General Information 
In this assignment you will expand your thinking around the management of systems
projects by applying research and knowledge to a Hands-on MIS projects found in section
14.5 (page 446) available in the set textbook. The "Management decision problems" are
mini case studies that can act as springboards for extended study. 
You will be expected to reference external material other than the textbook in order
to complete this assignment successfully. Referencing must be in Harvard format.
The McDonalds Case Studies and questions 
Suggestion: read through all four questions before starting. 
McDonalds. 
1. First, carefully read the case in the textbook (p.446). Next, search online for any further 
information available about the case. Finally, in your own words, summarize in one 
paragraph what happened. Be brief but accurate, and use correct referencing. 
2. The reasons for the failure of McDonald's Innovate project have been studied by others 
over the years. For example, see 
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/student/courses/tech914/summer2004/projectfailur 
es/projectfailures/mcd.htm. Study the reasons given in this website and compare it to 
one or two other similar websites (e.g. schools of management, universities etc), and 
remember to reference the websites correctly. From these, nominate your own "top 
three" reasons for the failure of the project, and explain why you think your top three are 
the most significant reasons for the failure. Are there any other reasons you think apply 
to the McDonald's case, but which were not discussed in any of the websites you looked 
at? 
3. What impact does systems development methodologies have on the success or failure of 
systems projects according to the literature (look up a few)? Consider a contemporary 
approach like SCRUM - could it help in this case? In answering this question, first 
briefly explain with references how SCRUM works, then how you might have applied it 
to the McDonald's project if you were the project manager. Then predict - with reasons 
- whether this would or would not have made a positive difference to the project. 
4. What should management have known or done at the outset to prevent the negative 
outcome of the project? 
You do not need to study the "Caterpillar" case that follows the Mcdonalds case. 
COIT20228 Assignment Two Term 1, 2014 
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Assignment deliverable 
Create a report in which you address the four Case Study Questions, using external literature 
sources to support your answers. Use the template on the assessment page as the basis
for your submission.
You are required to submit your work as a single document in Microsoft Word format
(.doc or .docx).
You may use the literature you researched in Assignment One if it is appropriate for your 
purpose. 
Your task is to go beyond the text and explore a few of the concepts in greater depth - you
need to demonstrate that you have done this. 
The use of academic literature is essential. How much literature? It is appropriateness
and quality rather than quantity that counts, however, as a rough guideline, it would be
difficult to produce a report of this kind without having read at least eight sources.
Warning: penalties are severe for plagiarism. Plagiarism includes copying the work of other 
students, using purchased answers from Internet services, or un-referenced copying from any 
other sources. All submitted files are processed through TurnItIn, a copy detection service. 
References 
All in-text citations and the reference list itself should be in Harvard format. 
Hints 
While there is no maximum word count for the report, try to limit it to less than 3000
words. If you can say what you need to say in less, then that is fine - don't write for the
sake of writing.
There is no single "correct" response. You need to give a considered view or opinion and
justify your responses based on the case and supported by external literature.
You may use the course news forum to ask questions or discuss issues with classmates. 
Use a formal academic style of writing. It is also important that your writing is concise and
concepts are communicated clearly.
COIT20228 Assignment Two Term 1, 2014 
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