CCIT Capstone Course

ARC Implementation

Prepared by Nathan Heinze, Ph.D.

The Capstone course for the College of Computer and Information Technology (CCIT) is composed of two team cases, one team case presentation, and fourindividual assignments that serve as supplemental material to aid you in your case work. The course is divided into the four sections found under the Lessons tab, and correspond with the four sections in your textbook. You MUST complete the "Delivering Value with IT" section first, because your first case must be selected from this section and submitted by the end of the 4th week of class. The order in which you complete the other three sections depends on what case you choose for your "main" case...if, for example, you choose a case from the "IT Governance" section, you should complete the "IT Governance" section next...if you choose your main case from sections 3 or 4 in the book, then you should do that one next. There is one individual assignment per section (found within the section folders), and one of these must be completed every four weeks. See the following for information on the cases, assignments, and presentation:

1. Two Team Cases (50 points and 200 points)

You will form teams of three students and complete two cases during the 16 week course. The first case is a "practice" case (appr.10 pages). You have the first four weeks to complete this. The feedback provided on the first case will help you on the second case. The second case is the "main" case (appr. 20-30 pages), and you will have the rest of the course to finish it. Near the end of the semester, your teammust create and deliver a 20 minute PowerPoint presentation detailing your project (see below).

  1. Your two Capstone cases will be graded based on content (70%), organization (10%), and spelling/grammar/punctuation (20%, download the Writing Rules document at the bottom on the page). The content (70%) will be graded according to the following six criteria, each of which is equally weighted:

1.Introduction:Find the core problem(s) and then explain it/them in your own words.

2.Analysis: Compare & contrast possible solutions.

3.Problem Solving: Offer a solution and defend it.

4.Evaluation:Identify the weaknesses of your chosen solution.

5.Synthesis: Suggest ways to improve/strengthen your chosen solution.

6.Reflection:Reflect on your own thought process after completing the assignment.

a.“What did you learn from this process?”

b.“What would you do differently next time to improve?”

2. The cases should be organized as such, using 12 pt font, proper heading/sub-headings,and double-spacing:

1.Cover Page

2. Table of Contents

3.Executive Summary: One page summary of your recommendations.

4.Introduction: Find the core problem(s) and then explain it/them in your own words.

5.Analysis: Compare & contrast possible solutions.

6.Recommendation:This is composed of the Problem Solving, Evaluation, and Synthesis steps above; in other words, you must offer a solution and thoroughly defend it, explaining why it is the best available option, what problems may arise with it during and after implementation, and how you could minimize or eliminate them.

7.Conclusion:One page summary of your project, plus individual reflection portions in which each team member answers the following:

a.“What did I learn from this process?”

b.“What would I have done differently next time to improve?”

8.List of References: List your references.

3.The cases will be scoredby the following criteria(4 equals anA, 3 equals a B, 2 equals a C, 1 equals a D, and 0 equals an F):

Performance
Element / Exemplary
(4) / Proficient
(3) / Developing
(2) / Emerging
(1) / Not Present
(0)
IV. Evaluation
Identify weaknesses in your chosen solution. / Insightfully interprets data or information;
identifies obvious as well as hidden assumptions, establishes credibility of sources on points other than authority alone, avoids fallacies in reasoning; distinguishes appropriate arguments from extraneous elements; provides sufficient logical support. / Accurately interprets data or information;
identifiesobvious assumptions, establishes credibility of sources on points other than authority alone, avoids fallacies in reasoning; distinguishes appropriate arguments from extraneous elements; provides sufficient logical support. / Makes some errors in data or information interpretation; makes arguments using weak evidence; provides superficial support for conclusions or solutions. / Interprets data or information incorrectly;
Supports conclusions or solutions withoutevidence or logic; uses data, information, or evidence skewed by invalid assumptions; uses poorsources of information; uses fallacious arguments. / Does not evaluate data, information, or evidence related to chosen solution.
V. Synthesis
Suggest ways to improve/strengthen your chosen solution. / Insightfully relates concepts and ideas from multiple sources; uses new information to enhance chosen solution; recognizesmissing information; correctly identifies potentialeffects of new information. / Accurately relates concepts and ideas from multiple sources; uses new information to enhance chosen solution; correctly identifies potential effects of new information. / Inaccurately or incompletely relates concepts and ideas from multiple sources; shallow determination of effect of new information on chosen solution. / Poorly integrates information from more than one source to support chosen solution; Incorrectly predicts the effect of new information on chosen solution. / Does not identify new information for chosen solution.
VI. Reflection
Reflect on your own thought process.
“What did you learn from this process?”
“What would you do differently next time to improve?” / Identifies strengths and weaknesses in own thinking: recognizes personal assumptions, values and perspectives, compares to others’, and evaluates them in the context of alternate points of view. / Identifies strengths and weaknesses in own thinking: recognizes personal assumptions, values and perspectives, compares to others’, with some comparisons of alternate points of view. / Identifies some personal assumptions, values, and perspectives;
recognizessome assumptions, values and perspectives of others; shallow comparisons of alternate points of view. / Identifies some personal assumptions, values, and perspectives;
doesnot consider alternate points of view. / Does not reflect on own thinking
Performance
Element / Exemplary
(4) / Proficient
(3) / Developing
(2) / Emerging
(1) / Not Present
(0)
I. Communication
Define problem in your own words. / Identifies the main idea or problem with numerous supporting details and examples which are organized logically and coherently. / Identifies the main idea or problem with some supporting details and examples in an organized manner. / Identifies the main idea or problem with few details or examples in a somewhat organized manner. / Identifies the main idea or problem poorly with few or no details or states the main idea or problem verbatim from the text. / Does not identify the main idea or problem.
II. Analysis
Compare & contrast the available solutions. / Uses specificinductive or deductive reasoning to make inferences regarding premises; addresses implications and consequences; identifies facts and relevant information correctly. / Uses logical reasoning to make inferences regarding solutions; addresses implications and consequences; Identifies facts and relevant information correctly. / Uses superficial reasoning to make inferences regarding solutions; Shows some confusion regarding facts, opinions, and relevant, evidence, data, or information. / Makes unexplained, unsupported, or unreasonable inferences regarding solutions; makes multiple errors in distinguishing fact from fiction or in selecting relevant evidence. / Does not analyze multiple solutions.
III. Problem Solving
Select & defend your chosen solution. / Thoroughly identifies and addresses key aspects of the problem and insightfullyuses facts and relevant evidence from analysis to support and defend potentially valid solutions. / Identifies and addresses key aspects of the problem and uses facts and relevant evidence from analysis to develop potentially valid conclusions or solutions. / Identifies and addresses some aspects of the problem; developspossible conclusions or solutions using some inappropriate opinions and irrelevant information from analysis. / Identifies and addresses onlyone aspect of the problem but develops untestable hypothesis; or develops invalid conclusions or solutions based on opinion or irrelevant information. / Does not select and defend a solution.