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What is an Information System?
What is an Information System?
What is an Information System? Please elaborate on the definition from the text book and include at least one example of how you have used information systems at work or in your day-to-day life. Then answer ONE of these questions: 1. Suppose that you had to explain to a friend the concept of an information system. In your own words, how would you best describe an information system to your friends or family? 2. The Walmart sidebar in the text introduced you to how information systems were used to make them the world’s leading retailer. Walmart has continued to innovate and is still looked to as a leader in the use of technology. Do some original research detailing a new technology that Walmart has recently implemented or is pioneering. 3. Of the five primary components of an information system (hardware, software, data, people, process), which do you think is the most important to the success of a business organization? Include an example from your personal experience to support your answer. Discussion Instructions: Submit a substantial response. A substantial response is one that stays on topic and fully addresses the assignment in a clear, concise, and meaningful manner. Substantial Content refers to providing relevant content toward the actual topic of the discussions. This includes quality input, questions and information in your discussion posts and responses to peers. The deliverable length of initial posting must be at least 100 words. Discussions must be original thoughts based on the topics from the “Open Educational Resource” (OER) Course Textbook and/or other referenced sources. Direct quotes from references must be less than 10 words.
Case Study – Decision Making
Case Study – Decision Making
As we discussed in class, as a professional you may find yourself having to oversee operations with which you are unfamiliar. The attached case study is regarding the hiring of an architect for an upcoming construction project. I DO NOT EXPECT THAT YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT EITHER ARCHITECTS OR CONSTRUCTION. That is not the point of this assignment.
The case that you will be considering for this assignment is like situations you may face in the work environment. As such, there are no absolute right or wrong answers. Decisions made can and will affect many people including the agency for which you work. You are to put yourself into the role of manager to the best of your ability.
I am looking for a well thought out response to the situation. You may use outside resources if you desire but it is not required. These resources may include books, journal articles, and discussions with people currently in management roles. There is an article in the Supplemental Information folder in CANVAS which may be helpful to you (Improved Rec Centers Costly, But It’s Money Well-Spent). Under no circumstances should you be discussing it with other students in the class.
See the grading criteria below to understand exactly what I am looking for and the grading rubric to understand how you earn points.
The Situation
The citizens of your town have recently voted to raise property taxes to support the local Parks and Recreation Department in a major construction project. The project involves building a new recreation center, a swimming pool, and 8 tennis courts at a cost of over $50,000,000. The first step in the process is to secure the services of a qualified architect to assist with the planning and design of these new facilities. In your capacity as a manager, the Parks Board has asked you to make a recommendation as to which firm should be hired.
Since you know this decision is extremely important, for both the community and your job, you reach out to your network of colleagues to get help. Based on what you have learned the three top firms in the state are Brown & Son, Olympic, Inc. and Walker Architectural. You decide to do a survey of recreation departments throughout the state to find out the strengths and weaknesses of each firm. The results of the survey are shown on the next page.
To make things even more interesting, one of your Park Board members, John Snyder, has given you some ‘off the record’ advice. He indicates that Brown & Son have done amazing work for other park and recreation facilities and that they are well-qualified for this project. He also mentioned that the owner is a close personal friend, and that Brown & Son is prepared to give a substantial gift to the department should they be awarded the contract. Mr. Snyder has put a great deal of pressure on you to recommend Brown & Son.
Grading Criteria – This assignment MUST BE TYPED
Part 1 – Identification of keys issues involved in making the decision. (10 points)
- 5pts: Identify all the people or groups of people who may or will be affected by your decision and discuss how or why they are affected (1 point for each group you list and discuss)
- 5pts: Identify the approach to decision-making you have chosen and explain why that one is most appropriate (You MUST USE one of the four discussed in class, Failure to discuss/explain lose 1 point).
- 5pts Upon what survey criteria are you basing your hiring decision (hint- do not use all 10 items from the survey, pick 3 or 4). Why did you choose them? How do they relate to your decision-making approach? (Failure to explain why lose 1 point)
Part 2 – Using the decision-making approach you have chosen as well as the criteria you think is most important, discuss each of the three firms (25 Points)
- 5 pts per firm: Discuss the actual ratings for each firm in the survey items which you identified as most important (failure to discuss each previously identified survey item lose 1pt for each missed, OR for discussing additional items) Note – There should be a short paragraph for each of the three firms
- 10 pts: Discuss how each firm measures up in relation to your decision-making approach – are they good or bad? Additionally, you may also discuss how each firm measures up based on your personal code of ethics or based upon ethics you think a public agency should follow. There should be a 3-4 sentence paragraph for each firm.
Part 3 – Make a recommendation. What firm do you think should be hired? Justify why you have made that decision. (15 Points)
- 5pts: Make a recommendation as to how you believe the situation should be handled – who do you think should be hired?
- 5pts: Justify that decision using at least two of the following: your decision-making approach, the selected survey items, your own personal code of ethics, or the ethics you think a public agency should follow (each justification worth 2.5 pts)
- 5pts: Name two other pieces of information that would have helped you make a better decision and how would you have learned it (2.5 pts per type information, failure to include how you would have learned it minus 1)
Grading Rubric
MUST BE TYPED
1. Identification of all key issues?
· 1 point for each group you list and discuss B. Identify your decision-making approach (2.5) · Choose one of 4 from lecture · Failure to discuss/explain lose 1 point C. Criteria for basing your hiring decision (2.5) · Which of the 10 survey items will you use? · Failure to explain why lose 1 point |
10 | |
2. Discussion of options- How do each of the firms rate?
|
25 | |
3. Make a recommendation, justify it?
· Must mention 2 of the following and discuss: survey criteria, approach or ethics lose 2 points C. Two other pieces of information that would have helped AND how you would have learned them (5) |
15 | |
| Subtotal
|
50 | |
| Grammar/Spelling/Formatting (lose 1 pt. for every 2 errors)
|
||
| Total
|
50 |
Policy Making in Government
Policy Making in Government
Topics should touch on at least one theme of content areas listed on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals webpage however do not need to be limited to one of the listed themes.
Themes/topics selection should be based off each student’s personal/professional interest(s).
The idea behind this paper is to address/resolve at least one concern associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Papers should focus on either Foreign Policy -OR- Domestic Policy proposals [e.g. ocean acidification of the Great Barrier Reef, over fishing in the Atlantic (be specific with the nearest coast), managing COVID-19 (be specific with location), supporting women’s rights in . . ., introduce comprehensive affordable housing options for . . ., etc.].
FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN Domestic Policy
Determine/identify an area in the USA representing an entire region in the USA [e.g. Pacific Northwest, the South, the Midwest, etc.], state or territory [e.g. California, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc.] or a city [e.g. Flint, New Orleans, Dallas, etc.]). Determine/identify which approach is most effective to accomplish desired objective (environmental, social or economic policy), and explain: 1) your goal(s) [Agenda Setting]; 2) who would promote your policy proposal [Adoption]; 3) who would benefit; and 4) who would absorb accrued expenses?
Identification of the preferred application of resources (e.g. redistributive, distributive or regulatory) is also expected. The five steps below should be considered as the categories in which your policy proposal should be constructed.
FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN Foreign Policy
Again, after reviewing the UN Sustainable Development Goals draft policy that would potentially resolve your concern(s) as it/they exists in another country or region around the world [e.g. of regions: Central America, Caribbean, South America, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Islands, Antarctica, or the Artic]. Once this concern(s) has been identified, mention the role the USA will play in resolving the situation.
Determine which approach is most effective to accomplish desired impact (environmental, social or economic policy), and identify: 1) your goal [Agenda Setting]; 2) who would promote your policy proposal [Adoption]; 3) who would benefit; and 4) who would absorb accrued expenses?
Identification of the preferred method to apply resources (e.g. crisis, strategic, or structural defense) is also expected. The five steps below should be considered as the categories in which your policy proposal should be constructed.
***The (5) steps to policy formation are listed in our course textbook, so all students should be sure to refer to our textbook for more detailed information – Policymaking Process:
Agenda Setting – What’s your issue(s) of concern?
Formulation – What’s your approach to resolve your issue(s) of concern?
Adoption – Domestic Policy – Which elected officials would you approach to ask to endorse your legislative proposal [i.e. this also depends on where you would like your proposal to have the greatest impact ~ national level (members of USA Congress), state level (governor[s] and members of state legislature as per the state you would like the most changes to come about), county and local level (county commissioners, mayors, city council members)] ~ it is encouraged to research each decided upon elected official to get a better understanding as to whether they would in fact support your proposal or not + students are not limited to one group [i.e. there can be a combination of members of USA Congress working with state elected officials, with local representatives? I’m looking for names of representatives.
Implementation – which departments of the federal, state or local government(s) would be responsible for implementing your proposals [e.g. Labor, Treasury, Interior, State, Health and Human Services; and know each of these departments very often have either a similarly named department at the state level; and students are also encouraged to research each possible department to identify agencies and bureaus (e.g. Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Internal Revenue Service, Land Management, Ocean Energy Management, etc.)]? Again, names of selections.
Evaluation – When would you suggest/like to see people responsible for evaluating overall performance of your proposal come together and figure out what works to either apply consistent/additional resources, or end suggestions that do not work? Post a timeframe [e.g. every month, six months, annually, etc.].
Papers should be 2-3 double-spaced pages, with reasonable (12 pt.) font and reasonable (1 inch) margins.
Citations are required [in-text citations are preferred (MLA style)].
Assignments should be turned into eCampus for collection of artifacts to be scored [*if this is the first time you will be using blackboard/eCampus, once on this site you should see more detailed instruction as how to properly deposit your files – let me know should you still have questions regarding how to properly deposit your file once completed and ready to be submitted*].