Management Information Systems, writing homework help

I am new at this and need 2 written reports for my “Management Information Systems (MGMT305-1701B-01”) and the first one is past due. The description and requirements are listed below for the first one only and I have included some particular notes and points of interest from my professor.

I attend AIU online and the course is pretty intense. I had been planning a major vacation for 2 plus years and a 30 year reunion with my shipmates from the USN before starting school again and could not drop this class for free time, so I am trying to combine the whole thing. This school uses Intellipath and nodes for the learning process in these 5 week classes and these requirements are pretty extreme in a normal day to working day process but now I am behind the power curve.

Library Research Assignment

You are to select 1 business that does not already have a Web site, and develop an Internet strategy for it. They might have a web page or two but not a full blow Web site. Most large corporations already have Web sites, so you may have to think of something on a smaller scale such as a local bike store. Sole proprietorship businesses that provide services like car repair, house cleaning, tax preparation, and that use the Internet and similar services are also good options. You will also consider and describe how the business that you select can use social media to achieve its objectives. Use the Internet and the library to research and analyze markets and competitors.

After selecting a business, you will need to answer the following questions:

What Internet business model would be appropriate for the company to follow in creating a Web site and why?

In what ways can the business benefit from a Web site? What functions should it perform for the company (e.g., marketing, sales, customer support, internal communications, etc.)?

In what other ways might the company use the Internet for its own benefit?

Prepare functional specifications for the company’s use of the Web and the Internet. Include links to and from other sites in your design.

Prepare a list of technological specifications for implementation (e.g., what hardware and software are necessary to support your design)?

Submitting your assignment in APA format means, at a minimum, you will need the following:

Title page: Remember the running head. The title should be in all capitals.

Abstract: A summary of your paper, not an introduction. Begin writing in third-person voice.

Body: The body of your paper begins on the page following the title page and abstract page and must be double-spaced (be careful not to triple- or quadruple-space between paragraphs). The type face should be 12-pt. Times Roman or 12-pt. Courier in regular black type. Do not use color, bold type, or italics except as required for APA-level headings and references. The deliverable length of the body of your paper for this assignment is 2–3 pages. In-body academic citations to support your decisions and analysis are required. A variety of academic sources is encouraged.

Reference page: References that align with your in-body academic sources are listed on the final page of your paper. The references must be in APA format using appropriate spacing, hang indention, italics, and upper- and lowercase usage as appropriate for the type of resource used. Remember, the Reference Page is not a bibliography but a further listing of the abbreviated in-body citations used in the paper. Every referenced item must have a corresponding in-body citation.

Individual Project Rubric

Grading Criteria Percentage

Deliverable requirements addressed; understanding of material and writer’s message and intent are clear. 40%

Calculation methods, where required, are contextually appropriate, fully explained, and presented in a manner that is easy to understand. 10%

External research incorporated in the paper, if any, supports the writer’s position properly acknowledged and cited; direct quotations may not exceed 10% of the word count of the body of the assignment deliverable (excluded title page, abstract or table of contents if used, tables, exhibits, appendices, and reference page(s).) Inclusion of plagiarized content will not be tolerated and may result in adverse academic consequences. 5%

Critical thinking: Position is well-justified; logical flow; examples provided where appropriate. 20%

Structure: Includes introduction and conclusion; proper paragraph format; reads as a polished academic paper or professional presentation, as appropriate for the required assignment deliverable. 10%

Mechanical: No spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors. 10%

APA: Deliverable is cited properly according to the APA Publication Manual (6th ed.). 5%

Remember this is a formal academic APA paper. Do not put the questions in your paper. Do not submit a Q and A. Instead, let the questions focus your analysis. Weave the answers to the questions throughout the body of your analysis. Remember to have strong ties to your textbook citing in-text by page number with full reference at work’s end. BUT>>>the textbook as a source is never enough. Research in our great library, citing your findings. Back up all opinions with the experts.

How to get started?

STEP 1: find a business that may have a web page, but not a full blow web site.

STEP 2: assume the role of consultant. Help that business harness the power of the Internet.

STEP 3: using the Internet business and revenue models spelling out in the textbook, apply these to your recommendations to your chosen business.

Remember:

– functional specifications = the details (specs) of what is needed to make your plan work (function)

– technical specifications = the details (specs) of what is technology (hardware and software) needed to make your plan work (function)

Lastly – as per posted expectations no quotes are allowed. I do not want to read other people’s words. I want to read your words. So read your source. Close it. Paraphrase. Cite. For tips and tricks on how to paraphrase check out the announcements and course learning resources/materials.

Reading Assignment

Laudon & Laudon: Ch. 7 & 10

Assignment Objectives

Assess how companies use information technology for competitive advantage by changing their marketplace

Interpret how businesses use Internet technology for electronic commerce, communicating with employees, and working with business partners.

******NOTES******

In business we use IS to help us compete

Let’s describe four competitive strategies enabled by information systems that firms can pursue.

The four strategies were first named by Dr. Michael Porter

They are: Low-cost leadership, Product differentiation, Focus on market niche, and Strengthen customer and suppliers

The four generic strategies, each of which often is enabled by using information technology and systems include:

• Low-cost leadership: lowest operational costs and the lowest prices.
• Product differentiation: enable new products and services, or greatly change the customer convenience in using existing products and services.
• Focus on market niche: enable a specific market focus and serve this narrow target market better than competitors.
• Strengthen customer and suppliers: tighten linkages with suppliers and develop intimacy with customers.

Let’s look deeper at ***HOW*** information systems can support each of these competitive strategies.

• Low-cost leadership: use information systems to improve inventory management, supply management, and create efficient customer response systems. Example: Wal-Mart.
• Product differentiation: use information systems to create products and services that are customized and personalized to fit the precise specifications of individual customers. Example: Google, eBay, Apple, Lands’ End.
• Focus on market niche: use information systems to produce and analyze data for finely tuned sales and marketing techniques. They analyze customer buying patterns, tastes, and preferences closely in order to efficiently pitch advertising and marketing campaigns to smaller target markets. Example: Hilton Hotels, Harrah’s.
• Strengthen customer and supplier intimacies: use information systems to facilitate direct access from suppliers to information within the company. Increase switching costs and loyalty to the company. Example: IBM, Amazon.com

Think of your audience before you write any paper. For IP 3, you will role play. You will pretend to consult a company that may have a Web page or a Facebook page, but not a full blow Internet strategy and Web site. Remember: You are to select 1 business that does not harness the power of the Internet, and develop an Internet strategy for it.

Most large corporations already have Web sites, so you may have to think of something on a smaller scale such as a local bike store. In chat I talk about how I might use my hair salon or a local restaurant. Sole proprietorship businesses that provide services like car repair, house cleaning, tax preparation, and that use the Internet and similar services are also good options. You will also consider and describe how the business that you select can use social media to achieve its objectives. Use the Internet and the library to research and analyze markets and competitors.

After selecting a business, you will need to weave the answers to the following questions into the body of your paper (but do NOT put the questions in your paper):

1) What Internet business model would be appropriate for the company to follow in creating a Web site and why?

2) In what ways can the business benefit from a Web site? What functions should it perform for the company (e.g., marketing, sales, customer support, internal communications, etc.)?

3) In what other ways might the company use the Internet for its own benefit?

4) Prepare functional specifications for the company’s use of the Web and the Internet. Include links to and from other sites in your design. What are functional specs? They are the details of what you recommend for the site to function – to work. How many pages? What page is connected to each page? What links are on the pages? What external sites will you link to?

5) Prepare a list of technological specifications for implementation (e.g., what hardware and software are necessary to support your design)? What are technical specs? They are the details of the hardware and software (the IT) that the company will need in order to make your plan for their Web site work. Will they need mobile devices? Will they need an ISP? Will they need software? Will they need a server? What brands? What is the cost?