HOLMES
INSTITUTE
FACULTY OF HIGHER
EDUCATION
ASSESSMENT DETAILS AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Trimester T3 2020
Unit Code HI5019
Unit Title Strategic Information Systems for Business and Enterprise
Assessment Type Assessment 2: Group Assignment
Assessment Title System Analysis and Selection
Purpose of the assessment (with ULO Mapping) Students are required to:
• Critically evaluate the purpose and role of accounting information systems in today’s business environment
(ULO 1),
• Evaluate systems development methodologies and the role of accountants in system development projects
(ULO 3), and
• Appraise the risks inherent in computer-based systems/ERP, including the role of ethics and the various
internal control processes that need to be in place (ULO 4).
Weight 30% of the total assessments.
Total Marks 30 Marks.
Word limit Up to 2,500 words.
Due Date The written report is due in Week 11 on Friday dated 12th February 2021 at 11:59 PM.
Submission
Guidelines
• All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page.
• The students are required to work in a group of 1-4 students. However, there is no minimum limit for a
group. In certain circumstances, a student can work in a Solo Group.
• The assignment must be in MS Word format, double spacing, 12-pt Arial font and 2 cm margins on all four
sides of your page with appropriate section headings and page numbers.
• Reference sources must be cited in the report and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list using
Harvard referencing style.
• Include a minimum of thirteen (13) references, at least five (7) from peer-reviewed journal relevant to the
unit.
Assignment Details
Background
After finishing your Bachelor of Accounting, you joined a multinational enterprise in 2007. During the last
thirteen years in a multinational enterprise, you have performed different roles, including:
1. Evaluating the systems development methodologies and the role of accountants in system development
projects, and
2. Appraising the risks inherent in the Enterprise Resource Planning, and analysing the role of ethics and the
various internal control processes that need to be in place.
On 1st July 2020, you decided to quit the job and started your own accounting/management consultancy firm.
Further, you thought it better to get the latest academic insights of professional accounting. For this purpose,
you started your Master of Professional Accounting at Holmes Institute, Brisbane. And you enrolled in
HI5019 in the first trimester since it is the most relevant unit to your consultancy services. One of your firm’s
clients is currently evaluating its information systems, and the Managing Director of your client thinks that
they needed to invest in an Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) system to support the growth of the
business. During your first meeting, the managing director of your client requested you to evaluate their
business and recommend ERP software.
Client/Company Selection
You are required to select a listed company of your choice (your firm’s client). The selected company should
be a manufacturing firm listed on either The Australian Stock Exchange or the Stock Exchange of your home
country. The chosen company is your firm’s client.
Framework of Analysis
The report should include the following components:
1. Background of the Selected Business
1.1 Based on our discussion in Interactive Tutorial 4 to 6, describe your client’s business activities involved
in the Transaction Processing System.
1.2 Consistent with Section 1.1 above, discuss the key business processes involved in the Transaction
Processing System.
1.3 We have evaluated different business processes in Interactive Tutorial 4 to 6. Based on this discussion,
evaluate the business process of your client to identify potential weak internal controls and the risk associated
with these potential weak controls.
1.4 Recommend the control techniques that will reduce or eliminate the potential risks identified in Section
1.3 above.
2. Systems Requirements
2.1 Based on Section 1.1 to 1.4, briefly discuss the software features and functionalities that your client
should consider supporting its business activities.
3. Software Selection
3.1 ERP functionality falls into two general groups of applications. We will discuss these general groups of
applications in the Interactive Tutorial 11. Based on our tutorial discussion, summarize these two general
groups of applications.
3.2 Further, we will discuss the general functionalities and key elements of ERP systems in Week 9 and 10
(Chapter 11: Enterprise Resource Planning System). Compare and contrast the features and functionalities of
three ERP software packages offered by the ERP vendors.
3.3 In the end, identify the most suitable vendor and ERP software package for your client and explain why it
is the best option.
Assignment Structure
The report should include the following components.
1. Holmes Institute Assignment Cover Sheet
The Holmes Institute Assignment Cover Sheet is available at the end of menu item Assessments on the
Blackboard.
2. Executive Summary
The Executive summary should be concise and not involve too much detail. It should make commentary on
the main points only and follow the sequence of the report. Write the Executive Summary after the report is
completed, and once you have an overview of the whole text.
3. Contents Page
This needs to show a logical listing of all the sub-headings of the report’s contents. Note this is excluded from
the total word count.
4. Introduction
Typically, the introduction is a short paragraph which includes background, scope and the main points raised
in the order of importance. There should be a brief conclusion statement at the end of the introduction.
5. Main Body Paragraphs with Numbered Sub-headings
This section contains the detailed information which elaborates on the main points raised in the introduction.
Each paragraph should begin with an exact topic sentence, then supporting sentences with facts and evidence
obtained from research and finish with a concluding sentence at the end.
6. Conclusion
This section contains a logical and coherent evaluation based on a thorough and objective assessment of the
research performed.
7. Appendices
This section includes any additional explanatory information which is supplementary and/or graphical to help
communicate the main ideas made in the report. Refer to the appendices in the main body paragraphs, as and
where appropriate. (Note this is excluded from the total word count.)
Note: The report should be grounded on relevant literature, and all references must be cited appropriately and
included in the reference list.
Marking criteria
Marking criteria Weighting in Total Grades
Describe your client and its business activities. 3%
Evaluate the key business processes for your client. 5%
Outline the software features and functionalities that your client should consider supporting its business
activities. 3%
Discuss two general groups of applications. 5%
Compare and contrast the features/functionalities of three ERP software packages offered by the ERP
vendors. 5%
Identify the most suitable vendor and ERP software package for your client and explain why it is the best
option. 5%
Presentation 2%
Research Quality 2%
TOTAL Weight 30%
Marking Rubric
Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
(80-100%) (70-79%) (60-69%) (50-59%) (0-49%)
Describe your client and its business activities. (3 Marks) An excellent description of your
client and its business activities. A very good description of your
client and its business activities. A good description of your client and its business activities. An adequate
description of your
client and its business activities. Inappropriate description of your
client and its business activities.
Evaluate the key business processes for your client. (5 Marks) Demonstrate an excellent
understanding of key
business processes for your client in the discussion. Demonstrate a very good understanding of key business
processes for your client in the discussion. Demonstrate a good understanding of key
business processes for your client in the discussion. Demonstrate an adequate
understanding of key
business processes for your client in the discussion. Unable to present a proper discussion of
key business processes for your client.
Outline the software features and functionalities that your client should consider supporting its business
activities. (3
Marks) Present an excellent discussion on the features and
functionalities of
accounting software
that your client should consider. Present a very good discussion on the features and
functionalities of
accounting software
that your client should consider. Present a good discussion on features and functionalities of accounting
software
that your client should
consider with minor errors and/or omissions. Present a discussion on features and
functionalities of
accounting software
that your client should consider with errors and/or omissions. Unable to present a proper discussion on
features and
functionalities of
accounting software
that your client should
consider
Discuss two general groups of applications. (5 Marks) Present an excellent description of two general groups
of applications. Present a very good description of two general groups of applications. Present a good
description of two general groups of applications with
minor errors and/or omissions. Present two general groups of applications with errors and/or omissions.
Unable to present an accurate description of two general groups of applications.
Compare and contrast
the
features/functionalities of three ERP software packages offered by the ERP vendors.
(5 Marks) Present an excellent comparison of features
and functionalities of three ERP software packages. Present a very good comparison of features
and functionalities of three ERP software packages. Present a good comparison of features
and functionalities of three ERP software
packages with minor errors and/or omissions. Present a reasonable comparison of features
and functionalities of three ERP software
packages with errors and omissions. Unable to present a proper comparison of features and
functionalities of three
ERP software packages.
Identify the most suitable vendor and ERP software package for your client and explain why it is the best
option. (5 Marks) Propose a choice of
ERP software package based on very strong arguments. Propose a choice of
ERP software package based on strong arguments. Propose a choice of
ERP software package based on reasonable arguments. Propose a choice of
ERP software package based on weak or inadequate arguments. Unable to propose a proper choice of ERP
software package or back the proposed
choice with a valid argument.
Presentation.
(2 Marks) The report included all elements and is very well presented.
The writing flowed
clearly, and sections are linked very effectively.
Referencing is exemplary.
English is used very effectively and is error-free. The report included all elements and is well presented.
The writing flowed
clearly, and sections
are linked effectively.
Referencing is of a high standard.
English is used effectively with very few errors present. The report included all elements and is
generally presented appropriately.
The writing flowed well in most of the
cases, and sections are linked.
Referencing is in accordance with guidelines.
English is used effectively with few errors present. The report included most elements and is
adequately presented.
Writing sometimes does not flow clearly, leaving the paper to seem disjointed in areas.
Referencing is somewhat in
accordance with guidelines.
Basic English is used with some errors present. The report lacked some elements and is poorly presented.
Writing often does not flow clearly, leaving the paper to seem
somewhat disjointed.
Referencing is not entirely in accordance with relevant
guidelines.
Basic English is used with errors present.
Research Quality. An extensive amount
of high-quality
(2 Marks) evidence from peer reviewed journal articles and other
sources is included
and used effectively to support discussion.
A broad range of quality peer-reviewed journal references and other sources is
included and used
effectively to support discussion.
An adequate range of peer-reviewed journal references is included and used to support discussion.
An adequate range of peer-reviewed journal references is included and used to a basic extent to support
discussion.
Little or no peer reviewed journal references are
included, and these are rarely used to support discussion effectively.
Academic Integrity
Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding Academic Integrity, as Academic Integrity is
integral to maintaining academic quality and the reputation of Holmes’ graduates. Accordingly, all
assessment tasks need to comply with academic integrity guidelines. Table 1 identifies the six categories of
Academic Integrity breaches. If you have any questions about Academic Integrity issues related to your
assessment tasks, please consult your lecturer or tutor for relevant referencing guidelines and support
resources. Many of these resources can also be found through the Study Sills link on Blackboard.
Academic Integrity breaches are a serious offence punishable by penalties that may range from deduction of
marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of
course enrolment.
Table 1: Six categories of Academic Integrity breaches
Plagiarism Reproducing the work of someone else without attribution. When a student submits their own
work on multiple occasions this is known as self-plagiarism.
Collusion Working with one or more other individuals to complete an assignment, in a way that is not
authorised.
Copying Reproducing and submitting the work of another student, with or without their knowledge. If a
student fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent their own original work from being copied, this may
also be considered an offence.
Impersonation Falsely presenting oneself, or engaging someone else to present as oneself, in an in-person
examination.
Contract cheating Contracting a third party to complete an assessment task, generally in exchange for money
or other manner of payment.
Data fabrication and falsification Manipulating or inventing data with the intent of supporting false
conclusions, including manipulating images.
Source: INQAAHE, 2020
HI5019 T3 2020 – Assessment 2: Group Assignment 8