Strategy Paper You will need to write a paper about information technology strategy. You will have four approaches from which to choose in order to complete this assignment. This paper will be due by the last class period. The paper should be a minimum of 2,000 words, and will be worth 100 points. You will need to pay close attention to grammar, spelling, and formatting in order to receive a good grade on this assignment. Unlike your shorter assignments, the Strategy Paper will require you to use APA formatting. You must identify on your cover page which option you have chosen. Grading Rubric:
Insights and ideas that
are germane to the assignment | Logic of organization and use of prescribed formats | Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct | Citations given for source material | | 50 points | 20 points | 20 points | 10 points |
Option 1: Information Technology Section for a Business Plan. Prepare a document that will serve as the Information Technology section in a business plan. This document should outline the role that information technology will play in the business strategy. If you write about an information technology business, then this section should include a Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis for the business, making reference to the trends and conflicts that we discuss in class. It should also include budget estimates and justifications for anticipated information technology costs. Option 2: Information Technology Project Plan. Prepare a document that describes a specific information technology project and details the steps that need to be followed in order to complete the project. Your plan should be thorough enough to provide the members of the project team with a clear understanding of how the project will affect them, and what they need to do in order to achieve a successful outcome. This includes benchmarks for the three keys to successful project management: scope, schedule, and budget. You may find it helpful to use the DIRECT method that I present in class, and other planning tools such as Gantt Charts and the Critical Path Method. Option 3: Information Technology Roadmap. Prepare a document that outlines an information technology strategy for an existing business or government agency. Describe the technology that they have in place now, the technology that they are expected to have in the future, and the process by which they will make the transition. Discuss the role that information technology is expected to play in the business. You may find useful ideas for this approach by researching articles about capability maturity models (CMMs). Option 4: Information Technology System Analysis. Prepare a document that describes in detail the current or planned information technology systems within a business or government agency. Include in your analysis a description of the organizational structure, and how the information system is configured, or should be reconfigured, to support that structure. You may find it helpful to use the SaWCaP and STOC/S models that I present in class. | 
