Global Context: Globalization and Sustainability
Key Concept: Creativity
Related Concept: Function, Innovation
AK Strand: Economics for Development ; Understand the diversity of trends in economic thinking by studying the work of thinkers from different times and places.
Here you are presented with a design situation, from which you identify a problem that needs to be solved. You will then analyze the need for a solution and conduct an inquiry into the nature of the problem.
In this era of information technology or what is popularly known as the information age, Information is what sells the most. Electronic Commerce E-Commerce which is the selling and buying of goods and services over the internet has taken over. Many people purchase their goods and services over E-Commerce giants such as Amazon, Alibaba, Netflix, etc. Many people, small and medium enterprises SMEs, and big businesses involved in E-Commerce have been able to realize their vision and mission through the communication of information (such as those on types of goods sold, prices of the goods sold, human resources, future plans, and others) to its target audience through the use of websites.
Your task for this unit is to identify a client or a target audience within your local community that is in dire need of an IT solution ( a website) for their E-Commerce operations. You shall research into the client's/ target audience problem and through the use of creative skills develop an IT solution (a website) to address the client's/ target audience need.
The client's current problem/need that justify the need for a website must be clearly explained and the client's current way of managing the problem should be clearly explained.
Begin the task with an introduction by highlighting the Global Context, Key Concept and relating it to the Unit Title.
You should explicitly state the client or the target audience and mention some brief background information about the client/target audience.
Explain the problem facing the client/target audience; discuss the problem in detail, the effects of the problem (on the client/target audience), how long (the problem) has persisted, and explain/demonstrate how the client is in a dire need for a solution. Make sure to give examples of challenges arising from the problem. -(the best way to explain the effects of a problem is by giving examples and quoting relevant statistics to support your assertions regarding the problem where possible).
Make sure you have explained in detail the reasons why the problem should be addressed while quoting relevant statistics or facts to support your argument.
To properly explain the client's/target audience problem/need, make sure you have captured the following questions in your description of the problem ( What is the nature (type/features) of the problem?, Who is it a problem for?, Where is the problem occurring?, What is the cause of the problem?, What effect is the problem having on the client/target audience?).
Explain/justify why an IT solution (website) is better placed to solve/address the problem (by discussing the current way the client/target audience uses to solve or address the same problem and weaknesses/failures/limitations of the current way of addressing the problem ).
Mention the benefits the client shall obtain if the above problem is solved (N/B You can also address this, in the design brief if the 1 page limit for strand 1 is not enough to do so).
Your strand 1 must have a minimum of 1 in-text citation (this is for the sources you consulted for your research).
Construct a detailed research plan which identifies and prioritizes the primary and secondary research needed to develop the solution to the problem. Show what you need to research, how you will gather the info;(primary/secondary), why you need the information and when the task will be completed (research question).
Your research questions should focus on the problem (client's or Target's audience problem) and the IT tools/resources needed to address/solve the problem in detail.
Independently generate at least 8 detailed SMART and appropriate research questions, which are clearly prioritized (Must be in a logical order) and identified as the specific type of primary (whether interview, questionnaire, observation etc.) and secondary sources (such as books, websites, surveys, Videos, Images etc.) to help develop the solution focused on client, time, resources, function, technical skills, aesthetics and others.
Follow the research plan to collect your detailed information from primary/secondary sources.
Click on the link/button below to view a research plan template and for more resources/guidance on how to write a research plan.
Analyze at least 3 different websites that have been created to solve a similar problem related to the client or target audience problem you are addressing. Analyze these existing products by explaining their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for improvements and threats (SWOT Analysis).
Describe the inspirations obtained from the analysis of each or all of the products analyzed using SWOT analysis and its usefullness to the product you intend to create to address the client's/target audience problem.
Then analyze at least two software that can be used to create the IT solution (the website) for example Sublime text, Visual Studio, Brackets and others. Do this analysis by explaining the strengths and weaknesses of the two different software.
State the chosen software for the creation of the IT solution (the website) from the software you have analyzed and justify why that particular software was chosen.
Make sure to provide in text citations in APA format for the each of the existing products and each of the software analyzed.
Click on the button/link below for more guidance (resources, examples and information) on the same.
In this section you are expected to come up with a design brief that summarizes the analysis of your research and then links it to the client/target audience problem/need.
Start the design brief by summarizing in a brief your client's/target audience problem and the justification; the reason why your client or target audience problem should be addressed.
Then summarize the findings obtained from your primary and secondary research (strand 2 and strand 3), only include only the information obtained from your research that is relevant towards addressing your client's /target audience problem and describe how the information obtained is beneficial towards addressing your client's/target audience problem.
Summarize the findings from Strand 2: Research plan in a prose/paragraph format mentioning only relevant information that relates to the client's or target audience problem. (Hint: Summarize the answers to your research questions in a prose/paragraph form and describe how the information obtained is beneficial towards addressing your client's/target audience problem).
State the product (IT solution) that you shall create to address your client's/target audience. problem.
Summarize what you learned from SWOT analysis done that will be helpful to you towards the creation of the chosen solution.
Conclude the design brief by:-
Explaining in a separate paragraph in detail the key features of the product (IT solution) that you will create to solve the client's/ target audience problem and
explain how those key features of the product you intend to create shall help solve/address the client's /target audience problem.
Click on the button/links below for more guidance (resources, examples and information) on the same.
Your work must have bibliography and in text citations. Failure to do so will earn you less marks and it might be considered as academic dishonesty because you have done quite a lot of research.
Put bibliography/references such as interviews, websites and others that you consulted for your work at the end (on its own page). Use APA citation style for your bibliography/references.
The references/sources must be placed on its own page in an alphabetical order.
Any work that is submitted without accompanying bibliography/reference and in text citations will be penalized much. The student who submits such work without any bibliography or reference section cannot get more than 6 regardless of the quality of work done.
Your work must have appendices after bibliography. Appendices can include copies or screenshots of the questionnaires/interview questions and responses or documents that you used to conduct your research/inquiry into the problem.
N/B: These documents act as an evidence that you really did the research and will guard you against an examiner awarding lower marks/grades for your work.
Click on the link below to see an example of Appendices for Criterion A.