1. Selectappropriatemodel(s)forevaluatingandrankingprojects.
2. Providearationaleastowhyyouhaveselectedthemodel(s).
(Full marks can only be obtained if more than one model is considered. It is fine to get conflicting results from multiple models and then choose the model with the best fit, explaining your rationale.)
3. Ranktheprojectssetoutinthetableaccordingtothesecriteria.
COMP8750 Individual Assignment Page 1 Semester 2, 2020 Faculty of Science Department of Computing COMP8750: Information Systems Design and Management Individual Assignment Number One “Justification for IT Capital Projects” Semester 2, 2020 Lecturer1: Dr. Stephen Smith Email: stephen.smith@mq.edu.au Lecturer2: Mr. Matt. Mansour Email: matthew.mansour@mq.edu.au mailto:stephen.smith@mq.edu.au mailto:matthew.mansour@mq.edu.au COMP8750 Individual Assignment Page 2 Semester 2, 2020 Individual Assignment DATE DUE: Two Weeks, 5:00 pm on Week 4, 21 August, 2020 Please submit online through iLearn as a single Word document (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au) MARKS: 10% of course Background You work for a large manufacturing company. You have been recently appointed to the Strategic Investment Review Committee by the CEO. He has been charged with the mission of turning the company around and sees the use of IT as pivotal. His priorities are: • Create a culture where quality of products and services are superior to the competition • Attract and hold good people • Reduce costs as the environment is not conducive to obtaining incremental revenue or price rises • Maintain a secure and adaptable IT infrastructure so that the company is not restrained when market conditions improve The other members of the review committee have backgrounds in manufacturing and marketing. They have little understanding of IT related projects, and models for assessing their relative value. The attached table describes the proposed projects that need to be ranked from 1 to 8 in order of priority. The finance department has already costed these initiatives. It is expected that the company will only be able to budget for 2 to 3 of the projects in the next financial year. Your Challenge 1. Select appropriate model(s) for evaluating and ranking projects. 2. Provide a rationale as to why you have selected the model(s). (Full marks can only be obtained if more than one model is considered. It is fine to get conflicting results from multiple models and then choose the model with the best fit, explaining your rationale.) 3. Rank the projects set out in the table according to these criteria. Report This assignment is not to exceed 3 typed pages (minimum of 10 point), plus diagrams and tables. Any detailed calculations or supporting data should be relegated to appendices, which can be additional to the 3 pages. Please accept the financial numbers given. Do NOT use a financial analysis to rank the projects. Projects can be referenced by their numbers and titles. A ranking table (from 1 to 8 in order of priority) is required. This assignment will contribute a maximum of 15% to the final assessment grade, and is a compulsory component of the course. (Students will not be ranked!) Do not copy and paste from other students’ work as you will be caught by Turnitin! https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ COMP8750 Individual Assignment Page 3 Semester 2, 2020 Projects Project Description Costs ($1000s) Benefits ($1000s) Payback Period 1. Notebooks for Sales Staff High end notebooks with 4G modem cards issued to sales reps to connect with ERP system. Reduced time in office, improved customer service. $3500 + $350 p.a. Increased profit and lower sales costs 24 months 2. Order Entry Website Current website extended to enable customer stock availability queries, order entry and order tracking. Major integration exercise. $1500 + $500 p.a. Reduce staff and increased sales 24 months 3. EDI link to suppliers Major suppliers require EDI ordering. Currently emailing orders. Integrate EDI with ERP system. $180 + $80 p.a. Reduced staff and inventory 16 months 4. BPMS study Study impact of major ERP upgrade to allow for SOA integration, improved workflow and business process management. 6 staff, 6 mths = $400 Net benefits could exceed $20,000 Unclear 5. Security Upgrade Upgrade to state of the art firewall, intrusion detection and access control systems. $1200 + $90 p.a. Fewer virus attacks. Protection of data. Unclear 6. Desktop Publishing Upgrade PCs and software to enable company to produce digital artwork for web, print and training video media. $220 + $20 p.a. Reduced cost of contractors 20 months 7. Business Intelligence A COTS BI package to better analyse ERP sales data and integrate with external marketing data. $500 + $100 p.a. Increased sales through better sales and marketing 30 months 8. VOIP Network Extend current WAN to allow for VOIP telephony and video conferences with branch staff $400 + $300 p.a. Reduced telephony and travel expenses 20 months COMP8750 Individual Assignment Page 4 Semester 2, 2020 Marking Criteria Students should provide 2 models with an adequate interpretation, and then show how these models were used to produce a ranking table of the You will be marked according to the following criteria, with a final mark out of 100: Element Excellent to Good (80) Pass (40) Incomplete (20) Demonstrates understanding or interpretation of key concepts of models used to assess IT capital projects Demonstrates high level of understanding of key concepts Skillfully organises description of issues and application of models Includes 2 relevant models and compares and contrasts the results Provides a logical ranking table derived from the models Demonstrates some understanding of key concepts Organises description of issues and application of models in some cases Includes at least one relevant model and analyses the results Provides a reasonably logical ranking table derived from the models Demonstrates little understanding of key concepts Little organisation used to describe issues; shows poor application of models Includes an incomplete model(s) and an incomplete analysis of result(s) Provides an incomplete ranking table derived from the models Element Excellent to Good (20) Pass (10) Incomplete (5) Technical Clarity of expression, correct grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling – excellent in all areas Used consistent referencing system intext and bibliography Clarity of expression, correct grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling - some difficulties determining meaning, some errors Missing some references either in-text or in bibliography; or included references in bibliography that were not included in text Poor clarity of expression, grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling – limited readability; requires many corrections/further explanation Very poor use of referencing system; inconsistent style, incomplete bibliography Individual Assignment Individual Assignment Background Your Challenge Report Projects