Read the Case Study on the John & Jacob, Inc., Online Trading System at the end of Chapter 4 (p. 156) in the textbook. Answer all of the questions at the end of the case study. You should write at least one complete paragraph in response to each question.
Grading Rubric for the Case Study
Item
Points
Quality of answers to Questions 1–3
20 points each x 3 = 60 points
Writing style, organization, spelling, and grammar
10 points
Total for Assignment
70 points Page 156 below
JOHN AND JACOB, INC., ONLINE TRADING SYSTEM
John and Jacob, Inc., is a regional brokerage firm that has been successful over the last several years. Competition for customers is intense in this industry The large national firms have very deep pockets, with many services to offer to clients. Severe competition also comes from discount and Internet trading companies. However, John and Jacob has been able to cultivate a substantial customer base from upper-middle income clients in the northeastern United States. To maintain a competitive edge with its customers, John and Jacob is in the process of developing a new online trading system. The plan for the system identifies many new capabilities that would provide new services to its clients.
Edward Finnigan, the project manager, is in the process of identifying all the groups of people who should be included in the development of the system requirements. He isn’t quite sure exactly who should be included. Here are the issues he’s considering:
• Users. The trading system is to be online to each of the company’s 30 trading offices. Obviously, the brokers who are going to use the system need to have input, but how should this be done? Edward also isn’t sure what approach would be best to ensure that the requirements are complete, yet not require tremendous amounts of time. Including all of the offices would increase enthusiasm and support for the system, but it would take a lot of time. Involving more brokers would bring divergent opinions