BIS3324

Group Assignment –

Schedule, guideline & templates

(2015-Jan Semester)

Table of content• Assessment overview• 2014’ project schedules• Key Project dates• Group Project - 4 components• Project Details

– sample project topics – sample content of final report– Content of Interim presentation – Final presentation

• Reference Information– Marking criteria for Group & Paris Project– Strategic environment– Summary of porter 5 force analysis – Template for interview requests, project proposal & sample project

School of Science and Technology

Department of Computing

Science

BIS3324

3 of 8

Assessment overviewElement Style Activity % of total

mark1 Group Report 202 Presentation 103 Pairs Report 504 Viva 20

1 Report (group): Will be a written report of 6,000 words prepared by groups of five students. In addition to the core report, it is required that each group member includes a written reflective 1-page statement, outlining your personal contribution to the report’s outcome, including teamwork experience and your individual learning, that could be applied to the “real world”. 2 Presentation (group): Will allow you to express verbally your understanding of work done for report 1 and the skills learned.3 Report (pairs): Will involve two students working on a detailed piece of research that addresses the two strategic managerial processes of Consensus management and Change management. This report will expand and contextualise the students’ understanding of the concepts gained from coursework element 1 as well as addressing the associated learning outcomes4 Viva (pairs): Report 2 pairs will undertake a short viva designed to -Ensure the provenance of any written work supplied in your the name.-Test your overall knowledge in relation to the research topic and module learning outcomes5 Strategic IS deployment: As part of the module’s assessment you must get involved in the strategic deployment of Information Systems (IS). This will consist of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Group Project - 4 components

1. Group Project Proposal

2. Interim presentation (15~20 mins)

3. Final report • at least 10,000 words prepared by groups of five students (2,000

words per student) 

4. Final presentation (15~20 mins)

Group Project – Sample Project Topics • Refer to the Sample Project Topics in Unihub.• Submit Team Project Title by Week 3.• Team Member List ready by Week 3.

Final Report – sample content1. Project objectives and company background

2. Methodology (interview, survey, internet search)

3. Analysis of strategic environment • strategic environment of the company - SWOT & Porter Analysis

• Interview with a Strategic Manager

• Summary of findings

4. Information requirement for strategic management and other functions

(operation/tactical/strategic)

5. Description of strategic IT system(s) used/to be used

6. Strategic value of the IT solution (cost & benefit analysis) – post implementation review or

successful stories

7. Recognize important management aspirations of information management – e.g.

information security, outsource strategy, IT project government and adaption of quality

standard etc.

8. Conclusion & self evaluation/reflection

9. Appendix – Bibliography, Interview letters+questions+detailed response, detailed survey

results, Demonstration of project work (study plan, minutes, letters)

Content of Interim presentation 1. Project objective – from academic perspective 2. Methodology3. Interview with strategic manager – interview questions and

summarize your findings (if any)4. Strategic environment of the company5. Description of strategic IT system(s) used/to be used6. Project Progress so far - Planned & Actual

(15~20 mins)

Group project –Suggested content for final presentation

• Project background – objective, methodology, company introduction (2 slides)

• Summary of strategic issues of the company (1~2 slides)• Values of strategic IT system (~ 6 slides)

– Description of the IT system (what is it ? What are functions provided)– System /solution diagram– Information requirement of strategic/tactical/operational manager or

users– Summary of Cost & benefits (tangible/intangible benefits) – Other strategic issues considered in this project

• Appendix (Optional)– Project plan and task allocation– SWOT/Porter/Questionnaire/Interview summary

Reference Information

Marking criteria – Group Project

LO1 Recognise the role of the strategic manager in the modern business environment from the perspective of information in the strategic environment

LO2 Understand the role and value of information in the strategic environment

LO5 Develop the ability to distinguish between the information requirements of strategic managements and other levels and functions of management

LO7 Determine the optimal structure and content for information delivery to strategic managers

LO8 Develop employability proficiency such that you will be able to demonstrate an ability to discern important management aspirations of information management related to the strategic activity and develop theoretical plans to meet those aspirations

Elements 1 and 2: Research and development of the Group Report and Presentation

Submission checklist for final group project

Checklist for project submission

Microsoft Word 97 - 2003 Document

Marking criteria – Pair Project

Group Project - ProposalMicrosoft Word 97 - 2003 Document

Microsoft Word Document Group Project - Sample interview letters

Adobe Acrobat ¤å¥ó

Group Project - Sample student project

Template for interview requests, project proposal & sample project

School of Science and Technology

Department of Computing

Science

BIS3324

14 of 8

The Strategic Environment

Major issues in the strategic environmentWho are the main competitors?How competitive are we?What enhances or detracts our long

term competiveness?Do we understand the long term

resource problems?How can we deal with long term

obstacles?What are the threats to long term

survival?

School of Science and Technology

Department of Computing

Science

BIS3324

15 of 8

Porter Five forces• Current market (information neutral)

• The threat of substitute products • The existence of close substitute products increases the propensity of

customers to switch to alternatives in response to price increases (high elasticity of demand).

• The threat of the entry of new competitors• Profitable markets that yield high returns will draw firms. This results in

many new entrants, which will effectively decrease profitability. Unless the entry of new firms can be blocked by incumbents, the profit rate will fall towards a competitive level (perfect competition).

• The bargaining power of customers (Upstream information) • The ability of customers to put the firm under pressure and it also affects

the customer's sensitivity to price changes

• The bargaining power of suppliers (Downstream information)• Suppliers of raw materials, components, labour, and services (such as

expertise) to the firm can be a source of power over the firm. Suppliers may refuse to work with the firm, or e.g. charge excessively high prices for unique resources.