CIS-335 at Southern New Hampshire University is about matching businesses with the information systems that help them run. It is a 3-credit undergraduate course in the computer information systems area.
According to SNHU's catalog, students identify and model a business process with the goal of improving it through a business system application. Examples named include customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), helpdesk management, payroll, accounting, decision-making and supply chain systems.
The course also weighs the pros and cons of different acquisition routes: cloud services, purchased software, public domain software, building in-house and integrating several applications. Students propose and justify recommendations and practice quantifying how effective a system is, which is where most of the difficulty lies.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
| Course code | CIS-335 |
| Level and credits | Undergraduate, 3 credits |
| Subject area | Business information systems |
| Typical work | Process models, system comparisons, recommendation papers, hands-on work with business applications |
What CIS-335 Covers
- Business types and their system needs: a retailer, a service firm and a manufacturer rely on different core systems.
- Process modeling: mapping how work flows today (the "as-is") before designing the improved "to-be" process.
- Common system families: CRM, ERP, helpdesk, payroll, accounting, decision support and supply chain management.
- Acquisition options: software as a service, packaged software, open or public domain software, custom builds and integration.
- Justification and measurement: making the case for a system and showing how its effect could be measured.
Key Concepts Explained
As-Is and to-Be Processes
A system only helps if it improves a real process. Mapping the current steps, hand-offs and delays shows where a system adds value. The to-be map then shows what changes, who does what, and which steps disappear.
Example: A small IT support firm logs requests by email. Tickets get lost and nobody can see response times. A helpdesk system adds a queue, automatic assignment and timestamps. The to-be process removes the manual forwarding step and creates data for measuring resolution time.
Build, Buy or Subscribe
Each route trades cost, control and speed. Cloud subscriptions start quickly with low upfront cost; packaged software may fit standard processes; in-house builds suit genuinely unusual needs but take longer and need ongoing support.
Quantifying Effectiveness
A strong recommendation names measurable indicators, such as order processing time, error rates or customer response time, and explains how they will be tracked before and after implementation.
Example: If staff spend 6 hours a week re-keying orders between a web shop and the accounting package, an integration that removes the step frees roughly 300 hours a year. Valuing that time against the subscription cost gives a simple, defensible benefit estimate.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Process model | Understanding the current workflow | Use standard notation, show actors and decision points, keep it readable |
| System comparison | Evaluating options fairly | Score options against the same weighted criteria |
| Proposal paper | Justifying a choice to managers | Lead with your advice, then costs, benefits, risks and measures |
| Hands-on application task | Practical familiarity with a system | Document what you configured and link it back to the business need |
Writing the Recommendation Paper
Most CIS-335 work ends in a recommendation addressed to someone who has to approve spending. That reader wants to know what you suggest, what it costs, what it fixes and what could go wrong, in roughly that order.
A structure that works for most prompts:
- Business problem: one paragraph on the process issue and its effect, using numbers where the scenario provides them.
- Options considered: two or three realistic alternatives, including "improve the current process without new software".
- Evaluation: a weighted criteria table covering cost, fit, integration, security, support and scalability.
- Recommendation and justification: the chosen option and the reasons it scored best.
- Implementation and measures: rollout steps, training, data migration and the indicators you will track.
Including a "do nothing" or low-cost option shows balanced judgment, and it gives your preferred option something concrete to beat.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Picking the system first. Start from the process problem; the system choice should follow.
- Vague benefits. "Improves efficiency" earns little; name the metric and estimate the change.
- Ignoring integration. A new CRM that does not talk to accounting may create new manual work.
- Skipping risks. Data migration, training and vendor lock-in belong in any honest recommendation.
Study Tips for CIS-335
- Keep a simple comparison template (criteria, weights, scores) and reuse it across modules.
- Read vendor feature pages critically and note what is a claim versus a measurable capability.
- Write for a business owner, not an IT specialist: short sentences, clear costs, no unexplained jargon.
How We Help with CIS-335
Send the scenario, the assignment prompt, the rubric and any process diagrams you have drafted. A writer with a business systems background can prepare a model process map and recommendation, explain evaluation methods, or review your draft for logic and clarity. For general advice on structuring business papers, see our business research paper guide.
GradeEssays is independent of Southern New Hampshire University. Our work is a reference aid for learning; you complete and submit your own work under SNHU's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, plagiarism-checked, and come with free revisions within the scope of your original request.
Build a Stronger CIS-335 Recommendation
Share the scenario, process map and feedback. A writer prepares a custom proposal that shows how to justify and quantify a system choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
SNHU names CRM, ERP, helpdesk management, payroll, accounting, decision-making and supply chain management systems, among other business functions.
No. It focuses on choosing, justifying and evaluating business applications and modeling processes, with hands-on use of applications rather than coding.
Compare total cost over several years, speed of deployment, security responsibilities, customization needs and exit options, then tie the choice to the business's priorities.
Defining measurable indicators, such as time saved, error reduction or faster response, and showing how they would be measured before and after the system goes live.
Use whatever your instructions specify. If none is given, a clear swimlane flowchart or BPMN-style diagram is usually acceptable.
No. We provide custom answers, explanations and feedback that help you produce your own work.