C. RESEARCH PAPER (RP)

1. PURPOSE

To apply the principles and tools learned in this class in a real-world business environment.

2. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

a. Typed, double spaced, with appropriate margins.

b. Fifteen to 20 pages including illustrations.

c. Table of Contents and page numbering

d. In project folder with label on front which includes (1) name, (2) course, and (3) paper title.

e. Due by the beginning of class on 5/2.

f. Can be done alone or by a team of two or three persons.

3. GRADING CRITERIA

*Grading Criteria*	Percentage
a. Professional Appearance	10%
b. Grammar, Punctuation, and Phrasing/Usage	15%
c. Length	5%
d. Use of Charts, Graphics, etc.	5%
e. Completeness	20%
f. Readability	15%
g. Accuracy	15%
h. Citations	5%
i. Overall Impression	10%

4. ASSIGNMENT

Perform an IT assessment of a Northern California firm. The assessment should include the following:

a. FIRM DESCRIPTION:

(1) Location(s).

(2) Product/services.

(3) Personnel (organization chart).

b. PLANNING:

(1) Firm's IT posture five years ago.

(2) Firm's IT posture now.

(3) Firm's IT vision for five years from now.

(4) Firm's IT planning process.

c. SYSTEM CONNECTIVITY (FROM CT3)

d. DATA MEASUREMENT (FROM CT4)

e. OPERATIONS ISSUES (FROM CT5)

f. DEVELOPMENT ISSUES (FROM CT6)

g. ES/DSS/GDSS:

(1) How used.

(2) Why not used.

h. MOST SIGNIFICANT IT PROBLEM

Select one IT problem that the firm feels is their most important and describe:

(1) Nature of problem.

(2) What firm plans to do about it.

5. EXPECTATIONS

a. Research of journal articles, WWW, etc. (at least four citations).

b. Interviews with key business firm managers.

c. A professional product.

d Three copies:

(1) One to firm you used in the assessment. Include cover letter in other two copies.

(2) One rough draft which I will return to you with my comments.

1. One finished paper which I will keep.