Mini-Case Study
Uigeadail Manufacturing & Universal Corporation (UM&UC) designs, builds, and sellsprecision measurement tools used in the scientific and medical research and energy exploration industries. The firm is highly respected for its quality products, effective product training programs, and professional customer service and support.
In late 2015, UM&UC recognized that the sales team had become extremely mobile and were facing challenges that was impacting the team's effectiveness. The VP, Sales engaged an independent consulting firm to assess and analyze the challenges and effectiveness and make recommendations on how to improve the sales and sales support process. The consulting firm report revealed the following key findings:
1. The sales and sales support teams are primarily mobile and rarely interface with company IT resources from a UM&UC facility.
2. The sales and sales support teams are mobile technology savvy and understand what needs to improve to make them more effective.
3. The sales and sales support teams need many of the same capabilities that they would have at a UM&UC facility, but they need access and delivery to through a mobile device.
4. UM&UC IT infrastructure has not kept pace with the sales and sales support teams' dynamic IT needs.
5. Some sales and sales support team members are trying to bridge the gap by using personal mobile devices, but these devices are not allowed to access the needed company IT resources.
In addition, the consulting firm made several technology and process recommendations. In early 2016, UM&UC acted on many of the process recommendations and is now ready to implement the top technology recommendation, which is:
"Transition the sales team and selected members of the sales support team to tablet style (iPad, MS Surface, Lenovo Yoga, Samsung Galaxy, etc.) mobile devices."
UM&UC has set aside funding and is ready to identify a standard device and roll it out to the sales and sales support teams. Based on the available funding, the cost cannot exceed $750.00 per unit. There are 75 sales and 107 sales support team members across the US, Europe, Asia, and MEA (Middle East &Africa). All personnel will be issued the same tablet.
You are the Senior IT Infrastructure Specialist assigned to identify the candidate standard tablet and recommend an implementation roadmap for rolling it out.
You have confirmed and updated the requirements documented by the consulting firm, which are outlined in the matrix below. You do not need to address software at this time. You only need to ensure the hardware will be able to handle the activity shown in the requirements table.
The Assignment& Deliverable
This is an individual assignment. You must work on your own.
The assignment is to analyze the mini-case and table of requirements to assess and identify a standard tablet mobile device that will be used across the Sales Department. You must consider all aspects of the device to include CPU, RAM, storage, connectors & ports, etc. Do not simply visit a tablet manufacturer's site (Apple, Lenovo, Samsung, etc.) and select a machine. This will not be successful. You must identify and justify your selection based on requirements with specific attention to computing capacity and speed, storage, screen resolution, etc. How do the various tablet components individually and collectively meet the stated requirements?
You must also deliver a high level implementation roadmap within the same document. The roadmap must be focused on the tasks and activities associated with deployment/implementation and estimated durations for each task/activity. Specifically, you need to provide a view into what needs to done to roll out the tablet and how long it will take.
The deliverable is an MS Word document based on the template embedded in this document. The audience for the deliverable is the CIO; IT Director; VP, Sales; Sales US Regional Sales Directors; International Country Sales Directors; Sales Managers; and your implementation team. The expectation is you will use the document to gain approval for the identified tablet and roadmap. The roadmap will also be used (by you) to build out a full project schedule to manage the deployment.
Evaluation & Scoring Rubric for the HWER
Executive Summary The executive summary is focused and clearly states the purpose of the document and summarizes the recommendation and implementation roadmap. The summary demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of mini case and course and research materials. The executive summary is somewhat focused or lacks completeness; the recommendation or implementation roadmap is partially summarized; or does not fully demonstrate an adequate understanding of the mini case or course and research materials. Executive Summary is not included.
Recommendation Scope The scope is focused and clearly shows the boundaries of the recommendation. The scope is complete, uses sophisticated writing, and correctly relates to the mini case; demonstrating a high level of understanding of course concepts, analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis. The scope is partially complete, somewhat explained or may be somewhat related to the mini case; or may not demonstrate an adequate understanding of course concepts, analysis, critical thinking, or synthesis. Scope is not included.
Technical Recommendation The technical recommendation clearly defines and describes the selected tablet mobile device in terms associated with its hardware component capabilities. Uses sophisticated writing; and correctly relates to the mini case and course and research materials; demonstrating a high level of analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis. The technical recommendation is partially complete, may define and describe some hardware components, or may somewhat relate to the mini case and course and research materials; or may not demonstrate an adequate analysis, critical thinking, or synthesis. Technical Recommend-ationis not included.
Recommendation Justification The justification is complete, clearly explains (justifies) the recommended and maps the technical recommendation to the stated requirements. Uses sophisticated writing, and correctly relates to the mini case and course and research materials; demonstrating a high level of analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis. The justification is partially complete; somewhat maps the technical recommendation to the stated requirements; or may somewhat correctly relate to the mini case and course and research materials; or may not demonstrate an adequate level of analysis, critical thinking, or synthesis. Justification is not included.
Implementation Roadmap The roadmap is complete and details the high-level activities and activity durations for rolling out the selected tablet computer. The roadmap is based on recognizable structured methodology that focuses on deployment/implementation activities. Sophisticated writing is evident and demonstrates a high level of analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis. The roadmap is partially complete and provides some activities and durations; a structured methodology is somewhat evident; or writing does not demonstrate a high level of analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis. Roadmap is not included.
References More than three (3) sources other than the course required readings and videos are incorporated and used effectively, contextualized, appropriately researched and supported, and synthesized with original arguments. Sources used are credible, relevant, and timely. References page and citations are appropriately incorporated and cited using the APA style. Three (3) or fewer sources other than the course readings and videos are used; may or may not be properly incorporated or used to support arguments; may rely too heavily on the reporting of external sources, and/or are not effective or appropriate; and/or are not credible, relevant, or timely. References page and citations are partially incorporated or the APA style is not used. No external research is incorporated.
DocumentFormat, Spelling, & Grammar The document reflects effective organization and sophisticated writing; correct structure, grammar, and spelling; presented in a professional format using the accompanying MS Word report template. Document is not well organized or may be somewhat clear and concise; or contains grammatical or spelling errors; or is not in the accompanying MS Word report template. Document is extremely poorly written and does not convey the requisite information.