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WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR SUBMITTING A CAPSTONE PROJECT FOR SERVICENOW’S ANNUAL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS?

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The ServiceNow Academic Excellence Awards program recognizes outstanding IT and business students who have developed innovative ServiceNow-related projects as part of their capstone studies. There are several criteria that a capstone project must meet in order to be eligible for submission for this awards program.

The capstone project must utilize ServiceNow’s platform software in a meaningful way. This could include developing applications, workflows, plugins/addons, or other solutions that leverage ServiceNow’s low-code development capabilities. Preference is given to projects that solve real-world business problems or demonstrate practical use cases for ServiceNow rather than purely technical proofs of concept. The project needs to showcase the students’ understanding of IT service management principles and how ServiceNow can beneficially be applied in an enterprise setting.

The capstone project submission must be accompanied by a written report/paper that thoroughly documents the project scope and objectives, planning and development process, demonstration of the working solution, and analysis of the business value/outcomes. This report is expected to be well-structured, clearly articulated and between 10-20 pages in length. It should provide enough details for the reviewers to understand what problems the project aimed to address, how ServiceNow was implemented, and what benefits could potentially be realized. Proper citations, references and adherence to typical academic writing standards are expected.

Projects completed as part of a Master’s thesis, undergraduate dissertation/thesis, or other structured academic program culminating in a major written work are eligible. Projects do not need to have been completed during the current academic year but must have been concluded no earlier than 12 months prior to the submission deadline date. Preference will be given to more recently finished projects that demonstrate a higher level of technical skills and innovative use of ServiceNow capabilities.

The submission must include information about the academic institution, specific program of study (if a graduate program), project supervisor details, and short bios of all student contributors. Supporting documents from the academic institution like letters of endorsement from faculty members will strengthen the application. Extra credentials of the students like relevant work experience, professional certifications, publications, etc. can also be highlighted.

The project and submission materials must be the original work of the student applicants. Plagiarism in any form will lead to automatic rejection. Students are expected to have played the primary role in conceptualizing, designing and developing the project with appropriate guidance from supervisors/professors. Joint submissions by teams of 2-4 students working on the same capstone project are allowed.

Projects will be evaluated on parameters like innovation, technical skills, demonstration of ServiceNow platform capabilities, clarity of documentation, potential real-world impact and overall presentation. Preference is given to submissions that check all eligibility boxes, provide thorough documentation of the capstone work, and exemplify the highest standards of research, analysis and technical proficiency. Geographical and institutional diversity of the applicants may also be considerations in the final selection.

Winners of the Academic Excellence Awards receive a cash prize, plaque, invitation to the ServiceNow Knowledge conference and potential job opportunities. Shortlisted finalists also get recognition on ServiceNow’s website and social media platforms. Participation in this prestigious program is a great credential for IT and business students looking to launch their careers in digital transformation fields.

To be eligible for ServiceNow’s annual Academic Excellence Awards, a capstone project submission must centrally feature meaningful utilization of ServiceNow’s platform, solutions a real problem, include thorough documentation, adhere to academic integrity guidelines, demonstrate strong research and technical skills, and preference is given to recent innovations with clear potential business impact. Following these detailed criteria allows students to highlight outstanding academic work and strongly position themselves for recognition and career opportunities.

CAPSTONE PROJECT EXCELLENCE: STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

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Ethnography is a valuable method that can provide deep insights if implemented correctly. Allow me to share some perspectives based on scholarly sources and my own experience conducting ethnographic work.

The first step is to clearly define the research question or problem. Ethnography is not simply observing a culture but asking specific questions that the fieldwork aims to investigate. Take time to thoughtfully craft research questions that can be meaningfully explored using ethnography versus other methods. Well-defined questions will focus the research design and analysis.

Once the research question is formulated, the next key step is to determine the research setting and participants. The context of the research needs to align logically with the research problem. For example, if studying cultural values within a professional community, that specific community would be the appropriate research setting versus a broader cultural study. Identify participant criteria that can purposefully inform the research question through their perspectives and experiences. Use purposeful sampling strategies to select information-rich participants versus random or convenience sampling.

Developing rapport and trust with research participants is paramount for success. Spending significant time in the field is necessary to gain familiarity with the cultural context and develop relationships. Be fully present, listen without judgment, and demonstrate cultural sensitivity from the start. This lays the foundation for participants to openly share without fear of misrepresentation. Maintaining strict confidentiality is also imperative to protect participants and the integrity of the research. Consider securing informed consent and ethical approval if needed.

Beyond initial observation, employ appropriate qualitative data collection methods for an ethnographic study. Combining techniques such as interviews, focus groups, cultural artifacts, and field notes allows for triangulation that enhances credibility. For example, photos or videos could capture physical spaces and behaviors while interviews add context and meaning. Field notes are the backbone, so take detailed, consistent notes and record reflexive thoughts. Audio record interviews to allow for verbatim transcription. Throughout data collection, simultaneously analyze to inform ongoing data collection.

Analysis requires immersing deeply in the vast amounts of qualitative data. Assemble all data sources in one centralized place for organization. Read, re-read, and annotate data to gain intimate familiarity. Develop codes and categories both deductively from the research question and inductively from the data. Search for patterns, insights, and cultural themes across the various data sources. Consider using qualitative data analysis software to systematically organize and retrieve data during coding and analysis. Integrate relevant literature throughout to situate findings within the broader context and to build interpretive frameworks.

The discussion and conclusion sections both synthesize key findings as well analysis. Discuss how findings answered the original research question but also identify any new insights or questions that emerged. Relate interpretation of findings back to revisiting literature and theoretical frameworks. Limitations, trustworthiness strategies employed, and implications should also be thoroughly discussed. Submit the completed study adhering to required ethical standards and formatting guidelines of your capstone project or intended publication. Follow guidelines for protecting confidentiality of participants and cultural context.

The above incorporates strategies for effective ethnographic research design, data collection and analysis, that can produce a rigorous and impactful capstone project if meticulously implemented. While these components take significant time and effort, completing high-quality ethnographic work has the potential to generate substantive understanding of cultural phenomena. I hope these perspectives are helpful as you design your own capstone research project. Please let me know if any part of the process requires further explanation or strategies. I am happy to discuss and provide additional resources as needed.