Professional Memo
Week 8 University Memo

This references the University database from Week 5. The university database contains several entities and several relationships between them. You should refer back to readings in earlier weeks of the course, in particular during Module 1 Database Concepts, Weeks 1-2.

Your manager wants to investigate moving to a simpler, more streamlined way of doing business. She thinks that SQL is too complicated for staff and has asked you to make a flat file with an alternate arrangement of the student data (e.g. similar to an Excel file).

You will NOT create the flat file, but for information the flat file would include columns for:

· Student first and last name

· Student major

· Student GPA

· Course number, description, and units

· Offering term

· Faculty first and last name

You have some concerns about moving your entire university operations out of SQL to this flat file format.

Write your boss a memo,

· Outlining any concerns or hesitations you have about moving to this format for management of your data.

· Include the pros and cons of the relational database format and the flat file format.

· Be sure to think critically, and include at least TWO problematic use case scenarios. A ‘problematic use scenario’ would be a specific example of how converting the database to a flat file would create a ‘use’ problem for the university and university staff in managing data.

Additional instructions

· Be sure to review the PowerPoint presentation (in pdf format) Effective Professional Memo Writing that accompanies these instructions.

· Your memo may benefit from outside research, however, the entire memo must be in your own words. Any ideas or concepts used from the course content in earlier weeks (in particular the Database Concepts Module) need only have ‘basic attribution’ (mention the source, the article, presentation and/or the author, but full APA documentation is not required).

· Paragraph text should be single spaced with ONE ‘hard return’ (Enter) after each paragraph and after each section subtitle. Note: Do not create a new ‘paragraph’ after each sentence. A single sentence is not a paragraph.

· Be sure to remove any remaining ‘placeholder’ text in the template file before submitting.

· The length of the template that you download is NOT the intended length of the entire memo. Your completed memo should be between 1.5 pages and 2 pages (total document, including the To:/From:/Re:/Subject header).

A page target of 1.5 – 2 pages, single spaced is suggested; however, there are no length requirements or restrictions. You must use the attached template for the assignment, without changing any fonts.

Rubric:

Score

Definition

90 – 100%

Exceeds Expectations. These memos are really exceptional. They meet all the criteria of the “meets expectations” memo, and go beyond in some meaningful way. The “beyond” may be in very illustrative and detailed use case scenarios, critical thinking regarding additional components of databases such as security, or it may be in additional background research to provide additional perspectives. The business case is clear and easy to follow. Demonstrates mastery of the data management and SQL techniques we have covered in class. No typographical or grammatical mistakes.

80 – 89%

Meets Expectations. A memo which meets expectations will earn this score. This type of memo will typically be reasonably easy to follow, with good writing style. It will contain a clear recommendation about whether to move to the flat file and relevant reasons supporting the recommendation. It will outline use case scenarios where relevant. It will also contain solid understanding of the relational database concepts and data management concepts we have covered in class, and will tie this case study into our class work. Typographical and grammatical mistakes are few (1-2) to none; any errors do not obscure meaning or readability.

60-79%

Meets some, but not all Expectations. Some of the expectations above will be met, but others are not. The instructor will provide additional detail.

0 – 59%

Does Not Meet Expectations. This type of memo may not contain a clear recommendation about whether to move to a flat file format. It may contain insufficient reasons supporting the recommendation, and may not contain detailed or relevant use case scenarios. It may show incomplete or incorrect understanding of relational database and data management concepts. It may show weak ties into class work. May have major typographical or grammatical errors.