This assignment is to be undertaken individually, using your knowledge of hardware and software to make recommendations as to suitable computing solutions.Both cases should be addressed.

The assignment should be completed and the final report submitted by Thursday March 2000.

 

Objectives On completion of the assignment the student should be able to: 1Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the basic hardware and software components of a computer system. Distinguish between hardware and software and be able to describe the functions of the basic hardware/software components of a computer system. Show an appreciation of application software packages that can be used to satisfy business needs. 2Classify types of computer. 3Show an understanding of processor types.

Business Scenario

You are a self employed computer consultant with a number of current clients who need advice on suitable systems for their organisations.You should produce reports for each case, explaining the terminology, suggesting suitable configurations and costs that will satisfy their requirements.

Case 1

An Estate Agent, with three branches, currently operates manual systems in all of its operations. These include:

Financial accounts

Customer database

Records of properties and photographs

Letters

Advertising

Mail-shots

Currently each property for sale is measured, inspected and a photograph taken to produce property sales leaflets.The organisation would like to introduce IT into their operation and run a common database that can be accessed by all branches.This system would allow transfer of property sales details, including pictures between all branches.It is not envisaged that access will be required frequently enough to warrant any permanent connection.

In your report you should evaluate off the shelf computer systems, hardware and software.You should identify suitable computer types, processors, hard disks, RAM, monitor, operating system, with typical costs and explain why the system you are advising should be adopted.

Case 2

A small wholesaler supplying pet products runs its operation from a unit on an industrial estate.It imports raw material which it then packages for sale through retail outlets.Sales staff travel throughout the UK and telephone their sales back each night for picking and delivery the following day.The current systems are manual and response times are far too slow.Sales representatives are not able to easily interrogate stock levels to advise customers of availability.

The company often displays its products at various shows and would like to produce computerised presentation material that could be used on their displays.

It is envisaged that each travelling sales representative will have a computer which will enable them to remotely access the system at the head office during sales transactions and to send back orders each evening.The company also require:

Stock control (both of raw materials and finished goods)

Records of suppliers

Records of customers

Letters

Invoices

Financial accounts - sales, purchases, salaries, sale bonuses, etc.

Memos

Staff personnel records

You should justify your recommendations and identify suitable sized computers, which software would meet the organisations requirement (eg. which suggested application software would allow the organisation to produce staff records?), relevant input/output devices and any essential connecting hardware and software.

You need to explain how you see the organisation using your suggested systems.

Identify specific brand(s), model(s) of PC, software, other hardware, prices and source/s (validating data/source ie price quotes are current).Sources should include books, suppliers lists and web sites.Full bibliography of sources should be included ie.web page URL, date visiting site, date of latest update (Usually at the foot of any web page), magazine, issue date, page, advertiser etc. 

Outcomes 1,2 & 3

 

Author:CJ Duley	Date of issue:Week commencingMarch 2000
Assignment checked by:	Date to be handed in:March 2000
	Feedback:

Name:

Grade:

Case 1Estate Agency
Obj	Fail	Satisfactory	Merit	Distinction
1	Relationship between hardware and software not defined	Relationship between hardware and software components defined	Relationship between software and hardware components defined with other choices considered.	Good variety of hardware and software relationships discussed, with language used showing a clear understanding.
1	No distinction between hardware and software and the function of HW/SW components	Described the functions of input output devices and SW components used in the recommended system	Description of devices. Clear reasons given for chosen HW and SW chosen items.	Clear reasons given for chosen HW/SW.Consideration given to other options. Clear indication of knowledge.
1	Poor range of software selected to meet the business needs.Range requirement of operations not covered.	The software to meet the Estate agency business needs identified and matched to the business operations	A full detailed range of software to match the organisations operations but lacking authoritative explanations of usage.	An authoritative convincing explanation of the full range of software matched to the organisations needs. Identifying SW types
2	Poor choice or missing choice of computers and understanding of sizes	A few sensible suggestions of computer type/sizes	Good selection of computers with clear reasons given for choice.	Clear convincing choice of computers giving reason and comparison for selection
3	Processors types not discussed	Processor identified	Clear reason for processor selection given	Consideration of processor types leading to choice for recommended system.
Case 2 Petfood Wholesaler
1	Relationship between hardware and software not defined	Relationship between hardware and software components defined	Relationship between software and hardware components defined with other choices considered	Good variety of hardware and software relationships discussed, with language used showing a clear understanding
1	No distinction between hardware and software and the function of HW/SW components	Described the functions of input output devices and SW components used in the recommended system	Described the functions of input output devices and SW components used in the recommended system	Clear reasons given for chosen HW/SW.Consideration given to other options. Clear indication of knowledge.
1	Poor range of software selected to meet the business needs.Range requirement of operations not covered.	The software to meet the Estate agency business needs identified and matched to the business operations	A full detailed range of software to match the organisations operations but lacking authoritative explanations of usage.	An authoritative convincing explanation of the full range of software matched to the organisations needs. Identifying SW types
2	Poor choice or missing choice of computers and understanding of sizes	A few sensible suggestions of computer type/size	Good selection of computers with clear reasons given for choice.	Clear convincing choice of computers giving reason and comparison for selection
3	Processors types not discussed	Processor identified	Clear reason for processor selection given	Consideration of processor types leading to choice for recommended system