IS/IT Strategy

Coursework: Assessment
1. Introduction
This assessment is an individual assignment. The assignment has two sections (Part A and Part B): in Part A, you are required to write a scholarly academic article based critical engagement with a chosen topic; part B focuses on critical discussions of key factors that need to be considered for a medium-term corporate strategy.
• Part A
The purpose of the task is to understand the business significance of Big Data and Smart City, and explore their connection with business strategy. Write a research article critically analysing IS/IT strategy frameworks/models. Investigate the nature of IS/IT strategies that successful firms/cities undertake taking advantage of Big Data and Smart City concept. You are required to focus any one of the following topics:
• Information Communications Technology (ICT) as an enabler for next generation of public services
• Business value of Big Data
• Part B
The objective of Part B is to formulate business process/ objectives and critically evaluate strategies pertaining to a city with particular reference to information systems and information technology applications. Few years back ICT systems/solutions were decentralised. Presently, it is much more sensible to share data and to have shared systems. The new approach to sense, process, model, and store data is opening substantial market because of the size of the data. In this regard, you are assigned/ required to imagine a fictitious organisation belonging to healthcare or retail in the context of a smart city concept. Your primary task is to propose and critically analyse business strategy, IS/IT strategy pertaining to the chosen organisation considering ICT enabled social inclusion. You can make relevant assumptions such as population, economy, annual turnover, market share, products/services, contribution to GDP etc. You are required to define and discuss the structural identity and analyze the organization using appropriate concepts and strategic decision-making models in relation to IS/IT strategy. The critical aspects of IS/IT strategy such as demand, control framework and supply concerning the organisation should be justified. You should define the various strategic choices available and identify the barriers to implementation. You are also required to initially analyse any key characteristics of the sector to which the identified organisation belong.
The assignment must include a critical discussion of any key factors and important themes that need to be considered in the formulation of a medium-term corporate IS/IT strategy for the identified organisation.
2. Intended Module Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the assessment, the student will be able to:
i. Assess the need for change within an organisation and propose appropriate tactics and strategies with particular reference to information systems and information technology applications and projects
ii. Demonstrate a mastery of the complex skills and knowledge necessary to evaluate one or more strategic decision-making models.
iii. Critically define the strategic choices that face organisations, using advanced skills in conducting research.
iv. Critically identify the barriers to the implementation of strategic choices.
3. Deliverables
You should prepare an assignment of approx. 5,500 words in length excluding appendices and references that includes, but is not restricted to, the following.
• Part A
a. Produce an article covering the following aspects of research (approx. 1700 words):
• approach to the problem and research questions, objectives
• theoretical framework; rigor of literature review
• methods or empirical analysis techniques, used data sources
• key findings and conclusions
• the importance of the research from the theoretical or empirical point of view
• Part B
b. A brief profile of the sector to which the identified organisation belongs - including any assumptions made as described previously (approx. 700 words).
c. A brief background of the identified organisation – organisational details pertinent to the assignment (approx. 500 words).
d. Assess the need for IS/IT interventions within the identified organisation with particular reference to information systems and information technology applications. (approx. 800 words).
e. A critical analysis of the identified organisation using appropriate concepts and strategic decision-making models, in relation to IS/IT strategy (approx. 1000 words).
f. A critical analysis of the strategic choices when compared to another company (a real-world business) of your choice within the same sector. Provide an analysis of chosen real-word company using appropriate concepts and decision making models (approx. 800 words).
Your assignment must be referenced using CU Harvard style of referencing and well organised/structured.
4. Assessment Criteria
The assignment will be assessed out of 100 marks using the below mentioned criteria.
For a mark of 69%
• Show a thorough understanding of the purpose of the activity.
• Display knowledge of the major principles, theories, methodologies, and practices involved and an ability to apply them effectively.
• Provide evidence of wide reading, including academic journals.
• Demonstrate an ability to select critical points, evaluate them and communicate the conclusions effectively.
• Provide approaches that are creative, practicable, and supported.
• Provide a sound, supported critique of your own work.
• Provide sound and supported discussions of further research that may be needed.
• Provide a very good individual contribution
For a mark of 60-69%
• Show a clear understanding of the activity.
• Display knowledge of most of the principles, theories, methodologies, and practices involved and an ability to apply them effectively.
• Provide evidence of wide reading.
• Demonstrate an ability to select critical points and analyse them and draw sound conclusions.
• Provide approaches that are creative and pragmatic.
• Provide a supported critique of your own work.
• Provide supported, discussions of further research that may be needed.
• Provide a good individual contribution
For a mark of 50-59%
• Show an adequate understanding of the activity.
• Display knowledge of some of the principles, theories, methodologies, and practices involved and an ability to apply them.
• Provide evidence of some reading related to the proposal.
• Demonstrate an ability to select key points in the exercise and analyse them.
• Provide approaches that are less creative or might not be entirely practical.
• Provide a critique of your own work.
• Provide discussions of further research that may be needed.
• Provide an adequate individual contribution
For a mark of 40-49%
• Show a barely adequate understanding of the purpose of the exercise.
• Display knowledge of some of the principles, theories, methodologies, and practices involved and attempt to apply them.
• Provide evidence of reading limited relevant literature.
• Attempt some analysis and discussion.
• Show some ability to link theory to problems and provide solutions.
• Provide some individual contribution
For a mark of 25-39%
• Made an attempt to complete the exercise.
• Show little or no understanding of the principles, theories, and practices involved.
• No evidence of academic reading.
• An inability to recognize the key points.
For a mark of 25%
• Work lacks any academic merit as adjudged by the foregoing.
5. Important note
Any assignment submitted after the submission date will be subject to MEC Regulations on late submission of work. Please do not search the internet for an article and merely present it as your own. Plagiarism will be dealt with as per the regulations.
Assignment Acknowledgement Sheet – Individual Assignment
Module Title: IS/IT Strategy ()
Module Instructors :
Semester: Fall 2015
Programme:
Assessment: Individual Assignment
Intended Learning Outcomes: On completion of this module, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a mastery of the complex skills and knowledge necessary to evaluate one or more strategic decision-making models.
2. Critically define the strategic choices that face organisations, using advanced skills in conducting research.
3. Critically identify the barriers to the implementation of strategic choices.
Task : Individual assignment
Name of student: Name and ID Signature

Due Date:
Submitted on:
Submitted to:
MARKING CRITERIA FOR IS/IT STRATEGY ASSESSMENT
Marks Maximum marks
Deliverable (a)
Research article
• approach to the problem and research questions; objectives; (5 marks)
• theoretical framework; rigor of literature review; (5 marks)
• methods or empirical analysis techniques; used data sources; (5 marks)
• key findings and conclusions; (5 marks)
• the importance of the research from the theoretical or empirical point of view. (5 marks) 25
Deliverable (b)
A brief profile of the sector to which the identified organisation belongs 5
Deliverable (c)
• A brief background of the identified organization (5 marks)
• Organisational details pertinent to the assignment (5 marks)
10
Deliverable (d)
Assess the need for IS/IT interventions within the identified organisation 6
Deliverable (e)
• A critical analysis of the identified organisation using appropriate concepts (8 marks)
• Strategic decision-making models, in relation to IS/IT strategy (8 marks) 16
Deliverable (f)
• A critical analysis of the strategic choices when compared to another company (a real-world business) of your choice within the same sector (8 marks)
• A critical analysis of the real-word company using appropriate concepts/ decision making models (8 marks) 16
• Depth of understanding of problem context, extent of clarity in evaluation (5 marks)
• Relevance, creativity, evidence of professional approach (5 marks)
• Rigor of literature sources and referencing. (5 marks) 15
Structure and layout of report 7
Marks received /Total marks 100
Marks out of 70
Comments:
NOTE : THE ASSIGFMENT SHOULD BE AS PER THE BELOW POINTS EXACTULY
Part A :Influence of big data in Oman banking sector a review .
Abstract :
1-introuduction
2-literature review
3-challenges in Oman in employees big data
4-opprtunities due to big data
5-banks and policies in Oman
6-critical analysis
7-conclusion
8-refernce ( 15-20 )
Statistics :
1-world bank
2-Oman chamber commerce ( OCCI )
3-Ministry of commerce
Part B :
1-Use statistics in every section.
2-org details : Vision , mission , employ , business verticals , product/services , org structure , finance details/performance .
3-Business / IT Strategy
SWOT analysis
4-IT/IS strategy based comparisons
Demand Control supply