SampleFormat.pdf

(This is provided as an example of the paper layout and spacing. No running header required

for this report. Don’t add graphic title pages or additional embellishments. Follow complete

instructions provided for each staged assignment. Note: The BA&SR report is a business

report, and you will be expected to follow the specific formatting guidelines that are shown

in the assignment instructions. This report should be typed and double-spaced on standard-

sized paper (8.5″ x 11″), with 1″ margins on all sides. You should use a font consistently

throughout the paper. APA recommends using either a sans serif font such as 11-point Calibri,

11-point Arial, or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode, or a serif font such as 12-point Times New

Roman, 11-point Georgia, or 10-point Computer Modern.

(Title page – centered horizontally and vertically; no running head required)

Title of Report

Company Name

Your Name

Course and Section #

Date of Submission

1

Introduction

(Begin your report with a clear, concise, well organized introduction to explain why you are

writing and what is to come in the complete BA&SR report (not just Stage 1). This should

briefly set the context for MTC – business purpose, environment, and current challenges related

to hiring. Then specifically provide what is to come in the full report. Keep your audience in

mind – this is an internal report for the CIO of MTC. Provide an introduction in one paragraph

that engages the reader’s interest in continuing to read your report.)

I. Strategic Use of Technology

A. Strategy

(In this section, you should clearly present – at a broad level – what MTC’s

business strategy is (refer to case study information), then what issues the current

manual hiring process may present that interfere with achieving that strategy, and

how improving the hiring process will benefit MTC and support its business

strategy. (Use two to three strong sentences that explain how the system would

support the strategy and justify your position with specifics from the Case Study.)

B. Competitive Advantage

(First, provide an overview of the competitive environment that MTC is currently

operating in based on information from the case study. Then explain how and

why MTC can use the new hiring system to increase its competitive advantage

and help achieve its overall business strategy. Your explanation should

demonstrate your understanding of what competitive advantage is as well as how

improving the hiring process will help achieve MTC’s competitive advantage.

Include how MTC can use the type of data or information that will be in the

2

hiring system to improve its competitive advantage. (Paragraph of 4-5

sentences))

C. Strategic Objectives

(First, insert an introductory opening sentence for this table. Then, for each of the

rows listed below, complete the table with the requested information. (Provide an

introductory sentence and copy the table. Create an objective for each of the 3

remaining goals and explain using 2-3 complete sentences for each.)

Strategic Goal
(from case study)

Objective
(clear, measurable and time-bound)

Explanation
(2-3 sentences)

Increase MTC
Development by winning new
contracts in the areas of IT
Consulting

Build a cadre of consultants
internationally to provide
remote research and analysis
support to MTC’s onsite teams in
the U. S.

EXAMPLE PROVIDED – (Retain
text but remove this label and
gray shading in your report)

Increase international recruiting efforts
and employ 5 research analysts in the next
12 months.

The new hiring system would
allow applicants from around the
world to apply online, increasing
the number of international
applicants. It would enable the
recruiters to carefully monitor
the applications for these
positions, identify the necessary
research and analysis skills
needed, and screen resumes for
these key skills. Recruiters
could quickly view the number of
applicants and identify when
additional recruiting efforts are
needed to meet the objective.

Continue to increase MTC’s
ability to quickly provide high
quality consultants to awarded
contracts to best serve the
clients’ needs

Increase MTC’s competitive
advantage in the IT consulting
marketplace by increasing its
reputation for having IT
consultants who are highly
skilled in leading edge
technologies and innovative
solutions for its clients

D. Decision Making

3

(Provide an introductory sentence then copy the table and insert information

within, writing in complete sentences.)

Role Level as
defined in

Course
Content
Reading

Example of Possible
Decision Supported by

Hiring System

Example of
Information the Hiring
System Could Provide
to Support Your
Example Decision

Senior/Executive Managers
(Decisions made by the CEO
and the CFO at MTC
supported by the hiring
system.)

Middle Managers
(Decisions made by the
Director of HR and the
Manager of Recruiting
supported by the hiring
system.)

Operational Managers
(Decisions made by the line
managers in the
organization who are hiring
for their projects supported
by the hiring system.)

II. Process Analysis

A. Hiring Process

Continue with Stages 2, 3 and 4 following headings and outline provided with each assignment.

Review specific assignment instructions for requirements.

4

References

(Use at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference. Use at least one external

reference and one from the course content. Course content should be from the class reading

content, not the assignment instructions or case study itself. In Course Content>Course

Resources>Writing Resources, there is a specific document – APA Requirements for IFSM 300

classes. This provides guidance on citing course content as APA information does not

specifically address on-line content from course content (not the same as citing a website). Any

in-text citation for information from course content should indicate the title of the section; just

listing UMGC is insufficient.) For general information on APA format, refer to Content>Course

Resources>Writing Resources.) Reference list will be added to with each staged assignment.

Stage 4 requires an additional source for the provided vendor brochure, and final reference page

should be cumulative for all 4 stages.

Example for format for case study:

Maryland Technology Consultants case study [Course Resources]. (2019). In IFSM 300:

Information Systems in Organizations: Summer 2020. Retrieved from

http://learn.umgc.edu

http://learn.umgc.edu/

http://learn.umuc.edu/