You are a junior consultant, specialising in Information Systems, at a leading international consulting firm. Your firm has been recently hired by Forever 21, a popular American fashion retail chain. You have been assigned to a team that advises your client Forever 211 (please see footnote) on global crowdsourcing. The team has been charged with investigating the crowdsourcing phenomenon and trends in order to make specific recommendations on crowdsourcing strategies for Forever 21. After several meetings with the client, it becomes clear that crowdsourcing platforms such as Mechanical Turk, Freelancer, ODesk, Would You Rock This (WYRT) and Spoonflower are of particular interest. However, Forever 21 is unsure about the extent to which such international crowdsourcing platforms would be capable of posing radical challenges or opportunities for its organizational objectives and operations. Your manager has decided to prepare a presentation for the next meeting, and you are tasked with the responsibility of writing a briefing report that she can use to prepare her presentation to the client. Learning Outcomes Addressed: Program Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes 2 Critical thinking and problem solving Illustrate how organisations could use IS to improve organisational / managerial efficiency & effectiveness. Propose how an organisation could use information systems and technology (IS/IT) to compete in a global marketplace. 3a Written communication Communicate an argument in oral and written form 2. Requirements Prepare a Business Report with the following structure (1,750 to 2,000 words, excluding Appendix A). 1. Conduct an in-depth analysis of the various types of crowdsourcing platforms mentioned above. Identify in general, the target markets (seekers/solvers) serviced by these crowdsourcing platforms (Mechanical Turk, Freelancer, ODesk, WYRT and Spoonflower) and outline the value proposition(s) provided to both seekers and solvers. 2. Provide an illustration of the business model for ONE specific crowdsourcing platform of your choice (choose from Mechanical Turk, Freelancer, ODesk, WYRT and Spoonflower) using the business model canvas, and evaluate the strength(s) of the business model. 3. Explain how the specific crowdsourcing platform (the same one you have chosen above in point 2) leverages on technology to create value for both seekers and solvers. 1 Include"a"ONE.PAGE"write.up"on"your"research"of"Forever"21's goals"and"strategies and any"assumptions"that"you" make"about"your"client"as"Appendix"A. 3 business.unsw.edu.au CRICOS Code 00098G INFS1602 Information Systems in Business 4. Propose how your client, Forever 21, could make use of the service of the specific crowdsourcing platform (the same one you have chosen above in point 2) to create business value. Discuss the potential risks posed by the specific crowdsourcing platform (the same one you have chosen above in point 2) of which Forever 21 should be aware, when utilizing the service of the specific crowdsourcing platform. Please relate your discussion in this question to Forever 21's goals, strategies and assumptions you made of your client in Appendix A. You are required to carefully consider the points that you wish to make in this report. A 'brain dump' of all you know is of little value. You should consider using tables and figures to present some material as they may help structure your argument. In order to prepare your assignment you will need to undertake research. However, you should ensure that you use the information gathered to illustrate your argument; you should not simply describe your research findings. You should also ensure that your sources are appropriately referenced. In preparing the assignment, you should place yourself in the role of a consultant. It is important that you provide your audience with information that is customised for their situation rather than producing material that reads like a generic textbook. You should therefore illustrate that you understand your client's context and priorities through Appendix A detailing any assumptions that you make and how they relate to the discussion in your report.