The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Case Study for Assignment 2

550/71155 Business Computing

Weighting: This assignment is worth 18% of your final mark.

Due date: Thursday, week 7. The actual due date is displayed on the
Assignment tab in the online course.

Instructions

1. Research and answer all the questions asked by the client, making detailed
notes. All work must be your own.
2. Submit your detailed research in the form of a letter to Jack answering all her
questions in simple easy to understand language.

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Assignment overview
This assignment is a research task. It uses an authentic scenario to assess your
ability to identify and describe in your own words and using simple language
the current information systems in terms of the roles and functions of the
systems; the hardware, communications, software, people and organisational
procedures in use; the benefits, disadvantages and risks associated with the use
of these systems; and how the systems are managed.

The company described in the scenario has hired you as an information

technology consultant. Respond to the client’s questions in the context of the
client’s company, and using simple language, using the client’s questions as
prompts. After conducting your research respond to the client in an extended
letter format. You may cite references in an appendix to the letter if you wish
but this is not a requirement of this assignment.

When you have completed answering all the questions you will need to:

1) Submit your detailed reply to Jack’s questions in an extended letter format.

Your replies to questions will therefore need to consist of logical sentences and
not one word answers.

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Scenario
Jack Wild is the owner of a business called The Review, in Nelson. Jack is
developing a colour flyer for clients listing the range of services available. Jack
intends to design and maintain the company website. Orders, product/service
details, inventory and customers’ details are managed using a database
application. Jack has consulted you to select components of a computer system
suitable for the company’s core business needs. Read all the questions that Jack
asks and the information she supplies before answering any questions.

You find the following specifications for two computer systems on the internet.

The Laptop The Desktop

Intel® CoreTM i7-4500U processor 4th Gen Intel® CoreTM i7-4770
(4MB cache, 1.8 GHz) processor (8MB cache, up to 3.9 GHz)
8GB 2 DIMM (2 x 4 GB) DDR3L 1600 16GB dual channel DDR3 1600 MHz –
MHz 4 DIMMs
1TB 5400 rpm SATA hard drive 2TB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive 6.0
GB/s + 32 GB SSD
17.3 inch LED backlit display with No Monitor
TrueLife and HD+ resolution (1600 x
900) with Native HD 1.0 MP webcam
with digital microphone and Stereo
speakers with Waves MaxxAudio® 4
Processing
AMD Radeon HD 8870M 2 GB AMD Radeon HD R9 270 2 GB
GDDR5 GDDR5
Tray load DVD drive Blu-ray combo drive
Windows® 8.1 Pro 64-bit (English) Windows® 8.1 Pro 64-bit (English)
McAfee® Security Center No security installed
(Multilanguage) – 12-month
subscription
1 year ProSupport NBD Onsite 1 year ProSupport NBD Onsite
Service Service
$1,699 $2599

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Tasks
For each of the questions, carefully consider the particular circumstances and
specific industry of the client and company in the scenario. Where the words ‘I’,
‘me’ and ‘my’ are used, this is the client speaking to you, in the role of the
information technology consultant.

Hardware and software requirements

(a) Which is the fastest computer? Name and explain the unit of measurement
you used to compare the processing speed of the two computers.

(b) The computers you’ve shown me do not have any applications on them and
will need further software to meet my specific business requirements. Please
prepare a list of some branded applications (ignore the usual operating system
and general purpose MS Office branded applications) that will help my specific
type of business operate more effectively. Take into account the support each
branded application will provide for my company.

(c) The company already has a monitor, printer, keyboard and mouse. What
other peripheral devices will I need to help my type of business work
efficiently? List different types of branded peripheral devices and then select
the two most important peripherals I need to purchase to satisfy the specific
requirements of my type of business. Your recommendations must be based
on evidence, so provide your detailed reasons and specifications for
recommending both different, branded peripherals.

(d) I’m going to be working with a lot of images and will need a secondary
storage device (or devices) and the associated media (if any). Consider all
the devices available and choose a named brand and specific device within
that brand as the most suitable for my type of business. Remember to explain
your detailed reasons for your choice.

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Input and output devices
(a) I capture electronic images of old printed photographs. This is the core
business of my company. What current types of input devices are available
to accomplish this? Consider the technologies and how the various
hardware devices are used. Recommend two different types of branded
device and justify your two unique recommendations using the detailed
specification for each different device. Consider the advantages and
disadvantages of each named branded device. Provide the brand name and
the detailed specification for each type of device.

(b) Once I’ve captured the images I’ll need to be able to manipulate those
images to reduce imperfections or enhance specific features. I need a list of
the different applications available and two different branded applications
that you consider will do the job most efficiently. I need branded applications
plus detailed specifications of the specific version within that brand.

(c) I’ll be manipulating, storing and reusing large numbers of customised

images, so I need reliable backup media. What do you recommend? The type
of medium used will depend upon a number of properties and factors. I need
to understand the different types of storage media that are available and why
your final recommendation is best suited to my specific type of business.
A table showing all the different types of storage media will be the best
way to present this information. Avoid using terms like ‘fast’,
‘slow’, ‘high’, ‘low’, ‘big’ and ‘small’ – use absolute terms like GB. Sort the table by
factors you consider important.

Medium Attributes or factors such as Suitable for what size

speed or capacity that might or type(s) of file
influence my decision to extension?
use the medium

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Data communications and security
Over the next five years The Review plans to expand and have a small office in
Auckland. This will involve hiring staff and increasing the number of computers
in the office. This will require a network. I think that a wireless network that
connects each computer individually to the internet is the best idea. Staff will
often take their laptops to clients’ offices. I believe there are several wireless
standards that could be used to create a wireless Wi-Fi network and to connect
to the internet. Cellular broadband is too expensive, so please don’t consider this
as an option for us.

(a) Consider the differences between the different wireless standards and how
they differ from cellular broadband. List the available wireless standards that
could be used to connect each computer to the network. Provide a simple
explanation of how such wireless technology transmits data across the
network and compare this with cellular broadband. Consider range and how
a connection is made to the internet. This will help me understand some of
the factors to consider when setting up a wireless network.

(b) A business contact has told me that he uses the same wireless technology for
his office’s wireless network and to establish a wireless connection to the
internet when visiting clients in major cities. Which of the wireless standards
is my colleague using? How does it establish a connection to the internet and
then to the office?

(c) The number of computers and peripherals will dictate the network strategy I
could use for the wireless network. Can you explain what a network strategy
is and tell me which one I should be using.

(d) I often exchange electronic business cards and small files electronically
through my iPhone using Bluetooth. At other times I’ve used the infrared
port. Sometimes I’ve had problems using the infra-red port for data transfer
and I’m not sure why this happens. Can you explain the differences between
the Bluetooth and infra-red technologies? I am familiar with the
electromagnetic spectrum, so please use that in your answer. Which
technology has the highest potential speed of data transfer? What could affect
data transfer using Bluetooth and infrared technologies?

(e) Can you give me an example of a domestic use of infrared data transfer that
doesn’t involve a computer.

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(f) My colleague tells me that I will need a firewall and a proxy server in my
network to ensure the security of the company data. What are the main
differences between a firewall and a proxy server? How will each improve
the security of my wireless network?

(g) Are there any other measures in addition to using a firewall and proxy
server that should be taken to improve security in our offices?

(h) I’m considering installing a wireless network in my home so I can become

familiar with wireless networks. Is there anything about the influence of the
architectural components of the home and devices in the home I should be
taking into consideration before setting up the network?

(i) I’ll need to take security measures to protect the company data when I take
work home. List the security measures I should use at home.

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E-commerce and the internet
I’m well acquainted with the internet, so moving in the direction of e-commerce
is a small step for the company. I’d like to allow prospective clients greater access
to the business by allowing them to upload photographs, artwork and text.

(a) Explain the differences between the internet, an intranet and an extranet.
Which network would be the most suitable for the purpose of allowing
prospective clients to upload files?

(b) I understand what e-commerce is, but I’m told that there are several different
types of e-commerce. What are their names?

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Legal, ethical and ergonomic issues
I’ve recently begun to suffer from soreness in my shoulders and lower back, as
well as eye strain. Do you think it is occupational overuse syndrome (OOS)?
There are so many names for this now: gradual process injury, repetitive motion
injury, cumulative trauma disorder, and so on. It gets very confusing!

(a) Are my symptoms consistent with OOS? How is OOS caused? How can I
prevent any further deterioration in my condition?

(b) A colleague said I should contact WorkSafe New Zealand. What could they
do for me? I only need information relevant to my business type.

(c) What are cookies? Some people say they’re harmless, while others say they
can be dangerous. Please describe the different types of cookies and how
they are used ethically and unethically.

(d) What’s the difference between snoopware and spyware? Are they both
ethical to use? If not, why not? I’ll need to know your detailed reasons.

(e) I noticed a number of clients are contacting me through my personal

Facebook page. I don’t want them to see what I put on there! How can I
increase my privacy on Facebook? Can you also tell me how I can
increase my privacy whenever I use the internet.

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