CASE BACKGROUND

In 1983, MGMT eCash Inc. developed a type of cryptographic electronic currency, ecash, which was later used in 1995, as digicash for cryptographic electronic payments. This early form of cryptographic electronic payments, led to the conception of Bitcoin, a well-known cryptocurrency. Thereafter, many forms of cryptocurrencies were developed where you can buy, sell or exchange cryptocurrencies for other digital currency or traditional currency like US dollars or Euros. Basically, an exchange is where buyers and sellers conduct their business.

"Crypto-currencies have the potential to transform fundamental aspects of industry and society and make a considerable difference to the activities of government bodies and policy-making. They are perhaps the truest form of digital economy technology that has yet emerged - sitting at the crossroads of technology, economics, social sciences and business - where cryptography has managed to disrupt our established practices and notions of trust, identity and value. "

Exchanges come in a few flavours and the company is exploring the following structures:-

Trading Platforms - These are websites that connect buyers and sellers and take a fee from each transaction.

Direct Trading - These platforms offer direct person to person trading where individuals from different countries can exchange currency. Direct trading exchanges don't have a fixed market price, instead, each seller sets their own exchange rate.

Brokers - These are websites that anyone can visit to buy cryptocurrencies at a price set by the broker. Cryptocurrency brokers are similar to foreign exchange dealers.

The company has rented traditional office space in a small building, but expects the world to know it from its website and online presence in all its various forms e.g. blogs and social media.

Whatever its final form, MGMT aCash Inc. will be a user centric online service, and by positioning itself as the hub in an emerging infrastructure, hopes to become the de facto exchange for several cryptocurrencies.

As a student of MIS I, you have been hired as a management intern by MGMT eCash Inc. You instantly realise you need to do some research, as words and phrases like cryptocurrency, blue ocean, exchange, ATH, block chain, bitcoin, ethereum etc. mean nothing to you. Your boss soon presents you with some historical data as well as a dataset dating back from June 2016 to November 2017, on currency trades for a subset of the more than 2000 cryptocurrencies in existence. MGMT eCash Inc. argues, that if you can analyse this dataset successfully, then examining the current dataset in detail, will be a breeze. As a new management intern, you are tasked with analysing the provided information and reporting your findings and possible recommendations at an upcoming meeting.

Cybercrimes, security breaches, election hacks and advertising blacklisting have been in the news recently and these are of concern to the company. Recently, there has been much volatility in the market with huge volumes moving between "fiat" and crypto currencies. Many start-ups, like your employer, have been trying to position themselves to ride the next wave of expected growth. Your company wishes to be the one leading the pack! This requires them to anticipate the true demand but also to know which products and likely to fail, but more importantly they have to decide on the final business model, and safeguard their electronic assets!

Still glowing from the praises for your earlier analysis, you have been given a new enormous responsibility. You are to assume the role of a functioning manager in the company, and report some findings and possible recommendations at the upcoming meeting.

Typical Management Roles in the Company

Manager - Software Engineering (Production)

Manager - Recruiter -Remote (HR)

Manager - Market Operations (Marketing)

Manager - Research Science & Analytics (R&D)

Manager - Investment Strategist (Finance)

Manager - Block-chain Product (Production)

Manager - Business Development (Sales)

Manager - Office Administration (Operations)

Manager - Accounting & Finance

Manager - Information Technology

NOTES

1. You are now a manager in one of the departments of the company. Select:

ONE Management Level that you will represent (operational, management/tactical or strategic).

ONE department from the list provided. A department can only be represented ONCE in the group. Firstcome, first-served allocation method.

ONE business structure to research (Trading Platforms or Direct Traders or Brokers).

Once you have chosen a persona, all contributions MUST be delivered from the perspective of that persona.

REQUIRED

Management Reporting

You need to research/analyse the above business models (don't over think it, just the highlights), propose one to implement and also how the company will organize itself to handle security.

Forum 1: Introduce yourself, identifying your Management Level, your Functional Area and your proposed Company Structure

State your management level, department and company structure you will represent. For example: Operational Manager, IT, investigating Direct Trading Platforms.

Forum 2: Discuss your business structure

1. From the perspective of your department and management level, describe your business structure.

1. Suggest TWO contributing factors that may make yours the preferred structure.

2. Request information from TWO other departments that could assist in your investigation. Please specify both the TYPE, and specific CONTENTS of the report you are requesting

Forum 3: Discuss the security implications From the perspective of your department and management level, discuss the implications of a security breach in the company's infrastructure (all forms - human, technology etc.)

1. Suggest TWO reasons why such breaches could occur and state how they can be avoided.

2. Critique TWO post made by group mates from other departments

Forum 4: Create the process diagram

1. DESIGN and DRAW a high level "as-is" process diagram depicting how a trade would be made, under your proposed structure. The diagram should be for the model you are supporting and should show the bands, process flows, roles, decisions and/or cross functional interactions required.

Forum 5: Summarise and make Recommendations

1. Summarise the information shared thus far, and discuss TWO findings about your analysis from your management level that can be used to decide on the final company structure. Make TWO recommendations to support either a change or no change, in the company structure. Only credible sources should be used.