Create a Plan, Part 2, computer science homework help

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Overview

Using Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet tools is essential to tracking, storing, reading, and learning from data. It is used by businesses every day to spot trends, issues, growth patterns, and risks. As you saw in the Strayer Story last week and the Strayer Talk this week, Deidre Jefferies uses Excel to create spreadsheets she sends to potential and current clients, to track inventory and pricing, and to set goals and see potential areas for improvement within the business.

In this Challenge, you will use Microsoft Excel to outline the steps you would take to implement your plan to solve your problem, and to outline the costs that will be involved in your plan. Additionally, you’ll use basic functions to analyze your plan. You will format your worksheets to make them easy to work with as well.

Follow the steps below to create your Implementation Plan and Costs Chart for your plan to solve your identified problem. [If you don’t remember how to operate these functions in Microsoft Excel, refer back to TestOut, the course material, your instructor, or Google it!] Completed sample versions of the Implementation Plan (Sheet 1) and Costs Chart (Sheet 2) are included here below the rubric for your reference.

Instructions:

Create and title your workbook. Save at firstname_lastname_Challeng3_CIS105.xlsx
1. Create a new workbook using Microsoft Excel.
2. Create two (2) sheets inside the workbook and title them “Implementation Plan” and “Costs Chart”. You can name the sheets by right clicking the tab at the bottom of the sheet and choosing “Rename.”
3. It’s also a good idea to put this title at the top of your spreadsheets in Cell A1, then use “merge and center” on the home ribbon when you are finishing your formatting. This will center your title at the top of your work and make the printed version (if you choose to print out your workbook) look more professional.
Create your Implementation Plan and Timeline on Sheet #1.
Regardless of what problem you are trying to solve, a plan is only as good as the effort taken to think through its steps.
1. Create labels as shown on the sample in the first three columns of this worksheet; one titled “STEPS,” one titled “TARGET COMPLETION DATES,” and the last titled “TIME ESTIMATES.”
  STEPS
  i) List each major step you would need to complete under the “STEPS” column. Bold the font of each step. Customize these to fit your actual ideas (don’t just label them “Step 1”, “Step 2”, etc. like in the sample) and be descriptive of what each step is. For example, “Painting”, “Baking”, “Writing”, etc. Add additional rows as needed.
  ii) List at least two (2) actions you need to take for each major step. Again, be descriptive (don’t just label them “Action 1”, “Action 2”, etc. like in the sample)
  TARGET COMPLETION DATES
  i) List the target deadline for each major step and action under the “TARGET COMPLETION DATES” column. Note that completion dates for the major step should be equal to the last date of the action within that step that will take the longest. Use DD/MM/YYYY format for your target deadlines (ex: 01/31/2017)
  TIME ESTIMATES
  i) List a time estimate (in hours) for each major step under the “TIME ESTIMATES” column.
  ii) Calculate the total time estimate for your entire implementation plan at the bottom of this column as shown in the example.
2. Add formatting such as color, borders, centering, bolding, etc. to make your sheet more visually appealing and easier to read.
Create a Costs chart on Sheet #2.
Even if the problem you chose was personal, there are likely going to be some costs associated with solving it.
1. First, create headers for two columns; one titled “ITEM” and one titled “COSTS.”
2. List each of the major items or factors you would need for your solution (i.e. your own and others’ time, equipment, transportation, products, etc.) under the “ITEM” column. You’ll need approximately 5-15 items total. If you have fewer than 5 items, break these down into smaller sub-items. If you have more than 15 items, consolidate similar items. Be descriptive here and adjust the width of your columns as needed.
3. Include a realistic cost estimate for each of the items involved in your plan under the “COSTS” column.
4. Add a third column labeled “Comment” and comment on each of the costs, explaining how you came up with that cost. These notes to yourself are very helpful when you look back on an older spreadsheet, and also help explain to others why things are on the sheet.
5. Add up the total costs using the Sum function. Remember to start all function cells with an equal sign (=).
6. Next, add an “Average” label and calculate the average cost of the item costs you’ve identified for your plan. This way, you can easily see if each cost is larger or smaller than the average.
7. Add a “Lowest” label next, and calculate the smallest of your costs. This might come in handy to show you which item you can easily knock out first. Use the MIN function here.
8. Add a “Highest” label after this, to show which item is the largest cost. You’d be surprised how useful this label can be when you have a lot of data to sift through. Use the MAX function here.
9. Test your data by putting in some random numbers. Make sure your MIN and MAX functions are working correctly by changing one of the values to a small number and one to a large number. Add up all of the figures on a calculator or use all “1’s” and count them to make sure the sum and average functions are working correctly. After you test your formulas, enter the real data.
10. Create a pie chart graphic that shows a breakdown of the percentages of each cost area by using the layout functions. The pie chart is used to represent percentages of the whole. It allows you to see at a glance how much of your total cost is represented by each individual cost. Insert the pie chart as an object in the sheet. Click on one of the pie labels once and select the Enlarge button shown here to make the pie chart large enough to read (size 12-14 font recommended). Right-click on the label and select “Format Data Labels”. When you see the panel options, set them as “percentage”. Uncheck the “Value” option, and ensure that the “Percentage” option is checked. If you have a lot of labels, be sure to check the “Show Leader Lines” option, see Format Data Labels options.
11. Merge and Center the title at the top of your spreadsheet just as you did in Sheet #1.
Format and save your workbook.
1. Change the font for all dollar amounts to a new font that you feel is clean and easy to read in spreadsheet format.
2. Add professional-looking color to some of the font in the sheet (For example, the titles or headers). Remember, the goal is to make your workbook easier to read. So you wouldn’t want to use light yellow fonts, for example, because they would be hard to see against a white background.
3. Be sure to spell check your workbook to check for any typos or errors.
4. Re-save your file. Again, the correct file naming convention is: firstname_lastname_Challenge3_CIS105.xlsx

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this challenge are:

Use basic application software.
Create a digital solution for an identified business problem.
Use technology in a professional and ethical manner within real world contexts.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 160	Challenge 3: Create a Plan – Part 2
Criteria	Unacceptable Below 60% F	Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D	Fair 70-79% C	Proficient 80-89% B	Exemplary 90-100% A
1. Create and title the workbook. Weight: 10%	Workbook is not submitted or submitted with no title.	Workbook is insufficiently set up and titled.	Workbook is partially set up and has a title.	Workbook is sufficiently set up and has clear, relevant title.	Workbook is thoroughly set up with sheets named correctly, and has a clear, relevant and well-written title.
2. Create an implementation plan and timeline on Sheet #1. Weight: 40%	Implementation plan and timeline are not included in submission.	Implementation plan or timeline is included, but is unclear, incomplete, and unformatted.	Implementation plan and time line are included, are partially clear, partially complete, and/or partially formatted.	Implementation plan and timeline are clear, complete, and formatted, including both major steps and actions; time estimates and date ranges are included.	Implementation plan and timeline are thorough, complete, clear, and correctly formatted; includes well-written major steps with at least two (2) actions for each major step; includes reasonably accurate date ranges, reasonably accurate time estimates and an accurate total time for implementation.
3. Create a Costs Chart on Sheet #2. Weight: 40%	Costs chart is not included in submission.	Costs chart is included, but is unclear and incomplete. No graphic is included.	Costs chart is included, is partially clear and partially complete. Pie chart graphic is included but not formatted correctly.	Costs chart is clear and complete; includes major cost areas of plan, costs for each area, and total cost for plan. Functions have been used to create costs chart.	Costs chart is thorough, complete and clear; Layout and design of costs chart is visually appealing; includes five to fifteen (5-15) major cost areas of plan, reasonably accurate costs for each area, and reasonably accurate total cost for plan. Functions and labels have been used as directed. Data labels in pie chart graphic have been formatted correctly.
4. Format and save the workbook. Weight: 10%	Workbook is not submitted or is not formatted, saved or named correctly.	Workbook is submitted but insufficiently formatted and naming convention is incorrect.	Workbook is partially formatted and naming convention is partially correct.	Workbook is formatted with different fonts and colors as directed. Few typos or errors are evident. Workbook is saved with correct naming convention.	Formatting is extremely clean and clear, including updated visually appealing font for dollar amounts and addition of a visually appealing color. Workbook is saved with correct naming convention.

Unformatted Attachment Preview

Implementation Plan TARGET COMPLETION DATES Steps Step 1 Action 1 Action 2 Step 2 Action 1 Action 2 Action 3 Step 3 Action 1 Action 2 Additional steps as needed 6/5/2017 6/1/2017 6/5/2017 6/28/2017 6/10/2017 6/15/2017 6/28/2017 7/22/2017 7/15/2017 7/1/1977 TIME ESTIMATES (In Hours) 5 3 5 2 7 8 4 34 Total Number of Hours Required Costs Item Major Cost #1 Major Cost #2 Major Cost #3 Major Cost #4 Major Cost #5 Major Cost #6 Major Cost #7 Major Cost #8 Major Cost #9 Major Cost #10 Major Cost #11 Major Cost #12 Major Cost #13 Total Average Lowest Highest Cost $1.00 $2.00 $3.00 $4.00 $5.00 $6.00 $7.00 $8.00 $9.00 $10.00 $11.00 $12.00 $13.00 Cost 1% 2% 3% 14% 4% 6% 7% 13% 8% 12% $91.00 $90.00 $179.00 $266.00 9% 11% 10% Major Cost #1 Major Cost #2 Major Cost #3 Major Cost #4 Major Cost #5 Major Cost #6 Major Cost #7 Major Cost #8 Major Cost #9 Major Cost #10 Major Cost #11 Major Cost #12 Major Cost #13 Running Head: CHOOSING A CAREER PATH Choosing a Career Path Student’s Name University Affiliation 1 CHOOSING A CAREER PATH 2 Definition of the Problem The process of choosing a career path is becoming significant for young students today. Students have to take into consideration a number of things before they are sure they have chosen the right career or college major (Borchert, 2002). Many factors are taken into consideration before a student can make a decision on the career they want to pursue. Some of the factors are the choices of the student’s parents, the coaches in school, religious figures or any other role model in the student’s life. The wide variety of available choices in the types of courses to pursue does not help things either (Franklin, 1997). This makes the choice of a career to pursue in the later stages of schooling a major problem that students have to face and deal with. Why I chose the problem and its relevance to me There are many reasons that inform the decision of college students to choose their career fields. The common factors that influence the decisions that students make include passion, family, past experiences and salary available. Apart from these factors gender and race may also affect the field that a student may choose to study in. Certain professions do have greater percentages of some given gender or race (Alberta Government, 2014). The other factor that plays a major role in the decision that a student makes is the role models that the student has in their life. This is the major hurdle for me currently because I have an interest in studying Engineering yet my parents advise me otherwise. My parents want me to choose a career in Agriculture as they say that it will be possible for me to be self-employed after I shall have completed my studies (Career Services Center, n.d). This is the main reason why this topic is very relevant to me in particular. However, I will need to do my homework well before I finally CHOOSING A CAREER PATH 3 settle on some given career to do. Further, I will need to consider the advice of my parents as they will be responsible for paying my school fees. Online Resources that helped in getting information about the topic Alberta Government. (2014). Career Planner: Choosing an Occupation Planning Series. Retrieved from alberta.ca: https://alis.alberta.ca/pdf/cshop/careerplanner.pdf This is a state government’s website, and therefore its credibility is not in question. It offers information on the ways that every student should go about selecting their occupation. In this regard, it was helpful in getting a full understanding of the issue of choosing a career for every student. Borchert, M. (2002). Career Choice Factors of Hgh School Students. Retrieved from uwstout.edu: http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2002/2002borchertm.pdf This resource is very instrumental for high school students in their course of choosing their career of choice. The resource depicts the current situation that I am going through and helps me understand the issue from the perspective of other students. It is, therefore, helpful in handling the current problem. Career Services Center. (n.d). Introduction: Choosing an Alternative Career Path. Retrieved from career.ucsd.edu: https://career.ucsd.edu/_files/Beyond%20Academia%20Job%20Search%20Handbook.pdf This resource provides options for students to go through with regards to choosing a career. It offers insightful information concerning whether a given career path is right for a student. Based on the information it contains, the material is useful for this research study. CHOOSING A CAREER PATH 4 Fizer, D. (2013). Factors Affecting Career Choices of College Students Enrolled in Agriculture. Retrieved from www.utm.edu: https://www.utm.edu/departments/msanr/_pdfs/fizer_research_project_final.pdf This resource provides detailed information on the factors that affect the choices that a student has before they can choose their preferred career. It approaches the subject from the perspective of students and the options available to them. In this regard, the resource is quite helpful in informing the decisions that students make with regards to their career choices. It offers information on what the other students also think with regards to career choice. Franklin, J. (1997). A Study of Career Choice Factors and Student's Academic Success at an Aviation School. Retrieved from shareok.org: https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/7534/School%20of%20Teaching%20and%20Curricu lum%20Leadership_246.pdf?sequence=1 This book offers the choice of a career at an aviation institution which is closely knit with Engineering. Since Engineering is my preferred career choice, it offers useful information that will help me with the subject. It also provides information that aligns on what the other students may think. Non-credible sources that were never used Oskarsson, G. (2001). The Choice of Career after Graduation: The case of business administration graduates from a small university. Retrieved from skemman.is: http://skemman.is/stream/get/1946/8523/22741/1/3.The_choice_of_Career_IngiRunar_Gudmund ur.pdf CHOOSING A CAREER PATH 5 This resource was not used as it was specific to students who have graduated from bachelor’s study. However, the point of interest for my problem is career choice before joining college. This makes the site non-credible. Farren, C. (2008). Career Paths: Mapping, Ladders and Lattices. Retrieved from www.masteryworks.com: http://www.masteryworks.com/newsite/downloads/ArticleNov08_CareerPaths.pdf This resource seems to be general and is not tackling the problem of interest. Since it does not have useful information to support my research, I consider that the resource was not helpful in answering the questions of the research. This makes the resource non-credible. What might be causing the problem This problem is caused by the fact that there are many avenues through which students get advice on their career options to pursue. It could either be from their parents, their teachers or some other role models in the society. How it impacts me The problem is impacting me because I am at a crossroads now to choose between Engineering and Agriculture (Fizer, 2013). Agriculture is the preferred career choice by my parents while Engineering is my preferred career choice. How it impacts others The same problem impacts other students since similar factors are responsible for making other students make career choices (Franklin, 1997). The same way that I am confused in choosing a career choice is the same way that other students are confused when it comes to choosing their preferred career choice. CHOOSING A CAREER PATH 6 References Alberta Government. (2014). Career Planner: Choosing an Occupation Planning Series. Retrieved from alberta.ca: https://alis.alberta.ca/pdf/cshop/careerplanner.pdf Borchert, M. (2002). Career Choice Factors of Hgh School Students. Retrieved from uwstout.edu: http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2002/2002borchertm.pdf Career Services Center. (n.d). Introduction: Choosing an Alternative Career Path. Retrieved from career.ucsd.edu: https://career.ucsd.edu/_files/Beyond%20Academia%20Job%20Search%20Handbook.pd f Farren, C. (2008). Career Paths: Mapping, Ladders and Lattices. Retrieved from www.masteryworks.com: http://www.masteryworks.com/newsite/downloads/ArticleNov08_CareerPaths.pdf Fizer, D. (2013). Factors Affecting Career Choices of College Students Enrolled in Agriculture. Retrieved from www.utm.edu: https://www.utm.edu/departments/msanr/_pdfs/fizer_research_project_final.pdf Franklin, J. (1997). A Study of Career Choice Factors and Student's Academic Success at an Aviation School. Retrieved from shareok.org: https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/7534/School%20of%20Teaching%20and%20 Curriculum%20Leadership_246.pdf?sequence=1 Oskarsson, G. (2001). The Choice of Career after graduation: The case of business administration graduates from a small university. Retrieved from skemman.is: CHOOSING A CAREER PATH 7 http://skemman.is/stream/get/1946/8523/22741/1/3.The_choice_of_Career_IngiRunar_G udmundur.pdf Great Tips on How to Choose the Right Career for College Students Overview The process of choosing the right field of study may be a difficult decision to make, and so the current college students are encouraged to look into many factors before they finally settle in an area that they want to study for their degree programs. Some of the most important areas to consider are the cost of the program, the salary expectations from the specific program, the rate of employment in the field of study and the advanced degree opportunities available for the specific program. In the end, students will have to come up with the right field offer that will give them the best returns on their investment. This area is important to me since I was faced with the same problem a while ago before I finally settled on studying Civil Engineering. My parents wanted me to go for an Agriculture related course since they saw it as a potential route to being self-employed. However, I had to use my instinct and rely on research before I finally settled on my degree choice. 1. You need to know what your talents are Each person has those things that they are good at and those that they are less good at. It is crucial for every student to recognize what their talents are since this will make it easier for them to choose a career that they will be successful at while pursuing. For instance, if a student likes meeting new people then they may want to pursue a career in public relations or hairdressing. Further, if they are good at mediating arguments between people who are fighting and they can bring calm to a difficult situation then they may want to consider a career in the police force. Therefore, a student should make a list of those things they are good at and those they are not good at so that it helps them in making the right choice. 1 2. Take a consideration of the things you want from a job It is important to consider what you want from the specific career. This includes asking oneself whether you want that is emotionally rewarding where you can go home feeling that you have indeed made a major difference in someone’s life or you choose a career where you have job security. One may also choose a career where they are constantly in a move or one where they are stationary at a given place. To do this, you should sit down and make a list of the things that you consider important especially with your job prospects. You should then use this information to come up with a list of possible career areas. 3. You may want to consider a career as a starting point in life It may be important that you consider a career as a starting point in life because you may end up moving from one career to the next. Much as our parents may have been in one career for the whole of their lifetime, this may not be the real picture in today’s age. The career that you will start off with at 16 years of age or even after obtaining your degree may not be the thing you will be doing in 5 or 10 years to come. You may start working in hotel management and later on move to recruitment with some hospitality company. Therefore, it is important that you be flexible enough while choosing a career to allow for the flexibility while shifting from one career to the next. 4. Separate the goals that people have for you with the ones you have for yourself As a student, you should have a strategy for quieting the suggestions for a possible career choice from your friends, family and the larger society. Parents will always suggest that you be a policy maker, a lawyer and things like that since they decide success in relation to the possible paychecks that you will earn at the end of the day. However, you may have an inside voice 2 within you telling you that you may not do well in such courses. It is important to listen to your conscience and shun the numerous advice that people offer to you. 5. Sometimes it is helpful to forget your passion and settle for your interest Many people would advise a student to follow their passion. However, it is my point that passion is something that one may discover with time by them finding their interest. However, interest is a collection of the small things that gives you the urge to do something step by step. You should develop interest first in a career before you make a decision to follow it as your long-term career choice. 6. Put your decisions and expectations in a real-world context You may be interested in a specific career, however, when you gauge the finances and possible ways of funding that you have at your disposal you may see that you cannot finance the course. It is, therefore, important that as a student you clearly match your strengths with the goals that you have. It is all about being realistic so that you don’t end up building castles in the air. 7. Don’t believe all the myths available about a given career There are many myths that have been fronted in line with some careers. For example, there are myths that Engineering is a tough course and that one will not make it to graduate when they enroll into it. It is important that you dispel such myths and consult widely so that your decision is not founded on lies. Top recommended solution The best solution would be to separate the goals that people have for you with your own goals. I consider this the best because people, including your family members, will always advise you on 3 the career choice they feel is right for you. However, looking at things broadly, you are the one who will be doing the course. Therefore, it is important that your goals supersedes all the individual goals that people have for you. Benefits of choosing your own career Risks of a career being chosen for you 1.You stand the chance of excelling in a career you have chosen on your own 1. You may drop out since you feel that you were misadvised. 2. You will always be proud of the career 2. You may not be as proud with your career 3. You will strive to work hard to disapprove your advisors in case things are hard. 3. You may decide to be lazy do disapprove you parents as you may feel disappointed in them for choosing for you a career. Additional resources Best Colleges. (2017). A View of Mjaor Trends. Retrieved from www.bestcolleges.com: http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/choosing-a-major/ Burnsed, B. (2011). 5 Ways to Pick the Right College Major. Retrieved from www.usnews.com: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/19/5-ways-to-pick-theright-college-major Gebhard, N. (2015). Four Steps to Choosing a College Major. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/education/edlife/four-steps-tochoosing-a-career-path.html?_r=0 The Student Room. (2017). Choosing a career. Retrieved from www.thestudentroom.co.uk: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/jobs/advice/choosing-a-career Tobin, L. (2013). Students' 20 top tips for picking a course. Retrieved from www.theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/jun/03/top-tips-forchoosing-university 4
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Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Implementation Plan
STEPS
Assess myself

Explore occupations

Narrow down my list

Make my career choice

TARGET

COMPLETION DATES
5/25/2017
Evaluate my soft skills
5/22/2017
Understand my interests
5/25/2017
6/18/2017
Conduct information interviews
6/2/2017
Explore the...