Course Assignments

1
Course Assignments

• BUS 340 Spring 2005
• Dr. McCormack
• TAs
• Dianne Fabian
• Murat Erenli

2
Cases Title Page

• Title
• Date
• Team Number
• Team member names include all and spell
  correctly!

3
Cases Quality

• Proofread for spelling and grammar!
• Title on each slide.
• Consistent style between slides.
• Emphasis is on content.
• Presentation is to enhance material. Charts and
  graphs are valuable.
• Visuals (background, clipart) not required, but
  may influence graders.

4
Cases Situation/Overview

• At least 3 primary factors.
• Support factors with details.
• Keep to single slide.

5
Cases Questions

• Complete answer in paragraph form.
• Font may be as small as 12 pt.
• Most will only require single slide.
• Later cases may require multiple slides for more
  involved questions.

6
Cases Conclusions/Recommendations

• Exactly 3 conclusions or recommendations.
• Fully support each point with discussion of
  why, how, etc.
• Preferably keep to one slide. No more than one
  slide each.

7
Research paper Quality

• Updated outline available on website.
• Proofread carefully.
• Focus on readability use of section headers,
  lists, charts, white space, etc.
• Concise focused, to-the-point.
• Quantity does NOT equal quality!
• Double-check against assigned outline!

8
Research paper timing

• Get started early!
• Empty outline, section headings can be started.
• Start footnotes/endnotes from beginning.
• Background section can be written now.
• Financial section can be written now.
• Avoid end-of-semester rush.

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Research paper Structure

• Introduction, support (3-5 pts), conclusion
  applies to sections and paragraphs.
• Introduction what is the main point of the
  paragraph or section?
• Include 3-5 supporting points.
• Concluding sentence or paragraph summarize the
  overall idea.
• More than one idea split the paragraph.
• KISS Keep It Simple Stupid! ( Less is often
  more.)

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Research paper Example

• Example of well structured paragraph (from paper)
  -1.6.3 Organizational and process impactIT
  Value Management uses new insights to improve the
  processes.  (Great, I know exactly what this
  paragraph is supposed to be about.) 
• Example, example, example in clean, direct
  sentences. 
• IT professionals can focus on their original
  mission of finding better ways to further
  business through use of technology.  (Great
  again, summarizes and draws conclusion in last
  sentence of paragraph.)

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Research paper Executive Summary

• Do not forget 20 of final grade.
• Written to executive Dr. McCormack.
• Typically only section top executives read.
• Summarize results. Include
• what is studied
• how it is studied
• main observations
• conclusions / recommendations

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Research paper Footnotes

• MLA style from Citation Styles link.
• References must be complete.
• Include references from the beginning.
• Use complete sources entire paper cannot be
  written from company website.
• Use Word Footnotes or Endnotes tool. (Updates
  numbers automatically.)
• Will substantially impact 20 quality grade.

13
Research paper Appendix

• Includes supporting graphs, tables, charts.
• All items in appendix MUST be referenced in the
  paper.
• Should be original cut-and-paste is not
  impressive, rarely applies.
• Will positively impact quality grade for paper.
• Not included in page length guidelines.

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Research paper Background

• Start early on this section!
• Purpose of this section is to support rest of
  paper develop a theme.
• Do not include tons of historical facts use
  this section to set up situation.
• CEO is often the driving force, not always. Is
  Bill Gates CEO of Microsoft?

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Research paper Internal Analysis

• IT Use Assessment critical to course content.
• Work on financial section early. Get help if
  skills not covered in your group.
• Financials evaluated relative to industry
  performance.
• Financial numbers belong in tables/graphs.
• Top industry performance indicates IT use is a
  strength (S).
• Poor performance indicates IT use may be a
  weakness (W).

16
Research paper Industry Analysis

• General to Industry, not specific to company!
• Some companies drive industry (Wal-Mart,
  Microsoft). Industry discussion will have to
  include these companies.
• Competitors focus only on top (perhaps 3-5)
  competitors in industry.

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Research paper SWOT Analysis

• Will study this tool throughout course.
• (S) strength, (W) weakness, derived from
  company analysis.
• (O) opportunity, (T) threat, derived from
  industry analysis.
• If S aligns with O, take advantage.
• Use S to nullify T.
• Shore up W to protect against T.

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Research paper Conclusions/Recommendations

• Section for YOUR independent ideas!
• 3 listed C/R at least 2 must be
  recommendations.
• Must be complete, well-supported. How do you
  know? Does a SW align with OT?
• Creative ideas will score well, but
• Must be reasonably feasible!

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Research paper help

• Office hours
• Murat Monday 100-300
• hmerenli_at_unity.ncsu.edu
• Dianne Wednesday 1230-230
• dfabian_at_nc.rr.com
• In Dr. McCormacks office
• 3129 Nelson