Assignment – BA&SR Section IV. System Recommendation and Summary & Conclusion The first step is to incorporate the all previous feedback you received on your Stage 1, 2 and 3 assignments (if you haven’t already), making any needed corrections or adjustments.Part of the grading criteria for this final stage includes addressing previous feedback to improve the final report. For this assignment, you will add Section IV as outlined below to Sections I, II and III.Section IV of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation Report will explain how the selected system helps MTC achieve its strategy, improve its hiring process, and meet its system requirements, and you will explain how each implementation area might be addressed to help ensure a successful implementation of the technology solution. Using the case study, assignment instructions, vendor brochure, Course readings (in particular, Implementing a SaaS Solution and Developing a System Proposal) and external research, develop your Section IV. System Recommendation.Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline; be sure to provide all pertinent information.As you review the case study, use the assignment instructions to take notes to assist in your analysis; in addition, review information provided in earlier stages of this report to identify where the proposed solution can address the needs and requirements. Use the outline format and headings provided and follow all formatting instructions below.Review final report for incorporation of previous grading content feedback and any format changes needed.
stage_4_business_analysis_and_systems_recommendation__1_.docx
ifsm_stage_4_brochure.pdf
ifsm_wk_7_reading.docx
ifsm_wk_8_reading.docx
edmonds_gerard_stage_3.docx
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Stage 4: 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.
Overview
As the business analyst in the CIO’s department of Maryland Technology Consulting (MTC), your next
task in working towards an IT solution to improve the hiring process at MTC is to write a justification and
implementation plan for a system that the CIO has decided will meet MTC’s needs. The system, EZ-ATS,
is described in the vendor brochure provided with this assignment. EZ-ATS is a fictitious
company/product created for use with this case study but based on real-world SaaS application
information. In this Stage 4 assignment, you will explain how the selected system meets MTC’s
requirements, and what needs to be done to implement the system within MTC. You will combine
Stages 1-4 to provide a complete final BA&SR Report incorporating feedback from all earlier stages.
Assignment – BA&SR Section IV. System Recommendation and Summary & Conclusion
The first step is to incorporate the all previous feedback you received on your Stage 1, 2 and 3
assignments (if you haven’t already), making any needed corrections or adjustments. Part of the
grading criteria for this final stage includes addressing previous feedback to improve the final report. For
this assignment, you will add Section IV as outlined below to Sections I, II and III.
Section IV of the Business Analysis and System Recommendation Report will explain how the selected
system helps MTC achieve its strategy, improve its hiring process, and meet its system requirements,
and you will explain how each implementation area might be addressed to help ensure a successful
implementation of the technology solution.
Using the case study, assignment instructions, vendor brochure, Course readings (in particular,
Implementing a SaaS Solution and Developing a System Proposal) and external research, develop your
Section IV. System Recommendation. Approximate lengths for each section are provided as a guideline;
be sure to provide all pertinent information.
As you review the case study, use the assignment instructions to take notes to assist in your analysis;
in addition, review information provided in earlier stages of this report to identify where the
proposed solution can address the needs and requirements.
Use the outline format and headings provided and follow all formatting instructions below. Review
final report for incorporation of previous grading content feedback and any format changes needed.
Stage 4: System Recommendation 12/3/2018 ver. 1
1
IV.
System Recommendation
A. System Justification
Provided with the Stage 4 Assignment Instructions is a brochure that describes an IT solution
that the CIO has selected, with the HR Director’s’ endorsement, to meet the needs of
improving MTC’s hiring process. In Stage 1, you analyzed the strategy and objectives for
MTC and how a technology solution to improve the hiring process would contribute. In
Stage 2, you analyzed how to improve the hiring process with a technology solution, and in
Stage 3 you identified specific requirements. After reviewing the EZ-ATS Vendor Brochure,
briefly describe the selected solution. Then, describe how that selected solution aligns with
achieving the strategy, improves the process, and meets the requirements. Write two to
three clear, concise, well-organized paragraphs to summarize this assessment. Don’t just
repeat information from previous stages but synthesize this information and provide strong
information and justification to explain why this proposed solution is a good fit for MTC.
Remember you are writing a report to your boss, the CIO of MTC, that he can use to convince
the leadership team why this is the best solution based on your analysis.
B. Implementation Areas
To successfully implement this technology solution, MTC will need to develop an
Implementation Plan and below is a list of key implementation areas that should be
included. First, provide a brief introduction to this section – what it contains and why an
Implementation Plan is so important for MTC. Then address each of the seven (7) areas
below to explain what MTC needs to do (with support by the vendor). Below the numbered
heading, write one to two paragraphs to address the area. The sub-areas (a,b,c, etc.) contain
questions and areas to help guide your thinking about what should be covered and should
be incorporated within your response to the major category. For an explanation of the
implementation areas, refer to the Week 7 Reading “Implementing a SaaS Solution”. The
vendor brochure provides information for some of these areas, but you need to include
what MTC must do as well. Remember you are writing this section to help MTC plan for a
successful implementation. It is not sufficient to just indicate “Vendor provides” or
“employees need to be trained.” In addition to incorporating course content, external
research on implementation areas will strengthen your understanding and explanation.
The goal for this section is to help MTC know what needs to happen in each area to help
support a successful implementation of EZ-ATS.
1.
Vendor agreement (MTC must enter into a contractual agreement with the vendor
before full implementation. This identifies responsibilities as well as costs.)
Incorporate answers to the following questions in your paragraph – do not include the
questions themselves.
a. What does the vendor require from MTC to be able to start using the system?
b. How much will it cost to get access to and configure the system for MTC’s use?
c. How much will it cost per month to support 60 system users?
d. What option is offered for MTC to just try out the system to see how it works?
2.
Hardware and telecommunications (Although this is a SaaS solution, MTC must
ensure that its IT infrastructure can support the use of the system and that its
employees can correctly access the system.) Include the following:
Stage 4: System Recommendation 12/3/2018 ver. 1
2
a. List the types of hardware MTC employees can use to access the system.
b. Identify what kind of telecommunications will be used for the solution, including
local connectivity inside MTC and Internet access from outside MTC.
3.
Configuration (Even SaaS solutions require a degree of configuration for each client.
What needs to be done to implement the MTC job requisitions, workflow, reports,
terminology and/or logo/graphics?) Include the answers to the questions below, but
not the questions themselves.
a. What options does the vendor offer for configuring the off-the-shelf system to
MTC’s needs?
b. How will the configuration be done and by whom?
4.
Testing
a. Once MTC has signed up and configured the system, how will it test the system to
see if it is working properly for its needs? Describe how MTC will conduct User
Acceptance Testing. (This would be a good area for you to research.)
b. Choose one of the user requirements (listed in Section III of your BA&SR Report)
and explain how that requirement will be specifically tested to ensure it is working
properly and the requirement is met.
(Note: A free trial period does not suffice as software testing)
5.
Employee preparation and support – Identify what MTC should do in each of areas
below to prepare the employees (including the hiring managers in the various
departments) for the introduction and use of the new applicant tracking system.
Identify who (by their title or role) should do what in each area. (Incorporate
information from Course readings on Leadership and Change Management.)
a. Leadership (2-3 sentences)
b. Change Management (2-3 sentences)
c. Training (2-3 sentences)
d. User Support (2-3 sentences)
6.
Data Migration – Consider what existing data (applications in process with the manual
process) would need to be entered into the system to get started and how this might
be accomplished.
7.
Maintenance – How will updates and enhancements to the EZ-ATS system be made?
What will the vendor be responsible for and what should MTC address? Again,
provide the information, but not the questions themselves.
Summary and Conclusion: Close your Business Analysis and System Recommendation Report with a
summary of the key points including the benefits MTC can expect to gain from this solution and the
alignment with strategic objectives. (One well-written paragraph). Don’t just repeat information
presented earlier but put it in context of a conclusion to provide a strong finish to this report. Just as
your introduction informed your reader about why you’re writing and what’s to come, the conclusion
Stage 4: System Recommendation 12/3/2018 ver. 1
3
should provide a clear and concise final paragraph to reinforce/emphasize key points and a compelling
argument for the chosen solution – and it should urge the reader to take action.
Formatting Your Assignment
NOTE: This final submission should be a cohesive Business Analysis and Systems Recommendation
Report for the CIO of Maryland Technology Consulting. Sections I, II and III should have been updated
to reflect 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, section
and page numbering should be correct for a final submission. Although you prepared this in stages,
the final product should not seem to be piecemeal or disconnected. Any track changes or feedback
from previous versions should be removed once addressed.
Consider your audience – you are writing in the role of a MTC business analyst and your audience is MTC
and your boss, the CIO. Don’t discuss MTC as if the reader has no knowledge of the organization. Use
third person consistently throughout the report. 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.
•
In Stage 4, you are preparing the final part of a 4-stage report. Use the structure, headings, and
outline format provided here for your report. Use the numbering/lettering in the assignment
instructions as shown below.
IV.
System Recommendation
A. System Justification
B. Implementation Areas
Summary and Conclusion
•
•
Begin with Sections I, II and III, revised according to any feedback received, and add to it Section IV.
Write a complete, well organized paper that includes the four sections of the Business Analysis and
System Recommendations (BA&SR) report. Use the recommendations provided in each area for
length of response. It’s important to value quality over quantity. Length for Section IV should not
exceed five (5) pages in addition to Sections I, II and III.
Content areas should be double spaced; table entries should be single-spaced.
Ensure that each of the tables in the final report is preceded by an introductory sentence that
explains what is contained in the table, so the reader understands why the table has been included.
Continue to use the title page created in Stage 1 that includes: The company name, title of report,
your name, Course and Section Number, and date of this submission.
For Section IV, use at least three resources with APA formatted citation and reference. One
reference must be from an external source, one must be the EZ-ATS Brochure, and one must be
another reference from the IFSM 300 course content. Course content should be from the class
reading content, not the assignment instructions or case study itself. For information on APA
format, refer to Content>Course Resources>Writing Resources.
Finalize the Reference Page for resources required for all sections of the report. The final document
should contain all references from all stages appropriately formatted and alphabetized.
Running headers are not required for this report.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Stage 4: System Recommendation 12/3/2018 ver. 1
4
•
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. Keep tables in
Word format – do not paste in graphics.
Your submission should include your last name first in the filename: Lastname_firstname_Stage_4
GRADING RUBRIC:
Criteria
How the
Proposed IT
Solution Meets
the
Requirements
How the IT
solution aligns
with achieving
the strategy,
improves the
process, and
meets the
requirements
Implementation
Steps
An introduction
and all areas
(vendor
agreement,
hardware/
telecom,
configuration,
testing, employee
preparation, data
migration, and
maintenance)
Generally, 0-4
points each.
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
< 60%
Far Above
Standards
14-15 Points
Above Standards
Meets Standards
Below Standards
12-13 Points
10-11 Points
9 Points
Well Below
Standards
0-8 Points
Clear, complete,
compelling and
related to the Case
Study and Vendor
Brochure;
demonstrates
sophisticated
analysis and
writing.
Complete and
related to the Case
Study and Vendor
Brochure;
demonstrates
effective analysis.
Provided and
related to the Case
Study.
Incomplete,
inaccurate and/or
not related to the
Case Study.
27-30 Points
24-26 Points
21-23 Points
18-20 Points
15
Content missing
or extremely
incomplete, did
not reflect the
assignment
instructions,
showed little or
no originality,
demonstrated
little effort
and/or is not
original work for
this class section.
0-17 Points
Clearly and
thoroughly
included
introduction and
covered all areas,
strongly derived
from the Case
Study and vendor
brochure, and
demonstrates
sophisticated
analysis and
writing.
Clearly covered
and included
introduction and
all areas, derived
from the Case
Study and vendor
brochure, and
demonstrates
effective analysis
and writing.
Covered and
included
introduction and
majority of areas
and related to the
Case Study and the
vendor brochure.
All areas not
covered, and/or
are not related to
the Case Study
and/or the vendor
brochure.
Content missing
or extremely
incomplete, did
not reflect the
assignment
instructions,
showed little or
no originality,
demonstrated
little effort
and/or is not
original work for
this class section.
All 7 areas well
done.
6 areas covered.
5 areas covered.
4 areas covered.
3 or fewer areas
covered.
Stage 4: System Recommendation 12/3/2018 ver. 1
Possible
Points
30
5
Summary and
Conclusion
Summarizes the
BA&SR and
provides a
compelling
explanation of
benefits to be
gained
Research
Three or more
sources—one is
the vendor
brochure, one
from within the
IFSM 300 course
content, and one
external (other
than the course
materials)
Complete BA&SR
Report
Including
incorporation of
feedback received
during the
grading process
9-10 Points
7.5 Points
6.5 Points
0-5 Point
10
Provides summary.
Lacks sufficient
information to
provide adequate
summary.
8.5 Points
7.5 Points
6.5 Points
Content missing
or extremely
incomplete, did
not reflect the
assignment
instructions,
showed little or
no originality,
demonstrated
little effort
and/or is not
original work for
this class section.
0-5 Points
10
Required
resources are
incorporated and
used effectively.
Sources used are
relevant and
timely and
contribute
strongly to the
analysis.
References are
appropriately
incorporated and
cited using APA
style.
23-25 points
At least three
sources are
incorporated
(vendor, course
content and
external) and are
relevant and
somewhat support
the analysis.
References are
appropriately
incorporated and
cited using APA
style.
Fewer than 3
resources properly
incorporated,
and/or reference(s)
are not cited using
APA style.
A source may be
used, but is not
properly
incorporated or
used, and/or is
not effective or
appropriate;
and/or does not
follow APA style
for references and
citations.
No course
content or
external research
incorporated; or
reference listed is
not cited within
the text
20-22 Points
17-19 Points
15-16 Points
0-14 Points
Document is a
very effective and
cohesive
assemblage of the
four sections,
addresses grading
feedback from
earlier stages, is
well formatted
and flows
smoothly from
one section to the
next.
Document is a
good assemblage
of the four
sections with
appropriate
formatting and
flow and
addresses grading
feedback from
earlier stages.
Lacks sufficient
revisions based on
feedback and/or
lacks a cohesive
presentation and
flow.
Lack of
incorporated
feedback,
continuity of flow
and presentation
of final
information.
No incorporated
feedback and/or
not well compiled
and presented as
a cohesive
document.
Provides strong,
clear and concise
summary;
demonstrates
sophisticated
analysis and
writing.
9-10 Points
8.5 Points
Provides clear
summary;
demonstrates
effective analysis
and writing.
Stage 4: System Recommendation 12/3/2018 ver. 1
25
6
Format
Uses outline
format provided;
includes Title
Page and
Reference Page
9-10 Points
8.5 Points
7.5 Points
6.5 Points
0-5 Points
Very well
organized and is
easy to read. Very
few or no errors in
sentence
structure,
grammar, and
spelling; doublespaced, written in
third person and
presented in a
professional
format.
Effective
organization; has
few errors in
sentence
structure,
grammar, and
spelling; doublespaced, written in
third person and
presented in a
professional
format.
Some organization;
may have some
errors in sentence
structure, grammar
and spelling.
Report is double
spaced and written
in third person.
Not well
organized, and/or
contains several
grammar and/or
spelling errors;
and/or is not
double-spaced
and written in
third person.
Extremely poorly
written, has
many grammar
and/or spelling
errors, or does
not convey the
information.
TOTAL Possible
Points
Stage 4: System Recommendation 12/3/2018 ver. 1
10
100
7
Page 1
EZ-ATS
APPLICANT TRACKING SOFTWARE
EZ-ATS
Applicant Tracking Software
Everything you need to create a high performing
Hiring Process and a great Candidate Experience!
More Efficient and Cost-Effective
Hiring!
Easy to implement…..and
Easy to use!
Guaranteed!
EZ-ATS is a single platform for all of your applicant
tracking needs. We guarantee that we'll improve
your total hiring system results or your money
back!
Do you need to replace your paper applications
and spreadsheets, but don't have a big
budget? We make it easy to get a hiring system
without breaking the bank!
With EZ-ATS you'll see:
With EZ-ATS you'll get:
Increased Collaboration and
Communication with Hiring Managers
Decreased Time to Fill Positions
Applicants' Skills Highlighted
The Best Candidates Before Others Hire
Them
Decreased Cost-per-Hire
Less work for HR to Manage and Report
on the Hiring Process
No Long-Term Contracts Required
Access to all EZ-ATS Capabilities
Global access 24/7
System and data security
Mobile device access
Unlimited Support at No Additional Cost
Pricing Based on Number of Users
($50 to $500/month)
Free 30-day Trial
What You Get
Custom Implementation
Dedicated Account Manager Automatic Software Updates
EZ-ATS is a fictitious company designed for the UMUC IFSM 300 case study and is representative of typical SaaS products, rev. 2018.
Page 2
EZ-ATS
APPLICANT TRACKING SOFTWARE
Use EZ-ATS to:
Attract top talent with a responsive, professional interaction
with applicants.
Retain and motivate top HR talent with a flexible, workflowdriven applicant tracking system.
Align hiring goals with corporate goals with clear visibility
into how efficiently hiring the right talent contributes to the
success of the organization.
Drive a strategic, end-to-end hiring strategy with a single,
integrated system f …
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