Case Study, Stage 3: IT Considerations for Proposed Technology
Solution
Before you begin this assignment, be sure you have read the “UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center Case
Study” and “UR UMUC Stage 1,” and “UR UMUC Stage 2”, the WALMART EXAMPLE and the feedback
from previous assignments.
Purpose of this Assignment
This assignment gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge of the areas to be considered in
planning and implementing a technology solution. This assignment specifically addresses the following
course outcomes to enable you to:


analyze internal and external business processes to identify information systems requirements
identify and plan IT solutions that meet business objectives.
IT Considerations for Proposed Technology Solution
For your Stage 2 Project, you proposed a technology solution to improve a business process at your
Fitness Center. In evaluating an IT proposal, there are several areas that need to be considered. These
considerations are listed in the table provided with this assignment. Depending on the specific
technology solution you proposed, some of the considerations would be more important than others, and
some may not need specific consideration for the initial implementation of your proposed solution. (If a
consideration is not relevant for the solution as described and at implementation but might be something
for the future, mark it “N/A”. If for instance cloud computing is not in the solution being implemented,
but may be considered in the future it would be N/A and not required for the solution. Please note that
even N/A items require an explanation.) The responses that you enter into the table for each
consideration must be aligned to the one specific solution you proposed and appropriate to the UR UMUC
Healthy Fitness Center.
Assignment
Using the technology solution you proposed in Stage 2, you should briefly explain it and then copy the
table below and complete the remaining two columns. (Submit only one table and do not delete the
Instructor Use columns.) For each area of consideration, you should rank it as high, medium, low, or N/A
(Not Applicable) in importance or relevance at time of implementation (and not some time in the future)
for the specific technology solution you proposed for the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center. Then, provide
a brief explanation, a minimum of two sentences for each, to justify that ranking or the N/A. Do not try
to create a reason if there is none, but carefully analyze each consideration and determine whether it
applies and how. Explanations must provide enough information to convey the reasoning behind the
ranking. DO NOT copy the definitions from the textbook or other sources but put into your own words
to demonstrate your understanding of the concept as you provide your explanation for the ranking. Use
the Grading Rubric to be sure you have covered everything. Submit your paper with answers to parts 1
and 2 below via your Assignment Folder as a Microsoft Word document with your last name included in
the filename.
Part 1: Briefly explain your proposed technology solution. Identify what the solution is, what it is
expected to do for the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center, and what major hardware, software and
communications components will be used, summarizing the information you provided for Stage 2.
Please include the information that you provided at the end of Stage 1 (with any modifications
recommended by the professor) at the top of your paper:
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1
Generic Strategy:
Strategic Business Area:
Process to be improved:
Part 2: Table of IT Considerations. The Areas for consideration are defined in the section
“Concepts” which follows the table of considerations. An example for one entry is also provided
below. Click on the upper left corner of the table to copy it into your paper.
INST USE
Area
High/Medium
/Low
Importance
or Relevance
or Not
Applicable
(N/A)
Explanation for Ranking
(minimum 2 sentences for each, linked to specific
technology solution proposed)
I
M
P
O
R
T
E
X
P
L
A
N
Accessibility
Availability
Maintainability
Portability
Reliability
Scalability
Usability
Disaster
Recovery Plan
Authentication &
Authorization
Prevention &
Resistance
(Security)
Detection &
Response
(Security)
Grid Computing
Cloud Computing
Virtualized
Computing
Communications
Architecture
Database
Architecture
Decision Support
Artificial
Intelligence
Business-toBusiness
eCommerce
Business-toConsumer
eCommerce
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Concepts:
Accessibility: Baltzan textbook, page 183-184, “refers to the varying levels that define what a user can
access, view, or perform when operating a system”
Availability: Baltzan textbook, page 184, “refers to the time frames when the system is operational”
Maintainability: Baltzan textbook, page 185, “refers to how quickly a system can transform to support
environmental changes”. Examples are multi-currency acceptance, acceptance of credit cards, multiple
languages, etc.
Portability: Baltzan textbook, page 185, “the ability of an application to operate on different devices or
software platforms such as different operating systems”
Reliability: Baltzan textbook, page 185-186, “ensures a system is functioning correctly and providing
accurate information”
Scalability: Baltzan textbook, page 185-186, “how well a system can scale up, or adapt to the increased
demands of growth”
Usability: Baltzan textbook, page 187, “the degree to which a system is easy to learn and efficient and
satisfying to use”
Disaster Recovery Plan: Baltzan textbook, pages 179-181, “detailed process for recovering information
or a system in the event of a catastrophic disaster”
Authentication & Authorization (Security): Baltzan textbook, pages 157-159, examples include user
id/password, smart card/token, biometric technology
Prevention & Resistance (Security): Baltzan textbook, pages 159-160, examples include content
filtering, encryption, firewall, antivirus software
Detection & Response (Security): Baltzan textbook, pages 160-161, example includes intrusion
detection software
Grid Computing: Baltzan textbook, pages 189-192, “a collection of computers, often geographically
dispersed, that are coordinated to solve a common problem”
Cloud Computing: Baltzan textbook, pages 195-197, “the use of resources and applications hosted
remotely on the Internet”
Virtualized Computing: Baltzan textbook, pages 193-195, “creates multiple ‘virtual’ machines on a
single computing device”
Communications Architecture: Baltzan textbook, Appendix B
Database Architecture: Baltzan textbook, Appendix C
Decision Support: Baltzan textbook, pages 55-60, “model information using online analytical
processing, which provides assistance in evaluating the choosing among different courses of action”
Artificial Intelligence: Baltzan textbook, pages 60-62, “simulates human thinking and behavior, such
as the ability to reason and learn”
Business-to-Business eCommerce: Baltzan textbook, page 102, “applies to businesses buying from
and selling to each other over the Internet”
Business-to-Consumer eCommerce: Baltzan textbook, pages 102-103, “applies to any business that
sells its products or services directly to consumers online”
Example: If the technology solution being proposed was to have a kiosk for customers to use to pay
for their membership at the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center, then for the area of Accessibility, the
following might be entered. (The definition of Accessibility is provided here for clarification. Definitions
are not required to be entered into the table above.) Note the thorough explanation of the ranking.
Area
High/Medium/Low
Explanation for Ranking
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Accessibility
Importance or
Relevance or Not
Applicable (N/A)
Medium
“Accessibility
refers to the
varying levels
that define what
a user can
access, view, or
perform when
operating a
system.”
(Baltzan, 2012.)
Since the customers will use the kiosk to pay their
membership fees, it must be accessible to everyone.
Customers need a convenient and individual method of
logging into the system that enables them to perform the
needed tasks quickly and efficiently. The customers should
have controlled access that prohibits them from entering
any areas or performing any functions not intended for
customer use. It is ranked “Medium” because it is important
for some customers who choose to use the kiosk and the
system cannot be accessed without some type of login so it
is important; however, it is not “High” since there are other
methods of paying membership fees.
The "right" and "wrong" answers have to do with whether or not you correctly ranked each consideration
as it relates to your proposed technology solution and have provided a well-supported explanation for the
ranking you assigned. Your responses will be evaluated on whether they are applicable to the solution,
correctly ranked, adequately explained, and are appropriate to the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center.
Use the Rubric below to be sure you have covered all aspects.
GRADING RUBRIC:
Attribute
Full Points
Partial Points
No points
Explanation
of Proposed
Solution
Brief explanation of
solution provides
enough information
to set stage for
rankings.
Explanation of
solution is not
adequate to set
stage for
rankings.
No
explanation
of proposed
solution
provided.
Rankings are
appropriate to
proposed
technology solution
and case study;
demonstrate
understanding of
course concepts,
analysis and critical
thinking.
Rankings are
lacking
relationship to
proposed
technology
solution and/or
case study,
and/or in
demonstration of
understanding of
course concepts,
analysis, and/or
critical thinking.
No rankings
provided.
40
(2 points
each)
Explanations justify
rankings, are linked
to proposed
technology solution
and/or case study,
(Some)
explanations are
not linked to
proposed
technology
No
explanations
provided.
40
(2 points
each)
Comments:
High/Medium
/ Low/NA
Rankings
Comments:
Explanations
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Possible
Points
10
Points
Earned
4
Comments:
Table Format
and demonstrate
understanding of
course concepts,
analysis, and critical
thinking.
solution and/or
the case study,
and/or do not
adequately justify
rankings; may be
lacking in
demonstration of
understanding of
course concepts,
analysis, and/or
critical thinking.
Information is
professionally
presented; uses
correct sentence
structure, grammar,
and spelling.
Information is not
professionally
presented, and/or
contains
grammar and/or
spelling errors.
Information
is extremely
poorly
written and
does not
convey the
information.
10
TOTAL
Points
Points
Recorded
(total points
x .13)
100
Comments:
100 points =13%
of final course
grade
Recommendations:
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