KC7022 Information System And Technology

Important Points

¨This is individual piece of work. You are advised to be familiar with the University’s definitions of academic misconduct including plagiarism and collusion (Northumbria, 2018a).

¨You are expected to produce a word-processed report to this assignment. Please use Arial font and a font size of 12.

¨Late submissions will be given zero marks unless prior permission is gained from the Faculty of Engineering and Environment through Student Central.

¨You are required to use the Harvard Style of referencing and citation. The “Cite them right” guide is recommended for referencing and citation (Pears and Shields, 2008) which should be followed throughout your assignment. A good alternative is Northumbria (2018b).

¨Expected size of the submission: You must aim to write succinctly. The word count of the assignment is in the region of 4000 words with 10% extra limit, which does not include bibliography/references, table of contents, any diagrams and appendices.

¨Domain specification / scenario of your choice is worth 10% of the assignment marks (see Section 2). All questions / tasks (see Section 3) carry equal marks. Presentation and referencing & citations carry 10% of the assignment marks.

Learning outcomes addressed

1.Critically appraise the issues associated with managing digital business

2.Analyse and synthesise information systems to critically evaluate how systems and technologies impact on a business / enterprise

3.Critically evaluate and use a range of information technologies in the context of business problem solving and information systems development

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

4.Apply and reflect on a range of information technologies and data to deal with business enterprise

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5.Develop an ethical and professional attitude to solving real life business problems

Criteria for success:

Distinctive

Excellent work providing evidence to a very high level of systematic understanding of knowledge in the chosen topic appropriate to level 7. All module learning outcomes (MLOs) are met excellently. Excellent standard of citation and referencing to text books, journal articles, quality conference papers and websites relevant to the subject. Excellent in all or most of:  critical analysis and evaluation; structural arguments; demonstration of a critical awareness of current problems and gaps in the chosen topic area; new insights are expected to be provided based on the identified problems or gaps; critical evaluation of relevant theories and presentation of information to the intended audience.

Good work providing evidence to a high level of systematic understanding of knowledge in the chosen topic appropriate to level 7. All MLOs are met and good in all or most of MLOs. Good standard of citation and referencing to text books, journal articles, quality conference papers and websites relevant to the subject. Good in all or most of: critical analysis and evaluation; structural arguments; demonstration of a critical awareness of current problems and gaps in the chosen topic area; new insights are expected to be provided based on the identified problems or gaps; critical evaluation of relevant theories and presentation of information to the intended audience.

Satisfactory work providing evidence to a high level of systematic understanding of knowledge in the chosen topic appropriate to level 7. All MLOs are satisfactorily met. Satisfactory standard of citation and referencing to text books, journal articles, quality conference papers and websites relevant to the subject. Satisfactory in all or most of: critical analysis and evaluation; structural arguments; demonstration of a critical awareness of current problems and gaps in the chosen topic area; new insights are expected to be provided based on the identified problems or gaps; critical evaluation of relevant theories and presentation of information to the intended audience.

Work is very descriptive and only minimally provides evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. However, a minimum number of MLOs are met and others are nearly satisfied. Adequate in some of the following aspects: some relevant journal/books/conference articles and website references & citations relevant to the subject. Weak analysis and evaluation, structural arguments, demonstration of a basic awareness of current problems and gaps in the chosen topic area. No insights provided based on the identified problems or gaps. Basic evaluation of relevant theories and inadequate presentation of information to the intended audience.

Work is not acceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. Few of the MLOs are met. Inadequate in some of the following aspects or seriously inadequate in at least one: fragmented resources used in the subject area; demonstration of no analysis and evaluation; fragmented arguments; lack of awareness of current problems and gaps in the chosen topic area; No insights are provided based on the identified problems or gaps; No evaluation of relevant theories and poor presentation of information to the intended audience.

Work not submitted OR Work giving evidence of serious academic misconduct (subject to regulations see Northumbria(2018) ) OR

Work showing no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to level 7. None of the MLOs are met.

Domain specification / Scenario (worth 10% marks)

Information systems and  information technology are diffusing into every industry over the last four decades including business, education, healthcare, library management, government services, to name a few. An organization is expected to benefit from adopting information systems and information technology (IS&IT) in various ways. You may have used IS&IT as part of your job, career, business, in a professional capacity or as a student in an academic discipline or training environment.

Taking a close look at your past experiences of using IS&IT and keeping stock of what you have learnt so far in this module, briefly describe the particular domain (e.g., organization, work environment, business, case, system) where you experienced using IS&IT. For example, one may describe the use of IS&IT in a banking workplace, while working for a real estate agent or a library or school/college, in a gym or fitness or sports club, managing a hotel or restaurant or a grocery shop, tracking stock exchange, running a high street business, clothing outlet, or a charity/fund raising scheme, etc.

Domain specification should not be too general – you need to write specifically about a particular system, whether it is a computer-based/manual/hybrid system. In case of an information system, you need to specify its technical details, its functionality, what actual software are used within the system. You need to describe the key functions and processes of your chosen system. The domain should not be described purely from a user or functional point of view, you also need to look into the IT and technical side as well.

Make sure this is included as a separate section in the start of your report

3.Tasks

Q1.In terms of information technology (IT) infrastructure, discuss what components are essential for the IT infrastructure of your chosen domain/scenario/organization. In addition, what challenges of managing IT infrastructure and information system this domain may face and how they should address such challenges. What ethical and professional codes of conduct and issues should be addressed by your domain?

Q2.Discuss the key business processes (or use cases) of your chosen domain. For example, a retailing business such as Tesco will have purchasing, order fulfilment, customer support, and customer loyalty programme management. The business processes are expected to be drawn with a diagram and the detailed activities for each process shall be clearly provided. Discuss which part of business processes can be supported by the IT with a software package.

Q3.Discuss and evaluate the following software development methodologies and recommend WHAT methodology or a combination of methodologies for your domain to use if they are going to support the business process/use cases by adopting IS&IT:

a)Custom software development (SSADM, USDP, DSDM)

b)Methodology for purchased software packages

c)Alternative methods for building IS (prototyping, application software packages, outsourcing)

d)Mobile application development

Q4.Analyze the existing business strategy for your chosen domain. Discuss the strategic change they are going to go through if they are going to support the business process/use cases by adopting IS&IT. Using the business strategy and technology alignment knowledge learned on this module, provide a suitable report for your chosen domain on how the technology can be aligned to match its business strategy.

Q5.There are many new trends in the technology evolution such as cloud computing, cloud-based ERP software, Big Data, Internet of Things, smart devices, smart home, artificial intelligence etc. Provide some discussions and suggestions on how your chosen domain could capitalize on these opportunities.