CMPT641 – Assignment #1 – Learning from Failure – GE Digital Transformation

Assignment #1 -Part 1: Learning from failure – GE Digital Transformation

Individual Assignment

Due: See Course Syllabus

Upload: To Turnitin in Week 4

Mark: 100 (Weighted at 15%)

In November of 2021, GE announced that in order to survive in the rapidly changing marketplace, the
company would spend billions of dollars into a digital strategy. This individual research paper explores
General Electric’s Digital Transformation plan and what MBA students can learn from the failure.

Start here by listening to this podcast: https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/publishing/podcast/2021/11/digital-

transformation-at-ge-what-went-wrong/

After listening to the podcast, additional research will be required.

The paper will contain the following:

• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• (1)Summarize GE Digital Strategy/Business strategy. The summary will include:
o Overview of the Digital Strategy
o Review GE’s 2019, 2020, 2021 Corporate 10-K report and summarize the challenges that
GE is facing from suppliers, competitors and the business environment
o Connect how the Digital Strategy might help to overcome or meet the challenges
identified in the 10-K reports.
• (2)Summary of the GE Digital Transformation Failure. The summary explains
o What were GE’s Digital Transformation Goals
o Identify and explain at least five (5) reasons that GE’s Digital Transformation plan and/or
execution failed. Use various business models, system models, or other academic
models to compare and contrast the reason for the failure.
• (3)Selecting any two reasons from the summary as to why GE’s Digital Transformation plan
and/or execution failed and for each of the two reasons:
o If you worked for GE, what would you do differently that might lead to success?
o Provide a plan for each reason of failure that might bring success. The plan must
include people, costs, time, resources. The plan must be based on business models ,
system models, or other academic models.
• (4)A section that describes what your learned from GE’s Digital Transformation failure. In your
opinion what is the main cause for failure. Justify your opinion and ensure that the reason is
connected back to Digital Transformation change.
• Conclusion
• Reference page

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CMPT641 – Assignment #1 – Learning from Failure – GE Digital Transformation

Requirements:

• APA 7th Edition format for the paper. Title page, Table of Contents, Reference page.
• Table of Contents required: https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-table-of-contents/
• No Abstract required or Executive Summary required.
• For the personal opinion, the author can use “I” as set out in APA 7th edition.
• This paper must be written as a research essay paper.
• Support your answers with research from academic and relevant industry sources.
• Introduction – please follow the best practice as set out here.
https://edubirdie.com/blog/research-paper-
introduction#:~:text=%20Writing%20an%20Introduction%20to%20a%20Research%20Paper,is
%20important.%206%20State%20your%20hypothesis.%20More%20
• Conclusion – please follow the best practice as set out here:
https://essay-lib.com/write-conclusion-research-paper/
• The paper must flow some logical flow. Use of headers are required.
• How to read a 10-K Report:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0o9S0q0Rr4&ab_channel=HamishHodder
• The paper will be marked on the rubrics shown below. Ensure your paper follows the rubrics.
• The paper should not exceed 20 pages (not including the title page or reference page). There is
no minimum word count. The key is whether the paper thoroughly answers the questions
above. Precise and concise writing is recommended. Consider using tables and charts in the
paper.
• Ensure the paper has its mechanics and grammar checked through Grammarly. Set Grammarly
Goals (Click Adjust Goals) to Knowledgeable for Audience, Formal for Formality, and Business for
Domain.
• Review the MBA Writing Guide (Found in Week 0) to address any writing issues
• Please use a L2 or L1 header for each major section of the paper.
• Turnitin score of less than 5% is required. Turnitin does not count quoted material, title page, or
reference page. Turnitin score only refers to the body of the assignment. Please note that key
words cannot be changed and this can drive up the Turnitin score.
• A minimum 5 academic references via the UCW library and 6 non-academic references
(minimum total 11). Sites such as Panmore, UKEsssay, Scribble, Coursehero, Chegg, and
Wikipedia or any “pedia” site such as Technopedia, Investopedia or others, will not be allowed.
Marks will be deducted for the use of these sites. Use of other student’s paper from any other
institution as a reference will not be accepted.
• A well written paper is one where the paper teaches the reader about the topic. Do not assume
that the reader understands your topic or will fill in the blanks of information. Marks are given
for what is written not what you planned to write or what is inferred from the writing. Be clear,
succinct, with specific examples, researched support, and use of simple business English.

Support:
1. Your instructor offers to review the paper – some paragraphs or the whole paper – and provide
feedback and guidance. Submit the paper via email no later than Jan 22nd by 11:59pm. The

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CMPT641 – Assignment #1 – Learning from Failure – GE Digital Transformation

instructor will reply within 48 hours (depending on the number of papers). Any papers
submitted after that date will not get any feedback.
2. Turnitin is setup to allow you to test the similarity of your paper. You can test the paper once
every 24 hours before the due date and time.

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CMPT641 – Assignment #1 – Learning from Failure – GE Digital Transformation

Layout and Checklist for the Paper – Follow APA 7th edition rules

APA Title Page (Use UCW APA template)

• Follow UCW APA template guidelines for title page

• Pick an appropriate title that reflects the content of the paper. Never use the word
“Assignment”.

Table of Content

• Must be on a new page

• Follow Table of Content per APA. https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-table-of-contents/

Introduction Section (Follow UCW APA template on how to do the Introduction Section)

• Must start on a new page.

• Ensure the introduction follows the best practices as set out in the requirements

Body of paper

• Follows the introduction section

• Use appropriate APA headers format for new section of the paper
• Embed pictures, tables, charts directly into the body of the paper

Body of paper (Personal Assessment of the main reason for the failure)

• Use appropriate APA headers

• Justify your answer using appropriate business models

Conclusion

• Follow the conclusion best practice as set out in the requirements.

Reference page

• Must be on a new page

• Follow APA rules for layout and format
• Ensure that all in-text citations are identified in the reference page

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CMPT641 – Assignment #1 – Learning from Failure – GE Digital Transformation

Topics Comments Max.

Grade
Subject Matter Subject Matter (50%)
(50%)
• 15 for (1), 10 for (2), 20 for (3) and 5 for (4) 50
• Key elements of assignments are covered
• Content is comprehensive, accurate, persuasive
• Displays an understanding of relevant theory
• Major points supported by specific references
• Research is adequate/timely and citations are academically
valid. Incorrect in-text citation results in mark deduction.

Organization (20%) Organization (20%)

• The introduction provides a sufficient background on the topic 20

and previews major points
• Central theme/purpose is immediately clear
• Structure is clear, logical, and easy to follow with proper
headings following APA. Incorrect APA header will result in
mark deduction
• Subsequent sections develop/support the central theme
• The conclusion follow logically from the body of the paper

Style/Mechanics (30%) Style/Mechanics

(30%)
APA 7th (10%) (10+10+10) 10
• Title page is present and properly formatted – separate page
• Reference page is present and properly formatted – separate page
• Citations/reference page follow APA guidelines
• Properly cites ideas from other sources
• More than five mistakes in body and reference page will result in
zero mark for this section of the rubric.

Grammar/Punctuation/Spelling (10%) 10
• Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation
• Effective use of writing mechanics – bullets, Lists
• Proper mechanics in writing

Readability/Style (10%) 10
• Sentences are complete, clear, and concise
• Sentences are well-constructed with consistently strong,
varied structure
• Transitions between sentences/paragraphs/sections help
maintain the flow of thought
• Words used are precise and unambiguous
• Effective use of Headers (No header stacking)
• The tone is appropriate to the audience, content, and
assignment
• Proper use of terminology

Grade on 100 Subtotal 100

Penalties

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CMPT641 – Assignment #1 – Learning from Failure – GE Digital Transformation

Assignment #1 – Part 2: Video on Plans for Delivering GE Digital Transformation

Individual Assignment

Upload: To Week 5

Mark: 100 (Weighted 5%)

Due: See Course Syllabus

Instructions:

From your paper, you designed various plans to specific failures of GE’s Digital Transformation. This
presentation, you will:

• Role play that you are an senior manager who has to present these plans to Senior Leadership
(CEO, CIO, VPs). Think about how you might need to deliver such a presentation. What will be
your tone, style, approach, dress code?
• Using your plans from your paper, prepare a maximum of 12 slides (not including the title slide
or reference slide, or Q&A/Thank you Slide) to present your plan of action. Be sure to emphasize
why you think your plan will work.

Video Requirements:

• This is an individual presentation.

• The video can use any technology to convey the message. This is a cohesive video. Google
“Powerpoint to MP4” to create a video. Do not send a PPTX where the instructor has to click on
each slide.
• Using material from the paper only. If your paper has only 1 plan, then your presentation will
only be for 1 plan. If you paper has 2 plans then your presentation will have 2 plans.
• You must be in the video and on camera. If privacy is a concern, please use a virtual
background. Audio only presentation will not be accepted.
• The video must be at least 10 minutes but not more than 15 minutes in length. Presentation less
than 10 minutes will get an automatic zero. Any material over 15 minutes will be ignored and
marks can be lost.
• The one-page paper will be used for submission of this part. The paper must include a time
index of each key part of the presentation and the link to the presentation. See the example
(Example of Time Index and Link).
• The video presentation needs a title, agenda slide, introduction, conclusion, and APA slide.
• Use appropriate in-slide APA as needed. See the link for more information:
https://hallmark.libguides.com/c.php?g=984470&p=7824531
• Follow presentation best practices. Please watch these links: https://hbr.org/2013/06/how-to-give-a-
killer-presentation and https://virtualspeech.com/blog/designing-presentation-slides. I will be looking for
your presentation to demonstrate these best practices.
• Upload both the PPTX and the Time Index Word Document to Moodle’s Dropbox. Missing either
document will be considered late.

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CMPT641 – Assignment #1 – Learning from Failure – GE Digital Transformation

Rubric:
Subject Matter: 55

-The video covers the two plans found in your paper.

-The video clearly explains the plan of action to address the failure in the current GE Digital
Transformation plan.

-Role play: Tone, style, and dress appropriate for the role play of presenting to a Senior Leadership of
organization (CEO, CIO, VPs).

Organization: 20

- The video flow with some logical flow.

- The flow weaves a story for the audience.
- The time index sheet provided match the video timing

Style/Mechanics/Audio/Video: 10

-Grammar/Spelling/Punctation – zero mistakes

-Follows presentation best practices

-Creativity – what technology was used and how it contributes to the persuasive argument

-Video is clear and focused, Audio is clear and rate of speech is acceptable.

Time Index: 5

-Time Index is provided and matches the video

APA: 10

-In-slide citation

-Reference page

Example of a Time Index and Link

Time (Start and Finish Content

00:00 to 00:30 Introduction
00:31 to 07:50 Plan 1
07:51 to 13:40 Plan 2
13:41 to 15:00 Conclusion and End

Link: www.youtube.com/xxx/yyy/zzz

Link to PPTX: www.msteam.com/xxx/yyy/zzz