ITS 510 (Section: 002)

Term Project Guidelines

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In this project, you will investigate and evaluate an information system (or systems) within an
organization. You will apply the material and thought processes learned in class to the assessment of a
real-world MIS. As part of a four- or five-person team, you will also practice teamwork and allocation of
work within project planning.
Each team will select an organization, obtain its co-operation, interview one or more employees within
the organization to learn about its MIS, and write a paper describing its investigation and assessment.
Each team member will complete a peer evaluation of the others.
Each paper will differ depending on the organization and MIS investigated, but all must include:
1. A description of the organization and the products and/or services it provides.
2. A description of the system functions and a categorization of the system(s) analyzed.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

A description of the hardware, software, and telecommunications system.

A description of how the system was built or acquired.
A description of its use.
A discussion of how the system is used to gain competitive advantage.
The impacts of the MIS on the organization.
A criticism of this system.

PROJECT STEPS
1. Select a team containing four or five members.
2. Select an organization and make contact. You may find it necessary to make contact with more
than one person in an organization, or even more than one organization, to elicit a promise of cooperation and participation. If needed, I'll write a letter to a prospective contact person promising
confidentiality. If you select an organization that employs one or more team members, you must
interview someone besides the team member(s).
3. Write a project plan. This plan will include a roster of the team, the organization and contact
person(s), the scheduled interview date(s), and a short description of what you will be
investigating at the organization. This plan will be typewritten and no more than one page.
4. Prepare for the interview(s). Determine interview format and write out questions you will ask (the
organization may wish to see this list of questions in advance). I will review these questions if
you wish.
5. Interview. Conduct the interview(s) professionally (e.g., with respect to attire, punctuality, and
demeanor).
6. Work as a team. You will need to set goals, co-operate, allocate responsibilities, and learn from
each other. Organizations emphasize teamwork and value the ability to provide it (a thought for
job searches in your future). This term project will give you valuable practice in honing these
skills.
7. Write the paper, which is emphatically not just a transcript of the interview. Analyze the
information system, consider how it relates to systems and concepts discussed in class and the
text, and assess its effect on the organization. Writing the paper may bring to mind follow-up
questions for discussion with your interviewee(s) by follow-up telephone call or e-mail.
8. Present your work in the class.

DELIVERABLES

Project step 3 is due on or before the 1st class after MID TERM. This step isn't separately graded;
it provides reassurance to instructor and team members that the project has embarked on a
promising track.
Project step 7 is due on or before Final Exam.

PROJECT EVALUATION
The best papers will synthesize material from the interview(s), the text, the lectures, other classes, and
other experiences of the team members.
As I read and grade a paper, I will assess:

Content:
a. Does the paper describe the system and its functions?
b. Does the paper discuss the impact of the system on the organization?
c. Does the paper evaluate the system and make recommendations for its evolution and
improvement?
d. Does the paper synthesize material from the interview with material available from other sources
(e.g., textbook, class lectures, and class discussions)?

Presentation:
e. Is the paper well-organized, with divisions into sections (with headings) and paragraphs?
f. Is the paper well written and readable?
g. Are spelling errors, grammatical errors, and garbled or incomplete sentences conspicuous by their
absence?
h. Does the paper use technical terminology appropriately and correctly?

All team members will receive the same grade on the project.
INTERVIEWING SUGGESTIONS
Your interviewee(s) presumably have not taken this class: be prepared to explain terms such as
"Transaction Processing System" or "Strategic Information System." They may know the same concepts
by different names or terminology.
As you plan the interview, decide on its major themes. Some possible themes are:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

how the system influences day-to-day business of the organization

the technology involved in the system
how employees use the system
how the system affects the customer
how the system helps gain competitive advantage
how the system was developed, installed, and tested
how management uses the system.

Remember: this list is indicative, not exhaustive. Not all themes will be appropriate for all systems, nor
for all interviewee(s).
Consider obtaining background information about the organization before the interview(s).