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Assessment item 4 back to top Critique in Systems & Technology Value: 18% Due Date: 22-May-2019 Return Date: 17-Jun-2019 Length: 2200 Submission method options: N/A - submission not required/applicable Task back to top Journal Entry. The Journal function in Interact2 must be used. External journal sites are not permitted. If your country geo-blocks Interact2 website or your circumstance prevents you from accessing the Internet (eg. due to a disability or if you are in a correctional centre), please contact your lecturer immediately. If it is an office/organisation firewall preventing access, you must find an alternative Internet access point to complete this task. Warning: Entering or editing data in this journal entry after 2359 hours on 22 May will result in deduction of marks (as specified in Penalties for Late Submission). Write a business report based on the following: Two coach tour companies have decided to merge their business. Outback Safari Tours is a full service coach company with 25 offices located in NSW, QLD, SA, WA and the NT. It prides itself on it’s variety of multi-day tours, excellent service and a fleet of new coaches (all less than 4 years old) - each capable of carrying 50 passengers. 75% of its sales come through tour operators and travel agents. Mainland Express is a low-cost coach company with 10 offices located in NSW, Vic, ACT and SA. Its strengths include low priced fares and on time service. It focuses on city to city routes, with minimal stops and no overnight accommodation. Its online booking system is excellent. Its fleet consist of quality coaches capable of carrying 55 passengers. Senior management has finalised on the following decisions: 1. The combined company Mainland–Safari Tours will retain all existing all staff, coaches, tours and destinations. It has been determined that current scheduling does not conflict. Outback Safari’s aging system is to be merged into the Mainland Express advanced system. 2. Mainland–Safari Tours will begin service as a premium based low-cost carrier (low cost fare but passenger can pay for everything else: seating, baggage, drinks, meals, WiFi on the road and even carry-on luggage to first-to-board privilege). It will move to low-cost coach terminals where available. 3. (intentionally left blank) 4. (intentionally left blank) [Points 3 and 4 will be given to you by your lecturer 7 days before date due. This is to allow everyone to work in this timeframe and to prevent unauthorised assistance with your work.] Write a business report outlining the above case, stating assumptions you make at the beginning of your report. Provide critique into the management decisions substantiating with reference to literature. In your report, make the difference between Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT) issues and how it will affect customer choice, continued patronage, brand loyalty, etc. Suggest how to attract new customers (from competitors) and any other new business opportunities that may arise with such a set up (eg. Waiting Lounge services, Car Parking options, Transfers from Home/Office, etc.). All these should be substantiated with references to IS and IT literature. Rationale back to top This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s: · be able to critique management processes and involvement in planning for Information Systems and Information Technology in an organisation. · be able to identify and co-relate emerging technology issues in management and provide a short balanced analysis report. Marking criteria and standards back to top Criteria HD & DI CR PS FL Title (1 mark) Introduction Word Limit: 150 words (3 marks) Provison of title (1 mark) Objective of the report and the relationship to other works in the field clearly stated (3 mark) Objective and/or relationship not clearly stated Either objective and/or relationship not present No introduction or introduction not relevant to the body. 1+3 marks 2 marks 1.5 marks 0 mark Executive Summary Word Limit: 250 words (4 marks) Summary of the complete report well written for the reader to become acquainted with the body of the material. Keeps to word limit. Summary covers some topics. Contains minor errors. Summary covers some of the key aspects only. Summary is an extended introduction. 3 marks 2 marks 1.5 marks 0-1.4 mark Significance and contribution - Body of Report, Recommendations & Conclusion Word Limit: 1800 words (9 marks) Report extremely well supported with relevant citation to literature. Recommendations appropriate and conclusion well presented. Any assumptions made are clearly noted. Report is supported with some citations whereas a few claims made are unsubstantiated with literature. Recommendations missing and/or conclusion poorly made. Report is supported with minimal citation.Recommendations and/or conclusion made disjointed from narrative in body of report. Report is not supported with relevant case study examples. Any assumptions made are not noted. 7 marks 5 marks 3.5 marks 0 mark Formatting, Writing Style and text structure [Read Presentation Guide below] (3 marks) Meets formatting and presentation requirements as set out No spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. Did not meet at least two formatting and/or presentation requirements. Some spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. Wrote report using points or numbered lists. Formating and presentation rules not followed. Multiple punctuation and grammatical errors. 2 marks 1 mark 0 mark Correct citation and referencing - Minimum 5 references (4 marks) APA 6th edition referencing applied to a range of relevant resources. No referencing errors. Direct quotes used sparingly. Sources all documented. APA 6th edition referencing applied to mainly a range of web links only and/or Two or more citation or referencing errors detected. Direct quotes used sparingly. Sources all documented. Referencing not done to the APA 6th edition standard. Over-use of direct quotes. Range of sources used is not appropriate and/or not documented. 2 marks 1 mark 0 mark Presentation back to top Journal Presentation Formatting Requirements: 1. Journal space on Interact2 presentation text width between 85-95 characters including spaces. 2. Font types and sizes consistent (use Arial 12pt) throughout and paragraphs well formed. 3. Submit answers to all work in one single journal entry. 4. No attachments to journal entry allowed. 5. Avoid using dot points, bulleted points, numbered points in your work. Lists do not display your understanding of the subject matter and may even appear disjointed to the reader/marker. 6. Meet word limits in each question (allowance of +/- 5%). Table of contents are not required. Reference List is not included in the word count. (Failure to follow all the above rules, [eg. if you do not meet word limit for one question but meet for the others] this is considered as not meeting word limit for all: no partial mark allocated.) 7. Use either UK spelling or USA spelling but do not mix both. 8. All work presented should be carefully proofed, so that spelling and typographical errors are corrected. 9. All language used should not be sexist. 10. If acronyms and jargon are used, please explain them in the first instance, then use the abbreviated form in the rest of the report. 11. Appendices are not to be used. 12. Use of headings and sub-headings can be used for clarity. 13. It is important to get the balance right between the citing of referenced material and your own interpretation and ideas. When using your own thoughts and ideas, you can signal the reader by using words and phrases such as 'it can be argued that...", "it is evident that..." and "it seems as though..." 14. Writing in the third person is expected in all pieces of work. 15. Do not submit multiple copies (or versions) of your work. If you do, the marker will only pick the one with the lowest mark awarded. You have full editing rights, kindly remove all unnecessary material before date due. 16. All date/time mentioned and used is in Australian Eastern Standard Time (or Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time) or Sydney time. Business report format Readers of business reports expect certain information to be in certain places. They do not expect to search for what they want and the harder you make it for them the more likely they are to toss your report to one side and ignore it. So what should you do? 1. Follow the generally accepted format for a business report: Title, Executive Summary, Introduction, Main Body, Conclusion and Reference List. 2. Organise your information within each section in a logical fashion with the reader in mind, usually putting things in order of priority - most important first. Report Title. This is simply up at the beginning of your report. Executive Summary. Give a clear and very concise account of the main points, main conclusion (and recommendation). Keep it very short (see word limit). Some people, especially senior managers, may not read anything else so write as if it were a stand-alone document. It isn't but for some people it might as well be. Keep it brief and free from jargon so that anyone can understand it and get the main points. Write it last, but do not copy and paste from the report itself; that rarely works well. Introduction. This is the first part of the report proper. Use it to paint the background to 'the problem' and to show the reader why the report is important to them. Then explain how the details that follow are arranged. Write it in plain English. Main Body. This is the heart of your report, the facts. It will probably have several sections or sub-sections each with its own subtitle. It is unique to your report and will describe what you discovered about 'the problem'. These sections are most likely to be read by experts so you can use some appropriate jargon but explain it as you introduce it. Arrange the information logically, normally putting things in order of priority -- most important first. In fact, follow that advice in every section of your report. Do not write in dot points or numbered points as this will appear disjointed and look like notes taken in a meeting. Conclusion. Present the logical conclusions of your investigation of 'the problem'. Bring it all together and maybe offer options for the way forward. Many people will read this section. Recommendations. What do you suggest should be done? Don't be shy; you did the work so state your recommendations in order of priority. References. As your business report must be academically sound as well as making good business sense, it is essential that your report is supported by accurate in-text referencing and the inclusion of a reference list. Although some business reports in the workplace do not require full referencing (and some students may be used to this), it is a requirement in the academic environment. This is equitable for all students.