BIS PLANNING PROJECT
Overview
Each group will analyze Diablo Scuba Unlimited (Diablo), which is a dive shop in Belize. Each group will be acting as Diablo's newly hired management consultant.
Details of the company history and background are provided via the following hyperlink: Diablo's Background
Details of the company operations and requirements for process modeling are provided via the following hyperlink: Diablo's Operations
Details for the project deliverables are provided below. The team assignments can be observed via the following hyperlink:
Project Teams for Section 015 (9:30)
Project Teams for Section 035 (11:00)
Deliverable Part 1
A. Systems Request
See the Systems Request Form I have included and refer to Chapter 1 of your textbook (see p. 17 and 19 for examples), note that this form should be no more than two pages (single-spaced) and that one page may well be enough – I just need to understand what you intend to do and why. Particular attention should be paid to the “Business Need”, expected "Business Value”, and “Special Issues or Constraints” (if needed) sections of the request. It is these sections that I will initially evaluate to approve your project proposal (deliverable 1). The “Business Value” section will be a summary of your “Feasibility Assessment”.
B. Project Feasibility Assessment
Your Feasibility Analysis should discuss the technical, economic, and organizational feasibility of your proposed project. See the form used in Chapter 1 of your textbook (p. 31), note that this form is described as a summary page – the following report would include additional detail and supporting documentation for each item on the summary page. As noted, there will likely be some overlap in the content presented on the systems request and feasibility assessment.
i. Economic Analysis: provide an economic justification for continuing the project using a cost-benefit analysis (you do not need to provide and numbers or calculations here).
1. What possible tangible and intangible benefits can be derived from the development of a system to address the client's business issues?
2. What possible tangible or intangible costs may be derived from the development of your proposed system?
ii. Technical Analysis: provide a discussion of relevant technical risk factors and an overall technical risk rating on this project.
1. What are the technical risks associated with this project?
2. Do you foresee the introduction of new type of information system(s) into the client's current IS infrastructure?
3. What impact will this new information system(s) have on the organization's existing technical environment? What are possible solutions to these impacts?
iii. Organizational Analysis: provide an analysis of how the proposed system solves business problems or takes advantage of business opportunities in addition to an assessment of how current day-to-day activities will be changed by the system.
1. How will your proposed system solve the business issues facing the client?
2. How will your proposed system allow the client to take advantage of an existing business opportunity?
3. What impact will your proposed system have on the organization's existing organizational, cultural, and operational processes?
4. What actions do you recommend the organization take to address these impacts?
Part 1 Deliverable Due (all sections) September 22, 2009
Deliverable Part 2
Part 2 Deliverable Due (all sections) November 10, 2009
A. Technology Analysis
As a company that is new to the information age, Diablo is unaware of how Information Systems can impact their business. They are simply not familiar with the numerous types of technologies that could empower this company and help drive the business strategy. As Diablo’s management consultant, it is your job to recommend one technology that may provide value to the business. A few examples may include: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Diablo does not necessarily need to implement the recommended technologies immediately - you can provide guidance regarding the appropriate timeline when Diablo should consider implementation. This is a short list - there are numerous technologies to choose from. However, some technologies are more likely to fit the needs of Diablo. In this section, you should:
• Recommend one new technologies that Diablo should implement to add value.
• Briefly explain what this technology does.
• Provide support for your decision by showing how this technology will be
used and why Diablo will benefit from the use of this technology. You can show
how the technology will impact current business / operations
or future operations.
• Provide a list of a few vendors who provide this technology and a few cost
estimates (ballpark) to implement this technology at a small sized firm such as
Diablo.
• No technology is perfect, so you should mention a few problems that you might
foresee if Diablo uses the technology (from a business perspective).
• Note: you will want to make sure that this technology is available for small
and medium size companies.
- Recommended length: approximately 2 pages single spaced (Appendices for
supporting material can be included but are not required - max limit for the
Appendix is 7 pages)
- Your grade for this section will be based on the depth and quality of your
critical analysis.
Here are few websites that may help you with your technical
analysis:
http://www.itbriefingcenter.com
http://www.computerworld.com
http://www.informationweek.com/
http://www.eweek.com
http://itsolutions.sys-con.com/
http://www.infoworld.com/index.html
http://www.integratedsolutionsmag.com
http://www.cioinsight.com
http://smb.knowledgestorm.com
http://www.rfidjournal.com
http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/rfid/
http://www.managingautomation.com
B. Global IS Strategy
Diablo would like to expand its international presence and believes that the use of an Information System is the key to establishing this presence. Diablo relies on tourists for its business. There are some permanent residents in the area who moved there to dive year round. However, most of the Diablo's business relies on visitors to Belize. Tourist divers provide the primary foundation of Diablo's customers who generally purchase higher end items or book tours. However, Diablo has limited money to market its services to an international clientele. Naturally, Diablo intends to use a web presence to target international customers to provide tour packages. Diablo wishes to conduct its international marketing campaign to attract tourists from foreign countries. It currently targets customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico (so these three countries are not an option). As Diablo’s management consultant, you need to recommend one new country Diablo should target. You will need to provide justification for your decisions. You will need to consider a wide range of variables in your decision. The web site will be in English. English does not have to be a prominent language within your chosen country; however, potential customers should have a functional use of English to be able to navigate the webpages (most of cyberspace is in English). Several things you may wish to think about in your decision may include (but are definitely not limited to) the following:
• What is the size of the market (i.e. the population)?
• What is the age demography of your market (some countries have a larger percentage of people who would be in your target market)?
• What are the economic standards of living of your chosen country?
• Are the people in your chosen market generally travelers?
• How will transportation costs affect travelers’ decisions?
• How “web savvy” is your target population?
• What is the likelihood of your target members coming to Belize for diving, kayaking, ecotours, or other activities?
These are just a few examples of the variables that you should consider in your decision. Part of your job as a management consultant is to develop other relevant variables to make your recommendation. In your global IS strategy plan you should provide arguments for the chosen country that Diablo should pursue as part of its global business strategy. Note: there is not necessarily a best country to pick. Each project team will be assigned 1 country. It is the job of the team to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this market.
- Recommended length: approximately 2 pages single
spaced. (Appendices for supporting material can be included but are not
required - max limit for the Appendix is 7 pages)
- Your grade for this section will be based on the depth and quality of your
critical analysis.
C. Process Models
Note: we cover process modeling techniques in Chapter 5
i. As-Is Process Modeling
The details provided describe the current operations for Diablo. You will need to develop process models for the above described “as-is” system (i.e. you will model the operations as they currently exist). The “as-is” system should be examined based on only the above referenced requirements. You are to provide as-is DFDs for each of the 2 main processes outlined in the operational description. Therefore, for the as-is system, you should have the following:
- Context Diagram
- Level 0 DFDs
- Level 1 DFDs
- Analysis of Current Operations: describe what Diablo is doing wrong with its current operations (based on the two major processes described) - approx 1/2 - 3/4 page
i. To-Be Process Modeling
As Diablo’s business consultant, part of your (high paying) job is to analyze the existing operations and make recommendations for changes for the development of the “to-be” system. Zach and Chad have provided insight into changes to the operations that they wish to be made. First you will include these new processes in the development of your “to-be” process models. Then you will need to analyze what are good ideas for operational change – please make sure you document any assumptions that you make (which will be necessary). I encourage you to be creative, comprehensive, and logical in the analysis of the “to be” process models. Consider what additional operations should be handled by the “to-be” system. The following should be included:
- Context Diagram
- Level 0 DFDs
- Level 1 DFDs
- Analysis of To-Be Operations: describe what Diablo how the operations have improved but what is still wrong with these proposed processes - approx 1/2 - 3/4 page
For the To-Be system you should assume that you using an Access Database for all your data storage needs (this is what we will use in BIS-development).
Project Deliverable
Now that your team has formally accepted the project, your team should construct a project team workbook. This project workbook will serve as the single repository for all inputs, outputs, deliverables, and procedures used during the life of the project. Although there is not a set format for a project workbook, here are some guidelines for the structure and content of this workbook.
Format: The book should be in a binder of your choice. The binder should allow the project team to develop high quality and professional inserts for the binder. You may use color to highlight company logos and titles if desired (color is not necessary). The binder should have a table of contents with page number for all pertinent sections and documents in the binder. Section dividers should be of professional quality and be properly labeled. All project information should be placed in the project workbook. This includes items such: the report itself: Technology Analysis, Global IS Strategy, DFDs constructed in Visio, etc. Any hardcopy other documents (i.e. Appendices) pertaining to this project should be included in the project book.
The final deliverable will include Part II: Sections A (Technology Analysis), Section B (Global IS Strategy), and Section C (hard copies of your DFDs and accompanying analyses).
The final deliverable is Due on November 10, 2008
Presentations
The group presentations are to be between 10-12 minutes (with a maximum length of 12 minutes). Attire is business formal.
After introducing each member of your group briefly, give a good overview of the organization and its business situation, the business problem, and the proposed solution. Your presentation should be professional and give the class a clear understanding of your chosen organization's current operations, its problems, how you will improve/reengineer the firm's operations, and what implications this will have on the firm's performance.
I have provided some guidelines for the presentation. These are suggestions and the presenting group should utilize these suggestions only to the degree that they wish. The presenters may also choose not to follow these suggested items (which may overlap) in the order in which they are presented below. Teams should hit the most important points in their presentation. The time limit is 12 minutes maximum. Teams will be required to conclude within this time limit and there will be a point deduction for teams that appreciably exceed this time limit - this is needed to be equitable to teams that had to limit the presentation content to adhere to the pre-established time limit. Therefore, each group will need to be selective and focus on the most important points
• Introduce Your Team and the Project
• Briefly (very briefly) provide the company's background
• Highlight any salient information from the systems request (if warranted)
• Highlight the most important elements of the feasibility analysis (economic, technical, organizational, legal/contractual). Please note: for the economic analysis, you may wish to show the business benefits from using this system, as well as an approximation of some costs (where warranted). Some benefits and costs cannot be predicted exactly, but remember, the client must decide to invest major resources based on your analysis.
• Technology Analysis: provide an in-depth analysis of your findings
• Global IS Analysis: provide an in-depth analysis of your findings
• Analyze the Diablo's current operations. Discuss how current operational flaws can impact the business
• Analyze Diablo's to-be operations. How have the operations improved and how will these improvements impact the business. It may help to present some of your process models by walking us through a couple. This allows the client (and the audience) to understand how you changed and possibly expanded the company's operations. This is where you provide value. What are some remaining weaknesses in the to-be operations.
• Conclude and be ready for questions. How you conclude is up to you - it should be strong.
Reminder: all groups must meet with the Center for Professional Communication (CPC). This is requirement set forth by the Neeley School and there are no exceptions.
Some particular presentation flaws to avoid: Don’t stand in front of the screen where you block the view; Don’t look at the screen or talk to the screen – look at and talk to the audience; Don’t read from the screen; Use bullet points; Make diagrams visible from the back of the audience – if it can’t be seen without squinting, it doesn’t belong as a visual. The presentation should be conducted professionally.
Due Dates
Part One Deliverable is due 09/22/09 (with peer evaluations)
Final Deliverable is due 11/10/09 (with peer evaluations)
Note: peer evaluations are required by everyone - they are part of the assignment. Peer evaluations should be submitted via e-college by 5:00 p.m. on 11/12/08 (last day of presentations). I have an e-college dropbox set up for the peer evaluations.
Grade Breakdown
As noted, the BIS-Planning Project is worth 25% of a student’s total overall grade with the following allocation of points:
Deliverable Part One: 3%
Presentation: 10%
Final
Deliverable: 12%
- Technology Analysis (3%)
- Global IS Strategy Analysis (3%)
- Process Modeling and Critical Analysis (6%)
Note: peer evaluations may have a significant impact on an individual's project grade