MBA paper

Module Title: Introduction to Information Technology

Assessment Type: Assignment

Assessment Weighting: 50%

Level: 3

Submission Deadline: 19th June 2014

Word Limit: 1,000 Words

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

Individual Assessment Type:

Maximum Word Limit and Assessment weighting for each aspect within the assessment:

Individual assignment (1,000 words absolute maximum);

· The marks for the assignment will be based on:

Use of appropriate theory 35%

Application of knowledge 35%

Structure and logic 20%

References (range & relevance) 10 %

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Description of Assessment Requirements

Students are required to produce written answers to set questions regarding the fundamentals of information technology.

Through addressing the set requirements of the assignment, students are expected to demonstrate course concepts and ideas studied in the course. In addition, students ought to demonstrate their analytical skills, and communicate using appropriate technical terms and/or language.

The assignment requires students to provide both theoretical and practical knowledge, and therefore requires adequate research work.

The worked produced should typically include:

1. Table of contents

2. Responses to the requirements set

3. Listing of references/bibliography

Learning outcomes assessed: LO 1, 3 and 6

Assignment brief:

The management of LM Ltd has recently acquired new premises, and intends to upgrade its entire IT systems.

There are 180 members of the staff, whom require their own computers. The staff computers, which are going to be networked, should all have the same operating system (to avoid incompatibility issues). All staff should be able to access the company’s database from the fileserver, as well as the company’s intranet. All connections are to be wireless.

The R & D staff members have been requesting the commissioning of a bespoke software for their department, with extranet facilities to give access to some of the external stakeholders on specific projects.

A number of Sales personnel, particularly those who do not reside near the new company location, need to be able to communicate with the company from their own home, and be able to check stock levels and details of orders.

Required

As a member of the IT team, you have been asked to provide responses to the following questions as part of the feasibility report for the management of LM Ltd, so that a quality upgrade could be planned:

1 Discuss the main issues that need to be considered (advantages/disadvantages) of bespoke application software systems

2 What are the main hardware and software facilities required at the homes of the Sales personnel so that they could remotely access the information held at the company?

3 Discuss the main advantages/disadvantages to the Sales personnel regarding the issue of working from home.