CIS 385 Contemporary Multimedia Tools

Student Choice Evaluation Assignment

THE PROBLEM NARRATIVE AND FINDINGS ANALYSIS
Spring 2017
Write the Problem Narrative and Findings Analysis (30)
<Nicole Halverson>

The Problem Narrative

Introduction to the Problem Narrative
A problem narrative is more than just a sentence or two. It is a description of the issues that
need to be addressed. Writing a problem narrative takes several steps, including the problem
description and rationale, the problem statement, an audience analysis and a list of barriers
to reaching a solution to the problem. It should include all of the good, the bad and the ugly
information that can be used to answer these questions:
What is the problem?
Why is the problem a problem? What is the background and rationale?
Who has the problem? What do you know about them?
What barriers to addressing this problem or factors contributing to the problem exist?
What findings can be derived from the analysis?
What are the implications one must make about the solution based on these findings?

1. Write the Problem Description and Rationale

This step helps you work through the details of the problem and all of the issues surrounding
it. Go into detail here about why your problem is a problem. Go into as many specifics about
the problem as you can. Augment and expand upon the specifics as much as possible.
Discuss your audience here and explain what you know about them, but save your detailed
research on them for the audience analysis later in the process.

Example of a Problem Description: I am teaching an online class about multimedia tools. One
of my major goals for this class is to provide students with experience using free multimedia tools that
are relevant to their workforce experience now and in the future. I also feel it is important that they
learn to work as teams whether they are in person and face to face or working remotely with one
another. My students are from a variety of backgrounds and fields of study. They are also in various
areas of the country and have different levels of experience. They will also have a wide range of goals
for their own use of mTools.

I have to identify which mTools might qualify and also decide what type of assignment would provide
experience. Instructionally, I have identified that I want students to perform in-depth evaluations on a
few mTools that I feel are important while also offering them a choice based on their fields of study.
Also, I want students to have hands-on experience working with an mTool that is universally relevant. I
would like to find an mTool that has stood the test of time, is easy to use, allows remote
collaboration and is relevant to the work force, regardless of discipline, is needed.

Note: There are many problems discussed in the paragraph above. My problem statement
should be brief and concise as shown in the next section.

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Write your Problem Description and Rationale.
Problem Description and Rationale: Currently, I am an intern for a software company
located in my hometown of Barnesville, MN. I am also a student at Mayville State
University, living in Mayville, ND. I have been working remotely for Stoneridge Software
since the beginning of October 2016. Recently, I have been asked to perform a job that will
need to be shown to me in person in order for me to understand how to do it. There is no
time in my busy schedule for me to travel to Barnesville. I need to find a way that I can be
shown how to correctly perform my tasks that I was asked to do.
My responsibilities as an intern for Stoneridge Software include giving assistance to various
marketing, human resources and accounting projects. The most recent project I have been
given to work on and am currently struggling with is typing up and posting team members
blog posts on our company website. We use a program called WordPress for our website
and I am still trying to figure out my way around the program. When uploading blog drafts,
there are many different things that need to be done in order for the post to look appealing
on our website. Right now, I am struggling with the process of trying to figure out the
program on my own. I need assistance with this problem because I do not want a blog post
on our website that is done incorrectly.

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2. Write the Problem Statement
The Problem Statement is a concise summary of the problem. It narrows down the description
to get to the heart of the issue. It should be one or two sentences, no more. Do not get into
any of the details. Do not talk about a specific type of mTool or product that will solve the
problem.

Example of a Problem Statement:

The Problem: The students in my class need experience with a type of mTool that is
relevant to the work force, regardless of discipline and distance.

Enter your Problem Statement.

The Problem: As an intern working remotely, I need assistance from a team member in
order to perform my assigned tasks correctly.

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3. Analyze the Audience.
It is very important to have a strong understanding of your audience. Start by describing what
you know about the audience. Consider the different domains of life, such as cognitive,
emotional, social and physical, and how your audience may be affected by them. Then do
some research to support at least one of your statements with at least one
resource. Use APA for in-text citations and Resources (see example).

Example of an Audience Analysis

The Audience: Students in MSU online classes come from a variety of backgrounds and
experiences. Some are on-campus students taking an online class and can visit me at my
office whenever they wish. Most students are taking the class at a distance and must use
some other means to communicate remotely. Some students are of traditional college age,
others are older, juggling work and family lives. Some students will be technically savvy and
some will not. Due to the rigor of this four credit course, the Class Notes section in Connect
ND recommend that students are at least junior status, therefore most students are juniors
and seniors (North Dakota University System, 2017). However, a few exceptions have been
made based on advisor recommendations. Current enrollment information indicates that
most students in the class are business majors.

References
North Dakota University System. (2017). Connect ND. Retrieved on January 4, 2017
from
https://studentadmin.connectnd.us/psp/NDCSPRD/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/SA_LEARNING_M
ANAGEMENT.SS_CLASS_ROSTER.GBL?
FolderPath=PORTAL_ROOT_OBJECT.CO_EMPLOYEE_SELF_SERVICE.HC_SS_FACULTY_CTR
_GBL.HC_SS_CLASS_ROSTER_GBL&IsFolder=false&IgnoreParamTempl=FolderPath
%2cIsFolder.

Enter your Audience Analysis.

The Audience: The team members at Stoneridge Software are highly intelligent people with
excellent technical skills. If I were to ask for assistance from any of them, I would instantly
get the proper help needed. There are two people in particular that are my supervisors or
bosses, I guess I could say, for my internship. Leah, Marketing and Communications
Manager at Stoneridge, provides me with a list of duties that need to be performed on a
weekly basis. Holly, Office Manager at Stoneridge, also assigns small tasks to me that are
not urgent, but are time fillers to keep me busy. Not only do our team members view our
blog, but there are clients of ours that are constantly viewing our blog updates.

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4. Findings Analysis
Please note that this section and the next have been re-written to clarify the differences
between findings and implications. Notice the direct alignment between each finding and its
implication(s).

All of the work you have done up until now has given you a great deal of information. Keeping
this in mind, describe whatever barriers to solving the problem you can foresee. Most should
already be defined in the Problem Description and Rationale, but a few new things may come
to mind. If so, be sure to go back and add them to your previous work. After you identify the
barriers, look for anything else that might influence your choice of mTool. We call these
findings.

The problem, the rationale and the audience analysis should all be in alignment with each
other and with the barrier analysis. When I grade these, I will be looking to ensure that all
information mentioned in one element is also mentioned in all other elements. In other words,
all elements must be aligned.

Note: What is the difference between a Barrier and a Finding? A Barrier is an obstacle that
prevents or impedes the desired result. Findings are conclusions reached after consideration of
all situations and contexts.

Example of a Findings Analysis

Findings - The Barriers (obstacles that prevent or impede the desired result):
Students are from various parts of the country
Students have varying levels of computer and mTool experience
Students will have a variety of goals for their own use of mTools
Students are both on-campus and at a distance
Students will be required to work together in real-time at a distance.
Students must be able to use this mTool from anywhere as they are juggling family,
work and school commitments.
Findings Other:
Most students are business majors, but there is some variety of majors
Students need to find ways to be competitive in the job market.
Students and those with whom they work need to trust the company that produces the
mTool

In order to create this list, I split my screen (a Word feature) and walked through each
element of the previous analysis.

Enter your Findings Analysis.

The mTool must be easy to use
The mTool chosen must allow remote collaboration
Stoneridge Software team members and I have different levels of mTool experience
Stoneridge team members are located in Barnesville, MN, while I am located in
Mayville, ND

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5. The Implications
Based on the barriers and other information you have uncovered in your analysis thus far,
discuss the implications related to your findings. If an implication is derived from more than one
barrier or other information in the analysis, include all them in the same row.
Example of a Finding Analysis and its Implications (this example has also been
revised for clarity)
Findings
What are the Findings discovered during
the analysis of the problem?
Most students are business majors, but
there is some variety of majors
Most students are business majors, but
there is some variety of majors
Students need to find ways to be
competitive in the job market.
Students and those with whom they work
must trust the company that produces the
mTool.
Students will be required to work together
in real-time at a distance.
Example of more than one barrier and its
implication: Students in the mTools course
are enrolled in a variety of majors and have
different levels of experience with technology,
in general. Some students may have had
experience with mTools and some may not.
Enter your Findings and their Implications.
Findings
What are the Findings discovered during
the analysis of the problem?
I have little experience working with
our company website program, and
need assistance in order to complete
an assigned task.
All members must have internet
connectivity of some kind
The application must be easy to use for all
participants
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Implications
What does each Finding mean for my mTool?
The type of mTool chosen must be one
used regularly in business settings.
The mTool must be relevant to the workforce
regardless of discipline and distance.
The mTool must be one that students can
use as a leg up on their competition
The type of mTool chosen must have
stood the test of time.
The type of mTool chosen must allow
remote collaboration
Example of an implication derived from
more than one Finding: The type of mTool
chosen must be easy to use for beginners, yet
have advanced features for those with more
experience.
Implications
What does each Finding mean for my
mTool?
The type of mTool chosen must be easy
to use and must allow remote
collaboration due to not being able to
travel to Barnesville.
Skype needs mobile data or internet
connectivity in order to work. This could be
a problem because some people do not
have access to either of those.
Skype has several different ways that it
can be used. Some people, who do not
have a Microsoft account, may be easily
confused on the setup of Skype for
Business if they have not used it before.
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 Your Problem Narrative will be graded according to these criteria (up to 30
points):
Unacceptable Developing Acceptable Exemplary
Criteria
0 points 3 points 5 points 5 points
Well-developed
Well-developed
problem description
problem description
and rationale that
and rationale
fully addresses and
Problem Description of clearly addresses
develops all
Descripti problem is unclear most important
No problem important concepts.
or concepts.
on & description and
Written with
Rational rationale Problem is described
superficial thought Understanding is
comprehensively,
e and preparation not seriously
delivering all relevant
impeded by any
information
omissions that may
necessary for a full
have occurred.
understanding.
Peer Rating
&
Explanation
Authors
Response
Instructors
Rating &
Explanation
Problem is stated so Problem is stated
Problem that understanding comprehensively,
Problem is not
No problem is not seriously delivering all relevant
Stateme statement
stated as a
impeded by any information
nt problem
omissions that may necessary for a full
have occurred. understanding.
Peer Rating
&
Explanation
Authors
Response
Instructors
Rating &
Explanation

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 Your Problem Narrative Contd will be graded according to these criteria
(up to 30 points):
Unacceptable Developing Acceptable Exemplary
Criteria
0 points 1 points 2 points 3 points
Well-developed
Well-developed
audience analysis
audience analysis
that clearly
that fully addresses
Audience analysis addresses most
and develops all
Audience No audience is written with important concepts.
important concepts.
Analysis analysis superficial thought and
and
and preparation. At least one
At least one resource
resource supports
supports at least one
at least one
statement.
statement.
Peer Rating
&
Explanation
Authors
Response
Instructors
Rating &
Explanation
Findings are clearly The Findings are
derived from the clearly derived from
Findings are stated analysis and are the analysis, are
but do not fully stated clearly; stated clearly and
Findings address the described
No findings
Analysis analysis or are not Understanding is comprehensively,
clearly derived not seriously delivering all relevant
from the analysis. impeded by any information
omissions that may necessary for a full
have occurred. understanding.
Peer Rating
&
Explanation
Authors
Response
Instructors
Rating &
Explanation

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 Your Problem Narrative contd will be graded according to these criteria
(up to 30 points):
Unacceptable Developing Acceptable Exemplary
Criteria
0 points 1 points 2 points 3 points
The Implications are The Implications are
Implications are stated clearly stated clearly and
stated but are described
Implicati unclear or do not Understanding is comprehensively,
No Implications
ons fully address all not seriously delivering all relevant
aspects of the impeded by any information
situation. omissions that may necessary for a full
have occurred. understanding.
Peer Rating
&
Explanation
Authors
Response
Instructors
Rating &
Explanation
Some in-text Some in-text
All in-text citations
citations exist citations exist
exist
and and
and
Style No in-text citations. No References Some in-text
All in-text citations
section supports citations are
are reflected in the
the in-text reflected in the
References section.
citations. References section.
Peer Rating
&
Explanation
Authors
Response
Instructors
Rating &
Explanation
Total /30

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