Assignment1 -Organisational strategy andIS/IT management (2500 words; value 25%)

 

Select an organisation thathas succeededin becoming amarketleaderin its' industrythrough the effectiveuse of IS/IT. Usinganessay formatdescribe theways in whichthe selectedorganisationhas implementedand used IS/ITto change the basis of competition in theorganisation'sindustry, to provide it with asustainable competitive advantage. To whatdegree has the selectedorganisation'smarket successbeen underpinnedand supported by excellencein IS/IT management?

 

You must choose an organisationwhich has usedIS/IT tochange the basis of competition(including the behaviour of customers) in theindustryto establisha leadershippositionin the market. The organisationmay or notbe an IS/ITcompany, as the emphasis should beon how the organisationhas usedIS/ITto address and service its' market, not just on the productsit provides.

A concisedescription ofthe changes to an industrybrought about byleadership in the useof IS/IT can befacilitatedby the use ofappropriateindustry models.

In providing an analysisof how wellyour selectedorganisation hasmanaged IT, youmay findassistance in the textbook(and other sources)where it shows that excellencein IT managementis based onhow wellan organisationinvolvesall managers inIT;integratesIT intobusiness strategicplanning; usesPM methodologies acrossthe organisation; has a businessprocess approach, has effective outsourcing practices; and understandsthe importance ofcorporate governanceand IT. You do not needto gothrough allof these IT management issuesone-by-one, butyou should look forhighlights(or lowlights!)inthe performanceof yourselected organisationin regard to them,so you willbe able tomake an assessmentof how wellthe organisationhas managed IS/ITto underpin and supportits' strategicmarket success.

 

Rationale

This assignment relates to all learning outcomes (subject objectives). It provides an opportunity for you to: 

· demonstrate factual knowledge, understanding and the application of technology related issues for the specified case study; 
· demonstrate coherent and logical presentation of issues in information systems (IS) and information technology (IT); 
· demonstrate research and writing skills; 
· demonstrate knowledge and application of appropriate terminology; 
· demonstrate ability to integrate and apply information from various topics and to apply understanding and knowledge to a practical situation; and 
· demonstrate a clear understanding of the IS/IT and management issues.

Marking criteria

How marks are allocated and what the marker is looking for :

Evidence and depth of research : 20% 
Extensive reading of journals, industry position papers and relevant literature. It is expected that you read at least 6-8 appropriate and suitable titles. These may be from CSU databases or other sources. Limit newspaper and magazine reports to a maximum of 2. 

Relevance of content : 20% 
Provision of high level view and concrete recommendations the organisation. Your argument for the case should be appropriate for the organisation.. 

Application of concepts and principles : 20% 
Application of your suggestions that are backed up with theory, statistics and/or reports. Inclusion of a few points of assumption. 

Clarity of Structure : 10% 
Well formatted structure of the report, easy to read and suitable headers used throughout. You may use a table of contents and graphics/illustrations whenever appropriate. 

Writing to the audience : 15% 
Non-technical jargon, usage of terminology and appropriate explanation of technical issues (if required) in simple language. 

Correct referencing : 15% 
Referencing to the APA6th edition standard. Minor referencing errors up to two will be tolerated. Non-use of the APA standard will result in "no marks allocated

 

Assignment 1 - Organisational strategy and IS/IT management (2500 words; value 25%)

 

Select an organisation that has succeeded in becoming a market leader in its' industry through the effective use of IS/IT. Using an essay format describe the ways in which the selected organisation has implemented and used IS/IT to change the basis of competition in the organisation's industry, to provide it with a sustainable competitive advantage. To what degree has the selected organisation's market success been underpinned and supported by excellence in IS/IT management?

 

You must choose an organisation which has used IS/IT to change the basis of competition (including the behaviour of customers) in the industry to establish a leadership position in the market. The organisation may or not be an IS/IT company, as the emphasis should be on how the organisation has used IS/IT to address and service its' market, not just on the products it provides.

A concise description of the changes to an industry brought about by leadership in the use of IS/IT can be facilitated by the use of appropriate industry models.

In providing an analysis of how well your selected organisation has managed IT, you may find assistance in the textbook (and other sources) where it shows that excellence in IT management is based on how well an organisation involves all managers in IT; integrates IT into business strategic planning; uses PM methodologies across the organisation; has a business process approach, has effective outsourcing practices; and understands the importance of corporate governance and IT. You do not need to go through all of these IT management issues one-by-one, but you should look for highlights (or lowlights!) in the performance of your selected organisation in regard to them, so you will be able to make an assessment of how well the organisation has managed IS/IT to underpin and support its' strategic market success. 

 

 

Rationale

This assignment relates to all learning outcomes (subject objectives). It provides an opportunity for you to: 

 

· demonstrate factual knowledge, understanding and the application of technology related issues for the specified case study; 

· demonstrate coherent and logical presentation of issues in information systems (IS) and information technology (IT); 

· demonstrate research and writing skills; 

· demonstrate knowledge and application of appropriate terminology; 

· demonstrate ability to integrate and apply information from various topics and to apply understanding and knowledge to a practical situation; and 

· demonstrate a clear understanding of the IS/IT and management issues.

Marking criteria

How marks are allocated and what the marker is looking for :

 

Evidence and depth of research  :  20% 

Extensive reading of journals, industry position papers and relevant literature. It is expected that you read at least 6-8 appropriate and suitable titles. These may be from CSU databases or other sources. Limit newspaper and magazine reports to a maximum of 2. 

 

Relevance of content  :  20% 

Provision of high level view and concrete recommendations the organisation. Your argument for the case should be appropriate for the organisation.. 

 

Application of concepts and principles :  20% 

Application of your suggestions that are backed up with theory, statistics and/or reports. Inclusion of a few points of assumption. 

 

Clarity of Structure  :  10% 

Well formatted structure of the report, easy to read and suitable headers used throughout. You may use a table of contents and graphics/illustrations whenever appropriate. 

 

Writing to the audience  : 15% 

Non-technical jargon, usage of terminology and appropriate explanation of technical issues (if required) in simple language. 

 

Correct referencing  :  15% 

Referencing to the APA 6th edition standard. Minor referencing errors up to two will be tolerated. Non-use of the APA standard will result in "no marks allocated