London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)
Module
Masters in Business Administration
MANAGING INFORMATION
Assignment Title Assignment Type Word Limit Weighting Student Intake Issue Date Submission Date Feedback Date Issued by (Assessor) Internal Verifier Plagiarism Managing Information Critical Evaluation of Relevant Issues Essay 2500-3000 words 50% Intake 7 Friday 27 May 2011 Thursday 7 July 2011 WC 22 August 2011 Ashish Bhandari Kofi Owusu Kulbir Basra When submitting work for assessment, students should be aware of the LSBF guidance and regulations in concerning plagiarism. All submissions should be your own work. You must submit an electronic copy of your work. Your submission will be electronically checked. Harvard Referencing Learning Outcomes The Harvard Referencing System must be used. The Wikipedia website must not be referenced in your work. On successful completion of this assignment you will be able to:
LO
Learning Outcome Description
Knowledge and Understanding Systematic understanding of the organisation from an information perspective including an understanding of the implications of the global marketplace and the internet. Critical understanding of the competitive advantage versus necessary cost debate and HR and marketing issues in the organisation and management of IT resources. Systematic understanding of the principles of knowledge management and how IT can be used to surface and capture tacit knowledge in international companies.
LO1
LO2
LO3
LO7
Synthesise and evaluate complex information on IT related issues Identify and create alternative responses to problems and critically evaluate and discriminate between these alternatives exercising sound judgement in the absence of complete data Visualise complex issues that have not been directly experienced and find solutions to such issues
LO8
LO9
Scenario
Answer ONE question only from the following. Your response is required to evidence reflection upon and evaluation of content covered in the module and, in particular, the case studies. Please read carefully the guidance notes provided below.
Your Task
Business Use of Information Systems Evaluate the reasons why so many new information systems seem to deliver poor value for money. As a senior business manager, propose actions you would take within your organization to ensure the success of information system projects. (60% of the total mark) With reference to the Royal Bank of Scotland BPR case (or a suitable case study of your own),analyse the factors which proved to be barriers to the organisations successful implementation of the IT-driven change project. (40% of the total mark) Information System Security An increased reliance on the Internet exposes organisations to increased risk in terms of threats to information systems security. Make a case in favour of or against this argument. (60% of the total mark) Using appropriate examples or case study outline the main threats to information systems that arise as a result of doing business via the Internet and indicate how these risks can be mitigated (40% of the total mark)
How Businesses Use Information Systems The customer is King, and so, by extension, is the companys CRM (customer relations management). Identify the various stakeholders of a companys CRM and assess the information and benefits it provides each one you identify. Apply your analysis to a real company or companies. Managing Knowledge and Collaboration To provide a return on investment, organisational knowledge must become a systematic part of management decision making. Assess the relationship between a companys knowledge and its hierarchical information systems and using one or more examples, demonstrate how knowledge management has made a contribution to the competitive edge. (100% of the total mark) Internet Based Business Models And E-Commerce The volume of retail goods traded through e-commerce has grown exponentially in value since 1995. Analyse the unique features of the technology used for ecommerce and assess the impact of one of these features on a company of your choice. (100% of the total mark)
Guidelines
GUIDANCE ON ASSESSMENT
All materials must be properly referenced. Length required is advised above. Longer work will not be penalised. However it should be noted that a concise and professional style which is well focused and clear in the points being made will gain good credit. Originality, quality of argument and good structure are required. What I want to see is that you can take a body of theory, understand it, choose what you want from it, apply it in a reasonable fashion and hence evaluate it. Your submissions will be expected to demonstrate the following qualities:
1. Answering the central focus of the assignment topics. 2. A critical appreciation of relevant literature and its use to support argument, substantiate model(s) and other aspects of the assignment. 3. Taking ownership of the content, being prepared to debate and argue a personal position, evidences evaluative skills. A submission made up of extracts from published sources which is descriptive and just theoretical, is not acceptable. Your submission must have interpretation and consideration of the challenges and issues of taking theory into practice (using cases and/or personal experience). 4. Ability to analyse relevant theoretical concepts in a critical manner, evaluation of material, indication of gaps in the literature. 5. Logical flow of ideas and treatment; imaginative approaches; appropriate selection of real world factors related to the model(s) or specific assignment topic. 6. Evidence of additional personal research, and the ability to analyse material from a variety of appropriate relevant perspectives. A clear listing of references and/or bibliography. 7. Presentation, structure, appropriateness of methodology, breaking into section headings/subheadings, tidiness. 8. A strong conclusion. Please ensure that you reference material which you take from text books, published documents, internet etc in the main body of your report, at the place you use it, as well as listing the publications in an appendix. Also, try to evaluate and critique this material and the experience you get from applying and using it. Such personal critique gains high reward in postgraduate level work!
Please note that just providing a summary of current published works on your chosen topic will not receive a high grade. Ensure that your writing style is one in which you take ownership of the content. Evidence personal evaluation this can often be achieved by evaluating prior experience or a case study within the context of the theory.
London School of Business & Finance (LSBF)
Module
Masters in Business Administration
Managing Information
Assignment Title Grade 70%+
Managing Information Critical Evaluation of Relevant Issues Description of Achievement Extensive Critical understanding of nature, role and purpose, and a critical appreciation of the impact of emerging technologies on a variety of professional and commercial organisations. Excellent focus and relevance to research question. High quality content and currency. Evidence of balance and objectivity. An extensive knowledge of the different types of management and the differing information needs necessary to these levels of management. Ability to synthesise relevant theoretical & practical approaches. An extensive knowledge of the sources of the information. Thorough evaluation of the impact of computers and communications technology within information systems. Able to draw a wide range of real-life examples. Extensive knowledge of trends and future developments and their likely effects. An excellent ability to manipulate and interpret data and Information. The Harvard referencing System has been used in a perfect manner. Excellent presentation, Imaginative format, helpful to reader. A critical understanding of nature, role and purpose, and an awareness of the impact of emerging technologies on a variety of professional and commercial organisations. The literature identified evidences accurate scope and relevance to the research question. A good knowledge of the different types of management and the differing information needs necessary to these levels of management.
Evidence of deep understanding of the issues relating to the application of theory.
60%-69%
An ability to draw on a range of real-life examples. An extensive knowledge of sources of the information. The Harvard Referencing System has been used an applied, but with minor errors. Reasonable evaluation of the impact of computers and communications technology within information systems. Good knowledge of trends and future developments, and their likely effects. A good ability to manipulate and interpret data and information. The Harvard Referencing System has been used with few errors. Good presentation in an appropriate format, generally easy to follow.
50%-59%
A good knowledge of nature, role and purpose of IT within a variety of professional and commercial organisations. Key academic supporting literature identified and evidence of further personal
reading and research. Some knowledge of the different types of management and the differing information needs necessary to these levels of management.
Evidence of understanding of the issues relating to the application of theory.
40%-49%
30%-39%
Some knowledge of the sources of information. Tried to portray some real-life examples. Some knowledge of computers and communications technology within information systems. A reasonable attempt to manipulate and interpret data and information. The Harvard Referencing System has been used and applied but some mistakes have been made. Clear and appropriate presentation. A basic but limited awareness of nature, role and purpose of IT within a variety of professional and commercial organisations. Basic relevant literature identified but little evidence of additional research. Little or no ability to differentiate the different types of management and the differing information needs necessary to these levels of management. Identifies how theories & models may be applied. Little or no knowledge of computers and communication technology within information systems. Little ability to portray real-life examples. Some ability to manipulate and interpret data and information. The Harvard Referencing System has been used and applied but major mistakes have been made. Some attempt to present work in an appropriate format, basic writing skills. Little or no awareness of nature, role and purpose of IT within a variety of professional and commercial organisations. Little or no relevant supporting literature identified or referenced.
Little or no attempt to relate or apply theory.
Little or no ability to differentiate the different types of management and the differing information needs necessary to these levels of management. The Harvard Referencing System has been used and applied sporadically but major mistakes have been made. No attempt to present work in a structured manner, basic structure.
