ITM301 full course – cases , slps , discussions

Module 1 – Case

DATA, INFORMATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL KNOWLEDGE

Assignment Overview

Every company has, to a greater or lesser extent, an information subsystem — that is, a means by which it gathers data, interprets it, and makes it available to employees through a distribution system. Whether we are talking about marketing information, cost projections, accounting results, or internal quality reports, every company depends on knowledge to support its planning, decision-making, and control.

So how does knowledge fit into the picture? The emergence of the field called knowledge management has highlighted some key propositions in the last 10 years or so.

All organizations are storehouses of knowledge that operate in information-rich environments made up of people and things both inside and outside the organization itself

Organizations organize, interpret, and evaluate this information to solve organizational problems

Knowledge is the primary mechanism for processing and utilizing information

People’s brains are the key knowledge resource of any organization

Codified knowledge stored in books, audio, videotapes, and computer systems can be an important knowledge resource as well

There are organizational processes and strategies for IT management and management in general. Therefore, processes and strategies in particular can significantly enhance the ability of organizations to use their knowledge resources for problem solving

Several of these themes will come up again in later modules in this course. But by way of introduction to the subject, let’s take a look at some views of how knowledge works. Read and review each of the lectures in Frost’s Knowledge Management site to gain a good understanding of KM and its relation to data, information, and knowledge.

Frost, A. (2015). Knowledge Management. KMT An Educational KM Site. Retrieved from http://www.knowledge-management-tools.net/

Leonard, D., & Swap, W. (2005). The Knowledge Coach. HBS Working Knowledge. Retrieved from: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/4562.html

Case Assignment

The Case assignment for Module 1 consists of two parts. Part I introduces the notion of computer basics. Part II analyzes the Kobuku Food Company which provides an opportunity to appreciate how companies use and differentiate among data, information, and knowledge.

Part 1:

Please review the following tutorials on computer basics and answer the questions below. The tutorials are located athttp://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics

What are computers?

Understanding Operating Systems

Understanding Applications

Understanding the Cloud

After watching the videos, please answer the following questions in 2-3 pages.

What operating system does your computer use?

What are some examples of applications residing in your personal computer?

Do you use any apps or websites now that you think are cloud-based?

How is a web app different from a desktop application?

Part 2:

For part II of the assignment, read the required articles and then write a 3-5 page paper answering the Kokubu case study questions. Be sure your discussion demonstrates that you understand the meanings and differences between data, information, and knowledge. In your discussion, give a real-world example of data, knowledge, and information in the context of the Kokubu Food Company.

Kokubu management has asked you to be the company consultant and prepare a management analysis of the business to help assess the firm’s current situation and future plans. To familiarize yourself with Kokubu’s background, you should review the corporate information, functions and business, and social and environmental conservation activities in the website. Particular attention must be given to the functions and business link to appreciate how IT supports Kokubu operations and knowledge management activities within the company.

Review the Kokubu website at http://www.kokubu.co.jp/english/business/ and after finding the answers to the Case questions, prepare a summary in 3-5 pages analyzing the following questions.

What kind of organizational trends are evident in the Kokubu case when we consider the business environment, management, and technology?

Discuss the IT applications to the company operations as discussed in the website.

Why is the company considered to be customer focused?

The CEO said his company “created a culture where people are addicted to data, information, and knowledge.” What does he mean by that, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of such a culture?

As a reminder, you must have at least two outside scholarly references when you write cases.

Assignment Expectations

Include Part I and Part II of the Case in one document, properly labeling each section.

The Case assignment should be 5-8 pages in total excluding cover page and reference list.

Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

Precision: the questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Critical Thinking: It is important to read the “required readings” posted in the background material plus others you find relevant. Your paper should include important concepts from these readings and incorporate your reactions and examples that illustrate your reflective judgment and good understanding of the concepts.

Your paper meets the page requirements, excluding the cover page or the references pages.

Module 1 – SLP

DATA, INFORMATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL KNOWLEDGE

In this module, you will be introduced to Excel and some of its basic functions. After watching the recommended videos, do the following:

Open the Excel software.

You will see a blank worksheet. Click on the file tab and click Save As.

Next to File name, type Module1-exercise.

Choose where on your computer to save the file, and click the Save button.

Close the worksheet.

Locate the assignment file Module1-exercise and open it.

Enter the following data into the worksheet, starting from cell A2 (the intersection of column A and row 2) on the left side, and perform the functions below. For the three exercises below, you can use the same Excel worksheet with proper spacing between each assignment. Always remember to save the file to your local drive every so often.

For the first table, add the numbers in cells A2 through D2 and give a sum in cell E2. Add the numbers in the next three rows and give sums in the E column.

Add numbers in rows:

A B C D E

2 5 9 75 51

4 421 700 985 854

6 3352 6578 99655 9876

7 13 15 17 21

For the second table, add cells A1 through A5 and give a sum total in cell A6. Do the same in columns B and C respectively.

Add numbers in columns:

A B C

1 2 1 254

2 23 3 7523

3 2 3 234

4 7 48 105

5 23 68 22

Use Save As to make a copy as Module 1- Exercise 2.

Create a third table within the same Excel worksheet and perform the following.

Enter the following data and use Calibri font size 11 pt. and AutoFit text to column width.

Change the fonts and size to Georgia and 14 pt., then AutoFit to column width again.

Jack Johnson

Rayon Robinson

Alex Hollywood

Change page orientation and change margin to “narrow.” Save the file.

Desired margin: Narrow.

Save your file.

After completing the Excel exercises, please upload the Excel file with your results to SLP 1 Dropbox.

SLP Assignment Expectations

Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

The assignment file must be developed in Excel and saved as .xls file.

Precision: the questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Module 2 – Case

IT GOVERNANCE AND DECISION MAKING

Assignment Overview

In this case we investigate the technology-related decision making in organizations.

We start by introducing the objective of governance specific to the information technology function and services.

Next, we offer to you the fundamental battle in technology management—the constant tug-of-war between centralization and decentralization.

We then provide several examples of how real-world organizations have reconciled their choices in how to structure themselves.

Next, we present an overview of decision making processes and some of the methods for making decisions.

Finally, we present insight into the complexity of real-world choices highlight the politics of information.

Before writing-up the Case paper, make sure you read and review the course materials assigned to Module 2.

Case Assignment

Using the “structure of governance focus area” found on Figure 1 in the following COBIT case study, write a 4-5 page report comparing and describing the IT governance structure and decision-making processes in your organization. Include a discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of your organization’s circumstances and present and justify one specific improvement you would make to either the structure or a process. Be sure to apply the concepts and use the terminology provided in the readings and case study. Follow the case study in terms of “finding derived value” and “next steps” to discuss your organization.

Please note that the ISACA website may give an error as you click on the URL, but it will still link you to the case.

ISACA (2015). Developing a governance framework for the global support organization at GlaxoSmithKline, using COBIT. Retrieved from http://www.isaca.org/Knowledge-Center/cobit/Pages/COBIT-Case-Study-Developing-a-Governance-Framework-for-the-Global-Support-Organisation-at-GlaxoSmithKline-Using-COBIT.aspx

Assignment Expectations

Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

The Case should be 4-5 pages excluding cover page and reference list.

Precision: the questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Critical Thinking: It is important to read the “required readings” posted in the background material plus others you find relevant. Your paper should include important concepts from these readings and incorporate YOUR reactions and examples that illustrate your reflective judgment and good understanding of the concepts.

Your paper meets the page requirements not counting the cover page or the references pages.

Module 2 – SLP

IT GOVERNANCE AND DECISION MAKING

Working with the Excel Environment

Excel allows us to calculate numerical information using formulas. In Module 2, we learn how to use cell references to create formulas. In order to create a formula, we need to learn about Excel standard operators for formulas. These operators are a plus sign (+) for addition, a minus sign (-) for subtraction, an asterisk (*) for multiplication, a forward slash (/) for division, and a caret (^) for exponents. Excel uses = sign to start a formula, and that cell must be equal to the formula which is calculated for.

SLP2 Excel Operations

Source: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/excel2013/13

Excel 2013 uses features like the Ribbon and Quick Access toolbar to perform common tasks. The Ribbon in Excel 2013 uses a tabbed Ribbon system rather the traditional menu. Below is the description of the different tabs in Excel 2010-2013.

Understanding cell references

A cell is recognized by its address. The intersection of a columns and a row represent a cell address. For instance, column B and row 3 is the cell B3. The cell value is the value of what we calculate for a specific cell. For instance, if we B1 = 15, B2 = 25, then the value of B3 = B1+B2 or B3 = 15+25=40, therefore, the value of B3 = 40 as shown below.

In formula section we have, Fx =A1+A2

B1+B2= 40

Please review the following link and watch the following section videos.

Refer to tutorials at http://www.gcflearnfree.org/excel2013

Formatting Cells

Worksheet Basics

Page Layout

Printing Workbooks

Simple Formula

Complex Formulas

Relative Absolute Cell References

Functions

SLP Assignment

Please note that SLP 2 Assignment has the following exercises and basic spreadsheet exercises from the Abacus Training site.

Use the table below to do the following.

= A1+A2+A3+A4

= B4 – B2

= C4/B2

= C3/5

A4^2

Write the cell address according above table for the following:

Gas used for June

Gas used for May

Total used gas

Use the below table to calculate the total for each item; however, instead of manual work, use the formula function. For example, to calculate each item, you need to do the following.

Place = on the formula bar in the Total column

Multiple Quantity X Unit Price in the Total column

Fast Shop

Item

Quantity

Unit price

Total

Lighter

$1.99

Pepsi

$1.73

Hot dog

$1.05

Ice bag

$2.21

After completing the Excel exercise above, please continue developing the Abacus Excel spreadsheet exercises located at http://triplecsa.fhost.com.au/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Basic-Spreadsheet-Concepts-Exercises.pdf and as noted below.

Exercise 1 – Sales for the Month

Exercise 2 – Sales and Produce Department

Exercise 3 – Mike’s Stationery Order

Create an Excel file with designated folders 1-4 to develop the above exercises.

SLP Assignment Expectations

The SLP should be developed in Excel. Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

Precision: The questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Module 3 – Case

COLLABORATION TECHNOLOGIES AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE

Assignment Overview

To support communications and collaboration, organizations make use of the IT architecture, which is defined by looking at different components. To afford communications, it is required that an IT infrastructure of people, hardware, software, and networks be in place. While there is a global culture of communications and collaboration, different countries have preferences how they attain communications and group cooperation. Similarly, groupware technology is more preferred in high performing companies than low performing ones.

Components of IT A

IT Architecture Components

Type of Architecture

Description

Business architecture

The processes the business uses to meet its goals.

Application architecture

How specific applications are designed and how they interact with each other.

Data architecture

How an enterprise’s data stores are organized and accessed.

Technical architecture

The hardware and software infrastructure that supports applications and their interactions.

Case Assignment

For Case 3, you will analyze the traffic gridlock case. Taking communication and collaboration into the next 20 years, Ford Motors has a vision to develop cars that rely on a network of communication systems. In the long term, Ford sees a radically different transportation landscape where pedestrians, bicycles, private cars, commercial and public transportation traffic will be woven into a single mobile network to save time, conserve resources, lower CO2 emissions, and improve safety.

Turban, E. (2013). Avoiding the future of crippling car congestion. (2015). Information Technology for Managers. Retrieved from http://babinkunjappa.blogspot.com/2015/07/avoiding-future-of-crippling-car.html

Ford, B. (2011). A future beyond traffic gridlock. TED . Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_ford_a_future_beyond_traffic_gridlock?language=en

Waze. (2015). Guided Tour. Retrieved from https://www.waze.com/

Be sure to articulate your arguments and provide justification as you answer the following questions:

Explain the concept of connected cars.

Why does Bill Ford see a need for connected cars?

What does Ford mean by “global gridlock”?

Brainstorm a few other ways in which an IT network could help to reduce global gridlock. Do not limit yourself to current mobile network capabilities.

If no action is taken far in advance of the forecasted car congestion, what do you foresee will happen?

Assignment Expectations

The Case should be 4-5 pages for each case in total, excluding cover page and reference list.

Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

Precision: The questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your responses are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Critical Thinking: It is important to read the “required readings” posted in the background material plus others you find relevant. Your paper should include relevant concepts from these readings and incorporate your reactions and examples that illustrate your reflective judgment and good understanding of the concepts.

Your paper meets the page requirements not counting the cover page or the references pages.

Module 3 – SLP

COLLABORATION TECHNOLOGIES AND IT INFRASTRUCTURE

Please review the following link and watch the section videos.

Refer to tutorials at http://www.gcflearnfree.org/excel2013 and watch the video:

Freezing Panes and view Options

Sorting Data

Filtering Data

Groups and subtotals

Tables

Charts

Sparkline

After watching the Excel videos, please continue developing the Abacus Excel spreadsheet exercises as noted below.

Basic Spreadsheet Concepts.(2009). Abacus training. Retrieved from http://www.abacustraining.biz/Exercises/Excel/BasicSSConcepts.htm

Exercise 5 – Mike’s Lunch Bar

Exercise 6 – Mike’s Furniture Store

Exercise 7 – Weekly Income Schedule

Exercise 2 – Use the Sales and Produce Department spreadsheet created in the Intermediate Spreadsheet Exercise 2 at http://tfacomputers.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/3/5/13350957/excel_basic_exercises.pdf to create the Pie Chart below.

SLP3 Apples Pie Chart

Create similar Pie Charts for other Fruits in this spreadsheet such as kiwifruit, pears, and nectarines. Hint: use the CTRL key to highlight or select the cells or columns you need to create these charts.

Create an Excel file with designated folders 1-4 to develop the above exercises.

SLP Assignment Expectations

The SLP should be developed in Excel, and the file and should be uploaded as your completed assignment.

Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

Precision: the questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Module 4 – Case

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE AND THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Assignment Overview

Module 4 introduces online presence for business and information security policies. E-commerce can result in a radical change in the manner business operate, but it needs to be integrated with the rest of the business. Some of the integration includes, planning, competition of resources, and interfaces to other internal systems. Sometimes companies join an alliance or consortium of companies to explore E-commerce implementation. Most electronic payment systems know who the buyers are, and it is therefore necessary to protect their identity. Other private issues may involve tracking of Internet user activities through cookies and in-house monitoring of web services.

Everyday sales items purchased online have almost doubled between the year 2006 and 2010 and it is expected that these figures will keep doubling by 2020. A few years back, E-commerce was not expected to be what is now. It is now clear that all businesses need to provide online services sooner or later to remain in the market. The same is true for mobile commerce.

In order to identify what businesses need to do to start their online presence, go over the background readings and any other elective readings you find useful. When you have read the articles listed in the background material and any other relevant reading you could find, imagine that you want take advantage of the Internet and communication technologies for your business. These include the tools, business strategies, and information security needed to orderly implement electronic and mobile commerce.

In addition, E-policies typically include: ethical computer use policy, information privacy policy, acceptable use policy, email privacy policy, Internet use policy, and anti-spam policy.

Case Assignment

The final case in this course explores some of the concerns manager face as they adapt to an increasingly technological environment. The Case “How Starbucks is Changing to a Digital and Social Enterprise” is a thought provoking case and may challenge you to consider some of the actions to take if placed in similar circumstances. The case can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/efraimturban/online-files Chapter 1 or at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B01kmYbW3pyfbmlmNVNiOVowd1E/edit?pli=1

How is Starbucks changing to a Digital and Social Enterprise? What are the drivers for this change?

In what ways you think Starbucks increases its brand recognition with its E-Commerce initiatives?

Is the E-Commerce system bringing Starbucks closer to its customers? Is it changing consumer behavior? Why and why not?

Note: this case study was selected from the book Electronic Commerce

A Managerial and Social Networks Perspective by Turban, E., King, D., Lee, J,. Liang, T., & Turban, D. For more info see: http://www.gallaugher.com/chapters

Assignment Expectations

The Case should be 4-5 pages for the answer, excluding cover page and reference list.

Your assignments will be graded following these expectations:

Precision: the questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your responses are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Your paper meets the page requirements, not counting the cover page or the references pages.

Module 4 – SLP

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE AND THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

SLP 4 consists of two parts. In Part I, you will create an Excel Pivot tables, and in Part II you will and evaluating security measures to protect Internet consumers.

Refer to tutorials at http://www.gcflearnfree.org/excel2013 and watch the videos.

Track Change and Comments [Video 24]

Finalizing and Protecting Workbooks [Video 25]

Conditional Formatting [Video 26]

Pivot Tables [Video 27]

What-If Analysis [Video 28]

For this assignment, first watch the below videos by clicking the links:

Pivot Tables:

https://support.office.com/en-in/article/Create-a-PivotTable-and-analyze-your-data-7810597d-0837-41f7-9699-5911aa282760?ui=en-US&rs=en-IN&ad=IN

IF functions

https://support.office.com/en-in/article/Advanced-IF-functions-17341cef-510d-4d60-a657-913f878fdacf?ui=en-US&rs=en-IN&ad=IN

Using PivotTables to answer questions

Suppose we wanted to answer the question: “What is the amount sold by each salesperson?” for the sales data in the example below. Answering this question could be very time-consuming and difficult—each salesperson appears on multiple rows, and we would need to total all of their different orders individually. We could use the Subtotal command to help find the total for each salesperson, but we would still have a lot of data to work with.

Fortunately, a PivotTable can instantly calculate and summarize the data in a way that is both easy to read and manipulate. Perform the following.

Use the PivotTable to calculate and summarize the data.

Once you have created a PivotTable, change the order amount to currency.

What is the amount sold by each salesperson?

What is the total amount sold in each month?

Take a screenshot or use the Snipping tool to copy the worksheet where the new pivot table and pivot table fields appear to show your work. Paste the screen images into a Word doc.

Submit your answers for this assignment by pasting the worksheet screenshots in 1- to 3-page Word document.

SLP Part II

For Part II, prepare a 1- to 2-page Word document paper addressing the following question.

Research 2-3 security measures that are available to protect customers shopping on the Internet. Define the measure and find the benefits and limitations of each approach.

SLP Assignment Expectations

Your assignment will be graded following these expectations:

SLP Part I and II must be submitted in one combined Word document containing 2-5 pages properly labeling each section.

Submit a Word document with screen copies of the Excel worksheet by pasting them in 1-3 pages. Answer the security question in 1-2 pages.

Precision: the questions asked are answered.

Clarity: Your answers are clear and show your good understanding of the topic.

Breadth and depth: The scope covered in your paper is directly related to the questions of the assignment and the learning objectives of the module.

Your paper meets the page requirements not counting the cover page or the references pages

Module 1 discussion

Knowledge Sharing Tools

We live in an information age when infinite quantities of facts are widely available to anyone who can use a computer. We all now have the difficult task to compete in this information age where knowledge sharing within an organization could make a difference.

In your first posting, you are expected to provide one example of some kind of information technology tool that helps organizations share knowledge. Here you have a website that could give you some examples. http://www.kstoolkit.org/KSTools Describe the knowledge sharing tool and discuss its benefits.

In your second posting, comment on the different knowledge sharing tools presented by your classmates and compare and contrast at least two with yours. Highlight the ability to share knowledge.

Module 2 discussion

Decision Making and Information Politics

As IT applications become more reutilized all across the board, one of the interesting features are the occasional employees who know more than the IT staff about some critical thing, often many of them. Communication between staff and IT then becomes much more complicated, because the balance of power between the two groups based on the dependence of staff on IT for help and support breaks down. While there is certainly nothing wrong with knowledge about technology it can lead to mixed messages, confused goals, feelings of lack of appreciation and lack of support, and generally less than effective maintenance of IT across-the-board. We certainly don’t want to discourage our staff from acquiring technical knowledge, but we also don’t want them to use that knowledge as a political weapon against IT’s control of IT. Or do we? Maybe it’s a good thing to have a level of stress between staff and IT if it serves to keep both groups on their toes and trying to outdo each other.

At any rate, user support isn’t just looking after the least technological staff; increasingly, it’s also providing for the power users, and those who would be power users. Have you had any experience with this knowledge-based tension between staff and IT? Even if you haven’t, can you see how it could be a problem? What should we be doing about it?

We’ll be interested in your ideas here.

(Note: Students are STRONGLY encouraged to respond to each others posts and to ask each other questions based on their posts. Obviously, the earliest posters will have to respond to the “seed” question to get the discussion started. But subsequent posters should read through all the previous responses and can respond to something in a previous post rather than the “seed” question. For example, if you have had a similar problem as a previous poster or disagree with a point that a previous poster made, you can respond directly to the previous poster and get credit for participating in the discussion.)

Module 3 discussion

Network Computing

Identify some commercial tools that allow users to conduct browsing, communication, and collaboration simultaneously. Explain why the topic of group work and its support has gotten increased attention.

Module 4 discussion

Mobile E-Commerce

Discuss the major limitations of mobile E-commerce. Which of them are likely to disappear? Why is the electronic job market so popular, especially among the high-tech professions?

Module 4 Reflective Discussion

Given the readings and assignments in the course, identify and briefly discuss two important concepts from this course that are applicable to your degree.

You can also include here any comments and suggestions about this course that you would like to highlight.

Thank you for your reflections! They help us all for continuous assessment and improvement of the learning experience.

ITM301 full course – cases , slps , discussions – July 2016

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