Thepaper should begin with a brief company overview

and then discuss a problem or opportunity they face

with respect to technology. Several alternatives should

be considered and the majority of the paper should

focus on the anticipated benefits as they pertain to

strategic alignment and the achievement of competitive

advantage.
Begin with an executive summary, a high level overview

of the issues discussed. This section should be no more

than 150 words and should discusswhat is(are) the

specific problem(s).
Next, provide background on the history of the

organization, type of business, products/services

provided, management structure, financial status

(including annual sales), strategic planning,

organizationalculture, economic climate and any other

information that you feel are necessary to provide the

reader with a comprehensive understanding of the

background of the company. It is strongly suggested

that you provide as much financial and organizational

data in the form of tables, figures, and/or graphs that

would allow the reader an enhanced understanding of

the organization discussed in the case. Additional

financial and organizational data (e.g. material from

Sidebar 1-3 on pp. 198-99) can be included in the

Appendix at the end of the case.
Next, set the stage by describing the technology

utilization, advancements, management practices and

philosophies, etc. of the organization prior to initiation

of the IT project/experience described in the case as

well as the players involved, their role and status within

the company.
Provide a detailed overview of the project/experience

described in the case in terms of technology concerns,

technology components, management, technology

resources and constraints, and other organizational

concerns, as well as any other information that would

provide a comprehensive description of the IT

project/experience to the reader. Furthermore,

describe any related issues (e.g., cultural, philosophies,

opinions, etc.) practiced within the organization that

have impacted the IT project/experience planning,

implementation and overall management.
In detail, describe some of the challenges and problems

that the organization is/was facing/faced at the

start/completion of the IT project/experience.

Furthermore, it would be helpful tothe reader if you

describe the current (today’s) status of the

aforementioned challenges and problems related to the

IT project/experience.
This section should be written in a way that readers

could be engaged in discussion of the possible solutions

for solving the problems facing the organization. Be

sure to focus on the strategic use of technology within

your organization. Focus on the strategic alignment

model and assess how the company is currently using

ITand what it should do with respect to use of IT to

address the problems/challenges facing the company.

Pay particular attention to the company’s current state

of IT as well as their future or intended state(e.g. an “as

is” and “to be” assessment) as youanalyze the firm’s

strategic alignment perspectives
. Explore the key stakeholders in the company. This

can include employees, customers, competitors,

management, etc. Focus on how IT affects each of

these stakeholders and what their role is with respect to

business and technology processes and infrastructure.
Suggest some alternatives the company can pursue to

solve the problems/challenges they are facing. Provide

a justification (process improvement, cost saving, etc.)

for each suggested alternative.
Chooseand justifyof one the alternatives from above as

your recommended solution.
Finally, focus on the results and/or benefits that the

company can expect to achieve when the IT is

implemented. Referring to the firm’s strategic alignment

perspective,focus on what the company should expect

to gain from the use of IT and how it will affect them in

the future (e.g. how will it provide them with a

competitive advantage).