06 Jan Submit at least a five

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 1 Case

ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS PROCESSES, AND IT SYSTEMS RELATIONSHIPS.

Assignment Overview

This Case Assignment focuses on understanding what an organization is and what business processes are to describe the relationship between organizational structures and business processes. Note that the discussion throughout this case is generic and from a scholarly perspective, not from the perspective of any given organization.

Case Assignment

Paste these instructions on the cover page of your case paper, using a small font.

After reviewing the required reading for this module (and if you have time, the optional reading), write a 5-page paper addressing the following five questions:

What is an organization?

What is a business process?

What generic types of structures can organizations operate under?

Why do organizations execute business processes?

Why do organizations use technology to accomplish business processes?

Important: Note that depending on the author, a process may be referred to as an activity or a task. For the purpose of this module, assume they are synonymous unless the definition used by a specific author has the word activity or task inside.

You should consider approaching the question as follows:

Identify definitions of an organization by various other scholars or practitioners, and discuss the similarities and differences in the definitions. You must use the background reading and/or search for scholarly articles using the school’s academic search tool. Do not use the dictionary.

Identify definitions of business processes (which may be referred to as tasks or activities by some) and the types of business processes discussed by past researchers. You must use the background reading and/or search for scholarly articles using the school academic search tool. Explain the similarities and differences in the definition.

Explain the relationship between an organization, various parts of an organization, and business processes.

Explain why and how technology is used within organizations to accomplish business processes.

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 1 SLP

ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS PROCESSES, AND IT SYSTEMS RELATIONSHIPS.

This SLP assignment focuses on demonstrating practical application of the concepts discussed in a case. The student will demonstrate understanding of what organizations and businesses process, and discuss the relationship between organizational structure and business processes. The discussion is one from a practical perspective.

Paste these instructions on the cover page of your paper, using a small font.

After reviewing the required reading for this module (and if you have time, the optional reading), and using the work completed in the case, select a specific organization and write a 3-page paper addressing the following:

What does the organization do? (i.e., What types of products or services does it provide?) Note that the organization could be For-Profit, Non-Profit, or Government.

What is the structure of this organization? Why do you think it was selected?

Discuss one or more high level processes the organization accomplishes? Which department do you think is the lead for this process?

Discuss one or more information technology systems used to accomplish the processes identified in “c” above. Why do they use information technology? Who are the participants that use the identified tool?

You are encouraged to use the SAME terms and sources as the case for the generic parts of your paper and specific sources related to the organization you identified, if they are publicly available.

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 2 Case

GENERIC TYPES OF BUSINESS PROCESSES AND IT SYSTEMS

Assignment Overview

This Case Assignment focuses on understanding different levels of an organization and different classes of process. The discussion is one from a scholarly perspective, not from any given organization.

Case Assignment

Paste these instructions on the cover page of your case paper, using a small font.

After reviewing the required reading for this module (and if you have time, the optional reading) write a 5-page paper addressing the following questions/topics:

What are at least three levels of an organization, regardless of structure?

Compare and contrast, according to Davenport (1993) and Dickenson (2003), the generic levels or types of processes (tasks or routines) within an organization.

According to Davenport and Short (1990), what types of organizational processes work within and across organizational boundaries?

According to Van de Ven and Delbecq (1974), what are the two dimensions that a process (task) may demonstrate?

According to Wijnberg, N.M., Van Den Ende, J., De Wit, O. (2002), what types of decisions are made at the three different levels of the organizations and how does IT enable these decisions (please use figure 1 in this document as a reference for discussion)?

Articulate the importance of the five basic components of a business process (IDEF0) according to business process engineers (why are these needed?); present and defend your opinion on what would happen if anyone is removed.

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 2 SLP

GENERIC TYPES OF BUSINESS PROCESSES AND IT SYSTEMS

Submit at least a three page assignment that contains the following information as you articulate your DSP research problem and initial supporting literature that highlights the researched selected operational problem within the proposed DSP topic:

Develop a draft of the research problem / topic within the first two paragraphs of the assignment.

Articulate what academic and practitioner based literature supports the proposed research problem and how it relates to a possible selected organization and or industry.

Elaborate what historical or current events / trends within the selected industry support the discovery and investigation of the selected research problem draft.

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 3 Case

LEARNING ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES

Assignment Overview

This Case Assignment focuses on phenomena within an organization that enable or hinder learning about business process. The discussion is one from a scholarly perspective, not from any given organization.

Case Assignment

Paste these instructions on the cover page of your case paper, using a small font.

After reviewing the required reading for this module (and if you have time the optional reading), write a 5-page paper addressing the following questions/topics:

What are professional development activities and organizational development activities according to Blau et al, (2008); what are the differences between the two?

Explain/describe and contrast organizational learning mechanisms according to Clifford and Thope (2007), as well as Bleu et al (2008).

What are individual-level factors that deter from learning about processes according to Ng et al., 2006 and Orpen, 1997? Find 1 or 2 external sources if you can, and compare them to those identified by these authors.

Explain organizational environment issues that deter learning about processes. Compare and contrast the works of Alderfer & Smith, 1982 and Ashforth & Mael, 1989, as well as 1 or 2 external sources.

Summarize your findings on why individuals learn about processes in organizations or are hindered from learning within organizations.

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 3 SLP

LEARNING ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES

This SLP assignment focuses on demonstrating practical application of the concepts discussed in a case.

The student will demonstrate understanding of what an organization and business process are, to include describing the relationship between organizational structure and business processes. The discussion is one from a practical perspective using a specific organization as the focus of the discussion.

Paste these instructions on the cover page of your case paper, using a small font.

After reviewing the required reading for this module (and if you have time the optional reading), and using the work accomplished in the case, select a specific organization and write a 3-page paper addressing the following areas:

What organizational development activities did you witness?

Describe organizational learning mechanisms used in the organization. Did the organization specifically train individuals on the IT systems to support the processes of the organization?

Did some individuals display personal factors that deterred them from learning?

Did any parts of the organization display issues that deterred learning?

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 4 Case

COMMON ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS PROCESSES AND ERP SYSTEMS

Assignment Overview

This Case Assignment focuses on understanding of common organizational business. The discussion is one from a literature perspective, not from any given organization.

Case Assignment

Paste these instructions on the cover page of your case paper, using a small font.

After reviewing the required reading for this module (and if you have time the optional reading), write a 5-page paper addressing the following questions/topics:

For each of the following:

The Finance Process

The Procurement Process

The Fulfillment Process

The Inventory and Warehouse Management Process (IWM)

The Manufacturing Process

What are they for/what is their purpose, how do they start, what activities or subcomponents are there?

Writing about ¾ of a page to cover the areas per process is sufficient.

Which Organizational Elements (i.e., Divisions such as Operations, Finance, Logistics etc.) are involved in each of the above? You may make a table to describe this (i.e., Processes on the top row and organizational elements on the left column with X’s in the squares. This would be accompanied by a short description.

How do Enterprise Resource Planning Systems specific to each of the above processes make them more effective and efficient?

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 4 SLP

COMMON ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS PROCESSES AND ERP SYSTEMS

This SLP assignment focuses on demonstrating practical application of the concepts discussed in a case. The student will demonstrate understanding of what an organization and business process are, to include describing the relationship between organizational structure and business processes. The discussion is one from a practical perspective using a specific organization as the focus of the discussion.

Paste these instructions on the cover page of your case paper, using a small font.

After reviewing the required reading for this module (and if you have time the optional reading), and using the work accomplished in the case, select a specific organization and write a 3-page paper addressing the following areas:

Pick one of the following:

The Finance Process.

The Procurement Process.

The Fulfillment Process –

The Inventory and Warehouse Management Process (IWM)

The Manufacturing Process

What did the organization call it? Was it the same name as one of the above or was it similar but called something else?

How did the organization execute it? Describe the work centers, tools, and the workflow. Were there written instructions and guidelines? Were there federal or other regulations that limited or constrained the work?

Which organizational elements were involved? Insert an organizational chart and highlight the sections management and operational section involved.

Was there an Enterprise Resource Planning system used to synchronize the process?

Note that if your selected organization did not execute the above or you don’t know how they did it, pick another process you are familiar with and answer the above.

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 5 Case

IT SYSTEMS THEORIES – DRAFT DBA PROJECT

Assignment Overview

Note: You must complete the SLP before doing the Case Assignment.

The student will develop a possible (mock/draft) Section 1 Introduction of a doctoral study that should align with your intended DSP topic using the outline provided below.

This Case Assignment focuses on using the knowledge gained in prior modules. Students may re-utilize any writings submitted before and the associated references/citations to address the areas below.

Case Assignment

Using an appropriate cover sheet, create a doctoral study Section 1 that addresses the following:

1.1 Introduction. Overview of the project – The impetus for the study.

1.2 The problem. A discussion on the organization or organizational elements that will be studied. Leadership, Management, Operations, some or all. What do they do, what is their purpose? What type of generic and specific processes do they execute in accordance with the material learned? What type of tools do they use in accordance with the material learned? A discussion of why there is a “perceived challenge/problem” in the organization (i.e., do we know there is a problem to be fixed or are we searching for one or more?). A discussion on the vision or desired end state after problem resolution – what will be more effective or efficient?

1.3 Areas to be analyzed. A discussion on which facets will be analyzed to include some or all of the following, which come from the Cases/SLP of this class:

1.3.1 The Organizational Structure, since processes and organizational structure are always intertwined. What type of structure is it? Provide a graphic of the org structure. Are there any indications of areas that need to be assessed in advance of inquiring through interviews or surveys?

1.3.2 The vertical processes within an org structure (Management). Provide a simple work flow of the situational awareness and decision-making processes. Are there any indications of areas that need to be assessed in advance of inquiring through interviews or surveys?

1.3.3 The horizontal processes within org structure (Product or Service Accomplishment). Describe the process in accordance with Case readings. Provide a simple work flow of the horizontal processes. Are there any indications of areas that need to be assessed in advance of inquiring through interviews or surveys?

1.3.4 The way processes are learned. Are there formal or informal learning methods for each process? What are they? Are they optional, are they mandatory, for some or for all? Are there any indications of areas that need to be assessed in advance of inquiring through interviews or surveys?

1.3.5 The IT systems (i.e., Enterprise Systems that support vertical or horizontal processes; decision making or product/service accomplishment). What are the tools that enable vertical (situational awareness or decision making) or horizontal process (service or product) accomplishment? Are there any indications of areas that need to be assessed in advance of inquiring through interviews or surveys?

The above would lead to the methodology section (i.e., what data for each of the above will be gathered, how will the data be gathered, from whom will it be gathered, how will it be analyzed?).

DOC650 Technology and Business Process Improvement

Module 5 SLP

IT SYSTEMS THEORIES – DRAFT DBA PROJECT

Development of the DSP Topic Proposal:

For Module 5 Case you will be required to develop your DSP topic proposal outlining the basic problem statement and research questions you intent to explore within your selected researched field-based organization. Keep in mind the following overall parameters of the DSP:

The DSP is intended to:

Enhance your understanding of your field of study;

Provide experience conducting research in your field of study;

Develop your ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate data and conclusions in your field of study;

Make a significant contribution to your field of study;

Include a thorough review of associated professional literature;

Demonstrate your ability to design and carry out an individual research project;

Demonstrate a clear understanding of basic research principles, techniques, and ethics;

Demonstrate evidence of your ability to analyze and synthesize data, as well as draw and evaluate conclusions;

Develop skills in project planning, time management, organization, and implementation; and

Show evidence of a high level of professional competence

It is important to keep in mind that the DSP is not simply another graduate school assignment. The DSP is intended to help the student develop both personally and professionally. It must be scholarly, succinct, and of sufficiently high quality to be published, in part, in a peer-reviewed journal. DSP research may be cataloged and available to other researchers—seasoned professionals and academics, as well as future students—all over the world.

Submit at least a five page assignment that contains the following information as you articulate your research topic within the proposed DSP topic:

Develop a draft of the research problem / topic within the first two paragraphs of the assignment

Develop a draft set of research questions related to the selected research problem

What is the targeted selected organization that you plan to evaluate and apply your research / operational problem to?

Articulate and elaborate the characteristics and dynamics of the selected organization and how it aligns with the proposed research problem and research questions.

Articulate what academic and practitioner based literature supports the proposed research problem and how it relates to the selected organization.

Develop a set of hypothesis related to desired discoveries / outcomes of the intended research of the problem statement / topic.