Stage 3: Strategic and Operational Outcomes

Before you begin work on this assignment, be sure you have read the Case Study and reviewed the feedback received on your Stage 2 assignment. 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 step is 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) that will propose an IT solution to meet CIC’s organizational strategy and fulfill its 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.
  • B.Process Analysis

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.)

Strategic Goal (from case study)	Objective (clear, measurable and time-bound)	Explanation (2-3 sentences)
Increase CIC Business Development by winning new contracts in the areas of IT Consulting
Build a cadre of consultants internationally to provide remote research and analysis support to CIC’s onsite teams in the U. S.	Increase international recruiting efforts and employ 5 research analysts in the next 12 months.	The new hiring system would allow applicants from around the world to apply online, increasing the number of international applicants. It would enable the recruiters to carefully monitor the applications for these positions, identify the necessary research and analysis skills needed, and screen resumes for these key skills. Recruiters could quickly view the number of applicants and identify when additional recruiting efforts are needed to meet the objective.
Continue to increase CIC’s ability to quickly provide high quality consultants to awarded contracts to best serve the clients’ needs
Increase CIC’s competitive advantage in the IT consulting marketplace by increasing its reputation for having IT consultants who are highly skilled in leading edge technologies and innovative solutions for its clients

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.

CIC Hiring Process
As/Is Process (copied from Stage 1)	To/Be Process	Business Benefits of Improved Process
Recruiter receives application from job hunter via Postal Service Mail.	Receive application via on-line submission through CIC Employment Website and files in applicant database.	More efficient submission process presents positive image to applicants and decreases time needed to receive and begin processing applications.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Administrative Assistant prepares and sends Hiring Offer to Selected Candidate by mailing offer letter	Ted prepares job offer letter by selecting information needed for specific candidate; system completes the template with stored information and Ted reviews and emails to candidate.	Recruiter selects offer information for candidate and electronically routes to Ted for processing and electronic mailing to candidate.

• C.Requirements – The next step is to identify the essential requirements 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 states how 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:

• 4 user requirements (what users will be able to do with the system (functional) requirements (numbered in the table as U-#).
• 1 reporting requirement (UR-#)
• 2 software requirements related to security (SS-#)
• 3 software requirements related to system performance requirements (SP-#)

Here’s an example of a user requirement:

Requirement Number	Requirement	Source (individual) from Case Study
U-1	The system shall create a job offer for the chosen candidate.	Recruiter – Paul O’Brien

First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this section. Then, for each of the rows listed below, copy and complete the table with the requested information.

Requirement Number	Requirement	Source (individual) from Case Study – name and title
U-1
U-2
U-3
U-4
UR-1
SS-1
SS-2
SP-1
SP-2
SP-3

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.
• Submit your paper as a Word document, or a document that can be read in Word.
• Your submission should include your last name first in the filename: Lastname_firstname_Stage_3

GRADING RUBRIC:

Criteria	90-100% Far Above Standards	80-89% Above Standards	70-79% Meets Standards	60-69% Below Standards	< 60% Well Below Standards	Possible Points
Strategic Outcomes Three objectives derived from Strategic Goals in Case Study and explained how new hiring system would help achieve.	13-15 Points Objectives are clear, measurable and time-bound, and are strongly and fully explained using a sophisticated level of writing.	12 Points Objectives are clear, measurable and time-bound, and are clearly explained.	10-11 Points Objectives are somewhat clear, measurable and time-bound, and are explained.	9 Points Objectives are not clear, measurable and/or time-bound, and/or are not explained.	0-8 Points Too few objectives are presented, are not explained or exhibit little effort.	15
Process Analysis Analysis describes the hiring process in terms of CIC requirements.	18-20 Points Fully describes and is clearly derived from the Case Study, and demonstrates sophisticated analysis.	16-17 Points Describes all aspects, is derived from the Case Study, and demonstrates effective analysis.	14-15 Points Describes most aspects of the process being analyzed, and is related to the Case Study.	12-13 Points Does not describe some aspects, and/or is not related to the Case Study, and/or contains significant incorrect information.	0-11 Points Not included, is extremely incomplete, or is not related to the Case Study.	20
Requirements 5 user (1 addresses reporting) and 2 system security and 3 system performance requirements	36-40 Points Correctly identified and sourced; clearly derived from the Case Study; demonstrates sophisticated analysis.	32-35 Points Identified and sourced; requirements are derived from the Case Study; demonstrates effective analysis.	28-31 Points Identified and sourced; requirements are related to the Case Study.	24-27 Points Less than 10 requirements are identified and sourced; and/or information provided is not correct; and/or requirements are not all related to the Case Study.	0-23 Points Few or no requirements are listed; sources are incorrect; and/or requirements are not related to the Case Study.	40
Incorporation of Feedback on Previous Stage Substantive feedback related to key content is addressed and previous sections are improved	13-15 Points Substantive corrections very effectively incorporated to reflect feedback received on Stage 2.	12 Points Substantive corrections incorporated to reflect feedback received on Stage 2.	10-11 Points Corrections incorporated to reflect feedback received on Stage 2. May not have addressed all key points or sufficiently corrected.	9 Points Minimal corrections made based on feedback received on Stage 2 – Some improvements still needed.	0-8 Points No corrections made based on feedback received on Stage 2 and/or incorrect changes made.	15
Format	9-10 Points Very well organized and easy to read. Very few or no errors in sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; double-spaced, written in third person and presented in a professional format. Any references used are appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style.	8 Points Effective organization; has few errors in sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; double-spaced, written in third person and presented in a professional format. Any references used are appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style.	7 Points Some organization; may have some errors in sentence structure, grammar and spelling. Report is double spaced and written in third person. References may not be appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style.	6 Points Not well organized, and/or contains several grammar and/or spelling errors; and/or is not double-spaced and written in third person. References may not be appropriately incorporated and cited using APA style.	0-5 Points Extremely poorly written, has many grammar and/or spelling errors, or does not convey the information.	10
					TOTAL Points Possible	100

 

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