JEFF MERHOUT LONG WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOR STUDENTS MIS 617 Professor Jeff Merhout Fall 2003 Long Writing Assignment (for Summer Workshop on Student Writing) Semester Term Paper (and Interim Requirements) The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to deeply explore an IT-related topic in a manner that will develop your understanding and application of the SMOTS framework (strategic, managerial, organizational, social and technological issues). Oral and written communications skills are very important; therefore, you will be graded on mechanical issues (e.g., grammar) in addition to your writing abilities (i.e., the development of quality ideas in an organized fashion). Please take advantage of the RT Farmer School of Business Administration Howe Writing Center for assistance at <_____> or call _______. Term Paper Overview
Your paper is expected to address some area of investigation that is of personal interest in the field of automated management information systems (see the list of possible topics below) and how these systems provide a competitive advantage to an organization. As suggested by Bean (2001) you should use the introductory paragraphs of your paper to engage the reader in a problem or question that you will analyze in your paper. (Examples of problems will be discussed in class.) Thus you should create a succinct and explicit thesis statement that you will support with the evidence you present. Be sure to make sure your reader can understand exactly what makes the question you address both problematic and substantial. The remainder of your paper should be your response to the thesis statement made in a manner that persuades the reader with appropriate analysis of the evidence and with logical and convincing arguments. This research is expected to expand your personal knowledge beyond the information presented in class and in the text. Furthermore, this is a research paper, not just an opinion paper. Your task is to analyze and synthesize the evidence to support your position, and I expect that you will write in a manner similar to Martin et al. Finally, the paper must include a discussion of the strategic, managerial, organizational, social and technological issues of your topic. Interim Requirements: Topic Proposal, Outline, and Peer Review The topic you choose must be presented in writing during the week of ______. Each proposal should include a detailed statement of research objectives, including showing how the problem or question you plan to address is both substantial and problematic. In addition, explain why you are interested in this topic and discuss the process of how you formulated your problem statement. Also address some if the SMOTS issues you plan to consider and provide some of the specific research sources you intend to use. The proposal should consist of no more than 1.5 pages. I will approve and return the topic to you with comments. Please review and save the graded proposal to resubmit with the final paper. An (informal) outline or tree diagram of your paper is due ________. Provide an introductory paragraph that includes your thesis statement. In addition, include all the draft materials that you created thus far in your writing process (but do not include your research searches or sources). An abstract of the paper is also encouraged, but not required yet. I will approve and return the outline and package to you with comments. Please review and save the graded outline to resubmit with the final paper. A draft of your paper is due ________. At least one classmate (i.e., your “partner”) should read and critique your draft using the grading rubric I present below (with specific comments on the draft). Be sure to attend to these comments before you turn in your final paper. Please save the draft with comments to resubmit with the final paper. The Final Draft
The final report should be about 12 to 14 double-spaced typewritten pages (approximately 3000 words), not including appendices. The paper must include an abstract. The report must also include a detailed research bibliography with a minimum of 8 references. At least 4 of the references should be from academic journals (i.e., refereed journals) or books authored by academicians, and no more than 2 can be from the Internet (and must be approved by me). No more than 4 of the references can be from professional and trade journals. The distinction between these references will be discussed in class. Your report should contain a substantial number of embedded citations to the bibliography; failure to do so will constitute plagiarism. Papers should be double-spaced, use 12 point fonts with 1” margins, have page numbers, and be pledged. Two copies of the final report are due __________. Please do not forget to resubmit your topic proposals with my comments, your outline with my comments, and your draft with your partner’s comments. Plagiarism
Note that plagiarism is a very serious offense that could result in a grade of zero on the assignment, an ‘F’ in the course or worse. I prefer that you paraphrase as much as possible (in fact, I will insist on a certain degree of paraphrasing), but you should use quotations where appropriate (i.e. when restating phrases word for word). Remember to always use embedded citations when you are writing from material that is not your own original thoughts (see Martin et al. 2002, page 4 for examples). Considering the requirement that this paper go beyond what is covered in class, in the textbook and your personal experiences, it is expected that almost every paragraph should have at least one citation to the bibliography (see Martin et al. 2002, pages 707 -718 for example of a proper bibliography and for a list of possible resources for your topic). We will discuss these requirements thoroughly in class. See also the MU ___________ for guidelines. Potential Information Systems Research Topics The following list is not intended to be exhaustive. Human resources IS Accounting IS Financial services IS Knowledge management Marketing/ Customer service IS/ CRM Marketing IS/ data warehousing/ data mining Electronic commerce (not the Internet) Intranet applications/ electronic business Enterprise resource planning systems Business process reengineering Executive support systems Decision support systems Decision support systems International information systems Systems development/project management End-user computing Information Systems Management Leadership Outsourcing IS/IT functions Supply chain management: Production planning and analysis IS; Manufacturing IS; Logistics and distribution IS; Transportation IS Note that I have purposefully excluded the Internet from this list because some students might to write a paper about how to surf the Web or go on a virtual shopping experience or some other activity not within the scope of this academic research paper. The Internet is not totally unacceptable, but any Internet discussions must focus on how using the Internet can provide a competitive advantage to an organization (see Chapter 7). Note also that I have excluded topics that are purely technical in nature, which are not within the scope of the course. Each of the above topics should have technological issues to consider and discuss, but information technology is our tool - a means to the end (of quality management), not the end itself. Please see me if you want me to consider a topic focusing on the Internet or if you have any questions about this assignment!! Grading A strong paper (i.e., A or B) will contain (at a minimum) the following:
A weak paper (i.e., C or D) will be missing one or more of the requirements for a strong paper. An unacceptable paper (i.e., F) will be missing most or all of the requirements for a strong paper. #################################################################################### Grading Rubric Your paper will be evaluated with the following checklist:
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