Business Quest: Investigate Stage

Challenge

Many businesses have problems that can be solved easily by introducing information technology solutions. The solutions can make the products sell faster or enhance the organization and the documentation of the business operations. 

Your task is to identify a business related problem that can be solved using an IT solution. The problem should be clearly described and the client's current way of addressing the situation described. The problem description should include the current limitations the client is facing and detailed explanation of why you think an IT solution will be the best. Ensure that the key components of investigate stage are included in your investigate.

Use the investigate feedback extract below from MYP moderation report to improve your investigate work.

·       Allow students more control over the style and content of their investigation.

·       Encourage students to include more visual details in their research.

·       Encourage students to analyse and reflect on the information collected which leads to formulating an appropriate design specification.

·       Encourage students to explore and evaluate software and resources that could become part of their IT solutions.

 Assessment Criteria.

Levels	Task Specific Descriptor
0	The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below. descriptors given below
1-2	The student states the problem. The student investigates the problem, collecting information from sources. The student lists some specifications.
3-4	The student describes the problem, mentioning its relevance. The student investigates the problem, selecting and analyzing information from some acknowledged sources. The student describes a test to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification.
5-6	The student explains the problem, discussing its relevance. The student critically investigates the problem, evaluating information from a broad range of appropriate, acknowledged sources. The student describes detailed methods for appropriate testing to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification.

Business Quest : Proposal

After examining the different business IT solutions, Your task will now to preapre a proposal for a project that you may undertake.

Prepare a one page document with the following information

a) Describe three types of business that my require information technology solutions.

b) In each of the above businesses described, name one client for each.

c) For each of the businesses stated above, describe  two suitable IT solutions for each of them.


Note: It is from this that I will determine the kind of project you will undertake.

Business Quest Unit Details

Background Information

The unit is designed to allow you to explore the different computer technology solutions in business. We will identify different IT solutions and examine the impact of using the IT solutions in business. Investigating a local business and developing a suitable product that will help the identified stakeholder (a client) will be key to the unit. In order to achieve this, we will investigated and study different IT solutions in businesses; including websites, videos for business, commercials, music, Databases, and other IT solutions.

Unit Details

Unit Question: What are the impacts of information technology systems on businesses?

AOI: Human Ingenuity: What are the consequences of what we create in businesses?

Significant Concept: All businesses use or can use IT for launching, analyzing, storing and marketing of their services and products

AK Focus: Global Economics: Trade and Development

The study of how individuals and societies exchange goods and services.

Summative Assessment

You will investigate a local business and develop a suitable product that will help the identified client. Some of the options available a website,  a video for the business, a commercial or advert, produce a commercial song/advert, develop a database, etc. The product can address any specific themes in the business; marketing and advertising, Training, data analysis and storage.

Business Quest Unit

Initial activity

a) What are some of the IT products that have enabled businesses to grow and flourish?

b) Identify one online business in Mombasa that sells goods or services online.

• What is the name of the business?
• What are some of the benefits of this business in running their business online?
• What are some problems or dangers of running the business online?

c) Identify or download  any business database.

• What is the name of the database?
• Outline some key features of a good database solution.
• What are some advantages of businesses in using databases.

d) Spreadsheets can be used to manage the accounts of any business.

• Identify and name one example of a spreadsheet product that is used by any business.
• What are some of the common functions (formulas) that are always used in many spreadsheet products?
•  Outline some advantages of using spreadsheets to manage the accounts of any business.

 e) Computer games or animations can be used for training of staff in a business or marketing a product to a group of people.

• Identify and name one such product.
• Describe the main advantages of business in using such option.
• Why would businesses prefer using humans for training and marketing rather than computer games or animations?

f) Some businesses have created videos, or adverts to market  businesses.

• Identify and name such two products
• Compare and contrast the two videos
• What must a good video advert have?