Information Management
Suppose you are the information technology (IT) manager for an IT company. You receive a report that contains a list of computer equipment stored in the company warehouse. You notice that the list also includes items that you know are not stored in the warehouse. Would you consider this list as good information? Why, or why not? Give some examples of at least three items on this list that you consider to be good information and at least three items on this list that would not be good information. Explain your reasoning, and include a discussion about why good information is important in management information systems (MIS).
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit I
In this unit, you have learned about management information systems (MIS) and the importance of it. For this assignment, compose a paper that discusses the key differences between data, information, information technology (IT), and information systems (IS). Your paper should address the components listed below.
Define what is meant by information.
Define what is meant by data.
Create two matrices (one for data and one for information) that illustrate the key differences between information and data, place the matrices into your paper, and briefly discuss the differences in one or two paragraphs. Each matrix should contain characteristics and/or facts about the subjects (data and information) that show how they are different. Define IT.
Define IS.
Using the five-component model as an example, discuss some differences between IT and IS.
If you are using Microsoft Word, you can develop a matrix using this program. For an example of how to create a matrix using Microsoft Word, see the Microsoft.com explanation by clicking the link below.
Microsoft. (n.d.). Create a matrix. Retrieved from https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Create-a-matrix-0E74423D-2E28- 4DEB-9223-A30C2312CC22
You may use another computer software program that you are familiar with to create the matrices. However, you must submit your assignment in a Microsoft Word document, and the matrices should be included in the body of your paper.
Your paper must be a minimum of two pages in length (not counting the title and reference pages), and you must use at least two resources as references. Any information from these resources must be cited and referenced in APA format.
Unit II Journal
Refer back to the “2027?” section on page 69 (Q1-Q7) of the textbook in uCertify, which provides an interesting discussion about the future of collaboration. After reading about the future of collaboration systems, how do you envision collaboration in your industry in the year 2027?
Describe the industry you currently work in or plan to work in along with a discussion of your vision of what collaboration will be like for your industry in the year 2027. Be sure to discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages to your vision of collaboration in 2027.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit II PowerPoint Presentation
In this assignment, you will create a presentation for your organization to explain how successful collaboration can improve success and provide competitive advantages.
Scenario: Your organization has used a variety of collaboration systems developed by some project managers. Some of
Information Systems Management
these systems were successful while others were not. Your organization has one unique challenge—many of your employees are staffed at other locations or work from home (telework). You would like to standardize the collaboration process to improve team communication for all company projects. In your presentation, you should include the elements listed below.
Explain why collaboration information systems (IS) are important from the organization’s perspective.
Discuss how collaboration tools can improve team communication.
Identify three tools that will be used for synchronous communications and three tools that will be used for asynchronous communications. Be sure to explain why you made these choices.
Describe how project files, such as Microsoft (MS) Word, MS Excel, MS Project, and MS Visio, will be shared with team members. Be sure to explain the rationale behind your choice.
Explain how the task list for managing tasks will be shared with team members. Be sure to explain the rationale behind your choice.
Discuss how this new collaboration IS could provide competitive advantages for your organization.
Your presentation should be a minimum of six slides in length (not counting the title and reference slides). Use of images, graphics, and diagrams is encouraged.
You can use an industry of your choosing or examples from your personal or professional experiences in developing this assignment. You can also use the resources in the Unit II Suggested Reading section to assist you with this assignment.
Be sure to follow the 7×7 rule (i.e., there should be no more than 7 words per line and no more than 7 lines per slide). You are required to use speaker notes to discuss the bullet points on your slides.
You must use at least two academic resources to support your presentation, and you must cite (in APA format) any information on your slides or in your speaker notes that came from these sources.
Unit III
In this unit, you learned about the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart devices. Think about how these concepts apply to your life, and describe how you use devices such as these in your day-to-day life.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit III PowerPoint Presentation
For decades, relational databases remained essentially unchanged; data was segmented into specific chunks for columns, slots, and repositories, also called structured data. However, in this Internet of Things (IoT) era, databases need to be reengineered because the very nature of data has changed. Today’s databases need to be developed with the needs of IoT in mind and have the ability to perform real-time processing to manage workloads that are dynamic. For example, relational databases should be able to work with real-time data streaming and big data (an example was presented in the Unit III Lesson).
Scenario: Falcon Security wants their customers to be able to view security video footage in real-time and provide customers with the ability to query video footage for viewing. Choosing a database solution such as MongoDB would allow Falcon Security to store customer video footage in the same database as the metadata.
To do this, Falcon Security needs a way to manage the demands of real-time data streaming for real-time analytics. Conduct some research for a NoSQL database application, such as MongoDB or Cassandra, that could meet this need. How would switching to a real-time database solution help Falcon Security remain competitive? Create a PowerPoint presentation that includes the components listed below.
Provide a brief introduction to IoT.
Present the argument to the Falcon Security CEO that switching to a more dynamic database structure (NoSQL real- time database) will meet the demands of IoT.
Introduce some features of the database you chose, whether it is MongoDB, Cassandra, or another database. Describe how switching to a more dynamic database will give Falcon Security a competitive advantage.
Your presentation must be a minimum of six slides in length (not counting the title and reference slides), and you must use at least two academic resources. Any information from a resource used must be cited and referenced in APA format.
Unit IV
When you started your small business, you managed all business processes on your own. Now, your business is expanding and you have hired employees to help. Would you consider implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, or would you continue to use applications, such as Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, Access), to manage your business processes? Be sure to explain the reasons behind your choice.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit IV
Scenario: A company called Colony Nursery and Landscaping opened a new store located a few hundred miles away from its original location. The company wants to implement an award system that awards their customers with points whenever customers make a purchase, but the two stores are not able to share information. Colony Nursery and Landscaping will need to implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that will solve the information silo problem by collecting and making this user data available. Colony Nursery and Landscaping is hoping that by providing customers with this award
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system, they will be able to maintain competitive advantage. Colony Nursery and Landscaping cannot afford to purchase, develop, or maintain this system on-site, so they are investigating cloud solutions.
In addition, for many organizations, Colony Nursery and Landscaping included, information silos make it difficult to tap into needed information. Discuss whether or not the problem of information silos can be solved by using the cloud. Some organizations do not have the resources to construct or maintain their computer infrastructure, so they utilize cloud services instead to reduce costs and improve scalability. In this assignment, you will discuss whether or not the cloud offers solutions for Colony Nursery and Landscaping and identify an application that the ERP system could provide. Compose an essay that includes the elements listed below.
Define what an information silo is.
Explain why information silos are a problem for organizations.
Discuss why organizations are moving to the cloud.
Determine whether or not using cloud services, such as a cloud-based host for data storage, would solve the ERP information silo problem at Colony Nursery and Landscaping.
Explain how using the ERP system and awards program would provide a competitive advantage for Colony Nursery and Landscaping.
Discuss why the implementation of an ERP system might require business process reengineering for Colony Nursery and Landscaping. Be sure to explain the business processes that will be affected (e.g., the customer awards system). Use diagrams or tables as needed, but this is not required.
Your essay must be a minimum of two pages in length (not counting the title and reference pages), and it must be formatted in APA style. You should include an introduction section that gives background and context to your reader. You must use at least two scholarly resources as references. Any information from these resources must be cited and referenced in APA format.
Unit V
Recall the social media information systems scenario about augmented reality at the beginning of Chapter 8. Based on what you have learned in this unit, how would you respond if you were the head of marketing at ARES when Cassie and Raj presented their ideas about a mixed-reality environment? What do you think will happen if the company does not shift its current advertising ideology to embrace virtual environments? Be sure to use examples to support your arguments.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit V Scholarly Activity
Choose one of the scenarios below (A or B) to complete the assignment. Scenario A
You are the business owner of a local small engine repair shop, and you have been thinking about implementing a knowledge management system for your customer service technicians. You are thinking about this because there are times when some of your technicians know how to fix certain engine problems and others do not. Providing a central knowledge repository could help share troubleshooting and repair knowledge among your technicians.
Scenario B
You are the business owner of a local cleaning service, and you have been thinking about implementing a knowledge management system for your cleaning technicians, especially for those who troubleshoot and solve cleaning problems, such as removing certain carpet and water stains, addressing mold, and selecting the proper tools and products to use for other types of cleaning issues. You are thinking about this because there are times when some of your cleaning technicians know how to properly clean carpets and others do not. Providing a central knowledge repository could help share cleaning knowledge among your cleaning technicians.
After you chose your scenario (A or B), compose a paper that addresses the elements listed below.
Explain the role of knowledge management systems.
Explain what is meant by expert systems.
Explain what is meant by content management systems.
Discuss how the business in the selected scenario could benefit from an expert system and a content management system, and provide two examples for each type of system.
Discuss how the business in the selected scenario could benefit from business intelligence, and provide two examples of these benefits.
Discuss how the business in the selected scenario can use social media to not only obtain information and knowledge but to share it as well, and provide two examples of how the business might use social media information systems.
Your paper must be at least two pages in length (not counting the title and reference pages), and you must also use at least two scholarly sources, one of which must come from the CSU Online Library. Any information from a source must be cited and referenced in APA format, and your paper must be formatted in accordance to APA guidelines.
Unit VI Journal
In this unit, you learned about safeguards against security threats. Do you use any of these in your personal life or at work? If so, explain how these safeguards help to ensure information security in your home or at work. If not, do you feel like the systems are adequately protected? Should any safeguards be put into place?
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Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit VI PowerPoint Presentation
Recently, a terminated employee used his mobile device to log in to the company network and steal sensitive data. As the manager of the information technology (IT) security department, you were asked by your boss to present a summary of what the organization should do to prevent this from happening again. Create a PowerPoint presentation of your summary. In your PowerPoint presentation, you should include the components listed below.
Explain the goal of information security in relation to mobile devices.
Identify the three sources of threats, provide a summary of each, and provide at least one example of each. Explain technical safeguards, and discuss which technical safeguard(s) should be used for mobile devices. Explain data safeguards, and discuss which data safeguard(s) should be used in this type of scenario. Explain human safeguards, and discuss which human safeguard(s) should be implemented.
Discuss why the organization needs an incident response plan to secure information and knowledge.
Your presentation must be a minimum of six slides in length, not counting the title and reference slides. Be sure that any graphics used are appropriate and support the content of your presentation. You must use at least two references in your presentation, and they should be cited and referenced in APA format. Please cite all sources used.
Unit VII Journal
Recall the Augmented Reality Exercise System (ARES) scenario discussed at the beginning of Chapter 11 of the textbook in uCertify. As the manager of this project, would you approve the decision to use an offshore contractor to outsource the development of AR headset applications? Why would you make this decision?
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit VII Case Study
As a manager of an organization, you will often need to find ways to cut costs. One way to cut costs is to outsource by hiring another organization to perform the service. Consider the scenario below.
As a manager for the public outreach department, you realize that the current system for managing outreach issues is outdated. You would like to have a new outreach system developed using the Cloudera platform to help manage big data. However, no one in the organization has the expertise. You will have to outsource the project to save on costs and avoid management problems. Two companies have sent in a bid—one from Vancouver, Canada, and one from Mumbai, India. The bid from India was slightly lower than the bid from Canada. Compose a response that includes the elements listed below.
Define what is meant by outsourcing.
Explain how Peter Drucker’s statement (covered in the textbook in uCertify) about how one company’s back room is another company’s front room pertains to outsourcing. Use an example.
Summarize the management advantages, cost reduction, and risk reduction of outsourcing.
Summarize the outsourcing risks concerning control, long-term costs, and exit strategy.
Discuss which company you would outsource to and why. Does distance matter?
Your case study must be at least two pages in length (not counting the title and reference pages), and you must use at least two references as a source for your essay. See the Suggested Reading section for some sample articles on outsourcing. Be sure to cite all sources used in APA format, and format your essay in APA style.
Unit VIII Journal
Identify a skill or knowledge that you learned in this course, and explain how you can apply it to increase success in your career in a real-world scenario.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit VIII Essay
In this final assignment, you will develop a paper that reviews some of the main topics covered in the course. Compose an essay to address the elements listed below.
Identify the components of an information system (IS) using the five-component framework, and provide a brief summary of each.
Explain Porter’s five forces model.
Management IS (MIS) incorporate software and hardware technologies to provide useful information for decision-making. Explain each of the following IS, and use at least one example in each to support your discussion:
a collaboration information system,
a database management system,
a content management system,
a knowledge management/expert system,
a customer relationship management system, an enterprise resource planning system,
a social media IS,
a business intelligence/decision support system, and
Information Systems
an enterprise IS.
Identify and discuss one technical and one human safeguard to protect against IS security threats.
There are several processes that can be used to develop IS and applications such as systems development life cycle (SDLC) and scrum (agile development). Provide a brief description of SDLC and scrum, and then discuss at least one similarity and one difference between SDLC and scrum
Sum up your paper by discussing the importance of MIS.
Your paper must be at least three pages in length (not counting the title and reference pages), and you must use at least two resources. Be sure to cite all sources used in APA format, and format your essay in APA style.
APA Guidelines
The application of the APA writing style shall be practical, functional, and appropriate to each academic level, with the primary purpose being the documentation (citation) of sources. CSU requires that students use APA style for certain papers and projects. Students should always carefully read and follow assignment directions and review the associated grading rubric when available. Students can find The CSU Citation Guide by clicking here. This document includes examples and sample papers and provides information on how to contact the CSU Writing Center.
Grading Rubrics
This course utilizes analytic grading rubrics as tools for your professor in assigning grades for all learning activities. Each rubric serves as a guide that communicates the expectations of the learning activity and describes the criteria for each level of achievement. In addition, a rubric is a reference tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts to meet the requirements of that learning activity. It is imperative for you to familiarize yourself with these rubrics because these are the primary tools your professor uses for assessing learning activities.