UPS and the Utility of Information Systems After reading chapter one, watch the   video : (Real Media Player can be downloaded for free at  www.real.com ) and read the additional write-up on page 16 of your text. Answer the questions listed below using APA format. Be sure to integrate vocabulary from the text to demonstrate your understanding of concepts. The paper should not exceed 2 double-spaced pages (excluding title page). United Parcel Service's operations are driven by its information systems technology. Beginning as a local delivery service in 1907, UPS expanded on the West coast initially, reached New York in the 1930s, and went international in the 1970s. Today, UPS delivers over 14 million packages daily to 200 countries and territories. A $1.5 billion technology investment in the 1980s buoyed the growth of UPS. The investment enabled the development of the International Shipments Processing System (ISPS), which is the key to the company's overseas operations. The technology infrastructure enables UPS to offer its customers services in addition to the basic shipment of packages. UPS drivers play an important role in the company's services by capturing information at the endpoints of each delivery segment. Volume, cultural differences, and hardware readiness all impact the development and continued growth of UPS. Describe the external factors that affect the international operations at UPS. Explain how these external factors cause UPS to adjust its operations. Discuss the inputs, processing, and outputs of UPS tracking system. Examine the technologies which are used by UPS. Illustrate how these technologies are related to the business model and business objectives of UPS. Identify the problems that UPS’s information systems need to solve Carefully review the  Grading Rubric  for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment. Description : Total Possible Score : 10.00 Describes the External Factors Which Affect the International Operations at UPS Total: 1.80 Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately describes the external factors which affect the international operations at UPS. Proficient - Describes the external factors which affect the international operations at UPS. Minor details are missing or inaccurate. Basic - Somewhat describes the external factors which affect the international operations at UPS. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate. Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the external factors which affect the international operations at UPS; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate. Non-Performance - The description of the external factors which affect the international operations at UPS is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions. Explains How the External Factors Cause UPS to Adjust its Operations Total: 1.80 Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately describes how the external factors cause UPS to adjust its operations. Proficient - .

1. UPS and the Utility of Information Systems
After reading chapter one, watch the
video
: (Real Media Player can be downloaded for free at
www.real.com
) and read the additional write-up on page 16 of your text.
Answer the questions listed below using APA format. Be sure to
integrate vocabulary from the text to demonstrate your
understanding of concepts. The paper should not exceed 2
double-spaced pages (excluding title page).
United Parcel Service's operations are driven by its information
systems technology. Beginning as a local delivery service in
1907, UPS expanded on the West coast initially, reached New
York in the 1930s, and went international in the 1970s. Today,
UPS delivers over 14 million packages daily to 200 countries
and territories. A $1.5 billion technology investment in the
1980s buoyed the growth of UPS. The investment enabled the
development of the International Shipments Processing System
(ISPS), which is the key to the company's overseas operations.
The technology infrastructure enables UPS to offer its
customers services in addition to the basic shipment of
packages. UPS drivers play an important role in the company's
services by capturing information at the endpoints of each
delivery segment. Volume, cultural differences, and hardware
readiness all impact the development and continued growth of
UPS.
Describe the external factors that affect the international
operations at UPS.
Explain how these external factors cause UPS to adjust its
operations.
Discuss the inputs, processing, and outputs of UPS tracking
system.
Examine the technologies which are used by UPS. Illustrate how
these technologies are related to the business model and
business objectives of UPS.

2. Identify the problems that UPS’s information systems need to
solve
Carefully review the
Grading Rubric
for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
Description
:
Total Possible Score
: 10.00
Describes the External Factors Which Affect the International
Operations at UPS
Total: 1.80
Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately describes the
external factors which affect the international operations at
UPS.
Proficient - Describes the external factors which affect the
international operations at UPS. Minor details are missing or
inaccurate.
Basic - Somewhat describes the external factors which affect
the international operations at UPS. Relevant details are missing
and/or inaccurate.
Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the external factors
which affect the international operations at UPS; however,
significant details are missing and inaccurate.
Non-Performance - The description of the external factors
which affect the international operations at UPS is either
nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment
instructions.
Explains How the External Factors Cause UPS to Adjust its
Operations
Total: 1.80

3. Distinguished - Thoroughly and accurately describes how the
external factors cause UPS to adjust its operations.
Proficient - Describes how the external factors cause UPS to
adjust its operations, but minor details are missing or
inaccurate.
Basic - Briefly describes how the external factors cause UPS to
adjust its operations, but relevant details are missing and/or
inaccurate.
Below Expectations - Minimally describes how the external
factors cause UPS to adjust its operations and significant details
are missing and inaccurate.
Non-Performance - The description of how the external factors
cause UPS to adjust its operations is either nonexistent or lacks
the components described in the assignment instructions.
Discusses the Inputs, Processing, and Outputs of UPS Tracking
System
Total: 1.80
Distinguished - Clearly and comprehensively discusses the
inputs, processing, and outputs of UPS tracking system.
Proficient - Discusses the inputs, processing, and outputs of
UPS tracking system. Minor details are missing or unclear.
Basic - Partially discusses the inputs, processing, and outputs of
UPS tracking system. Relevant details are missing and/or
unclear.
Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss the inputs,
processing, and outputs of UPS tracking system; however,
significant details are missing and unclear.
Non-Performance - The discussion of the inputs, processing,
and outputs of UPS tracking system is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.
Examines the Technologies Which are Used by UPS and
Illustrates How These Technologies are Related to the Business

4. Model and Business Objectives of UPS
Total: 1.80
Distinguished - Accurately examines the technologies which are
used by UPS and illustrates how these technologies are related
to the business model and business objectives of UPS.
Proficient - Examines the technologies which are used by UPS
and illustrates how these technologies are related to the
business model and business objectives of UPS. Minor details
are missing or inaccurate.
Basic - Briefly examines the technologies which are used by
UPS and illustrates how these technologies are related to the
business model and business objectives of UPS. Relevant details
are missing and/or inaccurate.
Below Expectations - Minimally examines the technologies
which are used by UPS and illustrates how the technologies are
related to the business model and business objectives of UPS.
Significant details are missing and inaccurate.
Non-Performance - The examination of the technologies which
are used by UPS and illustration of how these technologies are
related to the business model and business objectives of UPS is
either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the
assignment instructions.
Identifies the Problems That UPS’s Information Systems Need
to Solve
Total: 1.80
Distinguished - Accurately and completely identifies the
problems that UPS’s information systems need to solve.
Proficient - Identifies the problems that UPS’s information
systems need to solve, but minor details are missing or
inaccurate.
Basic - Briefly identifies the problems that UPS’s information
systems need to solve, but relevant details are missing and/or
inaccurate.
Below Expectations - Minimally identifies the problems that

5. UPS’s information systems need to solve and significant details
are missing and inaccurate.
Non-Performance - The identification of the problems that
UPS’s information systems need to solve is either nonexistent
or lacks the components described in the assignment
instructions.
Reading: Comprehension
Total: 0.20
Distinguished - Distinguishes probable implications of the text
for contexts, perspectives, or issues outside the assigned task or
beyond the author's explicit message.
Proficient - Uses the text and/or specific knowledge of the
author’s context to draw more intricate inferences about the
author’s message and approach.
Basic - Considers how textual features (e.g., sentence and
paragraph structure or tone) contribute to the author’s message.
Draws fundamental inferences about context and rationale of
text.
Below Expectations - Inadequately captures vocabulary but
makes an effort to paraphrase or summarize the information the
text communicates.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Integrative Learning: Integrated Communication
Total: 0.30
Distinguished - Utilizes a format, language, or graph (or other
visual representation) in ways that enhance comprehension,
while making clear the interdependence of language and
meaning, thought, and expression.
Proficient - Utilizes a format, language, or graph (or other
visual representation) to correlate content and form,
demonstrating an awareness of purpose and audience.

6. Basic - Utilizes a format, language, or graph (or other visual
representation) that correlates what is being communicated.
Below Expectations - Utilizes a format, language, or graph (or
other visual representation) that is appropriate, but may be
incomplete or contain inaccuracies.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: APA Formatting
Total: 0.13
Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently
throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.
Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper.
However, layout contains a few minor errors.
Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting
throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA
requirements.
Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA
formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout
difficult to distinguish as APA.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 0.13
Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and
organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and
grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to
understand.
Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax
and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work
contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to
understand.
Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics,

7. such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few
errors which may slightly distract the reader.
Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of
syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written
work contains major errors which distract the reader.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Resource Requirement
Total: 0.12
Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of
scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support
ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited
correctly within the body of the assignment.
Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to
support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and
cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support
ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the
reference page are used within the body of the assignment.
Citations may not be formatted correctly.
Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources
that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not
be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used
within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted
correctly.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Page Requirement
Total: 0.12
Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the
required number of correctly formatted pages.
Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the

8. required number of correctly formatted pages.
Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three
quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.
Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at
least one half of the required number of correctly formatted
pages.
Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.