Part -1
Strategic and Operational Outcomes
Read the Case Study - Refer to the Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents below to see where you are in the process of developing this report.
Overview
As the business analyst in the CIO's department of Chesapeake IT Consulting (CIC), your next step in working towards an IT solution to improve the hiring process at CIC is to analyze the strategic outcomes and processes at CIC and develop a set of requirements for the hiring system.
Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents
I. Background and Organizational Analysis (Stage 1)
A. Introduction
B. Organizational Strategy
C. Components of an Information System
1. People and Technology
2. Processes
3. Data
II. Strategic Use of Technology (Stage 2)
A. Decision-Making
B. Communication
C. Collaboration
D. Relationships
E. Structure
F. Competitive Advantage
III. Strategic and Operational Outcomes (Stage 3)
A. Strategic Outcomes
B. Process Analysis
C. Requirements
IV. System Recommendation (Stage 4)
A. Benefits of an Enterprise Solution
B. Proposed IT solution
C. How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements
D. Implementation Steps
E. Conclusion
Assignment
The first stepis to incorporate the feedback you received on your Stage 2 assignment, making any needed corrections or adjustments. (If you have not incorporated the feedback from your Stage 1 assignment, you should do so prior to submitting Stage 3.) For this assignment, you will add Section III to Sections I and II, as outlined below. Note: In addition to the criteria for Stage 3, as indicated in the grading rubric, the incorporation of improvements based on substantive feedback (fixing significant problems with content) from the previous stage will also be evaluated.
Section III of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation Report analyzes the organization's strategy and processes to determine how technology solutions can be used to support organizational processes and enable strategic and operational outcomes. For this assignment, you will also list requirements for a new hiring system. This analysis leads into Section IV - System Recommendation section of the BA&SR (the Stage 4 assignment) thatwill propose an IT solution to meet CIC's organizational strategy and fulfillits operational needs.
Using the case study, assignment instructions, Course Content readings, and external resources,develop your Section III on Strategic and Operational Outcomes. Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information.A key to successful business writing is quality and conciseness rather than quantity.
The case study tells you that the executives and employees at Chesapeake IT Consultants (CIC) have identified a need for an effective and efficient hiring system. As you review the case study, list three goals (or strategies) from the description of the company, as well as from the "interviews" that are documented. Then, to focus on operational outcomes, you will analyze the hiring process in use at CIC by identifying specific steps.
III. Strategic and Operational Outcomes
A. Strategic Outcomes- Review the four Strategic Goals in the Strategic Plan section of the CIC Case Study. The CIO has asked you to come up with an example of an Objective to meet each Goal, and explain how a new hiring system would help achieve that Objective.As you can see from the example provided in the table below, an objective is a statement that is clear (not vague) and is something that can be measured or evaluated to determine whether it has been met or not.
First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section. Then, for each of the rows listed below, complete the table with the requested information. (Provide an introductory sentence and copy the table. Create an Objective for each of the 3 remaining Goals and explain using 2-3 sentences for each.)
B. Process Analysis
The overall hiring process has several steps which you listed in the Stage 1 assignment (Section I.C.2.). Copy and insert your steps from Stage 1 into the table below in the "As/Is Process" column. For each of the steps listed, complete the table describing how this part of the process is supported by the technology solution to improve the hiring system. Then complete the Business Benefits of the Improved Process column by explaining how this part of the process can contribute.The first row and last rows have been completed for you as an example.
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CIC Hiring Process
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As/Is Process (copied from Stage 1)
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To/Be Process
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Business Benefits of Improved Process
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1. Recruiter receives application from job hunter via Postal Service Mail.
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Receive application via on-line submission through CIC Employment Website and files in applicant database.
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More efficient submission process presents positive image to applicants and decreases time needed to receive and begin processing applications.
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12.Administrative Assistant prepares and sends Hiring Offer to Selected Candidate by mailing offer letter
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Ted prepares offer letter based on information from recruiter and puts in the mail to the chosen candidate.
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Recruiter selects offer information for candidate and electronically routes to Ted for processing and electronic mailing to candidate.
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C. Requirements - The next step is to identify the essentialrequirements for the information system. Review the Case Study, especially the interviews, highlighting any statements that tell what the person expects the system to do. You should be able to locate at least 4 user requirements and at least 1 reporting requirement. As a member of the CIO's organization, you will then use your professional knowledge to add 2 security-related requirements and 3 system performance requirements. Security requirements are covered in Chapter 6 of the textbook. System performance requirements include the following:
- Usability - Ability for new users to quickly adapt to the software without help (is it intuitive?)
- Scalability - Ability of the system to accommodate additional users and/or additional records/transactions
- Availability - Amount of time the system is operational and useable
- Reliability - Ability of the system to create and maintain the data correctly
- Maintainability - Ability of the system to be easily maintained, corrected and updated
- Portability - Ability of the system to run/operate on a variety of end-user devices or with multiple operating systems
For the system performance requirements that you list, do not just repeat what is shown above.
Once you have written down the 10 requirements, evaluate each one using the criteria below and create 10 well-written requirements for the new hiring system.
The requirement statement:
- Is a complete sentence, with a subject (user or system) and predicate (intended result, action or condition)
- Identifies only one requirement; does not include the words "and," "also," "with," and "or."
- States what the system will do for user or functional requirement, and stateshow the system will do it for system performance requirements
- Includes a measure or metric that can be used to determine whether the requirement is met (time or quantity) where appropriate
- Is stated in positive terms and uses "shall" (vs. "may" or "should"); "the system shall xxxx" vs. "the system shall not xxx"
- Avoids the use of terms that cannot be defined and measured, such as "approximately," "robust," "user friendly," etc.
- Is achievable; avoids terms such as "100% uptime," or "no failures"
The requirements are documented in a table, as shown below. For a full requirement specification, there will be many requirements statements; you only need to provide the number of requirements identified for each category.
For this assignment, you will identify:
- 4user requirements (what users will be able to do with the system (functional) requirements(numbered in the table as U-#).
- 1reporting requirement(UR-#)
- 2 softwarerequirements related to security(SS-#)
- 3software requirements related to system performance requirements (SP-#)
Formatting Your Assignment
For academic or business writing, the writer is expected to write in the third person. In third person, the writer avoids the pronouns I, we, my, and ours. The third person is used to make the writing more objective by taking the individual, the "self," out of the writing. This method is very helpful for effective business writing, a form in which facts, not opinion, drive the tone of the text. Writing in the third person allows the writer to come across as unbiased and thus more informed.
- Include Sections I and II, revised according to any feedback received and add Section III.
- Write a short concise paper: Use the recommendations provided in each area for length of response. Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced. It's important to value quality over quantity. Section III should not exceed 4 pages.
- Ensure that each of the tables is preceded by an introductory sentence that explains what is contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.
- The use of external resources is not required, but any resources that are used must have APA formatted citations and references. The references from all stages should be appropriately formatted and alphabetized.
- Use the structure, headings, and outline format provided for your report.
- Compare your work to the Grading Rubric below to be sure you have met content and quality criteria.
Part -2:
System Recommendation and Final BA&SR Report
Before you begin work on this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study,and reviewed the feedback received on your Stage 1, 2 and 3 assignments.Refer to the Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents below to see where you are in the process of developing this report.
Overview
In this Stage assignment, you will identify an enterprise hiring system for CIC and explain how it meets the requirements, and what needs to be done to implement the system within CIC. In addition, you will provide a complete final BA&SR Report incorporating feedback from earlier stages.
Business Analysis and System Recommendation (BA&SR) Table of Contents
I. Background and Organizational Analysis (Stage 1)
A. Introduction
B. Organizational Strategy
C. Components of an Information System
1. People and Technology
2. Processes
3. Data
II. Strategic Use of Technology (Stage 2)
A. Decision-Making
B. Communication
C. Collaboration
D. Relationships
E. Structure
F. Competitive Advantage
III. Strategic and Operational Outcomes (Stage 3)
A. Strategic Outcomes
B. Process Analysis
C. Requirements
IV. System Recommendation (Stage 4)
A. Benefits of an Enterprise Solution
B. Proposed IT Solution
C. How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements
D. Implementation Steps
E. Conclusion
Assignment
The first stepis to incorporate the feedback you received on your Stage 3 assignment, making any needed corrections or adjustments. (If you have not incorporated the feedback from your Stage 1 and Stage 2 assignments, you should do so prior to submitting Stage 4.) For this assignment, you will add Section IV to Sections I, II and III, as outlined below. This assignment requires a complete BA&SR document with revisions made as needed based on the Stage 1, 2, and 3 project submissions and feedback.Note: This is a specific grading criteria in the rubric.
Section IV of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation will propose an IT solution to meet CIC's organizational strategy and meet its operational needs. In Section IV, you will also Identify and explain the high-level steps that will need to take place in order to implement the system you have proposed.
Using the case study and the outline and resources listed below, develop your Section IV - System Recommendation. Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information.
System Recommendation
A. Benefits of an Enterprise Solution: Explain what an enterprise system solution is in general (one paragraph)and how such a system would help CIC (one paragraph). (Two complete paragraphs in total) Note: Enterprise solutions are not the same as ERP applications.
B. Proposed IT Solution:There are many Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) HR systems available. Conduct some research on the web (using the search term "SaaS HR system") and identify a system that will support and improve the hiring process at CIC and that meets the requirements you listed in Section III-Strategic and Operational Outcomes (the Stage 3 Assignment). Be sure to evaluate potential solutions to align with the needs of CIC. Identify the vendor and the system you selected and describe the basic functionality of the system. (One paragraph)
C. How the Proposed IT Solution Meets the Requirements:Using the 10 requirements you listed in your Stage 3 assignment (and incorporating any feedback you received), you will now explain how the solution you have chosen fulfills these requirements.
First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.Then copy the entries for the 10 requirements you listed in the table in Section III (Stage 3 Assignment) into the Requirements column in the table below.Complete the table by providing the explanations of how the system you selected meets each requirement. (Provide an introductory sentence and copy the table and insert information within.)
D. Implementation Steps:First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section.Then address each of the 7 implementation areas below by addressing the questions provided and identifying appropriate implementation steps. (Do not include the questions in your paper.) Label each paragraph with the area being addressed for clarity. (one paragraph for each item)
Implementation Areas:
1. Vendor agreement - What does CIC need to do to be able to start using the system? How much will it cost to use the system? [This information will come from vendor information located in your web research]
2. Hardware and telecommunications
a. What hardware will CIC need to have to implement the solution? [vendor information]
b. What kind of telecommunications will be needed for the solution, including local connectivity inside CIC and Internet access?
3. Configuration
a. What options does the vendor offer for configuring the off-the-shelf system to CIC's needs? [vendor information]
b. How will the configuration be done and by whom?
4. Testing - How will CIC test the system to see if it is working properly for its needs?Choose one of the ten requirements in Requirements (Section C) above and explain how this will be tested to ensure it is working properly and the requirement is met.
5. Employee preparation - Identify what CIC will need to doin each of the following areas to prepare the employees (including the hiring managers in the various departments) to use the new system:
a. Leadership (2-3 sentences)
b. Change Management (2-3 sentences)
c. Training (2-3 sentences)
6. Data migration -What existing data would need to be entered into the system to get started, and how might this be accomplished?
7. Maintenance - Who will provide updates and corrections to the system?
E. Conclusion: Close your Business Analysis and System RecommendationReport with a brief summary of the key points including the benefits CIC can expect to gain from this solution and the alignment with strategic objectives. (One well-written paragraph).
NOTE: This final submission should be a cohesive Business Analysis and Systems Recommendation Report for the CIO of Chesapeake IT Consulting. Sections I, II and III should have been updated to reflect substantive feedback received during the grading process. The formatting should be consistent throughout the document, and the writing should flow well from beginning to end. Headings, numbering, and footers should be correct for a final submission. Although you prepared this in stages, the final product should not seem to be piecemeal or disconnected.