IFSM 300 UMUC Business Analysis and System Recommendation Essay As a business analyst in the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO’s) department of Maryland Tec

IFSM 300 UMUC Business Analysis and System Recommendation Essay As a business analyst in the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO’s) department of Maryland Technology Consulting (MTC), you have been assigned to conduct an analysis, develop a set of system requirements, evaluate a proposed solution, and develop an implementation plan for an IT solution (applicant tracking or hiring system) to improve the hiring process for MTC.This work will be completed in four stages, and each of these four stages will focus on one section of an overall Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) report to be delivered to the CIO. Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology
Before you begin work on this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study on Maryland
Technology Consultants (MTC). MTC is a fictional company created for IFSM 300’s Case Study. It is also
recommended that you review the additional Stages (2, 3 and 4) as well as the vendor brochure
provided for Stage 4. This will help you understand the overall report and potential solution.
Overview
As a business analyst in the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO’s) department of Maryland Technology
Consulting (MTC), you have been assigned to conduct an analysis, develop a set of system requirements,
evaluate a proposed solution, and develop an implementation plan for an IT solution (applicant tracking
or hiring system) to improve the hiring process for MTC. This work will be completed in four stages, and
each of these four stages will focus on one section of an overall Business Analysis and System
Recommendation (BA&SR) report to be delivered to the CIO.
Section I. Strategic Use of Technology (Stage 1) – The first step is to look at the organization and explain
how an IT system could be used to support MTC’s strategies and objectives and support its decisionmaking processes.
Section II. Process Analysis (Stage 2) – Next you will evaluate current processes and workflow and
explain how MTC can use IT to improve its processes and workflow.
Section III. Requirements (Stage 3) –Then you will identify key stakeholder expectations for the new
technology solution to support MTC’s hiring process and develop a set of requirements.
Section IV. System Recommendation (Stage 4) – Finally, you will review the provided Vendor brochure
for a proposed applicant tracking system and explain how it meets the requirements and what needs to
be done to implement the system within MTC.
The sections of the BA&SR will be developed and submitted as four staged assignments. For stages 1, 2,
and 3, only the material associated with that stage will be graded. The stage 2, 3, and 4 submissions will
include the stage that is due, which will be graded according to the assignment requirements and rubric
criteria, as well as include all previously submitted stages with any revisions made. It is recommended
that when preparing stages 2, 3, and 4, you review any feedback from previous assignments to help
improve the effectiveness of your overall report and increase the likelihood of a well-written final
submission. For stage 4, the complete BA&SR submission includes grading criteria for evaluating if the
document is a very effective and cohesive assemblage of the four sections, is well formatted across all
sections and flows smoothly from one section to the next.
Assignment – BA&SR: Introduction and Section I. Strategic Use of Technology
Write an appropriate Introduction to the entire BA&SR Report (guidelines are provided below). Section I
of the BA&SR document contains an organizational analysis and identifies ways in which an information
system to improve the hiring process can help MTC, the organization in the case study, meet its strategic
goals and meet the information needs of various levels of management.
Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology 03/19/2020
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Using the case study, assignment instructions, Content readings, and external research, develop your
Introduction and Section I. Strategic Use of Technology. To start, review the readings in Weeks 1 and 2.
The case study tells you that the executives and employees at MTC have identified a need for an
effective and efficient applicant tracking or hiring system. As you review the case study, use the
assignment instructions to take notes to assist in your analysis.
Use the outline format, headings and tables provided and follow all formatting instructions below.
For Stage 1, create a title page and reference page that will be used for all 4 stages.
Apply specific information from the case study to address each area.
Introduction
Begin your report with a clear, concise, well organized introduction to explain why you are writing and
what is to come in the complete BA&SR report (not just Stage 1). This should briefly set the context for
MTC – business purpose, environment, and current challenges related to hiring. Then specifically
provide what is to come in the full report. Keep your audience in mind – this is an internal report for
the CIO of MTC. Provide an introduction in one paragraph that engages the reader’s interest in
continuing to read your report.
I.
Strategic Use of Technology
A. Business Strategy – In this section, you should clearly present – at a broad level – what
MTC’s business strategy is (refer to case study information), then what issues the current
manual hiring process may present that interfere with achieving that strategy, and how
improving the hiring process will benefit MTC and support its business strategy. (Use two to
three strong sentences that explain how the system would support the strategy and justify
your position with specifics from the Case Study.)
B. Competitive Advantage – First, provide an overview of the competitive environment
that MTC is currently operating in based on information from the case study. Then explain
how and why MTC can use the new hiring system to increase its competitive advantage and
help achieve its overall business strategy. Your explanation should demonstrate your
understanding of what competitive advantage is as well as how improving the hiring process
will help achieve MTC’s competitive advantage. Include how MTC can use the type of data
or information that will be in the hiring system to improve its competitive advantage.
(Paragraph of 4-5 sentences)
C. Strategic Objectives- Review the four Strategic Goals presented in the Strategic Business
Plan section of the MTC Case Study. The CIO has asked you to come up with an example of
an objective to help meet each goal and explain how a new hiring system would help
achieve that objective. As you can see from the example provided in the table below, an
objective is a statement that is clear (not vague) and is something that can be measured or
evaluated to determine whether it has been met or not. An important part of setting
objectives is that they are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound). In order to evaluate whether an objective has been achieved, it’s important to be
able to measure it. Consider this difference – Student wants to get a degree (non-specific
Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology 03/19/2020
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and not measurable) vs. Student wants to earn a degree in Information Systems
Management by May 2020. (This objective provides specific what and when.) First, insert
an introductory opening sentence for this table. Then, for each of the rows listed below,
complete the table with the requested information. (Provide an introductory sentence and
copy the table. Create an objective for each of the 3 remaining goals and explain using 2-3
complete sentences for each.) Note: This is not about an objective to implement a hiring
system or broad business goals but rather the focus is on objectives that would be
supported by the use of a technology solution to support/improve the hiring process.
Strategic Goal
(from case study)
Increase MTC Business
Development by winning
new contracts in the areas of
IT Consulting
Build a cadre of consultants
internationally to provide
remote research and analysis
support to MTC’s onsite
teams in the U. S.
Objective
(clear, measurable and time-bound)
Increase international recruiting
efforts and employ 5 research
analysts in the next 12 months.
EXAMPLE PROVIDED –
(Retain text but remove this
label and gray shading in
your report)
Continue to increase MTC’s
ability to quickly provide high
quality consultants to
awarded contracts to best
serve the clients’ needs
Increase MTC’s competitive
advantage in the IT
consulting marketplace by
increasing its reputation for
having IT consultants who
are highly skilled in leading
edge technologies and
innovative solutions for its
clients
Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology 03/19/2020
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Explanation
(2-3 sentences)
The new hiring system would
allow applicants from around the
world to apply online, increasing
the number of international
applicants. It would enable the
recruiters to carefully monitor
the applications for these
positions, identify the necessary
research and analysis skills
needed, and screen resumes for
these key skills. Recruiters
could quickly view the number of
applicants and identify when
additional recruiting efforts are
needed to meet the objective.
D. Decision Making – In the reading, “How Information Supports Decision Making,” you
were introduced to the information requirements of various levels of the
organization. First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section. Then,
for each of the management roles listed below, complete the table with the
appropriate level (as defined in the reading – one word is all that is required in this
column), an example of a specific decision supported by the Hiring System to be
made at that level, and what type of information from the hiring system would be
needed to support that decision. Think about what information the hiring system
could provide about applicants, etc., and then identify an example of a decision that
might be made by each level of management. A decision is a choice or conclusion
that the management might make about business operations or future planning.
This is not about the decisions about implementing a new technology solution or
about general responsibilities of each role. Example: A decision example could be
stated as: CEO decides to expand MTC’s services to include cybersecurity. He can
make this decision because the hiring system provides information that many
applicants have the needed skills, certifications and experience to enable MTC to
easily recruit IT consultants in this area. (Provide an introductory sentence then
copy the table and insert information within, writing in complete sentences.)
Role
Level as
defined in
Course
Content
Reading
Example of Possible
Decision Supported by
Hiring System
Example of Information
the Hiring System Could
Provide to Support Your
Example Decision
Senior/Executive
Managers
(Decisions made by the
CEO and the CFO at MTC
supported by the hiring
system.)
Middle Managers
(Decisions made by the
Director of HR and the
Manager of Recruiting
supported by the hiring
system.)
Operational Managers
(Decisions made by the
line managers in the
organization who are
hiring for their projects
supported by the hiring
system.)
Formatting Your Assignment
Consider your audience – you are writing in the role of an MTC business analyst and your audience is
MTC and your boss, the CIO. Don’t discuss MTC as if the reader has no knowledge of the organization.
Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology 03/19/2020
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Also do not reference “stage #” or “case study” – these are class terms and would not be in a business
report. Use third person consistently throughout the report. In third person, the writer avoids the
pronouns I, we, my, and ours. The third person is used to make the writing more objective by taking the
individual, the “self,” out of the writing. This method is very helpful for effective business writing, a form
in which facts, not opinion, drive the tone of the text. Writing in the third person allows the writer to
come across as unbiased and thus more informed.
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Create a title page that includes: The title of report, company name, your name, Course and Section
number and date (revise date with each submission).
In Stage 1, you are preparing the first part of a 4-stage report. Use the structure, headings, and
outline format provided here for your report. Use the numbering/lettering in the assignment
instructions as shown below.
Introduction
I.
Strategic Use of Technology
A.
Business Strategy
B.
Competitive Advantage
C.
Strategic Objectives
D.
Decision Making
Write a short concise paper: Use the recommendations provided in each area for length of
response. It’s important to value quality over quantity. Assignment should not exceed 4 pages
excluding title and reference pages.
Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced.
To copy a table: Move your cursor to the table, then click on the small box that appears at the
upper left corner of the table to highlight the table; right click and COPY the table; put the cursor in
your paper where you want the table and right click and PASTE the table.
Ensure that each of the tables is preceded by an introductory sentence that explains what is
contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.
Use at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference. Use at least one external
reference and one from the course content. Course content should be from the class reading
content, not the assignment instructions or case study itself. Refer to APA Requirements for IFSM
300 Classes that is posted under Content>Course Resources>Writing Resources for specifics related
to citing from the class content. For information on general APA format, refer to Content>Course
Resources>Writing Resources.
Begin a Reference Page for resources required for this assignment. Additional research in the next
stages will be added to this as you build the report. The final document should contain all
references from all stages appropriately formatted and alphabetized. Use APA format for your
reference page.
Running headers are not required for this report.
Compare your work to the Grading Rubric below to be sure you have met content and quality
criteria.
Submit your paper as a Word document, or a document that can be read in Word. Keep tables in
Word format – do not paste in graphics.
Your submission should include your last name first in the filename:
Lastname_firstname_Stage_1
Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology 03/19/2020
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GRADING RUBRIC:
Criteria
Introduction
Describes the
organization
and provides
an introduction
to the overall
Report
Strategy
How the
system will
support the
organization’s
strategy as
derived from
the case study
Competitive
Advantage
Explanation of
how the system
and its data
can be used for
competitive
advantage
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
< 60% Far Above Standards 9-10 Points Above Standards Meets Standards 8.5 Points 7.5 Points Below Standards 6.5 Points Well Below Standards 0-5 Points The introduction is clear, logical, and derived from the Case Study. The introduction is adequate and is derived from the Case Study. The introduction is not clear, logical and/or derived from the Case Study. 18-20 Points 16-17 Points 14-15 Points 12-13 Points Content missing or extremely incomplete, did not reflect the assignment instructions, showed little or no originality, demonstrated little effort, is not derived from the Case Study; and/or is not original work for this class section. 0-11 Points 20 The explanation is clear, logical and fully supported with information from the Case study and using a sophisticated level of writing. The explanation is clear, logical and supported with information from the Case study. The explanation is provided and supported with information from the Case Study. The explanation is not clear, logical and/or supported with information from the Case Study. 13-15 Points 12.75 Points 10-11 Points 9 Points Content missing or extremely incomplete, did not reflect the assignment instructions, showed little or no originality, demonstrated little effort, is not supported with information from the Case Study; and/or is not original work for this class section. 0-8 Points 15 Clear, complete, logical, derived from the Case Study, and demonstrates sophisticated analysis and writing. Complete and accurate; derived from the Case Study, demonstrates analysis and effective writing. Explanation is provided and related to the Case Study, may lack specifics and/or clear logic. Explanation is not clear, logical and/or supported with information from the Case Study. The introduction is very effective; is clear, logical, derived from the Case Study; and demonstrates a sophisticated level of writing. Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology 03/19/2020 6 Content missing or extremely incomplete, did not reflect the assignment instructions, showed little or no originality, demonstrated little effort, is not supported with information from Possible Points 10 Strategic Objectives 13-15 Points 12.75 Points Objectives are clear, measurable and time-bound and are strongly and fully explained using a sophisticated level of writing. Objectives are clear, measurable and time-bound, and are clearly explained. 13-15 Points 12.75 Points Types of decisions supported by the system for each of the three levels of the organization Identified correctly and fully, clearly and logically explained; are derived from the Case Study; and demonstrate sophisticated analysis and writing. Generally, 0-5 points per decision example. Both quantity and quality evaluated. Research Three objectives derived from Strategic Goals in Case Study with explanation of how new hiring system would help achieve. Generally, 0-5 points per objective. Both quantity and quality evaluated. DecisionMaking Two or more sources--one source from within the IFSM 300 course content and one external (other than the course materials) 10-11 Points Objectives are not clear, measurable and/or timebound, and/or are not explained. Content missing or extremely incomplete, did not reflect the assignment instructions, showed little or no originality, demonstrated little effort, is not supported with information from the Case Study; and/or is not original work for this class section. 10-11 Points 9 Points 0-8 Points Identified correctly and clearly and logically explained; are derived from the Case Study; and demonstrate analysis and effective writing. Identified correctly and explained and are derived from the Case Study. Not all provided; and/or are not correct and/or not derived from the Case Study. Content missing or extremely incomplete, did not reflect the assignment instructions, showed little or no originality, demonstrated little effort, is not supported with information from the Case Study; and/or is not original work for this class section. 9-10 Points 8.5 Points 7.5 Points 6.5 Points 0-5 Points Required resources are incorporated and used effectively. Sources used are relevant and timely and contribute strongly to the analysis. References are appropriately incorporated and At least two sources are incorporated and are relevant and somewhat support the analysis. References are appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style. Only one resource is used and properly incorporated and/or reference(s) lack correct APA style. A source may be used, but is not properly incorporated or used, and/or is not effective or appropriate; and/or does not follow APA style for No course content or external research incorporated; or reference listed is not cited within the text. Stage 1: Strategic Use of Technology 03/19/2020 Objectives are somewhat clear, measurable and time-bound, and are explained. 9 Points the Case Study; and/or is not original work for this class section. 0-8 Points 7 15 15 10 Format Uses outline format provided; includes Title Page and Reference Page cited using APA style. 13-15 Points Well organized and easy to read. Very few or no errors in sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; doublespaced, written in third person and presented in a professional format. 12.75 Points 10-11 Points Effective organization; has few errors in sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; doublespaced, written in third person and presented in a professional format. Some organization; may have... Purchase answer to see full attachment