UNIT 1: Using IT to Support Information and Communication in Organisations BTEC International Level 2 Assignment

Activity 1: IT Support for Haustier Unlimited

Suggested Time: 4 hours

Assignment Brief:

The owner of Haustier Unlimited plans to invest substantial sums to upgrade and expand the company’s use of IT. You are tasked with producing a report that demonstrates how IT can support the business needs of Haustier Unlimited and show the value IT brings to the business.

Your report should include the following:

1. Business Needs Exploration:
   • Analyze the business needs of Haustier Unlimited (and other retailers), such as:
     • Engaging and communicating with current and potential customers
     • Improving sales and increasing profits
     • Providing relevant information to internal and external stakeholders about the company and its products
     • Enhancing staff productivity
     • Meeting the needs of staff and customers
2. Support from Data and Computer Systems:
   • Explore how data and computer systems support the business functions of Haustier Unlimited and other commercial businesses in the retail sector.
3. Value Assessment of Computer Systems:
   • Provide an assessment of the value of computer systems and their potential impact on Haustier Unlimited.

Completion Guidelines:

• Draw on your knowledge of IT and data within organizations.
• Include research into commercial businesses, specifically in the retail sector.
• Ensure that your report is clear, structured, and evidence-based.

Learning Aims Covered:

• A.P1: Identify business needs and requirements related to IT systems.
• A.P2: Explain how IT systems support business functions.
• A.M1: Evaluate the potential impact of IT solutions on a business.
• A.D1: Provide a supported assessment of the value of IT systems in a business context.

This task will help demonstrate your understanding of the role of IT in business operations and how it contributes to the success of retail businesses.

Activity 2: Information Campaign Preparation

Suggested Time: 8 hours

Assignment Brief:

You are required to prepare and communicate an information campaign to both internal and external stakeholders. The campaign should include updates on sales and other relevant data, helping improve customer engagement and attracting new customers.

Your campaign could include (but is not limited to):

• Sales updates for senior managers, such as:
  • Sales trends
  • Popular and less popular products
• Communications to improve customer engagement
• Adverts to attract potential customers

Instructions:

1. Data Gathering and Interpretation:
   • You have been provided with recent sales data (Haustier_data.csv). Use this data to inform your campaign.
   • Interpret the data and decide what additional information might be required for a comprehensive campaign.
2. Communications Plan:
   • Prepare a communication plan that includes:
     • The data you have gathered, interpreted, and prepared for inclusion in the campaign.
     • The internal and external stakeholders that will be targeted in the campaign.
     • The communication mediums/platforms that will be used to communicate with the identified stakeholders.
     • Keyword strategies that will be employed to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the campaign.
     • Content plans for a series of related communications.
     • A publishing schedule for timely communication.
3. Rationale:
   • Provide a rationale for the planning choices you have made, supporting your decisions with appropriate evidence.

Learning Aims Covered:

• B.P3: Analyze the communication needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• B.P4: Develop a communication plan that aligns with business objectives.
• B.M2: Evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and platforms.
• B.D2: Provide a supported rationale for the planning decisions made in the communication plan.

This task will assess your ability to create a detailed, data-driven communication campaign for a business context, focusing on engaging stakeholders and improving business outcomes.

Activity 3: Implementing the Information Campaign

Suggested Time: 8 hours

Assignment Brief:

Now that you have planned your information campaign in Activity 2, you are required to implement the campaign effectively. Your implementation should focus on using various information, platforms, and mediums to communicate with both internal and external stakeholders in a manner that aligns with the chosen medium, target audience, key messages, and brand/company image.

Instructions:

1. Effective Use of Information, Platforms, and Mediums:
   • Ensure that you use a range of information, platforms, and communication mediums to effectively convey your campaign.
   • Consider the best methods to reach your target audience, ensuring the message is clear and impactful.
2. Target Audience and Communication:
   • Communicate with both internal and external stakeholders in a manner that is appropriate for:
     • The chosen medium/platform
     • The target audience (e.g., customers, senior management, or partners)
     • Key messages (e.g., sales trends, product promotions, customer engagement)
     • Brand/company image (ensure the messaging aligns with the company’s image and values)
3. Evidence Collection:
   • Provide evidence of the implementation of your campaign using any sensible method or combination of methods, such as:
     • Annotated screenshots
     • Printouts/PDFs generated from productivity software (e.g., emails, reports)
     • Presentations/slideshows
     • Copies of original work (e.g., word-processed documents, image/video files)
4. Your evidence should clearly demonstrate how the campaign was implemented, ensuring the communication was tailored to the medium and audience.

Learning Aims Covered:

• C.P5: Implement communication strategies effectively using various platforms and mediums.
• C.P6: Tailor communication for internal and external stakeholders based on their needs and the chosen platform.
• C.M3: Evaluate the impact of the campaign on the stakeholders and business outcomes.
• C.D3: Provide a supported assessment of the communication strategies and their alignment with business objectives.

This task will assess your ability to effectively communicate and implement a campaign, ensuring that you consider the nuances of your target audience, medium, and key messages.

Assessment Criteria

Learning Aim	Pass	Merit	Distinction
Learning aim A: Explore how IT meets the needs of organisations
AP1	Outline the business needs of an identified organisation.	AM1	Describe how data and computer systems provide measurable value for an identified organisation.	AD1	Evaluate the value of data and computer systems and their potential impact on an identified organisation in relation to their business needs.
Learning aim B: Plan an information campaign for an identified organisation
BP3	Produce a basic communications plan for an information campaign.	BM2	Produce a detailed and effective communications plan for an information campaign that will use a range of information, platforms and mediums.	BD2	Produce a comprehensive communications plan for an information campaign that will use a range of information, platforms and mediums.
Learning aim C: Produce an information campaign for an identified organisation
CP5	Communicate information to stakeholders using an appropriate method as part of an information campaign.	CM3	Implement a detailed information campaign to communicate with internal and external stakeholders using a range of information, platforms and mediums.	CD3	Implement a comprehensive and effective information campaign to communicate with internal and external stakeholders using a range of information, platforms and mediums.