The Internet of Things (IoT) Product Proposal Assignment

The Internet of Things allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy, and economic benefit.

The IoT products and solutions in each of these markets have different characteristics:

Manufacturing:
By networking machinery, sensors, and control systems together, the IoT intelligent systems enable rapid manufacturing of new products, dynamic response to product demands, and real-time optimization of manufacturing production and supply chain networks.

Media:
The combination of analytics for conversion tracking with behavioral targeting and programmatic media has unlocked a new level of precision that enables display advertising to be focused on the devices of people with relevant interests.

Environmental Monitoring:
Environmental monitoring applications of the IoT typically utilize sensors to assist in environmental protection by monitoring air or water quality, atmospheric or soil conditions, and even the movements of wildlife and their habitats. Development of resource-constrained devices connected to the Internet also means that other applications like earthquake or tsunami early-warning systems can also be used by emergency services to provide more effective aid.

Infrastructure Management:
The IoT infrastructure can be used to monitor any events or changes in structural conditions that can compromise safety and increase risk. It can also be utilized to schedule repair and maintenance activities in an efficient manner by coordinating tasks between different service providers and users of these facilities.

Energy Management:
It is expected that IoT devices will be integrated into all forms of energy-consuming devices (switches, power outlets, bulbs, televisions, etc.) and be able to communicate with the utility supply company in order to effectively balance power generation and energy usage.

Medical and Healthcare Systems:
IoT devices can be used to enable remote health monitoring and emergency notification systems. These health monitoring devices can range from blood pressure and heart rate monitors to advanced devices capable of monitoring specialized implants, such as pacemakers or advanced hearing aids. Specialized sensors can also be equipped within living spaces to monitor the health and general well-being of senior citizens while also ensuring that proper treatment is being administered as well as assisting people regain lost mobility via therapy.

Building and Home Automation:
IoT devices can be used to monitor and control the mechanical, electrical, and electronic systems used in various types of buildings (e.g., public and private, industrial, institutions, or residential). Home automation systems, like other building automation systems, are typically used to control lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, appliances, communication systems, entertainment, and home security devices to improve convenience, comfort, energy efficiency, and security.

Transportation:
The IoT can assist in integration of communications, control, and information processing across various transportation systems. Application of the IoT extends to all aspects of transportation systems (i.e. the vehicle, the infrastructure, and the driver or user). Dynamic interaction between these components of a transport system enables inter and intra vehicular communication, smart traffic control, smart parking, electronic toll collection systems, logistic and fleet management, vehicle control, and safety and road assistance.

Large-scale deployments:
There are several planned or ongoing large-scale deployments of the IoT to enable better management of cities and systems. For example, Songdo in South Korea, a fully equipped and wired smart city, is the first of its kind and near completion. Nearly everything in this city is planned to be wired, connected, and turned into a constant stream of data that would be monitored and analyzed by an array of computers with little to no human intervention. Another example of a large-scale deployment is the one completed by New York Waterways in New York City to connect all their vessels and be able to monitor them live 24/7.

Pros and Cons of IoT

Note: Click here assisted audio provided to describe the “For” or “Against” IoT image.

Assignment Directions:
Review the list of IoT product characteristics for various markets. Select a market from this list:  Manufacturing, Media, Environmental Monitoring, Infrastructure Management, Energy Management, Medical and Healthcare Systems, Boiling and Home Automation, Transportation, or Large-scale Deployments.
Provide a five- to seven-page paper that includes the following elements:

• Introduction
• Proposal of an Internet of Things product:
  • What is the IoT proposed product?
  • Provide the statement of need for the IoT product.
  • What else is offered similar to the proposed IoT product in the market?
  • How is your proposed IoT idea better or different? Identify the qualities that make the IoT product better or different than other products.
• Description of your chosen market that could benefit from an IoT product:
  • Does the IoT product
    • solve a problem for the market,
    • enhance exiting processes,
    • improve existing products, or
    • provide a new product offering?
  • Identify how the IoT product supports electronic commerce, business-to-business electronic commerce, or business-to-consumer electronic commerce in the market?
• Identification of both pros and cons for the proposed IoT product (see the “Pros and Cons of IoT” diagram above).
  • What are the pros of the proposed IoT product?
  • What are the cons of the proposed IoT product?
• Conclusion
• Reference List

The Internet of Things (IoT) Product Proposal Assignment

• Must be five to seven double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least three scholarly sources in addition to the course text.
• The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.) table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

In this assignment you should analyze a sub-optimal service process. You can identify any sub-optimal process of interest to you, whether it be a service process you have personally experienced or a recent news story. A sub-optimal service process is one in which the intended outcome or value of the service was not properly delivered and there was a distinct gap between the service expected and the service delivered. You should critically assess this gap in terms of why it happened, what were the costs and how it should/could be remedied. You should apply the course concepts learnt during the first four weeks of the course. Good examples to use are where you can identify a significant sub-optimal service delivery, and you can clearly identify ways to improve on the ‘value’ currently provided to customers.

Your discussion in Assignment 1 should address the following:

· The ‘service’ you have identified and the ‘value’ it delivers to customers, in the context of the service, and its industry

· How the service is designed, or the core value/‘job’ the customer wants done by the particular service.

· The gap between what is currently offered and what your service design does not do/should do

· Quality of the service, and its role in the competitive advantage of the service and its industry (e.g. reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, tangibles)

· Your suggestions as to how operations management can be used to improve the service

To guide you in this task, you should draw from the following course materials:

1. The lecture slides, textbook and readings from weeks 1-4 of the course

2. The above points that will be used to grade your final work (as well as a general grading guide on the following page).