Case Study #3: Is there a cybersecurity industry?

Rubric Name: Case Study #3 Rubric

        CriteriaExcellentOutstandingAcceptableNeeds ImprovementNeeds Significant ImprovementMissing or UnacceptableIntroduction or Overview for the Case Study20 points

Provided an excellent introduction which included a well-reasoned explanation as to why “cybersecurity” is considered an industry but does not have a unique NAICS code. The overview appropriately used information from 3 or more authoritative sources.

18 points

Provided an outstanding introduction which included a well-reasoned explanation as to why “cybersecurity” is considered an industry but does not have a unique NAICS code. Explained the importance of standardized industry classification codes (who uses them and why).The overview appropriately used information from 3 or more authoritative sources.

16 points

Provided an introduction which included an explanation as to why “cybersecurity” is considered an industry but does not have a unique NAICS code. Explained the importance of standardized industry classifications. The overview appropriately used information from 2 or more authoritative sources.

14 points

Provided an overview but the section lacked important details about the case. Information from authoritative sources was cited and used in the overview.

10 points

Attempted to provide an introduction to the case study but this section lacked detail and/or was not well supported by information drawn from authoritative sources. 

0 points

The introduction and/or overview sections of the paper were off topic. 

NAICS Codes and Industry Classification (What, Why, Who uses them)10 points

Introduction included an excellent explanation of the importance of standardized industry classification codes including 3 or more examples of who uses NAICS codes and why. Appropriately used information from 3 or more authoritative sources.

8.5 points

Introduction included an outstanding explanation of the importance of standardized industry classification codes including 2 or more examples of who uses NAICS codes and why. Appropriately used information from 2 or more authoritative sources.

7 points

Introduction included an explanation of the importance of standardized industry classification codes including at least one example of who uses NAICS codes and why. Appropriately used information from authoritative sources.

6 points

Introduction mentioned the importance of standardized industry classification codes and gave at least one example of who uses NAICS codes and why. 

4 points

Attempted to provide information about NAICS codes but the discussion lacked detail and/or was not well supported by information drawn from authoritative sources.

0 points

This section was missing, off topic, or failed to provide information about NAICS codes.

Identified and Explained Industry Codes used by Cybersecurity Companies20 points

Provided an excellent analysis and discussion of one or more industry codes which could be used by the cybersecurity company & product as listed in the assignment. Included a comparison between the company’s business activities and the industry characteristics for the four classification families listed in this assignment (prefixes 334, 44, 51, & 54). Appropriately used information from 3 or more authoritative sources.

18 points

Provided an outstanding analysis and discussion of one or more industry codes which could be used by the cybersecurity company & product as listed in the assignment. Included a comparison between the company’s business activities and the industry characteristics for the four classification families listed in this assignment (prefixes 334, 44, 51, & 54). Appropriately used information from 2 or more authoritative sources.

16 points

Provided a discussion of one or more industry codes which could be used by the cybersecurity company & product as listed in the assignment. Compared the company’s business activities and the industry characteristics for at least 2 classification families listed in this assignment (prefixes 334, 44, 51, & 54). Appropriately used information from authoritative sources.

14 points

Provided a discussion of one or more industry codes which could be used by the cybersecurity company & product as listed in the assignment. Compared the company’s business activities and the industry characteristics to NAICS classifications. Appropriately used information from authoritative sources.

9 points

Provided a discussion of NAICS industry codes as used by cybersecurity companies. The discussion lacked detail and/or was not well supported by information drawn from authoritative sources.

0 points

This section was off topic or failed to provide information about cybersecurity related NAICS codes. 

Recommendation for “Best Fit” for a NAICS Code for a Cybersecurity Company20 points

Provided an excellent “best fit” recommendation for a single NAICS code to be used by the target cybersecurity company (a) on its website, (b) in its business directory listings, and (c) in financial reports. Justification included discussion of the company’s cybersecurity product as part of the rationale for the selected NAICS code. Appropriately used information from 3 or more authoritative sources.

18 points

Provided an outstanding “best fit” recommendation for a single NAICS code to be used by the target cybersecurity company (a) on its website, (b) in its business directory listings, and (c) in financial reports.Justification included discussion of the company’s cybersecurity product as part of the rationale for the selected NAICS code. Appropriately used information from 2 or more authoritative sources.

16 points

Provided a “best fit” recommendation for a single NAICS code to be used by the target cybersecurity company(a) on its website, (b) in its business directory listings, and (c) in financial reports.Justification included discussion of the company’s cybersecurity product as part of the rationale for the selected NAICS code. Appropriately used information from authoritative sources.

14 points

Recommended a NAICS code to be used by the target cybersecurity company. Discussion included mention of the company’s cybersecurity product. Appropriately used information from authoritative sources.

9 points

Identified an appropriate NAICS code but the discussion lacked detail and/or was not well supported by information from authoritative sources.

0 points

Did not address selection of an appropriate NAICS code.

Addressed security issues using standard cybersecurity terminology5 points

Demonstrated excellence in the integration of standard cybersecurity terminology into the case study.

4 points

Provided an outstanding integration of standard cybersecurity terminology into the case study.

3 points

Integrated standard cybersecurity terminology into the into the case study

2 points

Used standard cybersecurity terminology but this usage was not well integrated with the discussion.

1 point

Misused standard cybersecurity terminology.

0 points

Did not integrate standard cybersecurity terminology into the discussion.

APA Formatting for Citations and Reference List5 points

Work contains a reference list containing entries for all cited resources. Reference list entries and in-text citations are correctly formatted using the appropriate APA style for each type of resource.

4 points

Work contains a reference list containing entries for all cited resources. One or two minor errors in APA format for in-text citations and/or reference list entries.

3 points

Work contains a reference list containing entries for all cited resources. No more than 3 minor errors in APA format for in-text citations and/or reference list entries.

2 points

Work has no more than three paragraphs with omissions of citations crediting sources for facts and information. Work contains a reference list containing entries for cited resources. Work contains no more than 5 minor errors in APA format for in-text citations and/or reference list entries.

1 point

Work attempts to credit sources but demonstrates a fundamental failure to understand and apply the APA formatting standard as defined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).

0 points

Reference list is missing. Work demonstrates an overall failure to incorporate and/or credit authoritative sources for information used in the paper.

Professionalism Part I: Organization & Appearance5 points

Submitted work shows outstanding organization and the use of color, fonts, titles, headings and sub-headings, etc. is appropriate to the assignment type.

4 points

Submitted work has minor style or formatting flaws but still presents a professional appearance. Submitted work is well organized and appropriately uses color, fonts, and section headings (per the assignment’s directions).

3 points

Organization and/or appearance of submitted work could be improved through better use of fonts, color, titles, headings, etc. OR Submitted work has multiple style or formatting errors. Professional appearance could be improved.

2 points

Submitted work has multiple style or formatting errors. Organization and professional appearance need substantial improvement.

1 point

Submitted work meets minimum requirements but has major style and formatting errors. Work is disorganized and needs to be rewritten for readability and professional appearance.

0 points

No work submitted.

Professionalism Part II: Execution15 points

No formatting, grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors.

14 points

Work contains minor errors in formatting, grammar, spelling or punctuation which do not significantly impact professional appearance.

13 points

Errors in formatting, spelling, grammar, or punctuation which detract from professional appearance of the submitted work.

11 points

Submitted work has numerous errors in formatting, spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Work is unprofessional in appearance.

4 points

Submitted work is difficult to read / understand and has significant errors in formatting, spelling, grammar, punctuation, or word usage.