UMUC IFSM300 HAIRCUT CASE STUDY STAGE 3

Before you begin this assignment, be sure you:

1. Read the “UMUC Haircuts Case Study Stage 1 & 2” & review “Walmart Example.”

2. Review Instructor feedback from previous submissions.

Overview of IT Considerations for Proposed Technology Solution for UMUC Hair Cuts

For your Stage Case Study1, you identified a strategy for competitive advantageanda business process that you would improve through the application of technology to a business process for UMUC Haircuts.

For your Stage 2, you identified a proposed IT solution to improve that business process. Your research included planning for IT and business resources, identifying solution components, and identifying ways the new technology would improve the business process and support the strategy for competitive analysis. Modeling the AS IS and TO BE Processes helped identify the steps in the business process you are improving for UMUC Haircuts.

In Stage 3, you will evaluate IT considerations as to their role and importance to the proposed IT solution to be implemented to improve the business process for UMUC Haircuts. In evaluating and implementing an IT proposal, there are several areas that need to be considered. These considerations are listed in the table provided in this assignment. Depending on the specific technology solution you proposed, some of the considerations would be more important than others and some may not need specific consideration for the initial implementation of your proposed solution.

Resources:

Stage One Notes: Strategy for Competitive Advantage
Business Process to Improve

Stage Two Notes: Technology Solution Proposed
Components Identified
Support for Competitive Advantage Identified.

Analysis of Considerations:

· Consideration: The areas for your consideration are listed in the table. Be sure to research each term to ensure understanding as to how it would apply to the technology solution you are proposing for UMUC Haircuts.

· Rankings: High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A): You will rank each consideration as to how important or relevant it is to the technology solution you are proposing as High, Medium or Low, or Not Applicable to your solution.

· Explanation of Ranking: Using the definition of the term you researched and the ranking you selected, give an explanation and tell how this consideration applies to UMUC Haircuts and the technology solution you are proposing. All considerations must be ranked and a thorough explanation that demonstrates understanding of the topic must be provided. Please note that even N/A items require an explanation. A minimum of two good sentences should be used for the explanation.

The responses that you enter into the table for each area of consideration must be aligned to the one specific solution you proposed and appropriate to the UMUC Haircuts business. If a consideration is not relevant for the solution as described or for its implementation, but might be something for the future, mark it “N/A”. If for instance cloud computing is not in the solution being implemented, but may be considered in the future it would be N/A and not required for the solution. Remember to provide an explanation for every item under consideration.

Do not try to create a reason if there is none, but carefully analyze each area of consideration and determine whether it applies and how. Explanations must provide enough information to convey the reasoning behind the ranking. DO NOTcopy definitions into the table; your own words should demonstrate your understanding of the concept as you provide your explanation for the ranking.

Assignment: UMUC Haircuts Stage 3: Create a document that includes:

I. Introduction

At the top of your paper, show the strategy for competitive advantage that you will focus on and the business process you will improve, using the following format:

Strategy for Competitive Advantage: xxxxxxx (just name the strategy)

Business Process to Improve: xxxxxxxxx (just name the process)

In one brief paragraph:

· State your proposed IT solution.

· Explain how the IT solution it will improve the business process

· State how it supports the strategy for competitive advantage.

· Provide an introduction to the Table of IT Considerations.

II. Table of IT Considerations

· Copy the table below into your paper

· Rank each consideration as High, Medium or Low in Importance/Relevance or Not Applicable to the proposed technology solution

· Explain each ranking, as described in the table, including explanations for N/A as well

· Explanations of the Considerations are listed in Course Resources table above.

Additional Instructions:

Formatting: Stage Three IT Considerations submission.

For academic writing, the writer is expected to write in the third person. In third person, the writer avoids the pronouns I, we, my, and our. 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 academic 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.

· Submit one document that includes your paper and the Table of Considerations.

· Write a short concise paper that is double spaced (Table can be single spaced)

· Use APA formatted citations and references for any external sources used.

· Include a title page and a reference page, if references are included.

· Compare your final work to the rubric 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.

· Your submission should include your last name first in the filename:Lastname_firstname_Stage _3

GRADING RUBRIC: