Management Information Systems (MIS)

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MIS 215 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
Management Information Systems (MIS) is the study of people, technology, and organizations. The driving force behind MIS is to improve people’s lives through
technology. Businesses use information to enhance their current operations, and they require employees who are capable of acquiring and understanding the
data to do so. MIS professionals implement and maintain systems for finding and storing data to allow an organization and its stakeholders to make the most
informed decisions possible. Knowing how to gather information and work collaboratively to find solutions will give you hands-on experience in the role of a
business analyst.
Throughout this course, you will have a chance to experience the process of gathering requirements for a project related to a business’s needs, and to review
the best practices related to MIS for making informed recommendations. The resources and activities in this course will give you an insight into the world of
MIS. In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore various solutions and systems and review some of their features.
In the final project, you will be asked to review a scenario related to MIS at a fictional organization and create a detailed report of the information gathering
process as well as an executive summary for stakeholders at the organization. After reviewing the scenario, you will be asked to identify the needs of a business
related to data, the current client systems, and how the data is stored and accessed to obtain information. Next, you will be tasked with coming up with ideas
regarding how to link the data from the various systems used by the business in order to produce reports. Finally, you will compose an executive summary for the
stakeholders using clear communication that addresses questions about business needs.
The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
 Describe various client systems and their interrelationships that comprise organizations’ management information systems
ï‚· Describe the flow of data into and through organizations for determining which client systems will supply data needed to address specific business
problems
ï‚· Determine which client information systems will produce appropriate reports that inform business decisions
ï‚· Develop clear communications to stakeholders that explain solutions or next steps in addressing business problems
Prompt
For the final project, you will be required to review a scenario (described below) to identify the needs of a business related to data, the current client systems,
and how the data is stored and accessed to obtain information. You will then be tasked with coming up with ideas regarding how to link the data from the
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various systems used by the business in order to produce reports. Finally, you will compose an executive summary for the stakeholders using clear
communication that addresses questions related to business needs.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Data Gathering: In this section, you will describe the data that is available to you and how the data systems in the organization work together in the
context of the scenario.
A. Describe the business needs of your organization and the types of data that may be needed to address them.
B. Describe the current client systems in your organization and how they interrelate.
C. Detail how the data you need can be accessed. To do this, be sure you address the following:
i. How will you know what information is currently available?
ii. How and where is the data stored?
iii. What types of tools will you need to extract and gather the data?
iv. What is the importance of data security and integrity, and who within the business should be involved in this process?
II. Business Needs: In this section, you will determine whether your organization’s business needs can be met by the systems and system interactions you
currently have.
A. Determine the questions that need to be asked and the types of data you need to answer them.
B. Illustrate how you will link the organization’s current systems to get the data that answers these questions. You may submit this as a flowchart,
if you desire.
C. Explain gaps in data flow that cannot be addressed with the organization’s current systems.
III. Integrating Business Resources: In this section, you will determine how to produce the appropriate reports now that you have determined how to link
the systems.
A. Referring to the business needs questions, describe what types of reports you would need to produce in order to answer them.
B. Explain what type of information you might need in order to create a report linking data from various systems.
C. Discuss how you could gather the identified information and who should be involved in the process.
D. Explain the types of reporting tools that could be used to answer the business questions, and discuss the various ways that they could be used
to create reports.
IV. Reporting: In this section, you will explain what tools you need to create the reports, and you will write an executive summary that addresses the
business questions. Write an executive summary that does the following:
A. Utilizes audience-appropriate language
B. Explains processes, tools, and solutions
C. Details next steps
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Scenario
SNHU Clothing is a small clothing retailer that is expanding rapidly across the east coast. It sells clothing for children and both men and women, as well as
accessories. The company has one physical location, but its online sales have been growing significantly during the last few years. The company has a total of 10
employees. The leadership team of SNHU Clothing consists of an IT manager, sales manager, warehouse manager, and manager of manufacturing and product
design, in addition to a business analyst—you!
SNHU Clothing’s leadership team
David
Officer
CEO
Mark
Manager
IT Manager
Jim Sales
Sales Manager
Rachel
Analyze
Business Analyst
Dan
Warehouse
Warehouse Manager
Patricia
Product
Manager of Manufacturing
and Product Desgin
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Currently, SNHU Clothing is using a Microsoft Access database to store customer sales, product information, and vendor and supplier data. Another small clothing
retailer is going out of business, and SNHU Clothing has decided to acquire its clothing to sell at the physical location; SNHU Clothing is also purchasing the
retailer’s customer database.
Both databases are in Microsoft Access format, but the fields are completely different. Your job as the business analyst is to review both databases and find out
how the systems interrelate and how you could do the following tasks:
 Describe potential fields that could be present in each system and how the systems’ fields might differ. Using that information, discuss how the systems
interrelate and your recommendations for having a centralized system to meet business needs.
ï‚· Identify which customers and products originally came from the new retailer.
ï‚· Identify what reports should be created and how they could be delivered.
ï‚· Document the process you will take to assess business needs and ensure the system meets the needs of the organization.
ï‚· Make recommendations on how the system can be improved to allow for improved analytics.
As you get ready to begin this job, your boss, Mark Manager, calls you into his office and requests you compile your findings in a detailed report on the
information-gathering process, and in an executive summary to be reviewed by Jim Sales (the sales manager) and David Officer (the CEO of SNHU Clothing).
Because you are fairly new to the position of business analyst, your boss offers you the following guidance on data gathering, business needs, current client
systems, and data access, as well as some general information on SNHU Clothing’s business processes:
ï‚· Data Gathering: Before you recommend a plan to merge both databases, it is important to gather data about the data in each database. This means that
you need to understand the different types of data that each database contains and identify any required fields. For example, one database might have a
unique identifier that can be used as the customer’s ID. If a different customer exists in the other database with the same customer ID, you will not be
able to merge the records properly. As you think about the data gathering needs of the organization, discuss ways that you could identify potential
problems, such as duplicate ID numbers for customers, and how you could work on a solution.
ï‚· Business Needs: To complete this project, you must think of the end goals. For instance, you can identify what the business will need once the databases
are merged. This could involve customer reports, sales history, and so on. After you identify what information you will need, identify how the database
structure can help support those needs. In addition, you should discuss any changes that will need to be made in order to scale the database for future
growth and expansion.
ï‚· Current Client Systems: Identify the systems that each organization is currently using. Ask yourself the following question: Will you be able to use one
system to house both databases, or will a new system be required? What information will you need to consider in order to make a proper
recommendation?
ï‚· Data Access: Part of identifying the needs of the organization is deciding how the data will be shared and who will need to access it. Each database will
have its own set of permissions and security, but when you merge both databases, you will need to ensure that the security settings are still in place, and
to identify whether any revisions need to be made. Why is this process important, and what steps can you take to ensure it is completed properly?
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SNHU Clothing’s business processes
Milestones
Milestone One: Data Gathering
In Module Three, you will submit Milestone One: Data Gathering. In this assignment, you submit a worksheet in which you address critical elements related to
SNHU Clothing’s business needs, current client systems, and means of accessing data. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Business Needs and Integrating Business Resources
In Module Five, you will submit Milestone Two: Business Needs and Integrating Business Resources. In this assignment, you will submit a worksheet in which
you address critical elements related to the questions you must ask to identify the types of data needed to address SNHU Clothing’s business needs, SNHU
Clothing’s systems and system interactions, and the production of appropriate reports for SNHU Clothing. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two
Rubric.
Final Submission: Detailed Report of Information Gathering Process and Executive Summary
In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product, including
the second part of your final project, an executive summary explaining the tools you need to create reports and addressing the business questions you identified
in Milestone Two. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.
Warehouse
•SNHU
Clothing
buys fabric
and
materials
•Suppliers are
located in
two nearby
cities
•Materials
can be
ordered as
neeed
Manufacturing and
Product Design
•Clothing
items are
produced
from fabric
and
materials
•Clothing
items are
folded and
packaged
•Prices and
bar codes
are added to
packaged
clothing
items
Sales
•Online sales
are
processed
Distribution
•Clothing
items
purchased
online are
delivered to
the
customer
Customer
•Receives
clothing
items
purchased
online
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Deliverables
Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading
One Data Gathering Three Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
Two Business Needs and Integrating Business
Resources
Five Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Final Submission: Detailed Report on
Information Gathering Process and
Executive Summary
Seven Graded separately; Final Project Rubric
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your detailed report of the Information Gathering Process should be 3–5 pages and your Executive Summary should be 1–2 pages,
double-spaced, and use Times New Roman font and industry-standard formatting.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Data Gathering:
Business Needs
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates an insightful
awareness of the various types of
data and its uses
Describes the business needs of the
organization and the types of data
that may be needed to address
them
Describes the business needs of the
organization and types of data that may be
needed to address them, but description is
cursory or contains inaccuracies, or not all
types of data needed are described
Does not describe the business
needs of the organization or the
types of data that may be
needed to address them
7.92
Data Gathering:
Current Client
Systems
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a complex grasp of
how client systems communicate
Describes the current client systems
in the organization and how they
interrelate
Describes the current client systems in the
organization, but description is cursory,
contains inaccuracies, or does not describe
how systems interrelate
Does not describe the current
client systems in the
organization and how they
interrelate
7.92
Data Gathering:
Accessed
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates an insightful
awareness of the systems’
capabilities and tools
Details how the data needed can be
accessed, addressing all required
elements
Details how the data needed can be
accessed but neglects to address some of
the required elements
Does not detail how the data
needed can be accessed
7.92
Business Needs:
Questions
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a complex grasp of
the business needs
Determines the questions that need
to be asked and the types of data
needed to answer them
Determines the questions that need to be
asked and the types of data needed to
answer them, but determination is cursory
or illogical
Does not determine the
questions that need to be asked
7.92
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Business Needs:
Link
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
illustration is exceptionally detailed
and contextualized
Illustrates how the organization’s
current systems will be linked to get
the data that answers the questions
Illustrates how the organization’s current
systems will be linked to get the data that
answers the questions, but illustration is
cursory or contains inaccuracies
Does not illustrate how the
organization’s current systems
will be linked to get the data
that answers the questions
7.92
Business Needs:
Gaps
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates an insightful
awareness of the organization’s
systems and capabilities
Explains gaps in data flow that
cannot be addressed with the
organization’s current systems
Explains gaps in data flow that cannot be
addressed with the organization’s current
systems, but explanation is cursory or
contains inaccuracies
Does not explain gaps in data
flow that cannot be addressed
with the organization’s current
systems
7.92
Integrating
Business
Resources:
Reports
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description is exceptionally clear
and contextualized
Describes the types of reports that
would be needed to produce
answers to the business questions
Describes the types of reports that would
be needed to produce answers to the
business questions, but description is
cursory or contains inaccuracies
Does not describe the types of
reports that would be needed
to produce the answers to the
business questions
5.94
Integrating
Business Reports:
Report Linking
Data
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a complex grasp of
the information-gathering process
Explains the type of information
that might be needed to create a
report linking data from various
systems
Explains the type of information that might
be needed to create a report linking data
from various systems, but explanation is
cursory or contains inaccuracies
Does not explain the type of
information that might be
needed to create a report
linking data from various
systems
5.94
Integrating
Business Reports:
How and Who
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a complex grasp of
the information-gathering process
Discusses how the identified
information could be gathered and
who should be involved in the
process
Discusses how the identified information
could be gathered and who should be
involved in the process, but discussion
lacks specificity or is illogical
Does not discuss how the
identified information could be
gathered and who should be
involved in the process
5.94
Integrating
Business Reports:
Reporting Tools
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates an extensive
awareness of the capabilities of a
variety of reporting tools
Explains the types of reporting tools
that could be used to answer the
business questions and discusses
the various ways they could be used
to create reports
Explains the types of reporting tools that
could be used to answer the business
questions, but explanation is cursory or
contains inaccuracies, or discussion lacks
specificity or is illogical
Does not explain the types of
reporting tools that could be
used to answer the business
questions
5.94
Reporting:
Language
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
masterfully utilizes audienceappropriate language
Composes an executive summary
that utilizes audience-appropriate
language
Composes an executive summary that
makes an attempt to use audienceappropriate language, but it is not
consistent throughout
Executive summary does not
utilize audience-appropriate
language
7.92
Reporting:
Processes, Tools,
and Solutions
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
summary is exceptionally detailed
and contextualized
Composes an executive summary
that explains processes, tools, and
solutions
Composes an executive summary that
explains processes, tools, and solutions,
but explanation is cursory or illogical
Executive summary does not
explain processes, tools, and
solutions
7.92
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Reporting: Next
Steps
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
summary is exceptionally detailed
and contextualized
Composes an executive summary
that details next steps
Composes an executive summary, but next
steps lack clarity or are illogical
Executive summary does not
detail next steps
7.92
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors related
to citations, grammar, spelling,
syntax, and organization and is
presented in a professional and
easy-to-read format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors related to
citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or
organization that negatively impact
readability and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
4.96
Total 100%