TECH8000 IT Capstone Report 1 Sample

TECH8000 IT Capstone

Assignment Brief

In this assessment, you will develop a comprehensive research proposal that focuses on identifying the causes and potential solutions of a complex IT problem faced by a client. The research proposal should demonstrate your ability to design and plan a research project, incorporating appropriate research methods, theoretical frameworks, and ethical considerations relevant to the field of IT.

Instructions

Students must conduct research externally and included references in order to produce a well referenced assessment. You should use at least ten (10) sources of information and reference these in accordance with the Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style. These may include websites, social media sites, industry reports, census data, journal articles, and newspaper articles. These references should be presented as in-text citations and a referencing list at the end of your assessment (not included in the word limit). Wikipedia and other ‘popular’ sites are not to be used.

1. You must submit your report in Word document or in PDF format.

2. The report should be well-structured and organised. It should include the following details:

a) Introduction and Problem Statement:

i) Clearly state the IT problem and provide a concise overview of its significance. Explain why it is crucial to identify the causes and potential solutions for this problem.

b) Research Objectives and Research Questions:

i) Define clear and measurable research objectives that align with the problem statement. Develop specific research questions that will guide your investigation and address the identified problem.

c) Literature Review:

i) Conduct a thorough review of existing literature related to the IT problem. Summarise key findings and theories relevant to understanding the causes and potential solutions. Critically analyse and synthesise the existing research to support the need for your proposed study.

d) Theoretical Framework:

i) Develop a theoretical framework that provides a conceptual basis for your research. Identify relevant theories, models, or frameworks that can inform your investigation and help analyse the causes and potential solutions of the IT problem.

e) Research Methodology:

i) Describe the research methodology you will employ to collect and analyse data. Justify the chosen methodology and explain how it aligns with your research objectives. Discuss data collection methods, sampling techniques, and data analysis procedures you will utilise to explore the problem effectively.

f) Ethical Considerations:

i) Identify and address ethical considerations associated with your research. Discuss potential risks, privacy issues, informed consent, and any other ethical concerns that need to be taken into account during the research process. Outline the steps you will take to ensure ethical conduct throughout the study.

3. Please refer to the assessment marking guide to assist you in completing all the assessment criteria.

Solution

1. Introduction

Technology has become an integral part of business practices in current times. Rapid progress and advancement of Technology also create challenges for the business to be adaptable and flexible (Mourtzis, Angelopoulos and Panopoulos, 2022). It is to be noted that its systems and processes are increasing the complexity of business and changing demand. The main purpose of the report is to understand the issue of outdated IT systems and the rule of innovation in this respect. The major focus of the discussion is to understand political prospects and solutions to problems related to IT systems. In this respect, the role of IT systems is also identified through existing literature.

2. Problem Statement

The major issue that is seen in the business process of the Global tech industries of California, USA, is an outdated legacy system that operates on information technology (Referred To The Case Study). Decision-making due to this outdated IT system. The issue is significant because the major challenge of its system is that it needs upgradation and modification with changing times and demands. If an organisation fails to do so, the system, which was once considered song and productive, slowly creates efficiency in operation. The probable solution for this issue is identifying the requirements and modify or replace the existing It system with innovative and advanced technology for MBA assignment expert.

3. Objectives and Questions

Objectives

● To investigate the impact of poor IT systems on the organisational performance of companies.

● To examine different theoretical aspects and concepts that can lead GlobalTech Industries to improvise its current IT system

● To ascertain the causes and potential solutions of the determined issue can be implemented by GlobalTech Industries.

Research questions

• What is the impact of poor IT systems on the organisational performance of companies?

• Which theoretical aspects and concepts exist that can lead GlobalTech Industries to improvise its current IT system?

• What are the causes, and which potential solutions to the determined issue can be implemented by GlobalTech Industries?

3. Literature review

Different IT systems in business

AlMuhayfith and Shaiti (2020) opine that ERP helps organisations in effective resource management and capacity building. ERP focuses on enhancing the role and facilities of business organisations. The system helps to integrate core business processes and functions like HR and finances. The feature of ERP modifies with time and changing demands of the society. Duan, Cao and Edwards (2020) view that Business Intelligence is a major technological implication in the data management of the business. BI is considered one of the advanced forms of technology in features and functions. The significance of BI rests in the application of AI to business data analytics and management processes. The approach of IT systems is primarily to enhance functional efficiency.

Importance of Innovation in Business

Farida and Setiawan (2022) state that innovative actions in business aim to create a strong and unique brand image and reputation in the competitive market. In this respect, innovation creates advanced and modified processes that address the current challenges and future needs of the business. Innovation helps an existing system to have visibility on those issues that can make it efficient in implementation. It is significant to understand that innovation has led to shaping different current trends prevalent in the business like eCommerce, digitalisation of business operations and management practices. Innovation, therefore, is not only an integral part of business but also a need for a progressive society.

Theoretical approach to innovation

Li et al. (2022) opine that entrepreneurs drive innovation from a theoretical perspective to create new products and services. Schumpeter's theory identifies five types of innovative approaches: new products, new methods of production, new forms of organisation, new markets and new sources of supply. This shows the role of innovation in application to modern business practices. Creating new is the ultimate purpose for innovation. It is also significant to understand that innovation has wide economic and sustainable scopes in business. Innovation has also been addressed as a concept in bringing transformation and development of business. Innovation also shows open potential and ways of utilising prediction in practice.

Role of innovation in IT systems

Borowski (2021) argues that innovation lowers operational costs and enhances functional efficiency in a business. It is a significant aspect that innovation creates resilience in the business process and structure and also makes it flexible to face challenges and change according to the need. It is to be noted that cost-effective operation is a current trend of Management practices because the value of financial resources increased with the increasing complexity of the Global Business structure. Cost-effective business also relates positively to competitive advantages and business growth and development. Innovation identifies the predictable way through which the current cost structure of a system is regulated.

4. Theoretical Framework:

Open innovation theory

Innovation as a concept has evolved with time. In the modern implementation of the concept in business, open innovation theory is a strong theoretical perspective. According to the theory, innovation needs to focus on external resources like suppliers, customers and competitors (Felin and Zenger, 2020). Breaking The traditional approach this theoretical perspective provides that innovative practice includes knowledge sharing, collaboration and exchange of ideas among the stakeholders in business. This theoretical perspective provides a very real and modern approach to innovation in business. Considering the theory can be said that innovation aims to fulfil the needs and interests of external sources in business. It also indicates that innovation, most of the time, implies changing the traditional system and developing new ones.

Figure 1: Theoretical framework
Source: (Developed by the author)

Resource-based view of innovation

A resource-based view of innovation is just a strategic approach that enables every form to have starting capability and resources that are utilised for innovation practice. RBV, as a Theory, identifies certain areas like potentials and nature of every resource in a Firm vary, and these need to be considered in strategy to formulation (Li et al., 2022). The theory also provides that resources of both tangible and intangible nature can be utilised for gaining competitive advantages and innovative practices. These theoretical approaches view innovation enhancement of organisation competency through effective utilisation of its resources. Resources, therefore, play a significant role in innovation in terms of theoretical approaches.

Disruptive innovation theory

Disruption is also a major challenge of Technology based business practices. It is the Rapid change and advancement of technology that leads to disruptions of the existing product and market. Disruption innovation theory provides innovation as a solution that is simple and effective to address created disruption in the market segment (Kivimaa et al., 2021). The primary approach of disruptive innovation is low end or niche market. However, its gradual focus on transforming the entire sector or industry cannot be negated. Disruption can be evidently seen everywhere in business especially in the supply chain operation. This theoretical perspective shows that innovation is also a solution to the business process to accommodate and accept disruption in practice.

Theory of constraints

Challenges and constraints are major areas that lead to change in your modification of a business process or system. The theory of constants provides that constraints and necessary to be identified for understanding future development and modification areas in business. The theoretical perspective also says that through exploitation, subordination, and elevation, constraints can be dealt with and managed in business practice (Almasaeid, 2021). The theoretical perspective also shows that continuous improvement of a system and implementation of system thinking can create strength to existing systems to face or prevent consequences of constant in business. In this respect, innovation can build and enhance system thinking to address constant challenges in business.

5. Research Methodology

Secondary data collection will be adopted for this discussion. The data is collected from Google and Google Scholar by studying articles, journals eBook websites. Keywords are used for the purpose of searching data. Keywords like the significance of innovation and challenges of IT systems are considered. Diverse perceptions are focused on sorting each piece of data. A qualitative data analysis process will be chosen to gain insights into the research. In this respect, the different views and perspectives were identified, analysed, and interpreted for framing the findings. Qualitative data analysis can be done on huge amounts of data (Lester, Cho and Lochmiller, 2020). For this it is chosen to frame the discussion more comprehensively and congruently. In both the chosen methods, the main focus is to identify new or negated aspects that enhance and widen the approach of innovation and implementation of IT-based systems. A random sampling of data will be considered to get all possible information available on relevant concepts and their variables. Sampling also helps to access a diverse range of data. Random sampling also helps in exploring different sources for Data Collection.

6. Ethical consideration

GDPR is considered for maintaining data confidentiality and integrity in the discussion. Even in the data collection and analysis, authentication of the sources, as well as the date of publication, is evaluated. Data older than ten years are not considered for this discussion. Blogs are not considered for data collection in this discussion.

7. Conclusion

To conclude, it can be said that the discussion focuses on identifying the issue of outdating IT Systems in an organisation of the USA and exploring the role and significance of innovation in this respect. It is to be noted that the discussion has highlighted objectives and Research questions to understand the challenges and solutions of Information Technology as well as the role of innovation in creating those systems. The literature review focuses on general perceptions of innovation, different Information Technology systems prevalent in business, and theoretical perspectives related to innovation as a concept. Has also been provided focusing on the concept of innovation signifying cause impact and implications in business.

References

Almasaeid, IS 2021, ‘The Impact of Applying the Theory of Constraints on the Competitive Advantage: Evidence from Jordan’, Management, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 71-81. https://www.academia.edu/download/109032465/the-impact-of-applying-the-theory-of-constraints-on-the-competitive-advantage-evidence-from-jordan.pdf

AlMuhayfith, S & Shaiti, H 2020, ‘The impact of enterprise resource planning on business performance: With the discussion on its relationship with open innovation’, Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, vol. 6, no. 3, p. 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc6030087

Borowski, PF 2021, ‘Digitization, digital twins, blockchain, and industry 4.0 as elements of management process in enterprises in the energy sector’, Energies, vol. 14, no. 7, p. 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14071885

Duan, Y, Cao, G & Edwards, JS 2020, ‘Understanding the impact of business analytics on innovation’, European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 281, no. 3, pp. 673-686. https://uobrep.openrepository.com/bitstream/handle/10547/622810/BA%20innovation%20EJOR%20%20final

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Farida, I & Setiawan, D 2022, ‘Business strategies and competitive advantage: the role of performance and innovation’, Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, vol. 8, no. 3, p. 163. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030163

Felin, T & Zenger, TR 2020, ‘Open innovation: A theory-based view’, Strategic Management Review, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 223-232. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Teppo-Felin/publication/334850886_Microfoundations_of_Open_Innovation/links/6220f54519d1945aced2ec71/

Microfoundations-of-Open-Innovation.pdf

Kivimaa, P, Laakso, S, Lonkila, A & Kaljonen, M 2021, ‘Moving beyond disruptive innovation: A review of disruption in sustainability transitions’, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, vol. 38, pp. 110-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2020.12.001

Lester, JN, Cho, Y & Lochmiller, CR 2020, ‘Learning to do qualitative data analysis: A starting point’, Human resource development review, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 94-106. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?output=instlink&q=info:Nr0Jwwb-ydoJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&scillfp=17607216450239426536&oi=lle

Li, M, Tian, Z, Liu, Q & Lu, Y 2022, ‘Literature review and research prospect on the drivers and effects of green innovation’, Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 16, p. 9858. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169858

Li, W, Gill, SA, Wang, Y, Safdar, MA & Sheikh, MR 2022, ‘Proactive personality and innovative work behavior: Through the juxtapose of Schumpeter's theory of innovation and broaden-and-build theory’, Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, p. 927458. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.927458

Mourtzis, D, Angelopoulos, J & Panopoulos, N 2022, ‘A Literature Review of the Challenges and Opportunities of the Transition from Industry 4.0 to Society 5.0’, Energies, vol. 15, no. 17, p. 6276. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176276