Write a report to critically analyse the company's current situation, its impact and your intervention strategy and recommendations to make Meta Tech Solution more productive and progressing.
INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 1 REPORT -INDIVIDUAL TASK This assessment task contributes to 40 % of the total course grade. RATIONALE: This assessment task provides an opportunity for students to explore the contributions to society and/or business of a successful leader and share this knowledge while practising their verbal communication skills. ASSESSMENT SUMMARY: Components Due date Individual or pairs Submission process Part 1-Report Part 2- Presentation 17 September 2023 Individual online TASK DESCRIPTION Part 1 Write a report based on the following scenario. 'Meta Tech Solutions' is a mid-sized software development company once considered a promising player in the industry. However, over time, the company has been plagued by various dysfunctional elements, severely impacting its performance and reputation. The company suffers from a severe breakdown in communication among departments and teams. Different teams rarely interact or share information, leading to duplicated efforts, missed opportunities, and delayed project deliveries. This lack of collaboration has resulted in a toxic work culture, with employees feeling isolated and disengaged. The leadership within the organisation is weak and indecisive. A lack of clear vision, mission, and strategy has left employees feeling directionless and demotivated. Managers often resort to micromanagement rather than empowering their teams, which hampers creativity and innovation. Ethical issues have arisen within the company, with reports of favouritism, nepotism, and misuse of power. Employees have observed unfair promotions and project allocation practices, leading to demoralisation and mistrust. The lack of transparency in decision-making exacerbates these ethical challenges. The company is resistant to change and hesitant to adopt new technologies and processes. The competitors are taking this opportunity to adapt to change more quickly. Employees are reluctant to embrace change due to the prevailing fear of job insecurity and a lack of confidence in the leadership's ability to manage change effectively. Decision-making within the organisation is slow and bureaucratic. Decisions often go through multiple layers of approval, leading to delays and missed opportunities. The lack of data-driven decision-making and reliance on subjective judgments further exacerbate the inefficiency. Many highly skilled and experienced employees have recently left Meta Tech Solutions and joined the competitors. The low morale of remaining employees further contributes to reduced productivity and an INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 2 overall hostile atmosphere. Due to internal dysfunction, the company's products and services have suffered in quality. This has led to customer dissatisfaction and declining repeat business and referrals. The senior management appoints you as leader of the intervention committee to address the current issues and improve the company's morale. Write a report to critically analyse the company's current situation, its impact and your intervention strategy and recommendations to make Meta Tech Solution more productive and progressing. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE REPORT Title • A meaningful Title, Table of content Executive summary • In less than 200 words ... what was the problem, how was it investigated, what did you find out, and what do your findings mean? Introduction • Set the scene for the reader; provide background information about the topic. State the aim/purpose of the investigation. Outline the body sections. Main Body • Organise the sections logically: what you investigated, what you found, what interpretations and judgements you made. Use short informative headings and subheadings. • What do you recommend as a course of action? Conclusion • What has been achieved, and the significance of your findings and your discussion? Have your aims been successful or not? References • At least 8 academic references must be required and formatted according to UniSA Harvard style https://lo.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=3839§ionid=555862 • All academic texts must be referenced. If you find a source of insufficient academic information, it needs to be acknowledged accordingly. Always cite another person's ideas or work. If you are not sure how to do this, please access the Academic Integrity Module: https://lo.unisa.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=252142&chapterid=39190 • In addition to helping you avoid plagiarism, referencing adds credibility and substance to your work; it demonstrates that you have read widely and enables you to provide evidence and information to support your ideas. For more details, refer- https://lo.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=3839 https://lo.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=3839§ionid=555862 https://lo.unisa.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=252142&chapterid=39190 https://lo.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=3839 INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 3 PRESENTATION AND FORMATTING OF THE REPORT • You will be assessed on the content and presentation, which includes using appropriate language and terminology, adhering to referencing conventions, and structuring texts professionally: e.g. headings, headers and footers, cover pages, etc. • Wordcount- approximate 2000 words +/- 10% is allowed • Margins 2.5cm all around. • Font 12-point Calibri or Times New Roman, including headings. • Single-line spacing, one clear line space between numbered and titled paragraphs. • Each section with an appropriate heading. • Header – course name, student ID number. • Footer –page number • Minimum 8 academic references • Submit a Word document not a pdf ( to check the wordcount) • Note: These guidelines are assessed. INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 4 Marking Guidelines INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals-Report Assessment feedback Key components of this assignment Marks Meaningful Title Table of content Executive summary • In less than 200 words ... what is this report about, how was it investigated, what did you find out, and what do your findings mean? 1 Mark Introduction Set the scene; provide some background information about the topic. State the aim/purpose of the investigation. Outline the body sections. (2 Marks) Body The main content is divided into paragraphs. Each paragraph explains and supports your position/answer to the essay question. A topic sentence lets the reader know what the focus of the paragraph is. Development is where you explain/expand on the idea presented in the topic sentence. Critical analysis of each component in the scenario Arguments are supported with appropriate references. Remember to reference ideas that are not your own. Proper linking to the next paragraph (14 Marks) Conclusion What has been achieved, and what is the significance of your findings and your discussion? Have your aims been successful or not? (1 Marks) Formatting and submission of the report Appropriate classification of contents Appropriate linking of the contents Easy to read Clarity of writing Submit a word document Formatting guidelines followed (2 Marks) Consistent progress Worked on OneDrive document Notes on the report and the presentation (4 Marks) References- Quality references-Minimum 8 Relevant to the topic, formatting Correct formatting of in-Text referencing (2 Marks) Reflection What have you learned by completing this assignment? (2 marks) INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 5 Part 2 You have to do a video presentation on a person you consider a successful leader. There should be evidence of research you have undertaken through theoretical literature and appropriate referencing. Your work should provide details of your chosen person: a. leadership style and characteristics based on any existing theories b. incidents/examples of their successes c. why they appeal to you d. challenges with their leadership styles AUDIO-VIDEO PRESENTATION • You must make an approximate 7 to 8 minutes presentation using MS Powerpoint or other appropriate presentation software, utilising no more than 10 slides. • Include a discussion of the points mentioned above a-d. • At least 5 academic references must be required and formatted according to UniSA Harvard style https://lo.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=3839§ionid=555862 • Demonstrate appropriate verbal communication techniques. • You must audio/video and record the presentation. Your face must be shown while doing the presentation. • Use any software/ platform that allows doing the audio and video recording. • Save the recording. • Upload to youtube and include the link at the end of the report- Choose Privacy settings – Unlisted If you keep it ‘Private’ the marker can’t open the link. • How to upload to youtube? https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsu01TR7Ofk https://lo.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=3839§ionid=555862 https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsu01TR7Ofk INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 6 Marking Guidelines INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals- Audio/video Presesentation Assessment feedback Key components of this assignment Marks Audio and Video presentation Clear presentation Time limit followed (marks will be deducted if the video is exceeding 8 minutes) Includes all the required sections Quality of the content Contents organised in a sequence manner Talks to the audience (eye contact) Appropriate volume and tone When uploading the video, choose the Privacy settings as ‘Unlisted’ Youtube link included and working (marks will be deducted if the link is not working) (7 Marks) Formatting of the presentation Appropriate classification of contents Easy to read Clarity of writing Formatting guidelines followed (2 Marks) References Included as per the instruction Formatting of the references (1 Marks) Notes included in the OneDrive document (1 Marks) Academic Integrity Instructions • Ensure all documents submitted to the university are authentic • Referencing the sources of information and ideas in your assignments • Paraphrasing other people's work and ideas while still referencing the source • Completing your own work independently SUBMISSION • Final Document: 17 September 11.59 pm (online)-All in one document-Includes Part 1-Report, and Part 2-YouTube link of the presentation REPORT -Individual TASK Rationale: Assessment Summary: TASK DESCRIPTION Major components of the report PRESENTATION AND FORMATTING OF the Report Audio-Video Presentation submission INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 1 REPORT -INDIVIDUAL TASK This assessment task contributes to 40 % of the total course grade. RATIONALE: This assessment task provides an opportunity for students to explore the contributions to society and/or business of a successful leader and share this knowledge while practising their verbal communication skills. ASSESSMENT SUMMARY: Components Due date Individual or pairs Submission process Part 1-Report Part 2- Presentation 17 September 2023 Individual online TASK DESCRIPTION Part 1 Write a report based on the following scenario. 'Meta Tech Solutions' is a mid-sized software development company once considered a promising player in the industry. However, over time, the company has been plagued by various dysfunctional elements, severely impacting its performance and reputation. The company suffers from a severe breakdown in communication among departments and teams. Different teams rarely interact or share information, leading to duplicated efforts, missed opportunities, and delayed project deliveries. This lack of collaboration has resulted in a toxic work culture, with employees feeling isolated and disengaged. The leadership within the organisation is weak and indecisive. A lack of clear vision, mission, and strategy has left employees feeling directionless and demotivated. Managers often resort to micromanagement rather than empowering their teams, which hampers creativity and innovation. Ethical issues have arisen within the company, with reports of favouritism, nepotism, and misuse of power. Employees have observed unfair promotions and project allocation practices, leading to demoralisation and mistrust. The lack of transparency in decision-making exacerbates these ethical challenges. The company is resistant to change and hesitant to adopt new technologies and processes. The competitors are taking this opportunity to adapt to change more quickly. Employees are reluctant to embrace change due to the prevailing fear of job insecurity and a lack of confidence in the leadership's ability to manage change effectively. Decision-making within the organisation is slow and bureaucratic. Decisions often go through multiple layers of approval, leading to delays and missed opportunities. The lack of data-driven decision-making and reliance on subjective judgments further exacerbate the inefficiency. Many highly skilled and experienced employees have recently left Meta Tech Solutions and joined the competitors. The low morale of remaining employees further contributes to reduced productivity and an INFS 5058-Business Practices for IT Professionals Pa ge 2 overall hostile atmosphere. Due to internal dysfunction, the company's products and services have suffered in quality. This has led to customer dissatisfaction and declining repeat business and referrals. The senior management appoints you as leader of the intervention committee to address the