Assignment:
Assessment: IT Portfolio Theory
This document supplies detailed information on assessment tasks for this unit.
Key information
• word count: 1500 words
Assurance of Learning
This assessment assesses the following Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO) and related Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLO):
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Unit Learning Outcome (ULO)
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Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO)
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ULO 1: Critically analyse how information and IT can generate business value and improve the firm's overall competitiveness
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GLO 1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities: appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession.
GLO 4: Critical Thinking: evaluating information using critical and analytical thinking and judgement
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Purpose
This is an individual assignment, which requires you to develop an understanding of how information and IT can generate business value and improve a business's overall competitiveness, and then produce a 1500-word report on your findings.
Instructions
First read the case titled: Predicting consumer tastes with big data at Gap. The assigned case study will be used for assignment 2 as well.
Develop responses to the following questions: Task 1:
1a. Identify various IT assets and their business value returns mentioned in the case study using the IT Portfolio theory.
1b. To what extent does this organisation have an IT portfolio which provides a balanced view of value, risk and return?
Task 2:
2a. Based on the Resource based view of the firm (RBV), develop a list of resources and capabilities that the organisation has access to.
2b. How do you think that resources and capabilities add value and rarity for Gap?
Useful Resources
• Key article that introduces you to the theoretical model used in this assessment:
o IT Portfolio framework - Weill, P., and Aral, S. (2006). Generating Premium Returns on Your IT Investments, MIT Sloan Management Review, 47:2, pp 39-48.
o Barney, J. (2012). Evaluating the firm's internal capabilities, Strategic management and competitive advantage: concepts, 4th Ed, Pearson (Boston)
• Tips and resources on report writing
Report format
Due to the tight word limit, you should use tables wherever appropriate in your responses. Any table entries that need further explanation should be provided underneath the table.
Refer to the sample report template is on the program page under Assessment 1 Template and should be used for your assessment. The report should contain the following sections:
• Responses to Tasks 1 - 2
• List of references
• Appendices (if required)
Turnitin
Students are required to check originality through Turnitin, prior to submitting the final assessment. To check the originality of your work, you will be provided with an opportunity to review your work and submit your draft within the course.
To view a quick guide on using Turnitin this resource will help you and includes a short video on using Turnitin and accessing the feedback on your assessment.
Feedback prior to submission
Students are able to seek assistance from the teaching staff to ascertain whether the assignment conforms to submission guidelines. Questions need to be formulated in writing as the teaching staff will not read parts of the assignment prior to submission.
Referencing
You must correctly use the Harvard referencing system in this assessment. See the Deakin referencing guide.
Academic integrity, plagiarism and collusion
Academic misconduct and plagiarism is subjected to penalties. Plagiarism includes and not limited to:
• Copying others' work without appropriate referencing
• Re-using assignment material completed by other students
• Contracting others to do assessment tasks on your behalf
Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious breaches of academic integrity. They are forms of cheating, and severe penalties are associated with them, including cancellation of marks for a specific assignment, for a specific unit or even exclusion from the course. If you are ever in doubt about how to properly use and cite a source of information refer to the referencing site above.
Plagiarism occurs when a student passes off as the student's own work, or copies without acknowledgement as to its authorship, the work of any other person or resubmits their own work from a previous assessment task.
Collusion occurs when a student obtains the agreement of another person for a fraudulent purpose, with the intent of obtaining an advantage in submitting an assignment or other work.
Work submitted may be reproduced and/or communicated by the university for the purpose of assuring academic integrity of submissions.