Case Study, Stage 3: IT Considerations for Proposed Technology Solution

Before you begin this assignment, be sure you have read the “UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center Case Study” and “UR UMUC Stage 1,” and “UR UMUC Stage 2”, the WALMART EXAMPLEand the feedback from previous assignments.
Purpose of this Assignment
This assignment gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge of the areas to be considered in planning and implementing a technology solution. This assignment specifically addresses the following course outcomes to enable you to:
•    analyze internal and external business processes to identify information systems requirements
•    identify and plan IT solutions that meet business objectives.
IT Considerations for Proposed Technology Solution
For your Stage 2 Project, you proposed a technology solution to improve a business process at your Fitness Center.  In evaluating an IT proposal, there are several areas that need to be considered.  These considerations are listed in the table provided with this assignment.  Depending on the specific technology solution you proposed, some of the considerations would be more important than others, and some may not need specific consideration for the initial implementation of your proposed solution.  (If a consideration is not relevant for the solution as described and at implementation but might be something for the future, mark it “N/A”.  If for instance cloud computing is not in the solution being implemented, but may be considered in the future it would be N/A and not required for the solution.  Please note that even N/A items require an explanation.)  The responses that you enter into the table for each consideration must be aligned to the one specific solution you proposed and appropriate to the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center.
Assignment
Using the technology solution you proposed in Stage 2, you should briefly explain it and then copy the table below and complete the remaining two columns. (Submit only one table and do not delete the Instructor Use columns.)  For each area of consideration, you should rank it as high, medium, low, or N/A (Not Applicable) in importance or relevance at time of implementation (and not some time in the future) for the specific technology solution you proposed for the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center.  Then, provide a brief explanation, a minimum of four sentences for each, to justify that ranking or the N/A.  Do not try to create a reason if there is none, but carefully analyze each consideration and determine whether it applies and how.  Explanations must provide enough information to convey the reasoning behind the ranking.  DO NOT copy the definitions from the textbook or other sources but put into your own words to demonstrate your understanding of the concept as you provide your explanation for the ranking.  Use the Grading Rubric to be sure you have covered everything.  Submit your paper with answers to parts 1 and 2 below via your Assignment Folder as a Microsoft Word document with your last name included in the filename.

Part 1: Briefly explain your proposed technology solution.  Identify what the solution is, what it is expected to do for the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center, and what major hardware, software and communications components will be used, summarizing the information you provided for Stage 2.  Please include the information that you provided at the end of Stage 1 (with any modifications recommended by the professor) at the top of your paper:
Generic Strategy:
Strategic Business Area:
Process to be improved:

Part 2:  Table of IT Considerations.  The Areas for consideration are defined in the section “Concepts” which follows the table of considerations.  An example for one entry is also provided below.  Click on the upper left corner of the table to copy it into your paper.

INST USE

Area    High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A)    Explanation for Ranking
(minimum 4 sentences for each, linked to specific technology solution proposed)    IMPORT    EXPLAN
Accessibility
Availability
Maintainability
Portability
Reliability
Scalability
Usability
Disaster Recovery Plan
Authentication & Authorization
Prevention & Resistance (Security)
Detection & Response (Security)
Grid Computing
Cloud Computing
Virtualized Computing
Communications Architecture
Database Architecture
Decision Support
Artificial Intelligence
Business-to-Business eCommerce
Business-to-Consumer eCommerce

Concepts:

Accessibility:  Baltzan textbook, page 175, “refers to the varying levels that define what a user can access, view, or perform when operating a system”
Availability: Baltzan textbook, page 175, 176, “refers to the time frames when the system is operational”
Maintainability:  Baltzan textbook, page 176 – 177, “refers to how quickly a system can transform to support environmental changes”.  Examples are multi-currency acceptance, acceptance of credit cards, multiple languages, etc.
Portability: Baltzan textbook, page 177, “the ability of an application to operate on different devices or software platforms such as different operating systems”
Reliability: Baltzan textbook, page 177, “ensures a system is functioning correctly and providing accurate information”
Scalability: Baltzan textbook, page 177, “how well a system can scale up, or adapt to the increased demands of growth”
Usability: Baltzan textbook, page 178, “the degree to which a system is easy to learn and efficient and satisfying to use”
Disaster Recovery Plan: Baltzan textbook, pages 172 – 173, “detailed process for recovering information or a system in the event of a catastrophic disaster”
Authentication & Authorization (Security):  Baltzan textbook, pages 149 – 151, examples include user id/password, smart card/token, biometric technology
Prevention & Resistance (Security): Baltzan textbook, pages 151 – 153, examples include content filtering, encryption, firewall, antivirus software
Detection & Response (Security): Baltzan textbook, pages 153 – 154, example includes intrusion detection software
Grid Computing:  Baltzan textbook, pages 181 – 183, “a collection of computers, often geographically dispersed, that are coordinated to solve a common problem”
Cloud Computing: Baltzan textbook, pages 182 – 187, “the use of resources and applications hosted remotely on the Internet”
Virtualized Computing:  Baltzan textbook, pages 187 – 190, “creates multiple ‘virtual’ machines on a single computing device”
Communications Architecture:  Baltzan textbook, Appendix B
Database Architecture:  Baltzan textbook, Appendix C
Decision Support:  Baltzan textbook, pages 52 – 57, “model information using online analytical processing, which provides assistance in evaluating the choosing among different courses of action”
Artificial Intelligence:  Baltzan textbook, pages 57 – 61, “simulates human thinking and behavior, such as the ability to reason and learn”
Business-to-Business eCommerce:  Baltzan textbook, page 98, “applies to businesses buying from and selling to each other over the Internet”
Business-to-Consumer eCommerce:  Baltzan textbook, pages 98  – 99, “applies to any business that sells its products or services directly to consumers online”

Example:  If the technology solution being proposed was to have a kiosk for customers to use to pay for their membership at the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center, then for the area of Accessibility, the following might be entered.  (The definition of Accessibility is provided here for clarification.  Definitions are not required to be entered into the table above.)  Note the thorough explanation of the ranking.
Area    High/Medium/Low Importance or Relevance or Not Applicable (N/A)    Explanation for Ranking
Accessibility
“Accessibility refers to the varying levels that define what a user can access, view, or perform when operating a system.” (Baltzan, 2012.)    Medium    Since the customers will use the kiosk to pay their membership fees, it must be accessible to everyone.  Customers need a convenient and individual method of logging into the system that enables them to perform the needed tasks quickly and efficiently.  The customers should have controlled access that prohibits them from entering any areas or performing any functions not intended for customer use. It is ranked “Medium” because it is important for some customers who choose to use the kiosk and the system cannot be accessed without some type of login so it is important; however, it is not “High” since there are other methods of paying membership fees.
The “right” and “wrong” answers have to do with whether or not you correctly ranked each consideration as it relates to your proposed technology solution and have provided a well-supported explanation for the ranking you assigned.  Your responses will be evaluated on whether they are applicable to the solution, correctly ranked, adequately explained, and are appropriate to the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness  Center.  Use the Rubric below to be sure you have covered all aspects.