Due Date: Saturday, 22 September 2018, 7:00pm SGT
Your second assignment comprises a group report. This assignment simulates a consultancy scenario where you are a team of consultants, working to deliver a report to a client.
In groups of 3 to 5 students, you are to develop a functional specification of a solution to a given problem. The marking of the report will be based on the Research Development Framework (RDF) which informs the marking rubric.
Although you will undertake assignments in a group, individual contributions to the piece will need to be identified if requested to do so. Students are required to sign and agree to an Equity of Contribution ‘policy’ that will outline the relative contribution of each student. This needs to be attached to the assignment submission. Moderation will be taken if any group member does not equally contribute to the group assignment.
The purpose of this group report is to develop your independence in research (i.e. your ability to become self-starters, self-guiding and yet be able to judge a quality piece of work).
Consultancy Problem Brief:
You are now a group of consultants. You have been engaged by an engineering company that is looking to procure a knowledge management system. The problem which this company wishes to address is a loss of what they call "organisational knowledge".
As the company undertakes mainly engineering projects, they hire engineers for the duration of projects when highly specialist engineering skills are needed. This company therefore operates on a changing workforce, where some employees are permanent and some on a contract. In a highly mobile workforce, the company is discovering that as team members work on projects on a contract basis and leave, much of their individual and collective experiences in the project delivery are not captured. One of the main problems faced is that because the company employs the agile methodology for project management, the entire project team seldom work together continually and the process of learning has to repeat each time a new project is commissioned.
Even for permanent staff, it is often the case that they are deployed to new projects before the previous one is completed and in the transition phase members spend only a percentage of time dedicated solely to one project. There is seldom time to understand what went well during the project and what went poorly. Further, some team members who are employed on a contract have no vested interest in the company and some do not want to provide the feedback for fear of not being awarded future employment opportunities.
The company also wants to employ knowledge management principles, because the management wishes to use knowledge translation as a basis for marketing their expertise and past project success.
The company desires to improve their competitive advantage by leveraging knowledge of their staff.
The company wants to procure a knowledge management system, but the management do not know what functionality should be included and how knowledge will be captured and shared.
Use the business analysis tools (process and data) to present your solution, incorporating the analytical perspectives so this company can understand knowledge management and what features to look for in procuring this system.
As business analysts, you need to act as an intermediary between the management and technical functions of the company and provide them with an outline of system to enable procurement of a solution fitting for the business.
As part of this group project:
In groups of 3 to 5 students, respond substantively to the problem presented to you, producing a report of no more than 3,000 words, excluding references.
· Each group member will go through a process of enquiry, clarification and problem definition and problem solving.
· The group will conduct a critical literature survey and critique. Your group should provide a reference list showing your independent research into different areas that inform the context and solution. You may relegate your literature critique to the appendix of the report and include highly relevant literature segments to support your design and considerations.
· The group will synthesise the academic literature in order to identify solutions to the problem presented to you.
· The problem solving and clarification process must also involve interviewing one another to obtain your group member interpretations of the context, the literature and the solution. You should add your interview questions in the appendix and give a sample of the interview responses. Ensure your interview questions are derived from literature, i.e. you are exploring theory through your interviews.
· Collectively, you will go through a process of enquiry, clarification and problem definition and problem solving.
· The report must contain a functional design (business process and data model).
· The group will produce a report justifying the solution and showing how the analytical perspectives were used.
· The group must also produce a critical group-reflection that analyses their learning (lessons learnt) and this is to be added to the appendix.
· Remember, Assignment 2 should reflect the four analytical perspectives discussed in your lectures.
Organisational Analysis Group Report (100 Points)
| Organisational Analysis Group Report (100 Points) |
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeAnalyse and responding to project requirements Embark & Clarify Respond to or initiate research Define the problem and specify Define purpose | | 10.0to >7.9Pts Advanced (HD) and Self Developing In addition to possessing the level of competence, the work shows evidence of highly original or insightful selection of information. The work demonstrates curiousity in approach to enquiry and critical analysis. | 7.9to >6.9Pts Advanced (Dist) Respond to questions/t asks required by & implicit in a closed inquiry. Competence in choose from several provided structures to clarify questions, terms, requirements, expectations & ECST issues. Evidence of selection of information for relevance and appropriateness to the task. | 6.9to >5.9Pts Competent (CR) Evidence of selection of information for the task but it is not always relevant or fully discussed. Has understood and addressed the task requirements. Able to work independently from highly structured directions and modelling from educator prompted researching, | 5.9to >4.9Pts Satisfactory (PA) Adequate response to the task, but is limited in expression of ideas and selection of information. Shows some understanding of the task but may not have addressed all requirements. Demonstrates ability to improve after structured directions and modelling from educator prompted researching, | 4.9to >0Pts Unsatisfactory (NN) Inadequate response to the task, and limited in expression of ideas and selection of information. Shows inadequate understanding of the task and may not have addressed all requirements. Demonstrates inability to improve after structured directions and modelling from educator prompted researching, Neglecting to follow submission processes, neglecting to submit final report or to Turnitin. | | 10.0pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeAnalyse context of problem and solutions Find and reflect Research | | 20.0to >15.9Pts Advanced (HD) and Self Developing In addition to possessing the level of competence, a wide variety of source types has been selected to critically improve the response to the task that demonstrates a critical awareness of research concentrations and contributions. | 15.9to >13.9Pts Advanced (Dist) A wide variety of source types has been selected to critically improve the response to the task. Developed competence in collecting and recording appropriate research from self-selected sources where information is not obvious. Reflects insightfully on the research process. Illustrates clarity in the enquiry approach. | 13.9to >11.9Pts Competent (CR) Locates and records data/information from more than the prescribed number of sources. A variety of source types has been selected to improve the response to the task. Demonstrates a satisfactory ability to collect and records appropriate research from self-selected sources. Satisfactory ability to reflect on the research process. | 11.9to >9.9Pts Satisfactory (PA) Locates and records data/information from a prescribed number of sources across a specified range. Able to demonstrate satisfactory reflection on the research process. | 9.9to >0Pts Unsatisfactory (NN) Fails to locate and record data/information from a prescribed number of sources across a specified range. Unable to demonstrate satisfactory original reflection on the research process, including neglecting to submit final report or to Turnitin. | | 20.0pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeIdentify contextual and solution themes Generate and evaluate | | 25.0to >19.88Pts Advanced (HD) and Self Developing Demonstrate an ability to reflect insightfully to improve own processes used. Evidence of extremely solid, thorough, comprehensive written work. High level of academic integrity. Demonstrates the result of consistent hard work, use of sources and/or independent scholarship. Provides evidence of substantive self-determined criteria directly relevant to aims of the task). | 19.88to >17.38Pts Advanced (Dist) Uses appropriate academic methodologies to search for and select a range of reliable and credible sources. Critically evaluates selected information/data according to specified criteria. Evidence of self-determined criteria directly relevant to aims of the task. Demonstrates a capacity to be discerning about the way in which information is presented | 17.38to >14.88Pts Competent (CR) Uses mostly academic methodologies to search for and select a range of sources. Some evidence of self-determined criteria in addition to specified criteria. | 14.88to >12.38Pts Satisfactory (PA) Some use of academic methodologies to search for sources. Credibility and reliability of selected material may be inconsistent. Evaluates selected information/data using specified criteria. Able to demonstrate satisfactory reflection on the research process. | 12.38to >0Pts Unsatisfactory (NN) Inability to demonstrate use of academic methodologies to search for sources. Does not demonstrate satisfactory credibility nor reliability of selected material. Does not evaluates selected information/data using specified criteria. Unable to demonstrate satisfactory reflection on the research process, including neglecting to submit final report or to Turnitin. | | 25.0pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeDevelop and organise research structure and content Organise and manage information Team processes and functions | | 10.0to >7.9Pts Advanced (HD) and Self Developing The work is clearly structured and convincingly supported by appropriate evidence, argument or illustration. The work demonstrates a process to development that follow a transparent pattern. | 7.9to >6.9Pts Advanced (Dist) Structure and organisation used to enhance comprehension and conveys information coherently and logically. Alignment of the key idea with the topic and all main ideas outlined logically and clearly.Evidence of self-determination in team processes: negotiation, delegation, cooperation. | 6.9to >5.9Pts Competent (CR) Structure and organisation appropriate to task requirements and information mostly integrated and relevant. Some team processes evident: negotiation, delegation, cooperation. | 5.9to >4.9Pts Satisfactory (PA) Structure and organisation largely appropriate and information is coherent and integrated. Alignment of the key idea with the topic and main ideas generally outlined clearly. Satisfactory evidence of team processes: negotiation, delegation, cooperation. | 4.9to >0Pts Unsatisfactory (NN) nappropriate structure and organisation and information not always coherent nor integrated. Alignment of the key idea with the topic and main ideas not outlined clearly. Limited evidence of team processes: negotiation, delegation, cooperation. Unable to follow final submission processes, including neglecting to submit final report or to Turnitin. | | 10.0pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeMake the case for the solution. Justification and identify advantages and disadvantages Analyse and synthesise Critical analysis and use of evidence | | 25.0to >19.88Pts Advanced (HD) and Self Developing Advanced ability to ask emergent, relevant & researchable questions. Material is deployed in a disciplined way and demonstrates a sophisticated comprehension of key issues of debate and is advanced in ability to critically review, analyse, synthesise and apply theoretical and technical body knowledge in a broad and creative way to a range of areas and diverse contexts. | 19.88to >17.38Pts Advanced (Dist) Competent in interpreting several sources of information/ data & synthesise to integrate knowledge into standard formats. Demonstrates a high level of critical analysis and synthesis through the selection, interpretation and integration of multiple sources of information/data. | 17.38to >14.88Pts Competent (CR) Demonstrates critical analysis and synthesis through the selection and integration of a range of information/data. Competent use of theory and generally credible evidence to support arguments and demonstrate individual/team understanding. Uses conceptual skills to express ideas and offer some perspectives. | 14.88to >12.38Pts Satisfactory (PA) Attempts analysis and limited synthesis through the selection sources of information/data. Able to uses given theory and evidence to demonstrate individual/team understanding. Able to use some conceptual skills to express ideas and offer limited perspectives. | 12.38to >0Pts Unsatisfactory (NN) Unsatisfactory attempts at analysis and limited synthesis through the selection sources of information/data. Unable to use given theory and evidence to demonstrate individual/team understanding. Unsatisfactory attempt to use some conceptual skills to express ideas and offer limited perspectives. Inability to demonstrate original justification of solution, including neglecting to submit final report or to Turnitin. | | 25.0pts |
| This criterion is linked to a learning outcomePresent the solution Communicate and apply Discipline specific language and genre Grammar and spelling Team processes Respond to feedback (ESCT) Provide feedback (ESCT) | | 10.0to >7.9Pts Advanced (HD) and Self Developing Student uses discipline specific language & prescribed genre to demonstrate understanding from a stated perspective & for a specified audience. Apply to several similar contexts the knowledge developed & specifies ECST issues. The work demonstrates a constructive approach to feedback. | 7.9to >6.9Pts Advanced (Dist) Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of key discipline- specific language and scholarly application. Students use prescribed genre to develop & demonstrate understanding to a pre-specified audience. Provide constructive and supportive feedback to team members to accounting for ethical, social, cultural and team issues (ESCT). | 6.9to >5.9Pts Competent (CR) Students communicate with each other and relate their understanding throughout set task. Use prescribed genre to develop and demonstrate understanding to a prescribed audience. Demonstrated knowledge of discipline-specific language evident, but not fully utilised to support scholarly discussion. Provide supportive feedback to team members to accounting for ethical, social, cultural and team issues (ESCT). | 5.9to >4.9Pts Satisfactory (PA) Mostly general vocabulary with ability to use discipline-specific and academic language although with an acceptable level of errors. Able to act as a team member: able to discuss, listen and perform satisfactorily. Satisfactory ability to provide feedback to team members with attempts to account for ethical, social, cultural and team issues (ESCT). | 4.9to >0Pts Unsatisfactory (NN) Mostly general vocabulary with an inability to use discipline-specific and academic language although with some errors. Unable to act as a team member: unsatisfactory attempts to discuss, listen and perform. Unable to provide feedback to team members with unsatisfactory attempts to account for ethical, social, cultural and team issues (ESCT). Inability to demonstrate the originality of the solution, including neglecting to submit the final report to Turnitin. | | 10.0pts |
| Total points:100.0 |