Success Tips and Writing Requirements for IFSM 300 Report

Overall Writing

Task:

Tips on being Successful in IFSM 300 (link in Content) includes some tips on writing mechanics.  I encourage you to review this – it may reinforce things you already do well and identify some areas you need to pay more attention to.

Overall Writing:  Additional resources are available in Course Resources – Writing Resources.
Preparing Your Report
First - you need to create a title page – information on what is required for that is provided on p. 4 – 1st bullet under Formatting Your Assignment.  The date should be updated with each submission – other information will remain the same for each subsequent stage. Note:  This is a title page for the entire report  - don’t reference individual stages.
Next you need to provide a brief introduction to set the context for the document you're preparing (entire report – not just Stage 1).  Many students seem to struggle with what constitutes an effective introduction so let me provide some additional information.  An introduction should set the context for why you’re writing, provide a brief overview of MTC and the situation (what is causing potential problems at MTC- think broadly from a business perspective), and then specifically what is to come in this report.  Keep in mind that the audience is internal to MTC so it is not appropriate to convey numerous details from the profile provided in the case study. In Course Content – Writing Resources – is a comprehensive text entitled Writing for Success.  Although this was written for more traditional academic writing and references “essay” rather than report, a majority of the information is still applicable.   For this assignment, you do not have to develop a topic and thesis statement because that is basically provided for you.  Inserting a captivating opening sentence may be more appropriate for an essay; however, incorporating research effectively to emphasize the importance of this business analysis and report can strengthen your introduction.  After your audience reads the introductory paragraph, he or she should have a broad understanding of the situation at MTC, why you are writing, and what specifically is to follow in this and subsequent stages of the report

The next section for Stage 1 contains 4 specific areas:

I.Strategic Use of Technology
A.Business Strategy - is where you analyze information within the case study and describe how this new hiring system would support MTC’s strategy.  Referring to the Course Content will also help you understand business strategy a little more if this is a new concept for you.  This can also be an excellent area to add your external research.  Analyze the information and present in your own words- what is important to MTC at a strategic level.  In this section, you should clearly present – at a broad level – what MTC’s business (organizational) strategy is (refer to case study information), then what issues the current hiring process may present that interfere with achieving that strategy, and how improving the hiring process will benefit MTC.

Preparing Your Report

B.Competitive Advantage – Organizations use technology for competitive advantage – as the discussion in Week 1 evolved, examples were provided for several companies who were exploiting technology to stay ahead of the competition.  Using information in the case study and course content, address how MTC can use the new hiring system for competitive advantage.  Part of strategic planning is analyzing the competitive environment that the organization is operating in and determining how to maintain or increase its advantage over the competition.  In this section, you need to clearly and concisely present what the competitive environment is for MTC and then how improving the hiring process can help maintain/increase competitive advantage.

C.Strategic Objectives:  In the MTC Case Study, some example strategic goals are provided.  In the assignment, identify an objective to help achieve each of the goals and then explain how the implementation of a technology solution to improve the hiring process would contribute to achieving this objective.   Complete the table as provided – an example has been complete for one of the goals.  An important part of setting goals is that they are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound).  In order to evaluate whether a goal has been achieved, it’s important to be able to measure it.  Consider this difference – Students wants to get a degree (non-specific and not measurable) vs.  Student wants to earn a degree in Information Systems Management by May 2021.  (this goal provides specific what and when).  Note:  Remove the gray shading but retain content for the example in your table.  Note:  These goals are not about implementing a system but how an implemented system would support achieving these goals and objectives.

D.Decision-Making:  In this section – copy and complete the table to show the specific information requested.  Be sure you review How Information Systems Support Decision Making in the Week 2 Learning Resources for the appropriate levels (The Level column should just contain one word for each row). In column 3 you just need one specific example of a relevant decision for each level. Then, in the last column (4), you will provide a specific example of the type of information the hiring system might provide that would inform or support that decision example.  Be sure to focus on decisions that could be supported by information from the hiring information systems.  The roles indicated, of course, make lots of decisions—but focus on the case study and process being improved.  Just stating what the person’s job responsibilities might be doesn’t address the information needed.  I’m looking for a specific decision here – Look at the table with examples in the course content for examples of what managers might be concerned about at each level based on information from the example system.  Keep in mind that the examples in course content are not about a hiring process but do show the types of decisions made at various management levels.   At MTC, the CEO could be making decisions on pursuing certain contracts, for example, based on what information that a hiring system could provide?  Simply stating “decide who to hire” is too general – that decision is made today with no system.  Remember an information system is used to support and improve decision making by turning data into useful information to make better decisions.  However, the system is just a tool and does not replace the human factor (organizational roles provided, for example).  A decision is a choice – given the organizational level of the roles mentioned and the type of information that a hiring system might provide, what decision might this support?  For example, Operational Manager - If line managers are hiring for specific projects in their functional area, what type of decisions would they need to make that could be supported with information from this system?  One sentence can typically address the example. Example:   Here’s an example of a possible decision that as a professor I might make based on information provided to me by the LEO Classroom information system.  Example of possible decision:  Professor decides to add additional resources to support the topic of components of an Information system.

Example of information the Classroom system could provide to support this decision:  Grades on Week 2 discussion topic and Quiz grades related to information on this topic were very low showing a lack of understanding of the topic and need for more information.

The purpose of requiring research is to provide information to support your writing.  The requirement is for one reference from the course content (not the case study or assignment instructions) as well as one from an external source.  Information should add value to your writing – not just merely define a term or repeat information already identified.  Use direct quotes sparingly – it is much more effective in most cases to put information into your own words within the context of your writing and then provide an in-text citation to show where information from the source was incorporated.  Any direct quotes must be indicated with quotation marks and appropriate in-text citation. Using correct APA form, begin a reference list showing each reference used in the writing or your Stage 1 report. See Course Content – APA Requirements for IFSM 300 Classes for formatting for course content sources.  Remember APA style requires that each reference listed also have a corresponding in-text citation to show specifically where information from that source was incorporated into your writing.

UMGC Course Content: Reference List Examples

There are many ways to cite course content correctly in APA.  Provided in course content is a document “APA Requirements for IFSM classes.”  Refer to that for acceptable format for UMGC course content. Each section of content within the course should be referred to by its title.  An in-text citation that only shows UMGC will not indicate what portion of the course content was used.