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MSIS PROJECT

Introduction
The Professional Consulting in IS, BIT 595, will serve as a final research activity conducted by
students under the direction of the faculty. The MSIS project is a scholarly, integrative
experience. Students are expected to apply the theoretical and practical concepts learned in their
coursework to an actual information technology problem.

Project Requirements
In the Professional Consulting in IS course you must:

1. design, plan and/or implement an IS project demonstrating the skills and knowledge
learned in the MSIS coursework,

2. prepare a structured written report describing that project and deliverables,
3. make a formal presentation to the MSIS faculty, and
4. submit the approved report to the course professor.

Project Idea and Approval
1. Discuss your preliminary ideas with course professor.

Your project idea is your responsibility. Ideas may come from coursework; class or team
discussions; your workplace; past experiences; needs identified; or prototypes developed
to solve remembered problems.

2. Submit your project idea by end of second week of the semester. This must include a
brief description of your idea and project timeline. The project timeline includes the
processes involved in meeting the course objectives. Project approval will come from
your professor.

Project Plan and Proposal Development

The Project Plan describes what you plan to do; what your project is all about.

The plan is a detailed document that answers the questions why, what, and how. It includes the
following sections and information:

• Introduction
o This should be a very brief overview of the business and the problem you are

attempting to solve.
• Statement of problem or question [This section answers the question WHY?]

o Why are you doing this?
 To solve a problem or meet a need. Identify the problem you have identified and

are addressing in this project.
o Include a review of the current situation (or literature review) to describe what is

going on in this area or discipline now.
 How is the problem being addressed now?
 What solutions or techniques are being used?
 What technology is current and is it effective?

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• Objectives (Goals, purpose) [This section answers the question WHAT?]
o What do you plan to achieve?
o What is the desired outcome of this project?
o Deliverables
 Describe what you will actually have once you have completed your project. For

example, this could be a feasibility study, an information system, a website, a
program, theoretical review, etc.

 Be specific here – e.g., (1) A website that allows visitors to enter their name, e-
mail address, and question; (2) a database that stores all visitor information
(name, e-mail address, question, etc.); (3) a program that automatically
determines the nature of the questions and returns an automated answer

• Scope of the Project. (Scope of work, Plan of action, Activities) [This section answers
the question HOW?]
o Describe how you plan to achieve the objectives.
o Discuss the activities you have identified that will help reach your desired result.

These are the specific activities you will undertake to solve the problem or meet your
objectives.

o Here you describe how your project or idea will differ or improve on what is being
done and how you intend to accomplish this.

o Include a detailed project plan.

When your project idea has been approved and the plan written, you must receive formal
approval from your course professor before you move into the implementation phase.

• Submit the plan to your course professor. Allow at least 10 days for feedback.
• Make any required changes in scope or edits to the report.
• Approval is signaled by your course professor’s approval following the final submission

of the plan after any edits.

Important note: You cannot move into the implementation phase until your plan has been
approved.

Presentation (see Presentation Guide document)
You are expected to make a formal presentation of your project at its completion. Students and
faculty will be invited to all presentations.

If the project presentation contains proprietary information and you intend to require your
committee and any audience present to sign a non-disclosure agreement you must inform the
committee in advance so they can determine the best course of action.

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Continuation
If you cannot complete the project in the semester in which you are completing the
implementation phase, you must register for BIT 589 Continuing Education. Registering for BIT
589 costs $200 per semester. You should register for BIT 589 only in the semesters that you will
work on your project. If you need to take a semester off let the MSIS Program Director know
and a Leave of Absence will be filed. The Program Director will stay in touch with you to
encourage your completion of the project.

Evaluation

Your project will be evaluated on several factors (see Project Evaluation), including how well
the project integrates what you are expected to have learned in your core courses, how well the
completed project meets the objectives identified for the project, and how well it meets the
course objectives. Both the written report and the presentation are evaluated.

Archiving

Masters’ projects have value as records of scholarship at Minot State University. Therefore, the
University preserves and makes available the project reports to scholars and the public by
maintaining an archival collection. Each student will submit a PDF of the final version of the
project. The PDF will be stored in a secure location. If you do not want your final project
archived, please contact the MSIS Program Director.