Information Technology

Successful professionals in the IT environment need to be familiar with the fundamental IT tools and applications that are used in everyday functions and know
how these tools and applications interrelate. The final project for this course is a Company Consult Debrief that illustrates a systems view of a company’s
technology infrastructure and the interrelationships between components such as networks, data management, programming, web technologies, and
information assurance. A detailed company scenario is provided, with supporting databases, tables, table inventory, and query orders.
Three milestones support the development of the project. These are designed to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be
submitted in Modules Three, Five, and Six. The final submission will occur in Module Seven.
This assessment will assess your mastery with respect to the following course outcomes:
 Apply fundamental IT terminology appropriately in highly structured situations
 Illustrate the applicability of foundational information technologies for specific professional environments
 Assess fundamental IT concepts at the component level in rationalizing recommendations for business environments
 Illustrate interrelationships among key concepts of IT for developing a systems view of information technology
Prompt
Scenario: The new owner of Swagger Distribution Company, a company that distributes clothing and apparel, does not have experience with IT-related problem
solving, so she is contracting you, an IT consultant. You will review the company’s technology infrastructure and the interrelationships between components such
as HCI, networks, data management, programming, web technologies, and information assurance. You will assess the current infrastructure and programming
modifications, network optimization, and improvements to security procedures, and provide your feedback and recommendations.
1. Human-Computer Interface (HCI): On a daily basis, Swagger Distribution’s employees log in to the company’s network and utilize many different types
of software and the internet. They use Microsoft Word and Microsoft Visio daily.
2. Databases: Swagger Distribution’s partners/customers include a variety of clothing companies. Swagger Distribution utilizes a database to store
information on the partner companies and the orders that are received. You will review the provided database for Swagger Distribution and summarize
what the tables contain and what the queries do. Be sure to apply key terms that you have learned such as “metadata.” Based on information provided,
you will change one data type in one of the tables.
3. Programming: Every day, when an employee of Swagger Distribution signs on to her computer, a pop-up window opens and gives a greeting to the
employee. The new owner would like to continue to have the pop-up window but would like to change the greeting.
4. Networking: There are two possible configurations for Swagger Distribution’s network: a wired version and a wireless version.
5. Web Technologies: Swagger Distribution is in the process of designing a new website using HTML5 (HyperText Markup Language).
6. Information Security: There is no current information security standard at Swagger Distribution. You know that one needs to be implemented.
Your Company Consult Debrief should address the information technology needs for Swagger Distribution listed above.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) Consult
a. Summary – Summarize the human–computer interactions (HCI) problem the company is experiencing. Be sure to list all aspects of the problem
and explain their importance to the usability of the software. For example, you might identify components of Microsoft Office applications such
as Word or Visio, discussing all aspects of the HCI and explaining their importance to the usability of this software.
b. Recommendation – Suggest an enhancement to one of the applications for improving its HCI, providing supporting examples/research for your
suggestion.
c. Illustration – Create a one-page tutorial for Microsoft Visio, including component screenshots, for new employees who are familiar with
Microsoft Word but have never used Microsoft Visio. To comprehensively address this element, you should cover at least two basic functions
and/or menu options.
d. Identification – Use fundamental IT terminology to label components in the tutorial and appropriately in the summary. To comprehensively
address this element, you would label at least five components in the tutorial.
II. Information Management/Database (IMD) Consult
a. Summary – Summarize the information management/database (IMD) items of the distribution company, listing all tables and all queries,
summarizing what the tables contain and what the queries do.
b. Edit – Based on the information provided, add a new data type to the table, enter the data, and describe your actions.
III. Programming Consult
a. Modification – Based on the request provided by the new owner, change the display message of the provided code that is currently used to a
new display message.
b. Illustration – Include the key components of the line of code provided, highlight what needs to be modified, and provide the revised code.
c. Identification – Use fundamental IT terminology to label components of the code provided.
IV. Networking Consult
a. Summary – Summarize the wired networking configuration from the diagram provided and use this to create and describe a Visio diagram to
represent a wireless networking configuration appropriate for the company.
b. Identification – Use fundamental IT terminology to label all aspects of the network components in the visual representation.
V. Web Technologies Consult
a. Summary – Summarize key components of a potential website that would effectively address the company’s needs. In order to comprehensively
address this element, you should include at least 10 components in your summary.
b. Recommendation – Provide practical suggestions on aspects that would ensure the quality of the website in meeting the company’s needs,
explaining your rationale behind the proposed suggestions.
c. Illustration – Provide a visual representation of these components as deployed in an existing website or websites that will support the
functionality you address in your recommendations. For example, this is where you might supply screenshots of aspects of the website that
would support the functionality your suggestions offer.
VI. Information Security Consult
a. Summary – Summarize the information security issues facing the company and discuss information security practices, providing real examples of
information security assurance failures that can be used in helping the client to understand the risk.
b. Recommendation – Recommend information security practices that will address these issues. Provide supporting
examples/research/justification for your recommendations.
VII. Summary of IT Systems Consultations
a. Interrelationships – Explain how network, database, web technology, computers, programming, and security systems interrelate using the
distribution company as an example.
b. Conclusion – Provide a clear rationale to illustrate the importance for this company to understand IT technologies and to stay informed of
changes and new risks to its IT system.
Milestones
Milestone One: HCI and IMD Programming Consult Summaries
In Module Three, you will submit a document summarizing the HCI and IMD of the distribution company, including your suggestions for changes. A visual
representation will be submitted for each summary using appropriate IT terminology. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Programming Consult Summaries and Network
In Module Five, you will submit a document summarizing programming components as well as wired and a potential wireless network configuration using
appropriate IT terminology. A labeled, visual representation of the wireless network configuration will be submitted. This milestone is graded with the Milestone
Two Rubric.
Milestone Three: Web Consult Summaries and Information Security Consult Summary
In Module Six, you will submit a document summarizing suggested web technologies for the website for the distribution company and information security
needs and recommended practices of the distribution company. A visual representation of the information security system will be submitted, labeled using
appropriate IT terminology. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.
Final Product: Company Consult Debrief—Overall System Summary
In Module Seven, you will submit a final document that builds upon all of the previously completed milestone summaries to provide an overall summary of the
distribution company’s IT system as a whole, illustrating how each individual system/component (HCI, database, programming, network, web technology, and
security) interrelates with others. Provide a clear rationale to illustrate the importance for this company to understand IT technologies and to stay informed of
changes and new risks to its IT system. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the
incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. It will be graded using the Final Product Rubric.
Deliverables
Milestone Deliverables Module Due Grading
One HCI, IMD, and Summaries Three Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
Two Programming Consult and Network
Summaries
Five Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Three Web Consult and Information Security
Consult Summary
Six Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric
Final Product: Company Consult Debrief
– Overall System Summary
Seven Graded separately; Final Product Rubric
Final Product Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Written components of the project must follow these formatting guidelines when applicable: double spacing, 12-point Times New
Roman font, and one-inch margins. Remember to review the feedback from your milestone drafts and incorporate it as you build out the final draft of your
complete paper. The completed paper should be approximately 5 to 7 pages in length, not including cover page, screenshots and resources, and written in
paragraph form. Use this Final Project template to guide you when creating and submitting your final project. Tables should be prepared in Microsoft Access.
Diagrams should be prepared using Visio.
Critical Element Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
HCI Consult:
Summary
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
uses industry-specific language
to establish expertise
Comprehensively lists aspects
of the human–computer
interactions (HCI) problem and
explains their importance to
the usability of the software
Lists aspects of the human–
computer interactions (HCI)
problem, but does not explain
their importance to the
usability of the software, or
description lacks detail or is not
accurate
Does not list aspects of the
human–computer interactions
(HCI) problem
6
HCI Consult:
Recommendation
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
suggestion is well-informed and
integrates relevant theories and
research
Suggests enhancement for
improving HCI and justifies
suggestion with examples or
research
Suggests enhancement for
improving HCI, but does not
justify suggestion with
examples or research, or
suggestion is not appropriate
Does not suggest enhancement
for improving HCI
6
HCI Consult:
Illustration
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides comprehensive details
for understanding of Microsoft
Visio
Creates a Microsoft Visio
tutorial, including screenshots,
covering basic functions for
new employees who are
familiar with Microsoft Word
Creates a Microsoft Visio
tutorial for new employees who
are familiar with Microsoft
Word, but does not include
screenshots, or tutorial is
unclear or lacks detail
Does not create a Microsoft
Visio tutorial
5
HCI Consult:
Identification
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
establishes expertise using
specific industry language
Accurately labels components
of the tutorial and summary
using fundamental IT
terminology
Labels components of the
tutorial and summary using
fundamental IT terminology,
but labels are not accurate
Does not label components of
the tutorial and summary
4
IMD Consult:
Summary
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
uses industry-specific language
to establish expertise
Comprehensively summarizes
the information
management/database items
Summarizes the information
management/database items,
but summary lacks detail or is
not accurate
Does not summarize the
information
management/database items
6
IMD Consult: Edit Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description is comprehensive
Accurately adds new data type
to table, enters data, and
describes actions
Adds new data type to table
but does not enter data or new
data type is not accurate
Does not add new data type
and data to table
4
Programming
Consult: Modification
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
modification is described using
industry-specific language
Accurately changes the display
message of the code as
requested
Changes the display message of
the code, but change is not
accurate or does not comply
with request
Does not change the display
message of the code
4
Programming
Consult: Illustration
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
identifies key components
demonstrating expertise in
using code
Includes the key components of
the line of code provided,
highlights what needs to be
modified, and provides the
revised code
Includes the key components of
the line of code provided, but
does not highlight what needs
to be modified or does not
provide the revised code
Does not include the key
components of the line of code
provided
6
Programming
Consult:
Identification
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
uses professional language
Accurately labels components
of the code provided using
fundamental IT terminology
Labels components of the code
provided using fundamental IT
terminology, but labels are not
accurate
Does not label components of
the code provided
4
Networking Consult:
Summary
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
the proposed wireless
configuration is logical and
appropriate for the business
needs
Comprehensively summarizes
the wired network
configuration for the company,
creates and describes a visual
representation of a wireless
configuration for the company
Summarizes the wired network,
attempts to create and describe
a visual representation of a
wireless configuration for the
company, but key aspects of
the configurations are missing
or not correctly identified
Does not summarize the
network configuration for the
company, or does not create
and describe a visual
representation of a wireless
configuration
6
Networking Consult:
Identification
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
uses professional language
demonstrating an advanced
understanding of networking
concepts
Accurately labels components
of the network in the visual
representation using
fundamental IT terminology
Labels components of the
network in the visual
representation of the wireless
configuration using
fundamental IT terminology,
but labels are not accurate
Does not label components of
the network in the visual
representation
4
Web Technologies
Consult: Summary
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation demonstrates an
advanced understanding of
web technology options
Comprehensively summarizes
key components of a website
that would effectively address
the company’s needs
Summarizes key components of
a website, but summary lacks
detail or does not address the
company’s needs
Does not summarize key
components of a website that
would effectively address the
company’s needs
6
Web Technologies
Consult:
Recommendation
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
makes suggestions for optimal
performance
Provides practical suggestions
on aspects that would ensure
the quality of the website in
meeting the company’s needs
and explains the rationale
behind proposed suggestions
Provides practical suggestions
on aspects that would ensure
the quality of the website in
meeting the company’s needs,
but does not explain the
rationale behind proposed
suggestions
Does not provide practical
suggestions on aspects that
would ensure the quality of the
website in meeting the
company’s needs
6
Web Technologies
Consult: Illustration
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates the applicability
of the recommended web
technologies to the company
through choice of highly
relevant examples for this
professional environment
Provides an accurate visual
representation of aspects as
deployed in an existing website
or websites that supports
functionality addressed in
recommendations
Provides a visual representation
of aspects as deployed in
existing website or websites but
representation does not
support functionality addressed
in recommendations or is not
accurate
Does not provide a visual
representation of aspects as
deployed in existing website or
websites
6
Information Security
Consult: Summary
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
examples of information
security assurance failures are
relevant to the company in the
scenario
Comprehensively summarizes
the information security issues
facing the company and
discusses information security
practices, and provides real
examples of information
security assurance failures
Summarizes the information
security issues facing the
company but does not discuss
information security practices
or does not provide real
examples of information
security assurance failures
Does not summarize the
information security issues
facing the company
6
Information Security
Consult:
Recommendation
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
recommendations are well
supported with relevant
examples and/or research
Recommends appropriate
information security practices
that address issues and justifies
recommendations with
examples and/or research
Recommends information
security practices but
recommendations are not
appropriate or are not justified
with examples and/or research
Does not recommend
information security practices
6
Summary:
Interrelationships
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
illustrates expertise
demonstrating a systems view
of IT
Describes the interrelationships
among network, database, web
technology, computers,
programming, and security
systems using the company as
an example
Identifies the interrelationships
but description lacks detail in
how the components are
connected with one another
within this company
Does not describe
interrelationships
6
Summary: Conclusion Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides specific examples from
similar organizations
encountered during research
Comprehensively justifies the
importance for this company to
understand IT technologies and
to stay informed of changes
and new risks to its IT system
Explains the importance for this
company to understand IT
technologies and to stay
informed of changes and new
risks to its IT system but
rationale lacks detail or key
considerations for this company
Does not explain the
importance for this company to
understand IT technologies and
to stay informed of changes
and new risks to its IT system
6
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization, and is presented
in a professional and easy-toread
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