Learning objectives
This assignment specifically addresses the following learning objectives of the course:
LO5 Demonstrate effective communication by composing writing that communicates ideas,
meaning and/or argument in a format that broadly follows conventions in the information
systems field.
LO6 Apply technology and online skills to locate relevant information for the assignments, analyse
the presented problems and data, and engage in the use of the resources provided on
UConnect.
Individual submission
Students should complete this assignment individually. It is acceptable to discuss the assignment
with others to improve your understanding and clarify requirements but you should write up the
solution to the assignment on your own.
Activity A: Journal (maximum 500 words)
Prepare a journal which records your activities and progress related to completing this
assignment. In date order, clearly list the following:
? Date of research activity/discussion
? Topic researched or discussed
? Time duration
? Brief description of research activity/discussion.
Submit this journal as a separate report. A sample of the journal will be provided in the
StudyDesk.
Activity B: Presentation to Senior Management
You are the CIO of a successful supermarket/grocery store chain in the country. You recently
attended a technology update seminar on supermarket automation. During the seminar the organiser
showed two video clips to illustrate how supermarkets would operate in the future. You can find
these video clips using the following URLs in YouTube:
? Future Store Tönisvorst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eefUwLHLGWo
? That´s how we will shop within a couple of years!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDyqhcy1L-0
You are excited about what you saw in the video clips as your company was the first in the country to
introduce self-checkout kiosks and is currently looking to introducing further innovations in your
CIS8000 Global Information Systems Strategy Assignment 2
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supermarket stores. The innovation the company wants to introduce is RFID technology, as the
company is interested in minimising the waiting time at checkouts. The company realised that this
needs significant innovation in the supermarket physical locations, training for people, re-orienting the
entire inventory with RFID tags, and assuring high quality service at checkouts.
To accomplish this vision, you are required to research the background for a project to automate
checkout procedures using RFID tags, use Microsoft Excel to model a business plan, perform
sensitivity analysis to validate assumptions, and create a PowerPoint presentation to seek funding and
authorisation from senior management to undertake a pilot project in RFID checkout automation.
NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with the business case and sensitivity analysis concepts you should make
an effort to read appropriate material, including those from the Internet, to learn about them. You
should also have read the note provided in the file: MIS Project #4 - Capital Budgeting Methods for
Information System Investments (provided by the publisher of the Laudon & Laudon 12ed. textbook)
that is found in the StudyDesk to understand the various financial methods for evaluating capital
investment projects.
Before you commence this assignment ensure you have completed Hands-on MIS Project # 1 to 5 in
Appendix S.1 in the Study Book. These exercises are designed to familiarise you with the software,
techniques and methods used in the assignment.
Part 1: Research the background for the supermarket checkout automation project
Conduct an Internet search to gather relevant background information of RFID tags, and how they are
utilised in supermarket contexts, the long term effect of these tags, advantages and disadvantages of
using these tags.
Part 2: Develop the Excel model of the business case
Once you have completed Part 1, develop a spreadsheet model of your business costs. Some of the
materials provided in the MIS Projects may help you to come up with a simple modelling. For the
purpose of modelling, assume a discount rate of 10 percent. Your business model should include the
following analysis to ascertain the financial viability of the project:
? Payback period
? Net present value (NPV)
? Internal rate of return (IRR), and
? Profitability index
HINTS: To obtain the payback period you would first need to calculate the cumulative net cash flow.
Use the NPV and IRR functions provided in Microsoft Excel.
Interpret your results. Use the note in MIS Project #4 - Capital Budgeting Methods for Information
System Investments to guide you.
Part 3: Perform a sensitivity analysis for the business case
Using the results you obtained in Part 2 as the base case, conduct a sensitivity analysis to examine the
impact of the critical cost and benefit variables on the viability of the RFID project. Provide three
specific scenarios of consideration.
Carefully analyse your results and make appropriate recommendations to the company’s senior
management as to how the critical cost variables should be managed to ensure that the RFID project is
both viable and sustainable in the long term.
CIS8000 Global Information Systems Strategy Assignment 2
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Part 4: Create a PowerPoint presentation to senior management
4.1 Consolidate and cross-analyse your results and findings from Part 1, 2 and 3. Then prepare a
PowerPoint presentation to the company’s senior management to seek their financial support
and authorisation to embark on the project.
Your PowerPoint presentation should comprise no more than 10 slides, should be developed
and structured according to the following guidelines.
? The presentation should be made up of :
- An introduction: your FIRST slide should show the title of your presentation and
details of the author(s); the SECOND slide should provide the agenda i.e. outline of
your presentation; the THIRD slide should clearly state the purpose of your presentation
and what you want to achieve from it.
- A body: contains the results and findings from Part 1, 2 and 3.
- A conclusion: recaps the main points and summarises your recommendations.
- Lessons learned: Two slides highlighting lessons learned from conducting this project.
? The LAST slide should contain a “List of references”. There should be at least 8 references
(including those from Internet sources) and they should be listed according to the Harvard
referencing convention as described in Chapter 2 (referencing) of the Communication
Skills Handbook 3ed.
? Insert Excel tables and charts and suitable graphics at appropriate places in your
presentation to reinforce your argument.
? In a separate document (pdf file), provide a narrative for EACH slide (e.g. SLIDE #1
…., SLIDE #2 …) to allow the marker to understand its content and context, and follow the
flow and logic in your argument. You could style the narrative as though you are making
an actual presentation to senior management.
? Search the Internet for information and guidance on how to produce an effective
PowerPoint presentation, including the slide design and layout.
? Ensure that your PowerPoint file does not exceed the specified size indicated in EASE
otherwise you would not be able to upload your work.