How to Answer Question 1a in Proposal

Suggested Problem Statement Structure for Questions:

A good structure for your answer is to say what the setting for the problem is, discuss the problem, what the topic area is and finally argue that it can be solved by using IT strategically.

Please find below is the example of explored problem using the CCC-APE model found in the workbook:

The presenting problem is set in my company ABC where we offer POS systems, services and support to the retail industry in Hong Kong where we have a client base of around 75 companies at present.

For some time now the company have been expanding and part of this has been to operate through service agents who use our help desk system and it is therefore strategically important that these IT systems are able to fully support and monitor these agents, however, it is suspected that this has generated customer difficulties, complaints as well as in one or two cases being very costly.

In view of this, ABC management would like a review of service agent provision and based on discussion with the ABC service managers it is agree that the presenting problem be defined as management concerns over the trustworthiness, competence and regulation of service agents for our POS products.

Notice: setting is ABC in Hong Kong, topic area is POS and its support and the problem is about management concerns over monitoring agents and it is strategic business IT because it operates through an ABC host help desk system (if you like you can say the help desk system was a strategic company choice).


Guidances on the 4 elements for RQ:

Set your answer out as follows, you will then know you have covered everything and what your ideas are. You can change the words a little or change the order but all 4 elements must be there

Problem Setting - eg. my Company ABC and its ERP system......

Topic Area - modern integrated software applications...

Presenting Problem - reluctance by some Departments to move suitable manual processes to the new system ....

Implied Strategic IT deployment - the ERP system represents a significant deployment of IT resources and unless better use id made of it ....

CAUTION - do not waste the available words all on the setting because that really requires no thought at all and to do so and neglect the other areas is pointless