution?

• What steps need to be taken to implement your solution?

• What materials/equipment will be needed to accomplish each step?

• What facilities (space, utilities) will be needed at each step? How will they be used? For how long?

• What people will need to be involved at each step of the implementation? What will they need to know and do? For how long?

BUDGET

• How much will it cost for the people needed? How do you arrive at the total?

• How much will it cost for the materials/equipment? How do you arrive at the total?

• How much will it cost for facilities? How do you arrive at the total?

• What other direct costs will there be? How do you know?

• What are indirect costs (time lost by personnel; health benefits; insurance for equipment; unexpected delays)?

• What will be the total cost? How do you arrive at the total?

• How will this proposal be funded? Direct sources? Indirect sources? Evidence for availability of the needed funds?

SCHEDULE

• How long would it take to plan to start implementing the proposed solution?

• How did you arrive at this answer?

• How long will it take to have the proposed solution approved?

• How did you arrive at this answer?

EVALUATION

• What method of monitoring progress will you use?

• What method of evaluation of success/failure will you use?

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• What are the reasons in favor of implementation (summarized)?

• What is the group's recommendation?