Assignment 2 MIS Project (Draft instructions for comment)
Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date
Assignment 2 (MIS Project) 100 35% See StudyDesk or course specifications
Activity A is to be electronically submitted through the link in the CIS8000 StudyDesk. Email submission will NOT be accepted.
It should contain a URL link to Activity B – your video presentation on YouTube or any other presentation system of your choice, you must test the link to ensure it works effectively.
Learning objectives
This assignment specifically addresses the following learning objectives of the course:
- solve complex organisational problems theoretically and practically and critically reflect on the effectiveness of management processes to real-world problems
- communicate professionally and effectively in written and oral communication to various audiences.
Individual submission
Students should complete this assignment individually. You are encouraged to discuss the assignment with others to improve your understanding and clarify requirements but you should develop the solution to the assignment on your own.
Case Study
As the Information Systems Manager you have been given the responsibility for implementing new “smart shopping trolley” system for a grocery/supermarket chain This smart shopping trolley technology will help customers in the store by adding up the cost of items at the same time that they are placed in their supermarket trolley and help shoppers locate the items in the store that are needed for a particular recipe they might be planning to prepare.
As you have studied Information Systems Strategy, you know that introducing a new information technology system won’t be successful unless you have assessed the impact on the business strategy and the four business functions (marketing, production, finance and HR) within the firm. You also need to do a cost benefit analysis of introducing the technology across 10 stores in different regions.
You are required to present your report to the CEO.
Activity A: Journal (maximum 500 words)
Prepare a journal which records your activities and progress related to completing this assignment. In date order, clearly list the following:
? Date of research activity/discussion
? Topic researched or discussed
? Time duration
? Brief description of research activity/discussion.
Submit this journal as a separate report through STUDYDESK.
Activity B: Presentation to Senior Management
NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with the business case and sensitivity analysis concepts you should make an effort to read appropriate material, including those from the Internet, to learn about them.
Part 1: Research the background for smart shopping trolley system project
Conduct an Internet search to gather relevant background information of smart shopping trolley system. In particular, you should address the following:
Description of the current state-of-the art in smart shopping trolley system technology; how it could be utilised, associated risks, experiences of other companies with similar technology, the scope to which you recommend your Company utilise the Smart shopping trolley system; the infrastructure required, and required organisational and management changes for successful adoption.
Costs and Benefits – an explanation of the main anticipated costs and benefits of the implementation and operation of the Smart shopping trolley system
Part 2: Develop the Excel model of the business case
Once you have completed Part 1, develop a spread-sheet model of your business costs over a 6 year period. Some of the materials provided in the MIS Projects may help you to come up with a simple modelling. For the purpose of modelling, assume a discount rate of 10 per cent. Your business model should include the following analysis to ascertain the financial viability of the project:
1. Payback period
2. Net present value (NPV)
3. Internal rate of return (IRR), and
4. Profitability index
HINTS: To obtain the payback period you would first need to calculate the cumulative net cash flow. Use the NPV and IRR functions provided in Microsoft Excel. You may need to search the Internet for information if you are not familiar with how to use these functions. Interpret your results.
Part 3: Perform a sensitivity analysis for the business case
Using the results you obtained in Part 2 as the base case, conduct a sensitivity analysis to examine the impact of the critical cost and benefit variables on the viability of smart shopping trolley system project. Provide three specific scenarios of consideration. You must clearly specify the basis of the three scenarios i.e. which critical cost variables they are examining in the sensitivity analysis
Carefully analyse your results and make appropriate recommendations to the company’s senior management as to how the critical cost variables should be managed to ensure that smart shopping trolley system project is both viable and sustainable in the long term.
Part 4: Create a presentation to senior management
4.1 Consolidate and cross-analyse your results and findings from Part 1, 2 and 3. Then prepare a presentation to the company’s senior management to seek their financial support and authorisation to embark on the project.
What to submit:
You will submit a handout for the Executives containing the Journal and Spreadsheet through STUDYDESK along with a link to a URL where you recorded audio/visual presentation
YouTube is the preferred mode for submission; if you do not wish for your video in YouTube or other system to be publically available then you may explore security features or options of YouTube such as having your video in a closed group. You are responsible for ensuring the link to your presentation will work for the Examiner marking your assignment - you should ask someone to test it for you.
Format:
Provided your Examiner can click on the URL and it works then any common video format is acceptable; for example you can save ppt as wmv and YouTube will accept that.
What needs to be submitted through StudyDesk is:
1. Journal
2. your Executive Handouts that contain your cover letter, spreadsheets, references and any other material you wish to share
3. The URL link to your presentation addressing all the points in the Assignment 2 instructions and with any further information. The presentation should include lessons learnt in undertaking your research.
If you do not feel comfortable with YouTube you may wish to explore the many alternatives (Vimeo, Viddler, Sprout, Vzaar etc); the markers need only to be able to link to a URL to see your presentation. It does not need to be professionally produced and you can use a mobile phone, movie camera, the video tools that are available to download to use your PC, voice capture in Powerpoint or whatever. There is the option of submitting Powerpoint and some people have no alternative but to do that as they are in circumstances where they can't do video - note the file size limits in STUDYDESK.
The purpose of the presentation is to present a compelling business case to the executive management team to persuade them to adopt the new initiative (the financial analysis is a key part of the business case)
As a guide, written work worth 10 marks should be no more than one page of writing; your presentation should be around 10-12 slides and should be no around 5-10 minutes, it should be developed and structured according to the following:
• The presentation should be made up of :
­ An introduction: your FIRST slide should show the title of your presentation and details of the author(s); the SECOND slide should provide the agenda i.e. outline of your presentation; the THIRD slide should clearly state the purpose of your presentation and what you want to achieve from it.
­ A body: contains the results and findings from Part 1, 2 and 3.
­ A conclusion: recaps the main points and summarises your recommendations.
• Insert Excel tables and charts and suitable graphics at appropriate places in your presentation to reinforce your argument.
• Search the Internet for information and guidance on how to produce an effective PowerPoint presentation, including the slide design and layout.
• Ensure that your PowerPoint file does not exceed the specified size indicated in STUDYDESK otherwise you would not be able to upload your work.

Marking criteria
You are strongly advised to read the marking criteria carefully before starting on your assignment.
Marking Sheet for CIS8000 S2.2014 Assignment 2
Marking Criteria Maximum Marks Marks Obtained
Part A: Journal
The journal should record your activities and progress relating to the completion of this assignment. You should make reference to the items in your “List of references”.
10
Activity B: Presentation to senior management Organisation of PowerPoint presentation
The content of the presentation should be organised in a logical, interesting sequence that is easy to follow.
5
PowerPoint (or equivalent) slide design and layout
Each slide should present one central idea and a few supporting facts, and is visually pleasing and not overloaded.
5
Executive Handouts – the handouts should have a professional presentation (look for examples of consultant reports) and contain supporting documents for your presentation (cover letter, spreadsheets, reference list) note the size limitation
5
Delivery
Your report delivery (verbal presentation and/or speaker note) should be clear and easy to understand. It convey a compelling case to support project go-ahead and funding.
5
Letter of transmittal (cover letter)
5
Content of presentation
background for smart shopping trolley system project
Description of the current state-of-the art in smart shopping trolley system technology; how it could be utilised, associated risks, experiences of other companies with similar technology
10
Describe the innovation infrastructure (hardware, software network)
10
Discuss resulting or required changes to organizational business processes, and the company's relationship to suppliers and customers; and the effect of this innovation on the firms activities - HR, sales and marketing, finance and accounting and production. 10
Costs and Benefits – an explanation of the main anticipated costs and benefits of the implementation and operation of the Smart shopping trolley system
10
Excel model of the business case.
The calculation and interpretation of your Part 2 results should be clear and convincing to the audience. You may use the functions in MS Excel
10
Sensitivity analysis
The calculation and interpretation of your Part 3 results should be clear and convincing to the audience.
10
Conclusion and recommendations
The conclusion should summarise the key points of your report. The recommendations should highlight the funding sought and a specific course of action.
5
List of references
In-text and end-of-document references to support contentions and information sourced for the report. This must adhere to the Harvard referencing style.
5
Total (I) = 105.0
0.0
Penalties • Evidence of plagiarism or collusion
• Spelling and grammatical errors
• Late submission (rate indicated in course spec)
•
Total (II) = (Max. – 100) 0.0
Final marks (I) – (II) = 0.0
Overall Comments: