Higher National Diploma (HND) assignments; questions and answers

Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design By George Coulouris - Exercise Solutions

2017-03-09T12:21:00.000+00:00

Bakhar Nabieva (Бахар Набиева) Biography

2016-10-13T06:04:00.002+01:00

Bakhar Nabieva (Бахар Набиева) Biography

Who is Bakhar Nabieva (Бахар Набиева)?

Azerbaijani - Ukrainian Fitness Model Bakhar Nabieva (Бахар Набиева) biography.
Bakhar Nabieva (Бахар Набиева) was born in Mangachevir, 4th largest city in Azerbaijan. When she was young her family moved to Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. She went to a high school there.
She used to play basketball at high school. She knew about a gym close to her school but she wasn't interested in the gym in the beginning. One day she finds out that one of her classmates goes to the gym. She invites Bakhar to the gym. That is how her fitness journey starts. She didn't know much about nutrition and training in the beginning. A trainer at the gym shows her how to use the equipment and tells her a little about nutrition. For long time she only trains her legs and glutes.

She was bullied at high school for being "too skinny". In 4 years she transforms herself into a sexy fitness model that nobody can ignore. According what she says no everybody likes how she looks now. People are more friendly in the streets than online.

Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design by George Coulouris. Question 2.5

2013-06-24T10:50:00.000+01:00

2.5) Suggest some applications for the peer process model, distinguishing between cases when the state of all peers needs to be identical and cases that demand less consistency.

Answer:

Cooperative work (groupware) applications that provide a peer process near to each user.

Applications that need to present all users with identical state - shared whiteboard, shared view of a textual discussion

Less consistency: where a group of users are working on a shared document, but different users access different parts or perhaps one user locks part of the document and the others are shown the new version when it is ready.

Some services are effectively groups of peer processes to provide availability or fault tolerance. If they partition data then they don’t need to keep consistent at all. If they replicate then they do.

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Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design. by George Coulouris. Exercise Solutions 3. Question 2.4

2013-06-24T10:45:00.000+01:00

2.4) A search engine is a web server that responds to client requests to search in its stored indexes and (concurrently) runs several web crawler tasks to build and update the indexes. What are the requirements for synchronization between these concurrent activities?

Answer:

The crawler tasks could build partial indexes to new pages incrementally, then merge them with the active index (including deleting invalid references). This merging operation could be done on an off line copy. Finally, the environment for processing client requests is changed to access the new index. The latter might need some concurrency control, but in principle it is just a change to one reference to the index which should be atomic.

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Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design. by George Coulouris. Exercise Solutions 3. Question 2.2

2013-06-22T23:29:00.002+01:00

2.2) For the applications discussed in Exercise 2.1 state how the servers cooperate in providing a service.

Answer:

Web: Web servers cooperate with Proxy servers to minimize network traffic and latency. Responsibility for consistency is taken by the proxy servers - they check the modification dates of pages frequently with the originating web server.

Mail: SMTP servers do not necessarily hold mail delivery routing tables to all destinations. Instead, they

simply route messages addressed to unknown destinations to another server that is likely to have the relevant tables.

Netnews: All NNTP servers cooperate in the manner described above to provide the newsfeed mechanism.

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Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design. by George Coulouris. Exercise Solutions 3

2011-05-16T23:42:00.000+01:00

2.1 Describe and illustrate the client-server architecture of one or more major Internet applications (for example the Web, email or netnews).

2.1 - Answer:

Web:

Browsers are clients of Domain Name Servers (DNS) and web servers (HTTP). Some intranets are
configured to interpose a Proxy server. Proxy servers fulfil several purposes – when they are located at the same site as the client, they reduce network delays and network traffic. When they are at the same site as the server, they form a security checkpoint (see pp. 107 and 271) and they can reduce load on the server. N.B. DNS servers are also involved in all of the application architectures described below, but they ore omitted from the discussion for clarity.

Email:

Sending messages: User Agent (the user’s mail composing program) is a client of a local SMTP server and passes each outgoing message to the SMTP server for delivery. The local SMTP server uses mail routing tables to determine a route for each message and then forwards the message to the next SMTP server on the chosen route. Each SMTP server similarly processes and forwards each incoming message unless the domain name in the message address matches the local domain. In the latter case, it attempts to deliver the message to local recipient by storing it in a mailbox file on a local disk or file server. Reading messages: User Agent (the user’s mail reading program) is either a client of the local file server or a client of a mail delivery server such as a POP or IMAP server. In the former case, the User Agent reads messages directly form the mailbox file in which they were placed during the message delivery. (Exampes of such user agents are the UNIX mail and pine commands.) In the latter case, the User Agent requests information about the contents of the user’s mailbox file from a POP or IMAP server and receives messages from those servers for presentation to the user. POP and IMAP are protocols specifically designed to support mail access over wide areas and slow network connections, so a user can continue to access her home mailbox while travelling.

Netnews:

Posting news articles: User Agent (the user’s news composing program) is a client of a local NNTP server and passes each outgoing article to the NNTP server for delivery. Each article is assigned a unique identifier. Each NNTP server holds a list of other NNTP servers for which it is a newsfeed – they are registered to receive articles from it. It periodically contacts each of the registered servers, delivers any new articles to them and requests any that they have which it has not (using the articles’ unique id’s to determine which they are). To ensure delivery of every article to every Netnews destination, there must be a path of newsfeed connections from that reaches every NNTP server.
Browsing/reading articles: User Agent (the user’s news reading program) is a client of a local NNTP server.
The User Agent requests updates for all of the newsgroups to which the user subscribes and presents them to the user.

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BSc (Hons) in Computing - eCommerce Assignment - EasyJet Case Study

2011-05-04T18:02:00.001+01:00

Easy Jet Case Study

The coursework is based on the case study 8.1 available in E‐Business and E‐Commerce Management by

Dave Chaffey. 3rd Edition. Page 352.

The evolution of easy Jet’s online revenue contribution

EasyJet was founded by Stelios Haji‐Ioannou, the son of a Greek shipping tycoon who reputedly used to

'hate the Internet'. In the mid 1990s Haji‐Ioannou reportedly denounced the Internet as something 'for

nerds', and swore that it wouldn't do anything for his business. This is no longer the case since by August

1999, the site accounted for 38 per cent of ticket sales or over 135,000 seats.

This was past the company's original Internet contribution target at launch of 30 per cent of sales by

2000. In the period from launch, the site had taken more than 800,000 bookings since it was set up in

April 1998 after a shaky start of two sales in the first week and one thousand within the first month. In

March 2000 EasyJet increased its online discount to £2.50 for a single trip ‐ a higher level of permanent

discount than any other airline. By September 2000, Internet sales reached 85% of total sales. Since this

time, the growth in proportion of online sales has decreased. By 2003, over 90% of all sales were online.

The articles relate the tale of the owner's office being graced by a photo of the owner with horns on his

head and a Mexican moustache on his upper lip. The image was contributed as a complaint by an

aggrieved customer. The nature of the entrepreneur was indicated since he sent the customer two free

tickets.

The company was originally set up in 1994. As a low‐cost airline, looking to undercut traditional carriers

such as British Airways, it needed to create a lean operation. To achieve this, Haji‐Ioannou decided on a

single sales channel in order to survive. He chose the phone. At the time this was groundbreaking, but

the owner was encouraged by companies such as Direct Line insurance, and the savings, which direct

selling, would bring.

Although Haji‐Ioannou thought at the time that there was no time to worry about the Internet and that

one risk was enough, he was adaptable enough to change. When a basic trial site was launched, he kept

a close eye on how popular the dedicated information and booking phone line was (having a webspecific

phone number advertised on the site can be used to trace the volume of users on the site). A

steady rise in the number of calls occurred every week. This early success coincided with the company

running out of space at its call centre due to easy jet’s growth. Haji‐Ioannou related, 'We either had to

start selling over the Internet or build a new call centre. So our transactional site became a £10 million

decision.'

Although the success of EasyJet could be put down solely to the founder's adaptability and vision, the

company was helped by the market it operated in and its chosen business model ‐ it was already a 100

per cent direct phone sales operation. This meant it was relatively easy to integrate the web into the

central booking system. There were also no potential channel conflicts with intermediaries such as travel

agents. The web also fitted in with the low‐cost EasyJet proposition of no tickets, no travel agents, no

network tie‐ups and no in‐flight meals. Customers are given a PIN number for each order on the web

site, which they give when they get to the airport.

Sales over the Internet began in April 1998, and although easy jet’s new‐media operations were then

handled by Tableau, a few months ago easy jet took them in‐house.

The Internet is important to EasyJet since it helps it to reduce running costs, important for a company

where each passenger generates a profit of only £1.50. Savings to EasyJet made through customers

booking online enable it to offer at least £1 off to passengers who book online ‐ this is part of the online

proposition. Online buyers also benefit from paying the price of a local call, instead of the standard

national rate of easy jet’s booking line. The owner says that 'the savings on the Internet might seem

small compared to not serving a meal on a plane, which saves between £5 and £10, but when you think

how much it would cost to build a new call centre, pay every easy jet reservation agent 80 pence for

each seat sold ‐ not to mention all the middlemen ‐ you're talking much more than the £1 off we give

online buyers'. What about the risks of alienating customers who don't want to book online? This doesn't

worry the owner. He says 'I'm sure there are people who live in the middle of nowhere who say they

can't use the Internet and will fly Ryanair instead. But I'm more worried about keeping my cost base

down, and finding enough people to fill my aeroplanes. I only need six million people a year, not all 56

million.'

Promotion

The Internet marketing gurus say 'put the company URL everywhere'. EasyJet has taken this literally with

its web address alongside its Boeing 737s.

EasyJet frequently varies the mix by running Internet‐only promotions in newspapers. easy jet ran its first

Internet‐only promotion in a newspaper in The Times in February 1999, with impressive results. Some

50,000 seats were offered to readers and 20,000 of them were sold on the first day, rising to 40,000

within three days. And, according to the marketing director, Tony Anderson, most of these were seats

that otherwise would have been flying along at 600 mph ‐ empty. The scalability of the Internet helped

deal with demand since everyone was directed to the web site rather than the company needing to

employ an extra 250 telephone operators. However, risk management did occur with a micro site built

for Times readers (www.times.easyjet.com) to avoid putting a strain on easy jet’s main site.

Anderson says, 'The airline promotions are basically designed to get rid of empty seats'. He adds, 'If we

have a flight going to Nice that's leaving in 20 minutes' time, it costs us very little to put some extra

people on board, and we can get, say, £15 a head for it'. Flight promotions are intended to avoid

attracting people who'd fly with EasyJet, so advanced booking schemes are intended to achieve that.

A later five‐week promotion within The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers offered cheap flights to a choice of all EasyJet destinations when 18 tokens were collected. In total, 100,000 seats were sold during the promotion, which was worth more than £2m to the airline. Thirty per cent of the seats were

sold online, with the rest of the transactions being completed by phone; 13,000 orders were taken over

the Internet in the first day alone with over 15,000 people on the site at one point.

The web site also acts as a PR tool. Haji‐Ioannou uses its immediacy to keep newspapers informed about

new promotions and offers by phoning and e‐mailing journalists and referring them to the web site

rather than faxing.

The web site is also used as an aggressive tool in what is a very competitive marketplace. Haji‐Ioannou

says 'Once we had all these people coming to our site, I asked myself: "Why pay a PR company to

publicise what we think when we have a captive audience on the site?'" For example, easy jet ran a

competition in which people had to guess what BA's losses would be on 'Go', its budget rival to EasyJet

(the figure turned out to be £20m). Within minutes of the BA results being announced on 7 September,

the EasyJet site had the 50 flight‐ticket winners from an incredible 65,000 people who had entered. In a

similar vein a section of the site was entitled 'Battle with Swissair', giving easy jet's view that Swissair's

head had persuaded the Swiss government to stop EasyJet being granted a commercial scheduled

licence on the Geneva‐Barcelona route. EasyJet also called itself 'The web's favourite airline', in 1999, a

direct counterpoint to British Airways slogan of 'The world's favourite airline' for which it enjoyed a court

battle.

easyEverything

Following the brand extension success of Virgin, EasyJet has used the 'easy' prefix to offer additional

services as part of the easyGroup:

• easyEverything, a chain of 400‐seat capacity Internet cafes originally offering access at £1 an

hour. This is run as an independent company and will charge EasyJet for banner ads, but clearly

the synergy will help with click through between two to three per cent. The only concession

easyEverything makes towards EasyJet is that cafe customers can spend time on the easyjet site

for free.

• easyRentacar, a low‐cost car rental business offering car rental at £9 a day. These costs are

possible through offering a single car type and being an

Internet‐only business.

Implementation

The articles report that Russell Sheffield, head of new‐media agency Tableau, who initially worked with

EasyJet had an initial problem of colour! 'He says there was a battle to stop him putting his favourite

colour all over the site.' The site was intended to be highly functional, simply designed and without any

excess baggage. He says 'the home page (orange) only had four options ‐ buy online, news, info, and a

topic of the moment such as BA "go" losses ‐ and the site's booking system is simpler to use than some

of its competitors'. He adds: 'great effort was put into making the navigation intuitive ‐ for example,

users can move directly from the timetables to the booking area, without having to go via the home

page'. The site was designed to be well integrated into easy jet’s existing business processes and systems. For example, press releases are fed through an electronic feed into the site, and new destinations appear

automatically once they are fed into the company's information system.

Measurement of the effectiveness of the site occurred through the dedicated phone number on the site,

which showed exactly how many calls the site generated, and the six‐month target within six weeks.

Web site log file analysis showed that people were spending an average of eight minutes a time on the

site, and better still, almost everyone who called bought a ticket, whereas with the normal phone line,

only about one in six callers buys. Instead of having to answer questions, phone operators were doing

nothing but sell tickets.

Once the web site generated two‐fifths of EasyJet business, it was taken in‐house and Tableau now acts

solely as a strategic advisor.

Coursework Specification

You are invited, as an experienced consultant, to put together a strategic plan based on the information

supplied in the Easy Jet Case Study. The strategic plan should include the following deliverables which

should be presented as sections in your technical report:

Introduction

Background – briefly describe the background context of the organisation. This can include, for

example, historic information on the company’s formation, the financial performance, and the

key products and services.

Situation Analysis

Present Position and Industry Analysis: You should consider analysing the organisation's current

position using both of the following tools: SWOT and PEST

eMarketing Strategy

eMarketing strategy

What eMarketing strategy has the organisation adopted or is planning to adopt?

What is the value proposition and differential advantage of this strategy?

In this section you should build upon your Situation Analysis (You should also evaluate the

organisations’ ‘marketing mix’).

Implementation

How is the management creating new core and extended value for customers?

How is the management balancing their online and offline promotion methods?

What impact is the implementation of strategy having upon the performance of the business?

Legal and ethical issues

What legal and ethical issues does the organisation need to consider with regard to the

gathering, processing, distribution and use of information on the Internet?

Technical Report

In addition to the strategic plan, your report entitled, “An eMarketing Consultation Document for

Easy Jet" should include the following:

Management Summary

Summarises the approach taken and the key findings.

Background

Describes the background context of the organisation. This can include, for example, historical

information on the company’s formation, the financial performance, and the key products and

services.

Conclusion

Presents the conclusions that you have reached based upon your findings and the

recommendations to the management of Easy Jet.

The report should be between 4,000 and 5,000 words in length and all references to other sources of

information must be properly acknowledged using the Harvard Referencing System.

==========================================

Strategic Plan for Easy Jet

Table of Contents

Introduction............................................................2

Background.................................................2

Situation Analysis....................................................4

SWOT Analysis...........................................4

PEST Analysis.............................................5

eMarketing Strategy.................................................6

eMarketing Strategy......................................6

Implementation.............................................7

Legal and Ethical Issues............................................8

Technical Report......................................................8

Management Summary...................................8

Background...................................................8

Conclusion....................................................8

References..............................................................9

Introduction

This strategic plan is developed with an assistance of Easy Jet. It provides with a roadmap for a company development, customer-oriented support and services. Easy Jet provided all the information we needed to complete this strategic plan.

This strategic plan addresses some of the general fundamental problems like finding customers to fill the airline’s planes, how to stay in the market while other budget airlines are also growing fast and how to be ahead of everyone in the innovation curve.

This strategic plan also addresses some of the problems that occur while dealing with day-to-day business processes and some of the problems that need to be kept under control and some of the problems might have been ignored by the current airline management.

During a development of this strategic plan some of the alternative or possible market growth areas also observed. We tried to find answers to questions like: “Is current Easy Jet management giving enough attention to keeping the website technologically up-to-date?” and “Is current Easy Jet management benefiting from one of the fastest growing and very effective marketing platforms like social media, blogging and twitting?”

SWOT Analysis and PEST Analysis tools are used to analyse the Easy Jet’s current market position. With an assistance of this strategic plan Easy Jet will be able to assess their strong sides, problems they encounter during a daily business processes, opportunities they have and possible future threats and coordinate themselves according to the choices which are revealed in this strategic plan.

Background

Budget airline EasyJet was founded by Greek-Cypriot businessman Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1994. In the beginning Haji-Ioannou was ignorant towards the internet. He thought the internet would never make money for his airline.

The airline started selling travel tickets online in April 1998. It could only sell two tickets online in the first week and only one thousand in whole month. But after the slow start ticket selling online has grown very fast reaching 38% of all ticket sales or 135,000 seats total by August 1999. EasyJet introduced the biggest permanent discount of £2.50 for a single trip in March 2000.

Online ticket sales didn’t stop there. If it was 85% of total sales in September, it climbed to 90% of total sales by year 2003.

The airline founder saw the opportunity of using phone lines as a sales channel. It was groundbreaking at the time, because it helped Easy Jet to cut the operational costs and it would enable the airline to compete with existing airlines.

Haji-Ioannou had to be convinced to sell tickets online. Trial site was launched and a web specific phone line was allocated to track the volume of online users. Number of calls kept rising every week. This early success led the budget airline to focus on selling tickets online. New website easily integrated to the airline’s already existing central booking system. Prior to this the company’s business model was selling tickets through direct phone lines. Introducing a web based sales system enabled the airline keep costs low. With the introduction of a new system customers who book their flights online are given a PIN number per order. The only thing the customers need to do was to give the PIN number at the airport. Customers didn’t have to pay the price of a local call when they book their flights online.

Easy Jet was saving through selling tickets online and not serving food on planes.

Easy Jet was running Internet only promotions in The Times and The Sunday Times. They even introduced a macro site Times readers to avoid the scalability problem on the site. First promotion which was offered in the Times newspaper in February 1999 was 50,000 seats and 20,000 of them sold in a first day. This helped the airline to fill the empty seats.

Another promotion which was offered in The Times and The Sunday Times sold 100,000 seats and made £2million for the airline.

Easy Jet started using the website as powerful PR tool as well. Newspapers and journalists were informed about the promotions and updates and were referred to the website. They started running competitions on the website. Guessing British Airways losses questionnaire was a great successful PR action attracting 65,000 people answering the question and giving away 50 tickets.

Easy Jet later added easyEverything, a chain of internet cafes and easyRentacar, a low cost car rental business to its existing travel flights business.

Easy Jet’s website was designed and operated by a new-media agency Tableau, but when the online ticket sales reached the two-fifths of the total sales, they decided to take it in-house and Tableau would become a strategic advisor.

Situation Analysis

SWOT Analysis is used to analyse the current market position of the Easy Jet. Whole diagram is shown below.

Strengths of the airline help them to take an advantage on the opportunities. On the other hand weaknesses make them weak when they face threats.

STRENGTH

• Having a visionary company founder

• Relatively cheap ticket prices

• Responding to customer complaints quickly

• Ready to change to adapt into the new business environment

• Already having a central booking system

• Having no middle man in ticket selling

• Using a website a strong PR tool

• Saving on advertisement expenses mainly sticking to the website centred advertising

• Having a strong brand image/colour WEAKNESS

• Being overcautious about using new technological opportunities for a company growth

• Alienating some customers who may not want to book their tickets online

• Being content with the existing number of customers

OPPORTUNITIES

• Could observe more new business areas using “easy” branding like easyHotels, easyClubs and etc.,

• Could do more promotions using all the media tools available including newspapers

• Could engage with the existing and potential new customers using social media

• Could create smart phone and all other handheld device apps and create opportunities for people to buy tickets using their smart phones and handheld devices THREATS

• Business model could be copied by other budget airlines

• Existing budget airlines like Ryanair could steal customers from Easy Jet

PEST Analysis

PEST analysis stands for Political, Economical, Social and Technological Analysis. PEST Analysis is a very useful tool to identify external environment factors like opportunities and threats to the organisation. PEST Analysis for Easy Jet is shown below.

Political Environment

• Specific governments might provide obstacles for Easy Jet to protect their national airlines

• Governments increase ecology related taxes raising the issue of air pollution or non-ecology friendly plain engines

• Home country or foreign governments might get more protectionist as it happens quite often these days in many industries because of an effect of a recent financial crisis Economical Environment

• Current economic situation might put people off from travelling

• Travellers might consider buying cheaper options and keen on hunting promotional offers

• Easy Jet’s major destination countries like Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland are in deep recession

• Holidays being seasonal brings many difficulties like filling the plains when it is not a holiday season and adding more flights and hiring more staff on holiday season time

• Rising foul prices

• Interest rate changes on major European currencies like Euro and Pound

Social Environment

• Protecting brand image is a very important factor for Easy Jet, actually for any organisation. It is also fragile. If anything goes wrong with the plains or bad customer service or because of the similar sort of issues brand image could be destroyed and it would hurt the company in a big time.

• Having a good relationship with the media is an important aspect of staying in business

• Changes in the demographics of some countries in a long term might affect the Easy Jet’s business Technological Environment

• Benefitting from the social media is a very important. Social Media (Facebook, Twitter and etc.) provides an incredible platform for advertising and selling tickets online directly using the services they offer. If Easy Jet can’t stay ahead of that curve, it might affect the Easy Jet’s business

• Acquiring the environmentally friendly plains and other facilitating technologies are very important

• Being up-to-date with the latest technology and browsers on the website to sell online is very important

eMarketing Strategy

Easy Jet has adopted many eMarketing strategies. They are:

• Selling through phone calls

• Selling tickets online

• Using their official website as a PR tool

• Going green

Phone Lines: From the first day of it is foundation Easy Jet had its unique way selling tickets. It started with selling tickets through phone calls. They stick to their selling technique for a while.

Selling tickets online: When they tried the internet for selling tickets they saw the great potential of internet as another sales channel. Sales increased rapidly over the years and internet became the main selling channel.

Website as a PR tool: Later Easy Jet founder saw the potential of the website as a PR tool. They started organising questionnaires and giving away some free tickets for the lucky contestants. They organised promotions in the newspapers. This method helped them to sell the empty seats. Official website of the airline kept up-to-date with all the information. Journalists and newspapers were informed about any changes and referred to the website.

Going green: Lately Easy Jet set a target for itself on going green. According the Easy Jet’s official website they have an environmental code based on 3 promises:

“

1. To be environmentally efficient in the air

2. To be environmentally efficient on the ground

3. To lead in shaping a greener future for aviation, for example:

o carbon offsetting

o shaping future aircraft design - for example, the ecoJet

“

(http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Environment/index.shtml, [Accessed: 25 November 2010])

Using Social Media: According to the article “Easy Jet wants to sell flights on Facebook” published on netsparsh.com on 1 April 2010:

“European budget airline easyJet is poised to become the first airline company to enable users to plan and book flights entirely on Facebook.

easyJet currently offers a “Holiday Planner” Facebook app that helps fans plan trips with their friends through Facebook and email. Users can coordinate destinations and dates, propose a range of budget options and then invite friends along for the trip.

However, users must go to a destination website to complete the transaction — a step easyJet wants to remove altogether by adding booking functionality to their Facebook app.”

(http://netsparsh.com/wp/blog/2010/04/01/easyjet-wants-to-sell-flights-on-facebook/#axzz16GWcw4A8, [Accessed: 25 November 2010])

When we checked Easy Jet’s Facebook site, we see that airline already started selling tickets on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/easyJet?v=app_10442206389 Clicking on this link travellers can book their tickets on Easy Jet’s Facebook page.

Future Plans: Easy Jet should definitely create iPhone and iPad application. Easy Jet should definitely create Android applications. These applications should be used as an information tool for customers. Easy Jet could certainly be able to sell tickets through those apps mentioned. Smart phone and hand-held device sales are rocketing for the last year especially. Millions of users in UK as well as in all the major destinations of the Easy Jet are already using those devices. This could create a major selling channel for Easy Jet.

What are the advantages of these strategies?

There are many advantages of the strategies Easy Jet adopted. Some of them are listed below:

• Being the first airline company that introduced the online sales made them to capture the big share in the travel flights market

• Using Social Media tools and attracting lots of potential customers through those tools and using them as strong Marketing tool and selling channels

• Introducing cheap tickets and direct flights

• Having a catchy and attractive company slogan

eMarketing Strategy Implementation

According to the Easy Jet’s official website (http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Environment/index.shtml, [Accessed: 25 November 2010])

“

• Easy Jet uses only the main airports with good public transport in holiday destination countries

• No flight changes. Direct flights only.

• Easy Jet offers cheap tickets, quick and simple online booking system.

• Customers saves on phone call charges

• Customers can make a comment, access to the other’s comments on Facebook and Twitter

• Through Facebook and Twitter Easy Jet establishes a good communication with their existing customers and gain access to the potential new customers. These tools also provide a valuable feedback for the airline company

• Easy Jet organises questionnaires online and online promotions. They award many lucky customers

Legal and Ethical Issues

References:

1. http://www.easyjet.com/asp/en/book/index.asp?lang=en

Easy Jet’s official website where you can book flights, hotels and holidays

2. http://twitter.com/#search?q=easyJet

“easyJet” search results on Twitter

3. http://www.facebook.com/easyJet

Easy Jet’s Facebook site

4. http://twitter.com/easyjet

Easy Jet’s Twitter site

5. http://www.youtube.com/easyjetbroadcast

Easy Jet’s YouTube site

6. http://www.advanced-web-metrics.com/blog/2010/11/17/how-much-money-does-easyjet-loose/

This is a website where you can find information about Easy Jet’s Google Chrome problem

7. http://corporate.easyjet.com/about-easyjet/industry-awards/2009.aspx

Easy Jet’s Industry Awards. List of awards are very impressive.

8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EasyJet

Easy Jet’s on Wikipedia

9. http://netsparsh.com/wp/blog/2010/04/20/virgin-america-announces-expansion-via-twitter/#axzz16GX4UIWp

“Virgin Atlantic expands via Twitter” article

10. http://netsparsh.com/wp/blog/2010/04/01/easyjet-wants-to-sell-flights-on-facebook/#axzz16GWcw4A8

Easy Jet introduces ticket selling on Facebook

If you found the answer useful, please visit my other website. Exercise or Fitness Training has huge psychological and physical benefits. Train and dress up for the occasion.

Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design By George Coulouris - Exercise Solutions

2011-05-02T10:33:00.002+01:00

Edition 3
By George Coulouris, Jean Dollimore and Tim Kindberg
Addison-Wesley, ©Pearson Education 2001

1.9 Suppose that the operations of the BLOB object are separated into two categories – public
operations that are available to all users and protected operations that are available only to certain
named users. State all of the problems involved in ensuring that only the named users can use a
protected operation. Supposing that access to a protected operation provides information that
should not be revealed to all users, what further problems arise?

1.9 - Answer

Each request to access a protected operation must include the identity of the user making the request. The
problems are:
• defining the identities of the users. Using these identities in the list of users who are allowed to access
the protected operations at the implementation of the BLOB object. And in the request messages.
• ensuring that the identity supplied comes from the user it purports to be and not some other user
pretending to be that user.
• preventing other users from replaying or tampering with the request messages of legitimate users.
Further problems.
• the information returned as the result of a protected operation must be hidden from unauthorised users.
This means that the messages containing the information must be encrypted in case they are intercepted
by unauthorised users.

1.10 - The INFO service manages a potentially very large set of resources, each of which can be accessed
by users throughout the Internet by means of a key (a string name). Discuss an approach to the
design of the names of the resources that achieves the minimum loss of performance as the number
of resources in the service increases. Suggest how the INFO service can be implemented so as to
avoid performance bottlenecks when the number of users becomes very large.

1.10 - Answer

Algorithms that use hierarchic structures scale better than those that use linear structures. Therefore the
solution should suggest a hierarchic naming scheme. e.g. that each resource has an name of the form ’A.B.C’
etc. where the time taken is O(log n) where there are n resources in the system.
To allow for large numbers of users, the resources are partitioned amongst several servers, e.g. names
starting with A at server 1, with B at server 2 and so forth. There could be more than one level of partitioning
as in DNS. To avoid performance bottlenecks the algorithm for looking up a name must be decentralised. That
is, the same server must not be involved in looking up every name. (A centralised solution would use a single
root server that holds a location database that maps parts of the information onto particular servers). Some
replication is required to avoid such centralisation. For example: i) the location database might be replicated at multiple root servers or ii) the location database might be replicated in every server. In both cases, different
clients must access different servers (e.g. local ones or randomly).

1.11 - List the three main software components that may fail when a client process invokes a method in
a server object, giving an example of a failure in each case. To what extent are these failures
independent of one another? Suggest how the components can be made to tolerate one another’s
failures.
1.11 - Answer

The three main software components that may fail are:
• the client process e.g. it may crash
• the server process e.g. the process may crash
• the communication software e.g. a message may fail to arrive
The failures are generally caused independently of one another. Examples of dependent failures:
• if the loss of a message causes the client or server process to crash. (The crashing of a server would cause
a client to perceive that a reply message is missing and might indirectly cause it to fail).
• if clients crashing cause servers problems.
• if the crash of a process causes a failures in the communication software.
Both processes should be able to tolerate missing messages. The client must tolerate a missing reply message
after it has sent an invocation request message. Instead of making the user wait forever for the reply, a client
process could use a timeout and then tell the user it has not been able to contact the server.
A simple server just waits for request messages, executes invocations and sends replies. It should be
absolutely immune to lost messages. But if a server stores information about its clients it might eventually fail
if clients crash without informing the server (so that it can remove redundant information). (See stateless
servers in chapter 4/5/8).
The communication software should be designed to tolerate crashes in the communicating processes.
For example, the failure of one process should not cause problems in the communication between the surviving
processes.
1.12 - A server process maintains a shared information object such as the BLOB object of Exercise 1.7.
Give arguments for and against allowing the client requests to be executed concurrently by the
server. In the case that they are executed concurrently, give an example of possible ‘interference’
that can occur between the operations of different clients. Suggest how such interference may be
prevented.
1.12 - Answer
For concurrent executions - more throughput in the server (particularly if the server has to access a disk or
another service)
Against - problems of interference between concurrent operations
Example:
Client A’s thread reads value of variable X
Client B’s thread reads value of variable X
Client A’s thread adds 1 to its value and stores the result in X
Client B’s thread subtracts 1 from its value and stores the result in X
Result: X := X-1; imagine that X is the balance of a bank account, and clients A and B are implementing credit
and debit transactions, and you can see immediately that the result is incorrect.
To overcome interference use some form of concurrency control. For example, for a Java server use
synchronized operations such as credit and debit.

1.13 - A service is implemented by several servers. Explain why resources might be transferred between
them. Would it be satisfactory for clients to multicast all requests to the group of servers as a way
of achieving mobility transparency for clients?
1.13 - Answer

Migration of resources (information objects) is performed: to reduce communication delays (place objects in
a server that is on the same local network as their most frequent users); to balance the load of processing and
or storage utilisation between different servers.
If all servers receive all requests, the communication load on the network is much increased and servers must
do unnecessary work filtering out requests for objects that they do not hold.

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Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design. by George Coulouris. Exercise Solutions 2

2011-04-30T10:00:00.000+01:00

Edition 3

By George Coulouris, Jean Dollimore and Tim Kindberg

Addison-Wesley, ©Pearson Education 2001

Chapter 1 Exercise Solutions

1.2 How might the clocks in two computers that are linked by a local network be synchronized without

reference to an external time source? What factors limit the accuracy of the procedure you have

described? How could the clocks in a large number of computers connected by the Internet be

synchronized? Discuss the accuracy of that procedure.

1.2 Answer

Several time synchronization protocols are described in Section 10.3. One of these is Cristian’s protocol.

Briefly, the round trip time t to send a message and a reply between computer A and computer B is measured

by repeated tests; then computer A sends its clock setting T to computer B. B sets its clock to T+t/2. The setting

can be refined by repetition. The procedure is subject to inaccuracy because of contention for the use of the

local network from other computers and delays in the processing the messages in the operating systems of A

and B. For a local network, the accuracy is probably within 1 ms.

For a large number of computers, one computer should be nominated to act as the time server and it

should carry out Cristian’s protocol with all of them. The protocol can be initiated by each in turn. Additional

inaccuracies arise in the Internet because messages are delayed as they pass through switches in wider area

networks. For a wide area network the accuracy is probably within 5-10 ms. These answers do not take into

account the need for fault-tolerance. See Chapter 10 for further details.

1.3 A user arrives at a railway station that she has never visited before, carrying a PDA that is capable

of wireless networking. Suggest how the user could be provided with information about the local

services and amenities at that station, without entering the station’s name or attributes. What

technical challenges must be overcome?

1.3 Answer

The user must be able to acquire the address of locally relevant information as automatically as possible. One

method is for the local wireless network to provide the URL of web pages about the locality over a local

wireless network.

For this to work: (1) the user must run a program on her device that listens for these URLs, and which gives

the user sufficient control that she is not swamped by unwanted URLs of the places she passes through; and

(2) the means of propagating the URL (e.g. infrared or an 802.11 wireless LAN) should have a reach that

corresponds to the physical spread of the place itself.

1.4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of HTML, URLs and HTTP as core technologies for

information browsing? Are any of these technologies suitable as a basis for client-server

computing in general?

1.4 Answer

HTML is a relatively straightforward language to parse and render but it confuses presentation with the

underlying data that is being presented.

URLs are efficient resource locators but they are not sufficiently rich as resource links. For example, they may

point at a resource that has been relocated or destroyed; their granularity (a whole resource) is too coarsegrained

for many purposes.

HTTP is a simple protocol that can be implemented with a small footprint, and which can be put to use in many

types of content transfer and other types of service. Its verbosity (HTML messages tend to contain many

strings) makes it inefficient for passing small amounts of data.

HTTP and URLs are acceptable as a basis for client-server computing except that (a) there is no strong typechecking

(web services operate by-value type checking without compiler support), (b) there is the inefficiency

that we have mentioned.

1.5 Use the World Wide Web as an example to illustrate the concept of resource sharing, client and

server.

Resources in the World Wide Web and other services are named by URLs. What do the initials URL denote? Give examples of three different sorts of web resources that can be named by URLs.

1.5 Answer

Web Pages are examples of resources that are shared. These resources are managed by Web servers.

Client-server architecture. The Web Browser is a client program (e.g. Netscape) that runs on the user's

computer. The Web server accesses local files containing the Web pages and then supplies them to client

browser processes.

URL - Uniform Resource Locator

(3 of the following a file or a image, movies, sound, anything that can be rendered, a query to a database or to

a search engine.

1.6 Give an example of a URL.

List the three main components of a URL, stating how their boundaries are denoted and illustrating

each one from your example.

To what extent is a URL location transparent?

1.6 Answer

• The protocol to use. the part before the colon, in the example the protocol to use is http ("HyperText

Transport Protocol").

• The part between // and / is the Domain name of the Web server host www.dcs.qmw.ac.uk.

• The remainder refers to information on that host - named within the top level directory used by that Web

server research/distrib/book.html.

The hostname www is location independent so we have location transparency in that the address

of a particular computer is not included. Therefore the organisation may move the Web service to

another computer.

But if the responsibility for providing a WWW-based information service moves to another

organisation, the URL would need to be changed.

1.7 A server program written in one language (for example C++) provides the implementation of a

BLOB object that is intended to be accessed by clients that may be written in a different language

(for example Java). The client and server computers may have different hardware, but all of them

are attached to an internet. Describe the problems due to each of the five aspects of heterogeneity

that need to be solved to make it possible for a client object to invoke a method on the server

object.

1.7 Answer

As the computers are attached to an internet, we can assume that Internet protocols deal with differences in

networks.

But the computers may have different hardware - therefore we have to deal with differences of

representation of data items in request and reply messages from clients to objects. A common standard will be

defined for each type of data item that must be transmitted between the object and its clients.

The computers may run different operating systems, therefore we need to deal with different operations

to send and receive messages or to express invocations. Thus at the Java/C++ level a common operation would

be used which will be translated to the particular operation according to the operating system it runs on.

We have two different programming languages C++ and Java, they use different representations for data

structures such as strings, arrays, records. A common standard will be defined for each type of data structure

that must be transmitted between the object and its clients and a way of translating between that data structure

and each of the languages.

We may have different implementors, e.g. one for C++ and the other for Java. They will need to agree

on the common standards mentioned above and to document them.

1.8 An open distributed system allows new resource sharing services such as the BLOB object in

Exercise 1.7 to be added and accessed by a variety of client programs. Discuss in the context of

this example, to what extent the needs of openness differ from those of heterogeneity.

1.8 Answer

To add the BLOB object to an existing open distributed system, the standards mentioned in the answer to

Exercise 1.7 must already have been agreed for the distributed system To list them again:

• the distributed system uses a common set of communication protocols (probably Internet protocols).

• it uses an defined standard for representing data items (to deal with heterogeneity of hardware).

• It uses a common standard for message passing operations (or for invocations).

• It uses a language independent standard for representing data structures.

But for the open distributed system the standards must have been agreed and documented before the BLOB

object was implemented. The implementors must conform to those standards. In addition, the interface to the

BLOB object must be published so that when it is added to the system, both existing and new clients will be

able to access it. The publication of the standards allows parts of the system to be implemented by different

vendors and to work together.

Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design. by George Coulouris. Exercise Solutions

2011-04-30T09:49:00.000+01:00

Edition 3
By George Coulouris, Jean Dollimore and Tim Kindberg
Addison-Wesley, ©Pearson Education 2001
Chapter 1 Exercise Solutions

1.1 Give five types of hardware resource and five types of data or software resource that can usefully
be shared. Give examples of their sharing as it occurs in distributed systems.
1.1 Answer

Hardware:
CPU: compute server (executes processor-intensive applications for clients), remote object server
(executes methods on behalf of clients), worm program (shares cpu capacity of desktop machine with the
local user). Most other servers, such as file servers, do some computation for their clients, hence their cpu
is a shared resource.
memory: cache server (holds recently-accessed web pages in its RAM, for faster access by other local
computers)
disk: file server, virtual disk server (see Chapter 8), video on demand server (see Chapter 15).
screen: Network window systems, such as X-11, allow processes in remote computers to update the
content of windows.
printer: networked printers accept print jobs from many computers. managing them with a queuing
system.
network capacity: packet transmission enables many simultaneous communication channels (streams of
data) to be transmitted on the same circuits.
Data/software:
web page: web servers enable multiple clients to share read-only page content (usually stored in a file, but
sometimes generated on-the-fly).
file: file servers enable multiple clients to share read-write files. Conflicting updates may result in
inconsistent results. Most useful for files that change infrequently, such as software binaries.
object: possibilities for software objects are limitless. E.g. shared whiteboard, shared diary, room booking
system, etc.
database: databases are intended to record the definitive state of some related sets of data. They have been
shared ever since multi-user computers appeared. They include techniques to manage concurrent updates.
newsgroup content: The netnews system makes read-only copies of the recently-posted news items
available to clients throughout the Internet. A copy of newsgroup content is maintained at each netnews
server that is an approximate replica of those at other servers. Each server makes its data available to
multiple clients.
video/audio stream: Servers can store entire videos on disk and deliver them at playback speed to multiple
clients simultaneously.
exclusive lock: a system-level object provided by a lock server, enabling several clients to coordinate their
use of a resource (such as printer that does not include a queuing scheme).

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Distributed Information Systems (DIS) Exam questions and Answers. Domain Name Service (DNS)

2011-04-30T02:12:00.000+01:00

Clearly describe the purpose and architecture of the Domain Name Service (DNS). Your answer should:

Discuss the structure of the name space, and how this is reflected in the organisation of the domain name database.
Describe the functionalities of the various types of DNS server, and
Illustrate at least one example of an iterative query and at least one example of a recursive query.

Answer:

The main purpose of the DNS is to resolve human-friendly URLs into IP addresses
(numerical, logical addresses).

Architecture of DNS
- Domain Name Service (DNS) is a hierarchical system of name servers, each authoritive for
one or more domains within the Domain Name Space.
Organisation of name servers, root servers, then those lower down the hierarchy to leaf (zonedomain)
level. Delegation of responsibility resulting in a scalable and easy-to-modify
distributed database

The DNS hierarchical structure above

The following four types of server are used in the DNS:

Primary master retrieves data from the host that it runs on and its data is held in a stored
database. The Secondary master gets its data from another master that authoritative for
the zone (i.e. a Primary Master). It contacts an authoritative name server and
pulls the zone data over greatly reduce administrative load. The Caching name server does
not have a database of mappings between IP addresses and names at start-up. It knows of
Primary and Secondary servers which can supply such information if required. The use of
caching servers are used to reduce the load on Primary and Secondary servers. The slave
name server operates in a similar way to a Caching name server however it is less
sophisticated than the other types of server and cannot not follow redirections.
Query types could be either recursive or iterative. With iterative queries the NS gives the
best answer it already knows. This might result in the name server referring the requester to a
‘closer’ name server that it knows. – There is no additional querying of other name servers.
In contrast with recursive query resolution is managed by a single NS. The NS must return
the final answer. This may involve querying other name servers and following ‘referrals’
received thus resulting in further queries being sent to other name servers.

Recursive query above

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Introduction to Firewalls - HND and BSc level

2011-04-18T12:28:00.001+01:00

A firewall is a hardware or software solution that enforces an organisation’s security policies, by restricting access to specific network resources. It enforces an access control policy between two networks. The actual means by which this is accomplished varies widely, but in principle, the firewall can be thought of as two mechanisms: one that blocks traffic, and one which permits traffic (rules). Probably the most important thing to recognise about a firewall is that it implements an access control policy.

The network inhabited by the gateway is often called a demilitarised zone (DMZ). The DMZ refers to a part of the network that is neither part of the internal network or directly part of the Internet.

4 general techniques that firewalls use to control access and enforce the site’s security policy:-

Service control – determines the type of Internet services that can be accessed inbound or outbound. The firewall may filter traffic on the basis of IP address and TCP port number: may provide proxy software that receives and interprets each server request before passing it on, or may host the server software
Direction control – determines the direction in which particular service requests may be initiated and allowed to flow through
User control – controls access to a service according to which user is attempting to access it. This feature is typically applied to users inside the firewall. It may also be applied to incoming traffic (requires some form of secure authentication).
Behaviour control – controls how services are used – e.g. may filter emails to eliminate spam.

Types of Firewalls
There are two general types of firewalls: application layer firewalls and packet filtering firewalls.

A Bastion host is one which has been identified as a critical strong point in the network’s security. Only services that are considered essential are installed on the bastion host and it operates a secure version of the operating system, making it a trusted system.

Firewall Configurations
There are three common firewall configurations:

screened host firewall, single homed bastion;
screened host firewall, dual-homed bastion;
screened subnet firewall.

Firewalls can not protect against attacks that bypass the firewall, disgruntled employees or the transfer of a virus-infected programs.

HND System Analysis Assignment

2011-04-14T11:33:00.004+01:00

System Analysis

Assignment 1

Question 1

What are the main stages of a system development life cycle (SDLC)?

Answer

The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a conceptual model used in project management that describes the stages involved in an information system development project from an initial feasibility study through maintenance of the completed application. Various SDLC methodologies have been developed to guide the processes involved including the waterfall model (the original SDLC method), rapid application development (RAD), joint application development (JAD), the fountain model and the spiral model. Mostly, several models are combined into some sort of hybrid methodology. Documentation is crucial regardless of the type of model chosen or devised for any application, and is usually done in parallel with the development process. Some methods work better for specific types of projects, but in the final analysis, the most important factor for the success of a project may be how closely particular plan was followed.

The list below is the classic Waterfall model methodology, which is the first SDLC method and it describes the various phases involved in development:

Planning/ Feasibility
Analysis
Design
Implementation
Test
Maintenance

Planning/feasibility studying

The feasibility study is used to determine if the project should get the go-ahead. If the project is to proceed, the feasibility study will produce a project plan and budget estimates for the future stages of development.
Requirement Analysis and Design
Analysisgathers the requirements for the system. This stage includes a detailed study of the business needs of the organization. Options for changing the business process may be considered. Design focuses on high level design like, what programs are needed and how are they going to interact, low-level design (how the individual programs are going to work), interface design (what are the interfaces going to look like) and data design (what data will be required). During these phases, the software's overall structure is defined. Analysis and Design are very crucial in the whole development cycle. Any glitch in the design phase could be very expensive to solve in the later stage of the software development. Much care is taken during this phase. The logical system of the product is developed in this phase.
Implementation
In this phase the designs are translated into code. Computer programs are written using a conventional programming language or an application generator. Programming tools like Compilers, Interpreters, Debuggers are used to generate the code. Different high level programming languages like C, C++, Pascal, Java are used for coding. With respect to the type of application, the right programming language is chosen.
Testing
In this phase the system is tested. Normally programs are written as a series of individual modules, these subject to separate and detailed test. The system is then tested as a whole. The separate modules are brought together and tested as a complete system. The system is tested to ensure that interfaces between modules work (integration testing), the system works on the intended platform and with the expected volume of data (volume testing) and that the system does what the user requires (acceptance/beta testing).
Maintenance
Inevitably the system will need maintenance. Software will definitely undergo change once it is delivered to the customer. There are many reasons for the change. Change could happen because of some unexpected input values into the system. In addition, the changes in the system could directly affect the software operations. The software should be developed to accommodate changes that could happen during the post implementation period.

Question 2

Explain the function and purpose of each and every stages of the SDLC in context of the SSADM. Clearly describe which measures must be taken after completing each stage and before starting the next stage of the life cycle.

Answer

Planning and feasibility study

In this level analysis get all the information about the company, which need system of information. In another hand analysis must get good acknowledgement about all information that belongs to the system that going to build

The aim is to evaluate the feasibility of the proposal, involving an analysis of the problem and determination of the best solution; usually a range of potential solutions are presented. Context diagrams, current physical DFDs, overview ERDs, a requirements catalogue, project management techniques such as activity networks and Gantt charts are produced. To pass this stage and go through to system development a proposal must demonstrate fallowing stages:

• Economic feasibility

• Technical feasibility

• Operational feasibility

Economic feasibility

Economic feasibility is to assess the costs required for alternative systems and set them against the expected benefits. The types of alternatives that are frequently considered are the manual/computer boundaries as some tasks may benefit more than other s from computerization and non-functional characteristics such as the time delay between the real world and the different parts of the system: should we be looking at batch, on-line or real-time or a combination? The system costs should also be estimated in terms of basic resources of money, people and time

Technical Feasibility

This is concerned with whether the solution can be implemented using existing technology. If it can then existing technology may require upgrading or adding to. If it can be done then the solution may require the integration of equipment or software that has not been combined before. Non-functional requirements such as batch or on-line processing, maximum response time for user-computer interaction, estimated frequency of transactions, maximum record and file sizes, networking loads and typical number of users are considered here. In addition, requirements of system expansion, security, data archiving and reliability are considered

Operational Feasibility

This investigates factors such as the likely reaction of employees and union representatives to job and other proposed organisational changes. The main aim is to assess whether the solution will operate and be used after installation. For example, if users are happy with the current system and see no reason to change then there may be a high degree of resistance to the new proposal. Relevant factors here concern whether the solution has general management support and whether or not the users have been involved in the development of the proposal.

Analysis

Basically analysis is getting information by several survey methods .and investigate them as much as deep in side and decide kind of options available to resolve the case. An overview of the current processing and data is created. Current problems are documented as necessary improvements and any new data or functions that will be required. The intended users of the new system are also identified

One option that covers the stated minimum requirements and no more One option that covers every new requirement; Up to four options that each cover the stated minimum requirement and a different set of the other requirements.

The six options will then cover six different boundaries and six different functionalities - all will cover the minimum functionality required.

“Business System Option-A Business System Option (BSO) describes a suggested new system in terms of its functionality and its boundary: inputs, outputs, processes and data are described. The aim is to help the users choose, from all the listed requirements, just what they want their new system to do.”

Logical system specification

Technical System Options

This assesses the different options for implementing the specification and describes the costs, benefits and constraints. Factors include internal and external constraints. External constraints consist of, for example, time, cost, business performance and any hardware or software constraints set in the feasibility study.

The procedure for producing and selecting Technical System Options is very similar to that for BSOs. First, draw up an initial list of approximately six options. The skeletal TSOs(technical system option) should then be expanded to include details derived from potential suppliers such as:

• Cost;

• Facilities;

• Performance;

• Support etc.

The intention is not to decide on a choice of vendor but to establish ballpark figures and estimates to present to the Project Board for each TSO. As with BSOs, the range should cover:

• One option that suggests no change;

• One option that covers the stated minimum requirements and no more;

• One option that covers every new requirement;

• Up to four options that each covers the stated minimum requirement and a different set of the other requirements.

The range should then be examined to eliminate obvious non-starters. The remaining TSOs should then be presented to the board

“Logical Design

The Logical Dialogue of the system is defined. This does not include the physical dialogues (menu structures, form designs etc.). Neither is this the stage at which the physical screen characteristics are defined. At this stage the logical exchange of data is defined.

The Update Processing is also defined. This specifies the logic of each database update required for an event. The Entity Life Histories are updated with State Indicators. State Indicators describe the specific state of the data associated with each event in the ELH. For example, when a Customer Record is created the initial state of all the attributes is empty. As the Customer Record is processed the state of the attributes will change over time. “

Physical Design

The Physical Environment the system will operate in is considered.

A Physical Environment Classification Scheme is used to categorize the physical environment. The scheme considers factors including:

• Data storage;

• Performance;

• Processing characteristics.

The characteristics, demands and constraints of the environment will clearly have an effect on translation from the Logical Design. Decisions such as demoralising, clustering and indexing will be made at this time.

Question 3

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of waterfall model and spiral model of system development.

Answer

Waterfall model

The waterfall model is a sequential software development process, in which progress is seen as flowing steadily downwards (like a waterfall) through the phases of Conception, Initiation, Analysis, Design (validation), Construction, Testing and maintenance.

The waterfall development model has its origins in the manufacturing and construction industries; highly structured physical environments in which after-the-fact changes are prohibitively costly, if not impossible. Since no formal software development methodologies existed at the time, this hardware-oriented model was simply adapted for software development.

The first formal description of the waterfall model is often cited to be an article published in 1970 by Winston W. Royce (1929–1995), although Royce did not use the term "waterfall" in this article. Royce was presenting this model as an example of a flawed, non-working model (Royce 1970). This is in fact the way the term has generally been used in writing about software development—as a way to criticize a commonly used software practice.

Advantages of Waterfall Model
1. Clear project objectives.
2. Stable project requirements.
3. Progress of system is measurable.
4. Strict sign-off requirements.

Disadvantages of Waterfall Model
1. Time consuming
2. Never backward (Traditional)
3. Little room for iteration
4. Difficulty responding to changes

Spiral model

Spiral model combines the iterative nature of prototyping with the controlled and systematic aspects of the waterfall model, therein providing the potential for rapid development of incremental versions of the software. In this model the software is developed in a series of incremental releases with the early stages being either paper models or prototypes. Later iterations become increasingly more complete versions of the product.

Advantages of the Spiral Model

The spiral model is a realistic approach to the development of large-scale software products because the software evolves as the process progresses. In addition, the developer and the client better understand and react to risks at each evolutionary level.
The model uses prototyping as a risk reduction mechanism and allows for the development of prototypes at any stage of the evolutionary development.
It maintains a systematic stepwise approach, like the classic life cycle model, but incorporates it into an iterative framework that more reflect the real world.
If employed correctly, this model should reduce risks before they become problematic, as consideration of technical risks are considered at all stages.

Disadvantages of the Spiral Model

Demands considerable risk-assessment expertise
It has not been employed as much proven models and hence may prove difficult to ‘sell’ to the client that this model is controllable and efficient.
Highly customized limiting re-usability
Applied differently for each application
Risk of not meeting budget or schedule
Possibility to end up implemented as the Waterfall framework

Assignment 2

Assume that you have to build an IT system for Flaters Limited. Use the information from handout and a produce a project report which should include the following parts:

Question 1

Using your fact finding techniques, clearly identify the user needs and system requirements throughout all the departments. Annex any questionnaires or forms which you will be using for the above purpose.

Answer

Departments

Order Handling

Order Progress

Invoicing

Sales

Production

Component manufacture

Assembly

Packing & Despatch

Maintenance

Raw Materials

Accounts

Sales Ledger

Purchase Ledger

Budgetary Control

Personnel

Recruitment

Payroll

Sick Records

Pensions

Order Handling:

Despatch instructions are sent to despatch section (production dept)
Invoice is sent to customers
Invoice copy is sent to account department

Production Department:

Component Manufacture

Barrels
Caps
Pistons
Mountings

Sides
Spacers
Name Plates

Springs

Assembly Shop: Body of the pump & the mountings are assembled first. Paint & dry the parts. Piston, valve and pressure gauge are added if required.
Packing & Dispatch

Checking the assembled pump;
Boxing the pump and putting into the storage;
Matching pumps to order and packing for despatch;
Preparing the despatch documentation;
Ensuring that adequate stocks are maintained.

The Maintenance

Maintaining the production Machines;
General Building Maintenance
Personnel Maintenance

The Raw Materials

Receipt of Raw Materials
Maintaining stock
Raising purchase orders

Personnel Department

Staff Recruitment: Recruitment of clerks, typists and production personnel.

Sick & Pension Fund Records: Maintain personnel records and prepare the statutory returns to the DSS for sick payments.

Payroll: Extensive references made to the personnel records to obtain relevant information.

Time Recording (time office): Produces weekly time-sheet for each employee.

Hours worked
Hours worked on a given machine type
Overtime worked

Wages Calculation: Calculates basic pay, bonus pay and net pay. The wages office receives information from:

Time-office – time-sheets
Personnel – Sick pay requirements
Tax Code
Pension and other deductions
Production – Production figures

Pay office: Basic pay is calculated. Employees can work on different machines or in different sections. ‘Idle time’ is produced for Production Management. Production sends the wages office a weekly report on production levels.

The output from the wages office:

Pay-slips which go to pay office
Inland revenue returns (tax, N.I.,sick pay)
Idle time statement to production management
Cost statement to by department/section to accounts
Cash requirement statements to bank

The pay-office is responsible for preparing the pay packets and issuing them to the employees.

Question 2

Produce a first cut use case diagram.

Answer

Question 3

Investigate the Flaters Limited organisation from the handout. Use information from the handout to produce the following using a case tool for the existing system:

Context diagram for the existing system

Answer

· Entity Relationship Diagram

Answer

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HND Personal Skills Development Assignment

2011-04-14T11:20:00.002+01:00

Personal Skills Development

Question 1

Examine the importance of transferable and communication skills within organisations identifying different communication methods both verbal and non-verbal as well as transferable skills such as writing reports, memo etc.

Answer

Verbal Communication

Four methods of verbal communication are listed below. When we go out to communicate with people we have one of four things in mind and they are all explained below one by one:

1. Inform: First one is to inform people. You would inform people on how your assignments or projects are going. You would sit down and give them a report. That is information.

2. To make a request: If we are in a situation where we need a help, we make a request or just simply we ask help. Asking help is the most effective way of getting help. We all have a natural empathy for those in need. When we make a request we need to ask for people’s help. We need to state our request clearly. We need to make sure that people understand it and to make them commit whatever is requested.

3. Influence: Third form of communication is influence. This is something politicians do well. They give a great attention to how they dress, the words they use. They pay attention how they are influencing the audience. They give an attention whether they are getting applause or not, whether people smile or respond in an expected way or not. So when we set out some influence on somebody we need to remember that we are communicating far more than just verbal terms.

4. Entertain: And the forth method of verbal communication is entertaining. This is something comedians are good at. You are all the time calibrating or measuring what makes them smile and what doesn’t.

Non-verbal Communication

Communication is the transfer of information from one person to another. Most of us spend about 75 percent of our waking hours communicating our knowledge, thoughts, and ideas to others. However, most of us fail to realize that a great deal of our communication is of a non-verbal form as opposed to the oral and written forms. Non-verbal communication includes facial expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, body posture and motions, and positioning within groups. It may also include the way we wear our clothes or the silence we keep.
In person-to-person communications our messages are sent on two levels simultaneously. If the nonverbal cues and the spoken message are incongruous, the flow of communication is hindered. Right or wrong, the receiver of the communication tends to base the intentions of the sender on the non- verbal cues he receives.
G. W. Porter divides non-verbal communication into four broad categories:

1. Physical. This is the personal type of communication. It includes facial expressions, tone of voice, sense of touch, sense of smell, and body motions.

2. Aesthetic. This is the type of communication that takes place through creative expressions: playing instrumental music, dancing, painting and sculpturing.

3. Signs. This is the mechanical type of communication, which includes the use of signal flags, the 21-gun salute, horns, and sirens.

4. Symbolic. This is the type of communication that makes use of religious, status, or ego-building symbols.

Importance of communication skills

Knowledge of non-verbal communication is important managers who serve as leaders of organizational "teams," for at least two reasons:

To function effectively as a team leader the manager must interact with the other members successfully. Non-verbal cues, when interpreted correctly, provide him with one means to do so.
The team members project attitudes and feelings through non-verbal communication. Some personal needs such as approval, growth, achievement, and recognition may be met in effective teams. The extent to which these needs are met is closely related to how perceptive the team leader and team members are to non-verbal communication in themselves and in others on the team.

If the team members show a true awareness to non-verbal cues, the organization will have a better chance to succeed, for it will be an open, honest, and confronting unit.

What are transferable skills?
Generic (or general) transferable skills are those skills, abilities and personal attributes which you can use in a wide range of activities, both in and out of employment, and that are not specific to the subject you studied.
There exist many transferable skills, but most can be summarised under four main headings:

communication and presentation skills (oral, written and graphic);
teamwork or interpersonal skills (e.g. negotiating, listening, sharing, empathising);
management or organising and planning skills (including self management skills such as integrity, honesty and ethical behaviour); and
Intellectual and creative skills (such as problem solving and 'thinking beyond the square').

Skills that you have developed in a specific subject area at university (e.g. sociology, psychology, archaeology) may be transferred from that context into another (e.g. another topic or a community role or a employment-related task).
Let's discuss that more fully though the example of writing.
The ability to communicate effectively in writing is examples of a transferable skill area that you may have develop through different kinds of exercise at university. These could include those assignments that require you to write essays, fieldwork reports, laboratory reports, or text for posters. Whilst you may develop your ability to communicate in writing in a particular context (for example, within your particular disciplinary area or within the context of university assignments) your various abilities can be transferred across (used in) several contexts. You will probably find that you need to, or will, develop these skills to progressively higher levels in your work and community life to produce, for example, policy papers, annual reports, published articles, or books and to present your ideas at conferences, board meetings or public forums.
Why are they important?

Transferable skills empower you to use and effectively apply the specific knowledge you develop through higher education. For example, expertise with 'MS-Excel' or 'SPSS' enables you to use and present discipline-specific data effectively.
Transferable skills enable you to perform different work or professional roles from those for which you have been educated. For example, well-developed transferable skills might allow the social work professional to move from social work practice into hospital policy.
Transferable skills are mutually supportive. For example, interpersonal skills (such as how well you listen) are often closely connected to your ability to communicate effectively (such as how much impact your written or spoken word has on others).

For these reasons, transferable skills are valued highly by universities and by the communities of which you will be a part. They are among the qualities and attributes treasured by an educational tradition which endeavours to provide a broadening of horizons, preparing graduates for a critical, aware and responsible appreciation of the world.
Question 2
Explain the concept of group dynamics and teamwork addressing issues such as group formation, Belbin’s team roles, and Honey Mumford’s learning styles before identifying and explaining which team role and learning style best suit you.
Answer

The Concept of Group Dynamics

The term “group dynamics” refers to the structures and processes by which groups form and function. The study of the dynamics of a group includes questions such as: How is the group formed? Why is the group formed? How is the group structured? How does the group operate? How does the group affect individual members, other groups and the organization? Healthy and confident group dynamics require the participation of group members, participatory leadership, motivation, effective communication and productive conflict resolution.

Groups must be managed and maintained. Managing the group should be undertaken by the group, and be a normal part of group activities.

Group Formation

Tuckman and Jensen draw on the movement known as group dynamics, which is concerned with why groups behave in particular ways. This offers various suggestions for how groups are formed and how they develop over time. The formation of some groups can be represented as a spiral; other groups form with sudden movements forward and then have periods with no change. Whatever variant of formation each group exhibits, they suggest that all groups pass through six sequential stages of development. These stages may be longer or shorter for each group, or for individual members of the group, but all groups will need to experience them. They are forming, storming, norming, performing, mourning and retiring.
The terms are pretty self explanatory. When a group is forming, participants can feel anxious not knowing how the group will work or what exactly will be required of them. Storming, as the word suggests, is when things may get stormy. Conflict can emerge, individual differences are expressed and the leader's role may be challenged. The value and the feasibility of the task may also be challenged. After the storm comes the calm of norming, where the group starts to function harmoniously and where participants co-operate and mutual support develops. This enables the performing stage to occur where the work really takes off and the group accepts a structure and method for achieving the common task. When the group retires or adjourns, much learning happens through informal chat and feedback about the group performance. Tuckman and Jenson recognise that when groups dismantle themselves and the loose ends are all tied up, participants often go through a stage of mourning or grieving.
This model is useful to know, so that when your group appears to be going nowhere or perhaps members are arguing so much that no work can be started, you understand that this is normal! Most groups go through these phases. Understanding this pattern empowers you to work towards moving the group onto the next phase.

1. Forming

What was the task?
Did you all share the same expectations of the task?
Did you all have the same attitude to working in a group?
Did you feel any anxiety at the outset of the activity?

2. Storming

Was there any conflict in the group?
Did you all agree on the means of carrying out the task?
Did you have a leader and was his/her authority challenged?
Did any group members withdraw from the group?

3. Norming

Did you move on to agree methods of working?
Did you have a common goal?
Did you cooperate with each other?
Did you work out how to proceed at all? (If not, you were probably still storming.)

4. Performing

Did everyone take on a functional role to achieve the task?
Did you work constructively and efficiently?
Did the group's activity focus on fulfilling the task?
Did you experience a sense of achievement?

5. Retiring/Adjourning

Did you stop abruptly and all go your separate ways or did you finish the task and then go off together and socialize?
Did you talk about the group and your experience of it?
What sort of issues did you discuss or think about after the group activity?
Was it more or less acceptable to give and receive feedback in a relaxed atmosphere when adjourning?

6. Mourning/Grieving

Have you experienced the mourning stage following the completion of a show or project?
Have you ever felt empty or sad when a group activity has finished?
Why might some people feel the mourning stage more acutely than others?
How do you deal with your own feelings after the project or show?

According to the quantitative survey done by University of Leicester the success or failure of group work often depended on how the group was formed at the start of the project/teamwork. The most favoured formation method was where students are grouped according to a shared interest (44.4%), followed, at some distance, by the tutor selecting the group (31.3%). The students in the sample rejected self selecting group formation (a common means of achieving groups in many departments) and also randomised group formation (9% and 12.5 percent respectively).

Belbin’s Team Roles

These types (or 'roles') were defined by Dr. R. Meredith Belbin after studying teams at Henley Management College. Meredith’s work at Henley Management College identified nine clusters of behaviour, termed Team Roles. Each Team Role has its particular strengths and allowable weaknesses, and each has an important contribution to make to a team.

Overall	Belbin roles	Description
Doing / acting	Implementer	Well-organized and predictable. Takes basic ideas and makes them work in practice. Can be slow.
	Shaper	Lots of energy and action, challenging others to move forwards. Can be insensitive.
	Completer/Finisher	Reliably sees things through to the end, ironing out the wrinkles and ensuring everything works well. Can worry too much and not trust others.
Thinking / problem-solving	Plant	Solves difficult problems with original and creative ideas. Can be poor communicator and may ignore the details.
	Monitor/Evaluator	Sees the big picture. Thinks carefully and accurately about things. May lack energy or ability to inspire others.
	Specialist	Has expert knowledge/skills in key areas and will solve many problems here. Can be disinterested in all other areas.
People / feelings	Coordinator	Respected leader who helps everyone focus on their task. Can be seen as excessively controlling.
	Team worker	Cares for individuals and the team. Good listener and works to resolve social problems. Can have problems making difficult decisions.
	Resource/investigator	Explores new ideas and possibilities with energy and with others. Good networker. Can be too optimistic and lose energy after the initial flush.

Another way of dividing them is:

Overall	Belbin role
Leading	Coordinator
Leading	Shaper
Doing	Implementer
Doing	Completer/finisher
Thinking	Monitor/Evaluator
	Plant
	Specialist
Socializing	Resource/investigator
Socializing	Team Worker

Balanced teams

Teams work best when there is a balance of primary roles and when team members know their roles, work to their strengths and actively manage weaknesses.

To achieve the best balance, there should be:
One Co-ordinator or Shaper (not both) for leader
A Plant to stimulate ideas
A Monitor/evaluator to maintain honesty and clarity
One or more Implementer, Team worker, Resource investigator or Completer/finisher to make things happen

Honey and Mumford’s Lerning Styles

In the mid 1970’s Peter Honey and Alan Mumford adapted David Kolb’s model for use with a population of middle/senior managers in business. They published their version of the model in The Manual of Learning Styles (1982) and Using Your Learning Styles (1983).

Two adaptations were made to Kolb’s experiential model. Firstly, the stages in the cycle were renamed to accord with managerial experiences of decision making/problem solving. The Honey & Mumford stages are:

1. Having an experience

2. Reviewing the experience

3. Concluding from the experience

4. Planning the next steps.

Secondly, the styles were directly aligned to the stages in the cycle and named Activist, Reflector, Theorist and Pragmatist. These are assumed to be acquired preferences that are adaptable, either at will or through changed circumstances, rather than being fixed personality characteristics. The Honey & Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ) is a self-development tool and differs from Kolb’s Learning Style inventory by inviting managers to complete a checklist of work-related behaviours without directly asking managers how they learn. Having completed the self-assessment, managers are encouraged to focus on strengthening underutilised styles in order to become better equipped to learn from a wide range of everyday experiences.

Which team role and learning style best suit me?

Among Belbin’s Team Roles Plant suits me best. Under Thinking and Problem solving section, Plant explained as someone solves difficult problems with original and creative ideas. A person can be poor communicator and may ignore the details.

I generally focus on the main part of the task. I could come up with interesting and unusual solutions and always focus on taking care of the main task and always tend to leave the rest of the work or some details to the rest of the team.

Among Honey and Mumford’s learning styles Pragmatist suits me best. I dream about things but generally I keep my feet on ground. I am not much into flying high and then falling apart. I scale things carefully.

Question 3
You have just been appointed to the post of IT Manager. Your company is considering whether to implement a new computer-based contact management and sales processing system for the sales department. A department only has a few computers, and the salespeople are not computer literate. The computerized sales forces are able to contact more customers and give a higher quality of reliability of service for those customers. They are more able to meet commitments, and can work more efficiently with fulfilment and delivery staff. Using two appropriate problem solving techniques recommend a feasible solution to the problem.
Answer
In order to be able to offer a solution to this problem I chose these two problem solving techniques:

· Critical Success Factors (CSF)

· Marketing Mix and 4Ps

Critical Success Factors (CSF)

The idea of Critical Success Factors was first presented by D. Ronald Daniel in the 1960s. It was then built on and popularized a decade later by John F. Rockart, of MIT's Sloan School of Management, and has since been used extensively to help businesses implement their strategies and projects.

Rockart defined CSFs as:
"The limited number of areas in which results, if they are satisfactory, will ensure successful competitive performance for the organization. They are the few key areas where things must go right for the business to flourish. If results in these areas are not adequate, the organization's efforts for the period will be less than desired."

He also concluded that CSFs are "areas of activity that should receive constant and careful attention from management."

Critical Success Factors are strongly related to the mission and strategic goals of your business or project. Whereas the mission and goals focus on the aims and what is to be achieved, Critical Success Factors focus on the most important areas and get to the very heart of both what is to be achieved and how you will achieve it.

CSFs are the essential areas of activity that must be performed well if you are to achieve the mission, objectives or goals for your business or project.

By identifying your Critical Success Factors, you can create a common point of reference to help you direct and measure the success of your business or project.

As a common point of reference, CSFs help everyone in the team to know exactly what's most important. And this helps people perform their own work in the right context and so pull together towards the same overall aims.

In order to identify possible CSFs, we must examine the mission and objectives and see which areas of the business need attention so that they can be achieved. We can start by brainstorming what the Critical Success Factors might be (these are the "Candidate" CSFs.)

Objectives	Candidate Critical Success Factors
To contact more customers and give a higher quality of reliability of service for the customers.	To buy sufficient amount of computers and implement a new computer-based contact management and sales processing system for the sales department.
To meet commitments.	To teach the computer illiterate staff the basic computer knowledge first that they will not have any problem in managing the computer and the software.
Could work more efficiently with fulfilment and delivery staff	To train the staff on a newly implemented system.

Once we have a list of Candidate CSFs, it's time to consider what is absolutely essential and so identify the truly Critical Success Factors. In our case, all the factors we listed above critically important, so we implement them all in order to achieve the goal.

Marketing Mix and 4Ps

The marketing mix and the 4 Ps of marketing are often used as synonyms for each other. In fact, they are not necessarily the same thing.

"Marketing mix" is a general phrase used to describe the different kinds of choices organizations have to make in the whole process of bringing a product or service to market. The 4 Ps is one way - probably the best-known way - of defining the marketing mix, and was first expressed in 1960 by E J McCarthy.

The 4Ps are:

Product (or Service)
Place
Price
Promotion

A good way to understand the 4 Ps is by the questions that you need to ask to define you marketing mix. Here are some questions that will help you understand and define each of the four elements:

Product/Service

What does the customer want from the product/service? What needs does it satisfy?
What features does it have to meet these needs?

Are there any features you've missed out?
Are you including costly features that the customer won't actually use?

How and where will the customer use it?
What does it look like? How will customers experience it?
What size(s), color(s), and so on, should it be?
What is it to be called?
How is it branded?
How is it differentiated versus your competitors?
What is the most it can cost to provide, and still be sold sufficiently profitably? (See also Price, below).

Place

Where do buyers look for your product or service?
If they look in a store, what kind? A specialist boutique or in a supermarket, or both? Or online? Or direct, via a catalogue?
How can you access the right distribution channels?
Do you need to use a sales force? Or attend trade fairs? Or make online submissions? Or send samples to catalogue companies?
What do you competitors do, and how can you learn from that and/or differentiate?

Price

What is the value of the product or service to the buyer?
Are there established price points for products or services in this area?
Is the customer price sensitive? Will a small decrease in price gain you extra market share? Or will a small increase be indiscernible, and so gain you extra profit margin?
What discounts should be offered to trade customers, or to other specific segments of your market?
How will your price compare with your competitors?

Promotion

Where and when can you get across your marketing messages to your target market?
Will you reach your audience by advertising in the press, or on TV, or radio, or on billboards? By using direct marketing mailshot? Through PR? On the Internet?
When is the best time to promote? Is there seasonality in the market? Are there any wider environmental issues that suggest or dictate the timing of your market launch, or the timing of subsequent promotions?
How do your competitors do their promotions? And how does that influence your choice of promotional activity?

As this problem solving technique suggests “Putting the right product in the right place, at the right price, at the right time”, we will have to asses some important factors in our business.

First and the most important thing is what customer wants. If we see that this system will bring us more customers and will make them happy, then we need to consider the implementation costs. If the whole system implementation and staff training is a reasonable, then the system could be implemented. As this solution technique suggests we need to consider timing, promotional techniques and costs, market knowledge, customer satisfaction and feedback, quality of the implemented system.

Question 4
Critically evaluate your learning experience including conducting a self-assessments, setting realistic and achievable targets using action plans/personal development plans; state any problems, limitations and advancements made during the period of learning; identify at least two personal development skills learned and explain how this may assist you in future employment.
Answer
Two personal development skills I learned during the period of learning:

· Time Management: I found time management one of the most important factors in effective learning and being successful and achieving goals. Scheduling, prioritisation, goal setting,

o Time management is an essential skill that helps you keep your work under control, at the same time that it helps you keep stress to a minimum.

o We need to work smarter on things that have the highest priority, and then creating a schedule that reflects our work and personal priorities.

o With this in place, we can work in a focused and effective way, and really start achieving those goals, dreams and ambitions we care so much about.

· Project Management: I found this specific area very important in learning and in business as well. Because, good project management means thinking, researching, finding ideas, planning, developing, testing and implementing. While the very simplest projects can be managed easily by applying common sense and just getting on with things, projects that are more complex need a great deal of planning, and benefit from a formal, disciplined management approach. From making sure that activities will actually meet the specified need, to devising a workable schedule, developing systems for reporting progress, and managing requests for changes – all of these issues require thoughtful consideration. Managing projects well requires a great deal of time, skill, and finesse. There are many sides to project management and this is what makes it so interesting and demanding. Project managers are expected to take an uncertain event and make a certain promise to deliver. They are also expected to do this within a specified time and within a limited budget.

References:

· http://www.5min.com

· http://www.bizmove.com

· http://www.flinders.edu.au

· http://www.cngo.org.np

· http://www.le.ac.uk

· http://www.lancs.ac.uk

· http://changingminds.org

· http://www.wikipedia.org

· http://www.mindtools.com

HND Database Design Concepts Assignment

2011-04-14T11:16:00.000+01:00

DATABASE DESIGN CONCEPTS ASSIGNMENT

Part 1

Question 1

The internal schema describes how the data will be physically stored and accessed, using the facilities provided by a particular DBMS. For example, the data might be organized so that all the insurance policies belonging to a given customer were stored close together, allowing them all to be retrieved into the computer memory in a single operation. The internal level is like a space where data are floating in the space e.g pool of data. The internal level is still the logical view.

The conceptual schema (sometimes called the logical schema) describes the stored data in terms of the data model of the DBMS. In a relational DBMS, the conceptual schema describes all relations that are stored in the database. Table definition or data definition are been used here e.g the create table and drop table.

The external schemas specify views that enable different users of the data to see it in different ways. As a simple example, some users of policy data might not require details of the commission paid. By providing them with a view that excludes the Commission Rate column, we would not only shield them from unwanted (and perhaps unauthorized) information, but also insulate them from changes that might be made to the format of that data. . Data manipulation is use to create SQL in a programming language e.g. SELECT. SQL have three languages, which are data manipulation, data definition and data management like granting, revoking, creating index.

The advantages of the three-tiered architecture are division into levels allows both developers and users to work on their own levels. They do not need to know the details and changes in the other levels. Meaning each level has its own independence. This three-schema helps us to provide data security of data’s among different users accessing the database, ensures data integrity and avoid duplication of data’s in the database. It helps us to establish and maintain relationship among the data’s in the database.

Part 1

Question 2

Logical independence arises in a database when application programs are written on external levels. We can change the conceptual level by adding columns to tables or by adding tables to the database and no application code needs to be re-written.

Data independence is the capacity to change the schema at one level of a database system without having to change the schema at the next higher level. If the schema at one level is changed, and the mappings to the next higher level are changed, the schema at the next level can remain unchanged. And there are two types of data independence namely logical data independence and physical data independence.

Logical data independence is the capacity to change the conceptual schema without having to change the external schemas or application programs. Only the view definition and the mappings need to be changed in the DBMS that supports logical data independence.

Physical data independence is the capacity to change the internal schema without having to change the external schemas.

Data independence is accomplished because, when the schema is changed at one level the schema at the next higher-level remains unchanged only the mapping between the two levels is changed.

Part 1

Question 3

Database is an integrated collection of data organized to meet the needs of one or more users. Databases are used today in commercial and non- commercial environment.

Commercial Environment	Non- commercial Environment
Banks	Government Bodies
NHS-Hospitals	Libraries
Educational Sectors	Churches and Religious Organizations
Telecom Sector	Home Office
Web Industries	Security Industry
DVLA/TV Licenses	Charity Organizations
Aviation Industry

Banks- use database to keep information about customers and their accounts. All customer details like name, address, phone numbers, date of birth etc are recorded in the bank database when customers open an account in the bank. This record will be kept in the database and can be updated anytime there is a change in details.

NHS- holds a very huge database of all patients. Each time you visit your GP, he/she call up your details on the database. All NHS work are really done on computer using database. E.g. transplanting, radiology etc.

Educational sector- University, colleges and other learning institutions store student and staff information on their database and can be updated if their details changes.

Airline- The aviation industry uses databases to also store details of customers, reservation systems for booking airline flights and other travel arrangement. It is also a huge database that can be seen and use all over the world. You can access the database anywhere to book or cancel your reservations.

DVLA/TV licenses- DVLA and TV Licences store customer information on their database to use whenever they need for licensing systems such as drivers and vehicles, and to keep track of all people been given licences. TV licences on the other hand uses database to also store information about everyone that purchases TV in this country and keep a record of update.

Home Office- In non-commercial environment like home office, people’s details are kept in a huge database. These details are used when processing applications and other issues. Although home office database are very huge because they handle almost everybody details in this country plus the EU database. These entire databases are link to many other organizations especially if the governments want to track down someone records.

SIA (security industry authority) also store customers and staff information in their database and retrieve to use at anytime. They uses it for application processing and granting of licence etc.

Library- libraries hold information of everyone that uses their library in their database. E.g inventory systems raging from the books held in a library

Other Government offices- like Inland Revenue and NIC also hold large amount of details of information of people on their database. For example, before you work in this country, you must apply for a national insurance number and your details will be saved on their database so also Inland Revenue that look into taxes of everyone.

Churches keep their members information in their databases. That information could be used to send personal emails or general updating purposes through emailing.

Part 2

Question 1

1^St Normal Form

Customer Table

Customer Number

Customer Name

Customer Address

Order Table

Order Number

Order Date

Required Date

Department Table

Department Code

Department Name

Department Rate

Job Number

Job Duration

Above is a 1^st Normal Form: Primary and Foreign Keys appear

2^nd Normal Form

Customer Table

Customer Number

Customer Name

Customer Address

Order Table

Order Number

Order Date

Required Date

Department Table

Department Code

Department Name

Department Rate

Job Table

Job Number

Job Duration

Above is a 1^st Normal Form: Some parts of tables repeat themselves

3^rd Normal Form

Customer Table

Customer Number

Customer Name

Customer Address

Order Table

Order Number

Order Date

Required Date

Customer Number FK

Department Table

Department Code

Department Name

Department Rate

Job Table

Job Number

Order Number FK

Department Code FK

Job Duration

Job Cost Table

Job Cost Number PK

Cost Number FK

Order Number FK

Job Number FK

Department Code FK

Invoice Number FK

Invoice Table

Invoice Number

Order Number

Invoice Date

ERD

HND Computer Platforms Assignment

2011-04-11T15:29:00.001+01:00

Computer Platforms Assignment

Question 1

Assess and make a record of the computer specifications, especially of the model and speed of the main processor, RAM memory modules and motherboard. Research and find out the specs of the motherboard in the function of extensibility and RAM capacity.

Evaluate the performance of the computer system and suitability for the use in a class room.

Answer

The computer system I would like to evaluate is a sleek and sophisticatedly designed space-saving Packard Bell OneTwo M D6020uk All-in-one PC (desktop computer) featured with the brilliant new Windows® 7 Home Premium OS as it is shown in the picture on the left.

Microprocessor
Type	Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4300 processor
L2 Cache	2MB
RAM Memory Clock Speed	800MHz FSB
Processor Clock Speed	2.1GHz
Chipset	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 M
Screen
Screen resolution	1600x900
Screen Size	20’’ inch
Technology and ratio	TOUCH PANEL - 1000:1 (Contrast ratio)
Sound
	Integrated on motherboard or on PCI Slot
Speakers	Stereo speakers
Memory
RAM	3GB DDR2 memory
RAM Memory Clock Speed	800MHz FSB
Hard Drive
Hard Drive	640GB Hard Drive
HDD rotation speed	7200rpm SATA
Operating System
Operating System	Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
Operating System mode	64-bit
Monitor
Monitor	20’’ Touch screen monitor
Peripherals
	Integrated Graphics
	DVD Rewriter
	Digital TV Tuner
	Built-in wireless (802.11b/g/n)
Multimedia card reader	5 in 1 (xD,SD,SD HC,MS,MS pro,MMC)
Optical drive	TRAY SUPER MULTI DVDRW

The above mentioned PC is suitable for all the applications the Postgraduate Students could possibly use. 3GB RAM is more than sufficient enough to use applications like Photoshop, Dreamweaver or MS Project Visio. All these mentioned applications are the main applications which require a lot of memory, especially if they are used for web designing and developing purposes.

Question 2

Discus features of varies types of operating system in a view of the performances required by Postgraduate students. Propose basic customization for chosen operating system.

Answer

An operating system, or OS, is a software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer would be useless. It works as an interpreter between the software and the hardware. It also controls the way the system performs.

A Computer System we need to customize and use for the Postgraduate students will require a lot of RAM memory. For that reason we need to replace and enhance the RAM. Applications like Photoshop and Dreamweaver require lots of memory space while they are running. RAM Memory Clock Speed is also important as it represents the information transferred in a second between North and South Bridges of the Processor. Processor speed also needs to be fast for the above mentioned applications; otherwise the PC will freeze and cannot operate properly.

Operating Systems are generally categorized into four types. They are explained below:

1. RTOS (Real-Time Operating System):

A real-time operating system (RTOS) is a multitasking operating system intended for real-time applications. Such applications include embedded systems (programmable thermostats, household appliance controllers), industrial robots, spacecraft, industrial control and scientific research equipment. The main object of real-time operating systems is their quick and predictable response to events. Some of the examples of the RTOS are VxWorks, QNX, RTLinux, etc.

2. Single User, Single Tasking Operating Systems:

As the name implies, this operating system is designed to manage the computer so that one user can effectively do one thing at a time. The Palm OS for Palm handheld computers is a good example of a modern single-user, single-task operating system. This kind of operating system provides access to the system to single user at a time. If another user needs access to the computer, they must wait till the current user finishes what they are doing and leave.

3. Single User, Multi Tasking:

As the name goes in this kind of OS a single user can perform multi tasks together at a time. Multitasking can be of two types namely preemptive and cooperative. In the former one the system slices the CPU time and dedicates one slot to each of the programs and in the latter one multitasking is achieved by relying on each process to give time to the other processes in a defined manner. The examples are:

Multi-tasking (co-operative), single user - Windows 3.1, Mac OS 9.

Multi-tasking (preemptive), single user - Windows 95/98/ME.

4. Multi User, Multi Tasking:

This kind of OS enables multi users to work multiple tasks at the same time. Which means different users can take the advantage of the computer resource simultaneously and for this normally a network is used and established and the users use the remote terminal. Some of the examples are UNIX, VMS, Mainframe, etc.

As per the need of the post-graduate students, single user multi tasking OS will be the best option. In this OS we can use Windows XP which is already available on the system. This operating system supports mostly all the applications which are required by the given students.

Question 3

Propose key components that have to be changed in order to suit needs of the above specified users. If you find it cheaper and suitable you can also specify completely new system. For the new proposed system produce a security policy.

Answer

A Computer System we need to customize and use for the Postgraduate students will require a lot of RAM memory. For that reason we need to replace and enhance the RAM. Applications like Photoshop and Dreamweaver require lots of memory space while they are running. RAM Memory Clock Speed (it is 800MHz FSB in our system) is also important as it represents the information transferred in per second between North and South Bridges of the Processor. Processor speed also needs to be fast for the above mentioned applications; otherwise the PC will freeze and cannot operate properly.

For this purpose, I would suggest to enhance:

1. RAM memory (3GB DDR2 in our system)

2. RAM memory Clock Speed (800MHz FSB)

3. Processor Clock Speed (2.1GHz in our system)

Security Policy:

A computer security policy defines the goals and elements of an organization's computer systems. It is a document that outlines the rules, laws and practices for computer network access. This document regulates how an organization will manage, protect and distribute its sensitive information. The security policy required for the current system should be similar to the following some points:

· The user will not be allowed to download anything without the permission of the administrator.

· The user will not be able to customize the desktop or any other part of the system.

· The user should keep changing his password in regular intervals.

· The user will not be allowed to visit porn sites.

· The user will not be having the complete access of the system, as in, he can just use the applications and My Documents folder for saving his work.

· The user will not have access to the Control Panel and the Run window of the start menu.

· There should be a planned regular schedule for data backup.

· The user will not be allowed to visit illegal and illegitimate websites.

· The user should seek permission of the administrator before using the system and turn off the system when he has finished using the system.

· The user will not be allowed to delete or modify the documents, files, folders, etc not belonging to him.

Question 4

Produce a hardware and software test plan for the system after those changes. Include health and safety plan.

Answer

Before we make any changes we need to check the RAM memory slots on a motherboard if there is any available slot for the new RAM. If there is no other slot available, then we need to take out the existing one and replace with a new and better one. Then we need to make sure that our motherboard supports better RAMs (for example DDR3 upgrade).

Hardware Test Plan:

1. Replace the new RAM with an existing one.

2. Switch on the computer.

3. Check if an Operating System boots properly and the programs run smoothly.

4. If all the conditions above work, then we can say the test was successful.

Software Test Plan:

1. Open RAM-hungry applications like Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

2. Try to work on the Photoshop and write a code on Dreamweaver and at the same time to try upload some information on internet using Dreamweaver’s own FTP program.

3. If the system works smoothly without crashing, then we can say that the test was successful.

Health and Safety Test Plan:

· Any kind of food or drink in any form should not be allowed.

· There should not be any live or open wires.

· Proper care must be taken while working with the electric switches.

· The system should not be directly exposed to excessive heat or smoke.

· Do take extra care and proper guidance if you need to work with any hardware or the electric parts of the system.

· All the cables should unplugged before opening the cabinet of the CPU.

· The user should not work continuously in front of the screen or on the keyboard and breaks at regular intervals are recommended.

Question 5

Produce user documentation for the new system.

Answer

1. Go to Start > My Computer > Right Click the mouse button.

2. Click on Properties.

3. You will see all the details of your computer.

4. You should be able to see the system specifications of your computer.

References:

· http://www.wikipedia.org

· http://www.books.google.com

· http://www.packardbell.co.uk

· http://www.computers-guru.blogspot.com

· And my personal knowledge about Computer Systems.

HND Networking Technology Assignment

2011-04-11T15:06:00.002+01:00

NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

PART A.

What is the purpose and benefits of having a LAN network in an organization?

A local area network (LAN) is a network that is confined to a relatively small area. It is generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or building. LANs are reliable, high speed communication and low cost. Do not require the national telephone companies to provide communication links. Rarely are LAN computers more than a mile apart. In a typical LAN configuration, one computer is designated as the file server. It stores all of the software that controls the network, as well as the software that can be shared by the computers attached to the network. Computers connected to the file server are called workstations. The workstations can be less powerful than the file server, and they may have additional software on their hard drives. On most LANs, cables are used to connect the network interface cards in each computer. With the above definition, it shows that LAN is very popular in today’s organization and in our everyday life with the under listed benefits.

The purpose and benefits of LANs in an organization are:

• Resource sharing capability allows storage space and network peripherals, such as printers, to be shared by workstations, reducing hardware requirement, expenses and improving productivity.

• Standard PC hardware is used for network workstations and servers, which provide a great deal of design flexibility, easy maintenance and cost efficiency.

• Common applications are network aware, which significantly help in user transition time when relocating to different network environments. Additionally, network licensing is substantially less expensive than that of stand-alone licensing.

• Through file sharing, users can easily transfer files to one another, in order to improve productivity. Shared file access allows multi-user access to user applications.

• With centralized data storage, LANs offer the ability to place shared data on a single server within a central location. Network backups are easier and more reliable because all data resides on one physical location. This reduces the cost incurred by loss of any data during system failure.

• LANs support a number of fault tolerance features, such as disk mirroring, disk-duplexing, disk striping with parity (RAID5) and UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply). This improves reliability and minimizes network downtime.

• LANs offer centralized security, which allows control over access to the network and its resources. Depending on an organization's requirements, this functionality is customizable to help protect sensitive data from loss, destruction, theft, or unauthorized disclosure.

• Communication to other users is also provided through a messaging system. It is the basis for implementing sophisticated systems

Local Areas Networks increase efficiency exponentially in an office environment. A LAN system can provide the users with an easy to use central repository of all files - increasing security and making it easier to collaborate on projects. Besides file sharing, internet access, data security and management, entertainments, performance enhancement and balancing, hardware sharing, a LAN also enables a user to share another computer CDROM, floppy drive or other resource, just as if the original computer had its own CDROM or other resource.

Explain client-server computing with examples.

As the term implies, client-server computing has two basic components, a client and a server. The client requests a service to be performed. This service might be to run an application, query a data base, print a document, or even perform a backup or recovery procedure. The server is the resource that handles the client's request. Clients are typically thought of as personal computers but a client can be a midrange system or even a mainframe. Servers are typically thought of as a midrange or mainframe systems, however a server can be another personal computer on the network. Client-server networks are like our restaurant example where specific computers provide one or more services to other computers within a network. Today's networks have computers for file serving, data base serving, application serving, and communications serving. Each of these servers is dedicated devices which provide a specific service to all authorized users within a network. Another example of client-server computing is the computer transactions using the client-server model. For example, to check your bank account from your computer, a client program in your computer forwards your request to a server program at the bank. That program may in turn forward the request to its own client program that sends a request to a database server at another bank computer to retrieve your account balance. The balance is returned back to the bank data client, which in turn serves it back to the client in your personal computer, which displays the information for you.

Client-server computing provides the seamless integration of personal computers with host systems. This style of computing allows organizations to be responsive to their customers while still maintaining the security and integrity to manage their business effectively. Client-server computing generally refers to a computing model where two or more computers interact in such a way that one provides services to the other. This model allows customers to access information resources and services located anywhere within the customers information network. Customers are very interested in client/server computing because it allows them to be more responsive, as well as to effectively utilize all computing resources within their network. Another example of client-server is a data base server that uses the PC for the display (user interface) and processing (application logic) portions of an application, while the server provides data management portion of the application. On the other hand, an application server uses the PC for the display portion of an application, while using the server for both the processing and data management portions. In conclusion, the client-server network arrangement, network services are located in a dedicated computer whose only function is to respond to the requests of client. The server contain the file, print, application, security and other services in a central computer that is continuously available to respond to client request

PART B.

Define and explain the functions of the following devices.

HUB, SWITCHES, REPEATERS AND ROUTERS.

HUB - A device that connects the cables from computers and other devices such as printers in an Ethernet local area network. Traditionally, hubs are used for star topology networks, but they are often used with other configurations to make it easy to add and remove computers without bringing down the network. Smart hubs or switching hubs are often used to improve performance by managing traffic. It is also a connection device for networks, which allow multiple segments or computers to connect and share packets of information. Generally when we build a network using two or more computers, we need a hub. However, it is possible to connect two computers to each other directly without the need of hub but when we add a third computer in the network, we need a hub to allow a proper data communication within the network. There are many types of hubs with various features and specifications, which provide the type of functionality you need in building network. There are three main types of hubs namely Passive hub, Active hub and intelligent hub.

SWITCH: A network switch is a small hardware device that joins multiple computers together within one local area network (LAN) Technically, network switches operate at layer two (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model. Network switches appear nearly identical to network hubs, but a switch generally contains more intelligence (and a slightly higher price tag) than a hub. Unlike hubs, network switches are capable of inspecting data packets as they are received, determining the source and destination device of each packet, and forwarding them appropriately. By delivering messages only to the connected device intended, a network switch conserves network bandwidth and offers generally better performance than a hub. Different models of network switches support differing numbers of connected devices. Most consumer-grade network switches provide either four or eight connections for Ethernet devices. In a telecommunications network, a switch is a device that channels incoming data from any of multiple input ports to the specific output port that will take the data toward its intended destination. In the traditional circuit-switched telephone network, one or more switches are used to set up a dedicated though temporary connection or circuit for an exchange between two or more parties. On an Ethernet local area network (LAN), a switch determines from the physical device (Media Access Control or MAC) address in each incoming message frame which output port to forward it to and out of. In a wide area packet-switched network such as the Internet, a switch determines from the IP address in each packet which output port to use for the next part of its trip to the intended destination. In the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communications model, a switch performs the layer 2 or Data-Link layer function. That is, it simply looks at each packet or data unit and determines from a physical address (the "MAC address") which device a data unit is intended for and switches it out toward that device. However, in wide area networks such as the Internet, the destination address requires a look-up in a routing table by a device known as a router. Some newer switches also perform routing functions (layer 3 or the Network layer functions in OSI) and are sometimes called IP switches.

On larger networks, the trip from one switch point to another in the network is called a hop. The time a switch takes to figure out where to forward a data unit is called its latency. The price paid for having the flexibility that switches provide in a network is this latency. Switches are found at the backbone and gateway levels of a network where one network connects with another and at the sub network level where data is being forwarded close to its destination or origin. The former are often known as core switches and the latter as desktop switches. In the simplest networks, a switch is not required for messages that are sent and received within the network. For example, a local area network may be organized in a Token Ring or bus arrangement in which each possible destination inspects each message and reads any message with its address.

REPEATERS: repeater is an electronic device that receives a signal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances. Repeaters are used in transmission systems to regenerate analog or digital signals distorted by transmission loss. Analog repeaters frequently can only amplify the signal while digital repeaters can reconstruct a signal to near its original quality. In a data network, a repeater can relay messages between sub networks that use different protocols or cable types. Hubs can operate as repeaters by relaying messages to all connected computers. A repeater cannot do the intelligent routing performed by bridges and routers. Repeaters are often used in trans-continental and submarine communications cables, because the attenuation (signal loss) over such distances would be unacceptable without them. Repeaters are used in radio communication services. Radio repeaters often transmit and receive on different frequencies. A special subgroup of those repeaters is those used in amateur radio in both copper-wire cables carrying electrical signals, and in fiber optics carrying light. Repeaters are also used extensively in broadcasting, where they are known as translators, boosters or TV relay transmission. The purpose of a repeater is to extend the LAN segment beyond its physical limits (e.g. Ethernet is 500m for 10Base5). It is also a simple hardware device that moves all packets from one local area network segment to another. The main purpose of a repeater is to extend the length of the network transmission medium beyond the normal maximum cable lengths. Typically, repeaters are used to connect two physically close buildings together (when they are too far apart to just extend the segment). They can be used to connect floors of a building that would normally surpass the maximum allowable segment length.

Repeaters operate at the physical layer, i.e. the bottom layer of the seven-layer OSI reference model. They can only operate on the same type of physical layer, i.e., Ethernet-to-Ethernet, or token ring-to-token ring. They can connect 10Base5 to 10BaseT because they both use the same 802.3 MAC layer. Because repeaters provide no isolation between segments, and the repeater is transparent to both sides of the segment, both sides of the repeater appear as one long network segment

ROUTERS: A router is an electronic device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP’s network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect. Routers use headers and forwarding tables to determine the best path for forwarding the packets, and they use protocols such as ICMP to communicate with each other and configure the best route between any two hosts. Very little filtering of data is done through routers. For most home users, they may want to set-up a LAN (Local Area Network) or WLAN (Wireless LAN) and connect all computers to the Internet without having to pay a full broadband subscription service to their ISP for each computer on the network. In many instances, an ISP will allow you to use a router and connect multiple computers to a single Internet connection and pay a nominal fee for each additional computer sharing the connection. This is when you will want to look at smaller routers, often called broadband routers that enable two or more computers to share an Internet connection.

Common network topologies being deployed in an organization.

Topology refers to the shape of a network, or the network's layout. How different nodes in a network are connected to each other and how they communicate are determined by the network's topology. Topologies are either physical or logical. Below are the most common network topologies.

Mesh Topology
Devices are connected with many redundant interconnections between network nodes. In a true mesh topology every node has a connection to every other node in the network.

Bus Topology
All devices are connected to a central cable, called the bus or backbone.

Ring Topology
All devices are connected to one another in the shape of a closed loop, so that each device is connected directly to two other devices, one on either side of it.

Star Topology
All devices are connected to a central hub. Nodes communicate across the network by passing data through the hub.

Tree Topology
A hybrid topology. Groups of star-configured networks are connected to a linear bus backbone.

PART C.

Different types of cabling used in LANs and their application. What is NIC and its components?

Cables types are:

1) Coaxial cables

2) Fiber optical cable

3) Twisted Pair

Twisted Pair is divided into two types namely Unshielded ( UTP )and Shielded (STP ) UTP is further Divided into three types namely Straight cable- used to connect similar devices like PC to switch, Cross Cable- used to connect similar devices like PC to PC, Switch to switch and Roll Over Cable - used to access the operating system of router's or switch on our system.

Coaxial cable is an electrical cable with an inner conductor surrounded by a tubular insulating layer typically of a flexible material with a high dielectric constant, all of which are surrounded by a conductive layer (typically of fine woven wire for flexibility, or of a thin metallic foil), and finally covered with a thin insulating layer on the outside. The term coaxial comes from the inner conductor and the outer shield sharing the same geometric axis. Coaxial cable is used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals, in applications such as connecting radio transmitters and receivers with their antennas, computer network (Internet) connections, and distributing cable television signals. One advantage of coax over other types of transmission line is that in an ideal coaxial cable the electromagnetic field carrying the signal exists only in the space between the inner and outer conductors. This allows coaxial cable runs to be installed next to metal objects such as gutters without the power losses that occur in other transmission lines, and provides protection of the signal from external electromagnetic interference. Coaxial cable should not be confused with other shielded cable used for carrying lower frequency signals such as audio signals. Shielded cable is similar in that it consists of a central wire or wires surrounded by a tubular shield conductor, but it is not constructed with the precise conductor spacing needed to function efficiently as a radio frequency transmission line.

Optical fiber is a glass or plastic fiber that carries light along its length. Fiber optics is the overlap of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of optical fibers. Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than other forms of communications. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with less loss, and they are also immune to electromagnetic interference. Fibers are also used for illumination, and are wrapped in bundles so they can be used to carry images, thus allowing viewing in tight spaces. Specially designed fibers are used for a variety of other applications, including sensors and fiber lasers. Light is kept in the core of the optical fiber by total internal reflection. This causes the fiber to act as a waveguide. Fibers which support many propagation paths or transverse modes are called multi-mode fibers (MMF), while those which can only support a single mode are called single-mode fibers (SMF). Multi-mode fibers generally have a larger core diameter, and are used for short-distance communication links and for applications where high power must be transmitted. Single-mode fibers are used for most communication links longer than 550 meters (1,800 ft). Joining lengths of optical fiber is more complex than joining electrical wire or cable. The ends of the fibers must be carefully cleaved, and then spliced together either mechanically or by fusing them together with an electric arc.

Twisted pair is the ordinary copper wire that connects home and many business computers to the telephone company. To reduce crosstalk or electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires, two insulated copper wires are twisted around each other. Each connection on twisted pair requires both wires. Since some telephone sets or desktop locations require multiple connections, twisted pair is sometimes installed in two or more pairs, all within a single cable. For some business locations, twisted pair is enclosed in a shield that functions as a ground. This is known as shielded twisted pair (STP). Ordinary wire to the home is unshielded twisted pair (UTP). Twisted pair is now frequently installed with two pairs to the home, with the extra pair making it possible for you to add another line (perhaps for modem use) when you need it. Twisted pair comes with each pair uniquely color coded when it is packaged in multiple pairs. Different uses such as analog, digital, and Ethernet require different pair multiples. Although twisted pair is often associated with home use, a higher grade of twisted pair is often used for horizontal wiring in LAN installations because it is less expensive than coaxial cable. The wire you buy at a local hardware store for extensions from your phone or computer modem to a wall jack is not twisted pair. It is a side-by-side wire known as silver satin. The wall jack can have as many five kinds of hole arrangements or pin outs, depending on the kinds of wire the installation expects will be plugged in (for example, digital, analog, or LAN) . That's why you may sometimes find when you carry your notebook computer to another location that the wall jack connections won't match your plug.

What is NIC and it’s Components?

Network interface card (NIC) card is a network interface, or is also known as an Ethernet Adapter that is inside the back panel of the computer and connects to the cable or DSL modem. Most computers sold in the last 5 years have them pre-installed. A network interface card is used to connect a computer to an Ethernet network. This may be either using an external transceiver or through an internal integrated transceiver mounted on the network interface card PCB. The card usually also contains the protocol control firmware and Ethernet Controller needed to support the Medium Access Control (MAC) data link protocol used by Ethernet. Each network interface card is assigned an Ethernet source address by the manufacturer of the network interface card. This is normally stored in a PROM on the network interface card. The addresses are globally unique, and are assigned in blocks of 16 (or 8) million addresses to the Ethernet interface manufacturers, according to a flat addressing structure. This ensures that no two Ethernet network interface will ever have the same source address. Personal computers and workstations on a local area network (LAN) typically contain a network interface card specifically designed for the LAN transmission technology, such as Ethernet or Token Ring. Network interface cards provide a dedicated, full-time connection to a network. Most home and portable computers connect to the Internet through as-needed dial-up connection. The modem provides the connection interface to the Internet service provider. Some network interface card are installed right from the manufacturer while some are bought and fixed by computer engineers after the computer have been purchased.

NIC COMPONENTS ARE LISTED BELOW:

1. Double layer

2. Radial aluminum electrolytic capacitors

3. SMT aluminum electrolytic capacitors

4. SMT ceramic capacitors

5. Leaded ceramic capacitors

6. Thick film chip resistors

7. Current sensing resistors

8. shielded power inductors

9. un-shielded power inductors

10. SMT film capacitors

11. Leaded film capacitors

12. Chips inductors

13. EMI/ Noise products

14. Leaded resistors

15. physical media

16. interconnecting devices

17. networking software

18. computers

PART D.
Describe open system interconnection, description of each layer and its function

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) is a standard description or reference model for how messages should be transmitted between any two points in a telecommunication network. Its purpose is to guide product implementers so that their products will consistently work with other products. The reference model defines seven layers of functions that take place at each end of a communication. Although OSI is not always strictly adhered to in terms of keeping related functions together in a well-defined layer, many if not most products involved in telecommunication make an attempt to describe them in relation to the OSI model. The main idea in OSI is that the process of communication between two end points in a telecommunication network can be divided into layers, with each layer adding its own set of special, related functions. Each communicating user or program is at a computer equipped with these seven layers of function. So, in a given message between users, there will be a flow of data through each layer at one end down through the layers in that computer and, at the other end, when the message arrives, another flow of data up through the layers in the receiving computer and ultimately to the end user or program. The actual programming and hardware that furnishes these seven layers of function is usually a combination of the computer operating system, applications such as our Web browser, TCP/IP or alternative transport and network protocols, and the software and hardware that enable you to put a signal on one of the lines attached to your computer.

OSI divides telecommunication into seven layers. The layers are in two groups. The upper four layers are used whenever a message passes from or to a user. The lower three layers up to the network layer are used when any message passes through the host computer. Messages intended for this computer pass to the upper layers. Messages destined for some other host are not passed up to the upper layers but are forwarded to another host. The seven layers in OSI are describe below.

Layer 7: The application layer: This is the layer at which communication partners are identified, quality of service is identified, user authentication and privacy are considered, and any constraints on data syntax are identified. This layer is not the application itself, although some applications may perform application layer functions.

Layer 6: The presentation layer: This is a layer, usually part of an operating system, that converts incoming and outgoing data from one presentation format to another for example, from a text stream into a popup window with the newly arrived text. Sometimes it is called the syntax layer.

Layer 5: The session layer: This layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogs between the applications at each end. It deals with session and connection coordination.

Layer 4: The transport layer: This layer manages the end-to-end control for example, determining whether all packets have arrived and error-checking. It ensures complete data transfer.

Layer 3: The network layer: This layer handles the routing of the data (sending it in the right direction to the right destination on outgoing transmissions and receiving incoming transmissions at the packet level). The network layer does routing and forwarding.

Layer 2: The data-link layer: This layer provides synchronization for the physical level and does bit-stuffing for strings of 1's in excess of 5. It furnishes transmission protocol knowledge and management.

Layer 1: The physical layer: This layer conveys the bit stream through the network at the electrical and mechanical level. It provides the hardware means of sending and receiving data on a carrier.

PART E.

User A Sending email Message to user B in a network. Explain the whole process in terms of data packets leaving the workstation of user A, travelling through all the layers of OSI model, until it reaches its destination and is open by user B.

A packet is a basic unit of communication over a digital network. A packet is also called a datagram, a segment, a block, a cell or a frame, depending on the protocol or network. When data has to be transmitted, it is broken down into similar structures of data, which are reassembled to the original data chunk once they reach their destination (From user A to B) When user A sends his email message, the network breaks the e-mail message into parts of a certain size in bytes. These are the packets. Each packet is then sent off to its destination (user B) by the best available route. A route might be taken by all the other packets in the message or by none of the other packets in the message. This makes the network more efficient. First, the network can balance the load across various pieces of equipment on a millisecond-by-millisecond basis. Second, if there is a problem with one piece of equipment in the network while a message is being transferred, packets can be routed around the problem, ensuring the delivery of the entire message.

In the same process, if there are other people sending a message on the network at the same time when user A is sending his email message going to user B, the whole messages will be in queue in the order they were sent and will be delivered to their various destinations. Each packet carries the information that will help it get to user B (destination) User A IP address, user B IP address, something that tells the network how many packets this e-mail message has been broken into and the number of this particular packet. The packets carry the data in the protocols that the Internet uses. i.e Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Each packet contains part of the body of user A message to user B. A typical packet contains perhaps 1,000 or 1,500 bytes. When a workstation wishes to send data, it uses the client network software to enclose the data in a packet' containing a header and a trailer. The header and trailer contain information for the destination computer. For example, the header contains the address of the destination computer. The exact form the packets take is determined by the protocol the network uses. When a data packet is put onto the network by a workstation, each computer on the network examines the packet to see who it is intended for. The packet quickly dissipates if it is not recognized, allowing other packets to be sent.

With reference to the OSI model, packets travel from one layer to another as stated above. The transport layer manages the end-to-end control for example, determining whether all packets have arrived and error-checking. It ensures complete data transfer. The network layer handles the routing of the data (sending it in the right direction to the right destination on outgoing transmissions and receiving incoming transmissions at the packet level). The network layer does routing and forwarding. The physical layer also conveys the bit stream through the network at the electrical and mechanical level. It provides the hardware means of sending and receiving data on a carrier. The data link layer provides synchronization for the physical level. The presentation layer, usually part of an operating system, does the conversion of incoming and outgoing data from one presentation format to another for example, from a text stream into a popup window with the newly arrived text. Sometimes it is called the syntax layer. The application layer is where communication partners (different IP) are identified, quality of service is identified, and user authentication and privacy are considered. The session layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogs between the applications at each end when user A message is finally received by user B (destination). It deals with session and connection coordination. The rate at which packets can be sent is called the bandwidth. This has a somewhat different meaning to how bandwidth is normally used. As an example, a bandwidth of 10 Megabits per second means ten million individual 1s and 0s can pass through the network in one second.

REFERENCES

· Data and computer communications (seventh edition by Williams Stallings)

· Class lecture note

· www.wikipedia.com

· www.wisegeek.com

· http://wiki.answers.com

HND Management in IT Assignment

2011-04-11T15:02:00.001+01:00

PART A

Maslow identified five levels of need, classified under two general headings: primary needs and secondary needs. Those needs are:

Physiological needs – these are basic needs to ensure survival (food, warms, shelter and etc.)
Safety need – these needs related to remaining safe; in the industrial content, job security may be one of them.
Social needs – these needs reflect a desire to feel loved and belong. A feeling of being accepted as part of the team is an industrial aspect of this need.
Esteem needs – the need to be held in esteem, a worthy and valuable colleague. Also need for self-esteem. To have status.
Self Actualisation – a psychologists “buzz phrase” which can be interpreted as ‘What a man can be, he must be’.

PART B

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a class of computerized information system that support decision-making activities. DSS are interactive computer-based systems and subsystems intended to help decision makers use communications technologies, data, documents, knowledge and/or models to complete decision process tasks.

A decision support system may present information graphically and may include an expert system or artificial intelligence (AI). It may be aimed at business executives or some other group of knowledge workers.
Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present would be, (a) Accessing all information assets, including legacy and relational data sources; (b) Comparative data figures; (c) Projected figures based on new data or assumptions; (d) Consequences of different decision alternatives, given past experience in a specific context.
There are a number of Decision Support Systems. These can be categorized into five types:

Communication-driven DSS
Most communications-driven DSSs are targetted at internal teams, including partners. Its purpose are to help conduct a meeting, or for users to collaborate. The most common technology used to deploy the DSS is a web or client server. Examples: chats and instant messaging softwares, online collaboration and net-meeting systems.
Data-driven DSS
Most data-driven DSSs are targeted at managers, staff and also product/service suppliers. It is used to query a database or data warehouse to seek specific answers for specific purposes. It is deployed via a main frame system, client/server link, or via the web. Examples: computer-based databases that have a query system to check (including the incorporation of data to add value to existing databases.
Document-driven DSS
Document-driven DSSs are more common, targeted at a broad base of user groups. The purpose of such a DSS is to search web pages and find documents on a specific set of keywords or search terms. The usual technology used to set up such DSSs are via the web or a client/server system. Examples:
Knowledge-driven DSS:
Knowledge-driven DSSs or 'knowledgebase' are they are known, are a catch-all category covering a broad range of systems covering users within the organization seting it up, but may also include others interacting with the organization - for example, consumers of a business. It is essentially used to provide management advice or to choose products/services. The typical deployment technology used to set up such systems could be slient/server systems, the web, or software runnung on stand-alone PCs.
Model-driven DSS
Model-driven DSSs are complex systems that help analyse decisions or choose between different options. These are used by managers and staff members of a business, or people who interact with the organization, for a number of purposes depending on how the model is set up - scheduling, decision analyses etc. These DSSs can be deployed via software/hardware in stand-alone PCs, client/server systems, or the web.

Abbreviated DSS, the term refers to an interactive computerized system that gathers and presents data from a wide range of sources, typically for business purposes. DSS applications are systems and subsystems that help people make decisions based on data that is culled from a wide range of sources.

For example: a national on-line book seller wants to begin selling its products internationally but first needs to determine if that will be a wise business decision. The vendor can use a DSS to gather information from its own resources (using a tool such as OLAP) to determine if the company has the ability or potential ability to expand its business and also from external resources, such as industry data, to determine if there is indeed a demand to meet. The DSS will collect and analyze the data and then present it in a way that can be interpreted by humans. Some decision support systems come very close to acting as artificial intelligence agents.
DSS applications are not single information resources, such as a database or a program that graphically represents sales figures, but the combination of integrated resources working together.
PART C
a)

Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. Various business analysis techniques can be used in strategic planning, including SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats ), PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis),STEER analysis (Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Ecological, and Regulatory factors), and EPISTEL (Environment, Political, Informatic, Social, Technological, Economic and Legal).

Strategic planning is the formal consideration of an organization's future course. All strategic planning deals with at least one of three key questions:

1. "What do we do?"

2. "For whom do we do it?"

3. "How do we excel?"

In business strategic planning, the third question is better phrased "How can we beat or avoid competition?". (Bradford and Duncan, page 1).

In many organizations, this is viewed as a process for determining where an organization is going over the next year or more -typically 3 to 5 years, although some extend their vision to 20 years.

In order to determine where it is going, the organization needs to know exactly where it stands, then determine where it wants to go and how it will get there. The resulting document is called the "strategic plan."

It is also true that strategic planning may be a tool for effectively plotting the direction of a company; however, strategic planning itself cannot foretell exactly how the market will evolve and what issues will surface in the coming days in order to plan your organizational strategy. Therefore, strategic innovation and tinkering with the 'strategic plan' have to be a cornerstone strategy for an organization to survive the turbulent business climate.

Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) is a computer based information system that can help organisations support their strategic planning and strategies. Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) is the process of aligning an organization's business strategy with effective computer-based information systems to achieve critical business objectives. SISP is a top concern of major executives and considerable resources (time and money) are spent in SISP activities. Many SISP initiatives are not successful due to the difficulty of implementing the recommendations. A significant problem is the Specification Gap between the description of the recommended systems and the detail needed for actual system implementation. Existing SISP methods do not provide sufficiently rigorous representations to specify detailed system recommendations. Box structures are proposed as a solution to this problem and a SISP process with embedded box structure methods is presented. We have used this innovative process in two SISP projects with large organizations. Partial results from one of the projects are presented as a case study to illustrate the use of box structures and their benefits.

PART D

Information system has a lot of aspects and tools to help an organisation develop strategically. Web based collaboration tools like Basecamp of 37Signals helps developers/companies/organisations to share files and ideas, assign tasks, meet deadlines and centralize feedback. Backpack product of 37signals helps to publish and share the information within your team. Companies like Online50 give hosted services for all sorts of organisations and companies including financial companies. These service enable organisations do their business effectively without spending a lot of money and time.

Web and Internet are the most important Information Technologies of our time. In our time web and Internet are more advanced and it came to the level that success of a Strategic Information System is an imaginable without them. Web and Internet create a lot of opportunities for strategic planning and deploying the computer application developed for the web.

Developing internet based applications is not that complicated and costly as it used to be. There are a lot of desktop and web based tools available to develop and deploy the applications on the Internet. There are a lot of tools available to develop, test, advertise and get feedback from people. Some examples of those tools are Blogging and Bloggers, Social Network; Intranet based Social Networks, Social groups (groups on Facebook, meetup.com) and so on.

Especially during the last decade many web application developing tools and approaches created. MVC (model-view-controller) is a modern approach for organising the code and data and keeping data separate from the logic. Lots of frameworks were being developed during the last decade. Some of them Django (Python programming language based framework), Zend Framework (PHP programming language based framework), Ruby on Rails (Ruby programming language based framework) and so on.

Web based collaboration tools like Basecamp of 37Signals helps developers/companies/organisations to share files and ideas, assign tasks, meet deadlines and centralize feedback. Backpack product of 37signals helps to publish and share the information within your team.
Source:
Web: http://www.gdrc.org/decision/dss-types.html
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/d/decision_support_system.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_planning
http://www.computer.org/portal/web/csdl/doi/10.1109/HICSS.2000.926735

HND Information Systems Assignment

2011-04-11T14:54:00.002+01:00

PART A

Task:

Identify and explain four levels of Information Users in an Organisation and briefly describe the information requirements of these levels. Explain how the information systems help in making the decisions on a day to day basis.

Answers:

The four levels of information users in an organization are

Operational Level
Knowledge Level
Management Level
Strategic Level

Strategic Level:

Provides a detailed description of the nature of their activities in the objects clause of their memorandum of association is the function of the top level management. Their most important role is establishing the goals of the organization. They are typically responsible for interacting with representing with representatives of the external environment, such as financial institutions, political figures and important suppliers and customers.

Their Main objectives are:

Setting key objectives, policies and identifying factors essential for the development of the enterprise.
Efficient accomplishment of goals in the enterprise and maintaining strategic balance in all actions taken by the authorities in higher level.
Making appointments to the top position in the enterprise such as managers, department heads etc.
Reviewing the work of different personnel’s in all levels.

Information Needed:

Information about external factors affecting the organization such as Political, Economical, Social and Technological are needed for this level.

System Required:

Executive Support Systems (ESS) are used by senior managers to make decisions. ESS addresses non-routine decisions requiring judgement, evaluation and insight because there is no agreed-on procedure for arriving at a solution. It is designed to incorporate data about external events and it employs the most advanced graphics software and can deliver graphs and data from many sources immediately to senior executive’s office or to a boardroom.

Management / Tactical Level:

Tactical Level Management implements strategic objectives and monitor operations. It is this level which administers most of the well-known conventional control systems. This includes budgetary control, production control, inventory control etc. To avoid rigidity, it is important that the Information System incorporates more than one level of feedback thus:

Conventional feedback is used for routine reporting which initiates corrective action if deviations occur.
Adaptive feedback causes the amendment of short-term plans or budgets where the Information System indicates that conditions have changed sufficiently for small-scale corrections to be inappropriate.
Crisis feedback is responsible to substantial or uncontrollable deviations from plans which may indicate changes to long-term plans.

Much of the information used by the Tactical Level comes from informal sources and is gathered, assessed, analysed and judged by the manager personally. In addition, the manager is supported by Formal Information Systems which are increasingly computer based. Four types of Formal information systems can be identified:

1. Control Systems

2. Database Systems

3. Enquiry Systems

4. Decision Support Systems.

Knowledge Level

Knowledge Management Level is defined as the management function responsible for the regular selection, implementation and evaluation of goal-oriented knowledge strategies that aim at improving an organisation's way of handling knowledge internal and external to the organisation in order to improve organisational performance. The implementation of knowledge strategies comprises all person-oriented, organisational and technological instruments suitable to dynamically optimise the organisation-wide level of competencies, education and ability to learn of the members of the organisation as well as to develop collective intelligence.

Operational level

Operational Level is concerned with the implementation and control of the day-to-day activities of the organisation. Their activities are highly dependant on Formal Information System dealing almost exclusively with the internal information. Effective and efficient information processing is essential since controls are numerous, monitoring is constant, data volumes are high and response is needed rapidly, often in real time. Hence, virtually all operational informational systems are computer based.

At the operational level, many decisions are structured and frequently incorporated into computer-based systems. Because the circumstances are well-defined, optimising techniques such as linear programming are frequently used.

Linear Programming (LP) is probably the most used optimising model and LP packages are widely available for all computer systems.

LP is used where it s required to optimise the value of a single objective (e.g. maximise contribution where the factors involved (e.g. labour hours, machine capacity, etc.) are subject to some constraints or limitation). It can be used to solve problems which:

A. Can be stated in numeric terms

B. Involve factors having linear relationships

C. Permit a choice between alternatives

D. Have one or more restrictions on the factors involved.

LP is used for numerous problems including production planning, least cost mix problems in food, fertilisers and so on. It will be apparent that the closely defined requirements for the use of LP and other optimising techniques are more likely to be found at the operational level, less so at the tactical level and not at all at the strategic level where uncertainties abound.

PART B

a)

Different sorts of statistics can be used to evaluate the information gathered both automatically and by customer service operators. Using the information gathered automatically companies can understand which computer-generated messages listened most, what sort of users called most, from which geographical areas, which season of the year or the time and similar sort of questioned can find their answers. According to the results companies or operators can make a decision. Similar approach can be used in strategic decision-making using customer service operators’ results. For example; if users from Scotland calling with a specific problem, the companies should take it serious and could improve the service in those areas. That way, they will gain a competitive advantage.

b)

Using implementation framework:

Because a call centre would provide the public with a point of contact to an insurance company, it would give a public a great accessibility to the insurance company’s services. By using computer-generated messages companies can deal with client’s simple inquiries or Frequently Asked Questions or by using call centre operators companies can sell more insurance products to the end users. Companies can easily inform the end users or increase their satisfaction. Doing some inquiries, using statistics insurance companies can gather information about which products sell most or could possibly sell better or get how to increase sales force.

PART C

Types of Information Systems:

· Executive Support Systems (ESS)

· Decision Support Systems (DSS)

· Management Information Systems (MIS)

· Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)

Transaction Processing Systems (TPS):

Basic Business Systems that serve the operational level. A computerized system that performs and records the daily routine transactions necessary to the conduct of the business.

System Example: Payroll system

Input	Process	Output
Time cards, Employee Lists, Wages and Salary Data	Calculating Pay, calculating cost of benefits, calculating cost of taxes and withholdings, updating ledger and databases	Pay checks and receipts, account balances, management reports

Management Information Systems (MIS)

An MIS provides managers with information and support for effective decision making, and provides feedback on daily operations. MIS provides information to the users in the form of reports. Output or reports are usually generated through accumulation of transaction processing data. MIS is an integrated collection of subsystems, which are typically organized along functional lines within an organization.

System Example is an Annual Budgeting.

Decision Support Systems (DSS)

It is designed to the individual and ties CEO to all levels. It is very expensive to keep up the extensive support staff.

Example could be Contract Cost Analysis.

Executive Support Systems (ESS)

This happens in the Strategic Level. Users are Senior Managers. It takes aggregate data, processes it interactively and outputs projections. An example could be a 5-year operating plan.

There are many advantages of Internet technology to an expanding company. Some of them are: Online Banking, Social Media, Social Networks and etc.

Using online banking all Bank customers can access their accounts and transfer money or spend online. Social Media on Internet is the biggest advertising platform for the new and expanding businesses. Using Social Media businesses can approach to the whole world, create a fan groups, followers. Blogging can help businesses to be well-known to the Internet users. Business can create groups on Social Networks like Facebook. Businesses can create application or widgets and make available to the users on Social Networks. That way they can create user base or fans.

Intranet has a very similar functionality to the Intranet but in a smaller scale or focused in organisational based. Intranet helps company staff to share information, to discuss some specific topics related to their job or responsibilities. Intranet can serve as a group emailing, but more efficiently and secure. Company employees can create interest groups and share and support each others on Intranet.

PART D

Internet, Automated messaging service for call centres, Intranet, statistical analysing tools.

Automated messaging service will help the business cut the cost. Internet will help them expanding their businesses and conducting it efficiently, make it easy to communicate and access to the customers and gather information from customers and evaluate it. Intranet will help to share the information and support the staff.

Aggregation, surfing, calculating are the information methods used in Information systems.

An example for the case of aggregated combinatorial data for the study of composition, processing, structure, and property relationships of transparent conducting oxides by applying data mining techniques such as principal component analysis. Data mappings of mined results are shown to effectively enable visualization of data trends, identification of anomalies in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy patterns, and scientifically interesting libraries and spectral regions.

Calculating all transactions in the banking system. Surfing the Internet to gather information.

PART E

If we look at the challenges in evaluation of information systems from sceptics and enthusiasts perspective, it will give us an idea about a new information system. Because the information system is new or not applied in that environment yet, lots of people would oppose to a change. Biggest challenge is the unwillingness to the change, because of security reasons, risk in the investment and so on. A lot of people are happy with an existing old system.

Resources/References:

Web: http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Information-System/176194

Web: http://www.slideshare.net/mannyardales/types-of-information-systems

Book: Management information systems By Terence Lucey

Book: Knowledge management systems: information and communication technologies for ... By Ronald Maier

Human Computer Interface (HCI) Assignment

2011-04-11T14:50:00.000+01:00

Part A

Describe a brief history of Human Computer Interface since its first inception as an important factor in IT.

Human Computer Interface is a study of interaction between users and computers.

HCI is a multidisciplinary area. People with different backgrounds contributed to its success. It is the intersection of many study fields like behavioral sciences, computer science, design, operating systems, programming languages, linguistics, cognitive psychology, social sciences perceptual psychology, artificial intelligence, anthropology and many more.

"Human-computer interaction is a discipline concerned with the design, evaluation and implementation of interactive computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them." Association for Computing Machinery .

Research in HCI started as exploratory work at universities and government and industrial research labs. The researches, first, started at universities in 1960s, and then later it spread to the industrial research and then in 1980s commercial products started coming.

Since the first demonstration of the direct manipulation interface by Ivan Sutherland in Sketchpad, many technological products employed some interface techniques like iconic representations, gesture recognition, dynamic menus, and selection of icons by pointing, and moded and mode-free styles of interaction in those early days.

Then Hypertext, Windows Managers and UIMS and Toolkits, Computer Aided Design systems and Video Games emerged. Early window managers such as Smalltalk and InterLisp came with a few widgets, such as popup menus and scrollbars. The Xerox Star was the first commercial system to have a large collection of widgets and to use dialog boxes. The Apple Macintosh was the first to actively promote its toolkit for use by other developers to enforce a consistent interface.

Many years of productive HCI research have led to the successful interfaces of today. Some of them are drawing programs, paint programs, animation systems, text editing, spreadsheets, multimedia, 3D, virtual reality, interface builders, event-driven architectures, usability engineering and many more.

A number of diverse methodologies outlining techniques for human–computer interaction design have emerged since the rise of the field. Early methodologies of HCI treated users' cognitive processes as predictable and quantifiable and encouraged design practitioners to look to cognitive science results in areas such as memory and attention when designing user interfaces. Modern models tend to focus on a constant feedback and conversation between users, designers, and engineers and push for technical systems to be wrapped around the types of experiences users want to have.

Describe why Human Computer Interface so important nowadays in development of systems and what can happen if this is ignored. Illustrate your answer with examples.

Nowadays users expect highly effective interfaces, elegant and clear design, easy to use and easy to learn systems. Developers and manufacturers also realized the importance of the User Interface. Surveys show that over 50% of the design and programming effort on projects is devoted to the user interface.

Lots of innovative technological products were a financial failure in the early days of the HCI. HCI reduces the users’ resistance to learn new technologies. User base of those products increase quickly and as a result it brings financial success to the manufacturers and developers. IPod is a good example of this.

If HCI is ignored in development of systems, it might even bring catastrophe. There are well-known catastrophes that have resulted from not paying enough attention to the human-computer interface. For example, the complicated user interface of the Aegis tracking system was a contributing cause to the erroneous downing of an Iranian passenger plane, and the US Stark's inability to cope with Iraqi Exocet missiles was partly attributed to the human-computer interface. Problems with the interfaces of military and commercial airplane cockpits have been named as a likely cause for several crashes, including the Cali crash of December 1995. Sometimes the implementation of the user interface can be at fault. A number of people died from radiation overdoses partially as a result of faulty cursor handling code in the Therac-25.

Part B

What are the health and safety considerations that should be given to computers users and why it is important?

Health and Safeties of the computer users should be taken into account in development of the HCI to prevent accidents and injures. Safety considerations should be applied in system acquisition to minimize the potential for accidental injury of personnel and mission failure. System Safety and Health Hazards issues should be carefully observed and applied. Health Hazard categories include acoustic energy, biological substances, chemical substances, oxygen deficiency, radiation energy, shock, temperature extremes and humidity, trauma, vibration, and other hazards. Health hazards include those areas that could cause death, injury, illness, disability, or a reduction in job performance. Ignorance of those issues mentioned above may cause human injures and casualties. For example, using Cathode Ray Tube Monitors may cause eye injuries or sitting on non ergonomic chairs may cause back injuries.

What are the cost implications and user considerations when choosing a Human Computer Interface?

Users may consider all sorts aspects of the HCI; User-friendliness, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn, elegance and clarity of the design, legible/audible display, documentation, display of information and interaction related to security and privacy especially on ecommerce systems, transaction clarity and transparency of the transactions on ecommerce systems, affordable price and etc.

Giving attention to the usability of the HCI can result in significance cost savings. First system based on usability engineering Xerox Star cost $12,000. Later Apple Lisa cost $10,000. By the time HCI methods improved and later 1984 Apple Macintosh cost $2,500.

Resources:

Web:

http://www.wikipedia.org

HND Networking Concepts Assignment Q&A

2011-04-11T14:45:00.000+01:00

Task:

Design
Set up
Configure

A network including the rights and responsibilities of the network manager and network user.

Design a network

We designed above network for this task. This is an imaginary company with 2 Departments (Department A and Department B). Whole network consists of 8 computers (4 computers in Department A and 4 computers in Department B). The network is designed as 2 separate subnets of Company Ethernet are connected to the Internet through 2 separate Routers and through the Firewall as it is shown in picture above.

The above network is designed in a way that even if one of the Routers fails, all the 8 computers will still be able to connect to the Internet through the other Router. We connected 2 HUBS for this reason.

2. Setup the Network

We designed a Network in task 1 and now we need to setup that network. Before we setup the network, we assume that all 8 computers of the Imaginary Company has Windows XP been installed.

Everything we need to setup a Network:

CAT5/CAT5e Network Cables
2 Routers with Firewall features
2 Hubs

Steps we need to follow to setup a Network:

First, we need to connect all 4 computer of Department A to the HUB in the same department, and then all 4 computers of Department B have to be connected to the HUB in the same department using CAT5/CAT5e network cables. We use RJ45 connectors with CAT5/CAT5e cables to connect our computers to HUBS.
Then we connect 2 HUBS with each other using the same type of cable and connectors (CAT5/CAT5e cable and RJ45 connectors).
Then we connect each HUB to a Router in each Department.
Routers are connected to the DSL or Cable Modem.
Through a DSL or Cable modem we connect to the Internet.

3. Configure the Network

There are more than one way of configuring a Network. For this task we will choose the simplest way.

Steps we need to follow to configure a Network:

We need to create a Workgroup and give it a specific Name.
We need to add all 8 computers with specific names to the same Workgroup. That way they will be able to communicate with each other in the same Workgroup.
We need to activate the Routers and the Firewall capabilities.
File sharing on this Network should be activated on each computer.
We can assign a Network Manager as an Administrator and users with any specific names using a specific Network Software.

An Administrator manages the whole Network. An Administrator creates usernames and passwords for the user computers to Login. An Administrator gives right to each user to access to specific files. Users cannot see everything they want on the Network. They have restricted rights on the Network. They can only access to the files that were shared by everyone and the files that an Administrator gave him access.

Scenario

The schema above shows the computer network of admin department of the college.

All users of the college will have their computers software will be installed and configured according to the schema above and their network will be setup.

Every department is in different Subnet. There are three different subnets and they all are connected to each other through the main switch. This way all the users of the college can access their information on the net regardless of their departments. Main switch is connected to the web server which is installed Windows XP OS. Web server is connected to the Internet through xDSL modem/Switch. Each Subnet computers are connected to each other through the Hub. There are two servers; one is a printer server and the other one is the web server. Printer server is installed with Linux OS and web server is installed with Windows XP OS. Marketing Department and College Management have an access to the Printer Server through their routers. Firewall is activated on Web server.

Web server is installed with a networking software and Administrator setup and user control and access features setup.

HND Website Design Assignment Q&A

2011-04-11T14:21:00.000+01:00

Task: Evaluate several existing musical e-business website's selling digital sheet music or digital books. Note this is an evaluation of the whole website. Using suitable software analyse these websites and write short (up to 1000 words) report on what you think distinguishes good of not so good sites.
Introduction
As it is outlined on the “Task” part of the assignment we are evaluating 3 existing musical e-business websites which sell digital sheet music or digital books. I chose 3 websites for this purpose. I will evaluate them in terms their features, usability, functionalities and etc.
Main
Good Design and Usability are the most important part of any website. Potential customers would spend more time and money on easy to use and nice looking websites. But they are not enough themselves to make a successful musical e-business website. Some useful features of the musical e-business website below:
• Good Design
Good design, neat and modern web colours are crucially important to attract potential customers to the website. Customers should easily be able to find what they are looking for.
• Scalability
When potential customers come to your musical e-business website, the whole website should be loaded quickly. Search results should be displayed quickly.
• Categorised Links
Categorised Links make it easy to find what you are looking for. The links could be categorised according to the music instruments that were used to make that specific music.
• Personal Sign In on top of the website
This is one of the useful features of the e-business. As an e-business owner, you can gather information about your customers and what they buy and search. And display those products they might buy. Discounts and promotions could be offered to the registered users.
• Download Sheet Music
Nowadays, you can buy and download the music you like. You do not have to buy the whole CD. You choose the music you like and pay and download it. No packing and shipping involved. Your favourite music is on your personal computer or device in a few seconds after the purchase.
• Search for Sheet Music
Gives you the opportunity to find the music you are looking for quickly.
• List of Top Downloads
It makes it easy for customers to find the most favourite music on the main page.
• Recently Added Sheet Music
Good advertising and selling technique.
• Sales or Discount Banners on the main page
Offering the discounted price you can sell off the product you do not sell well or sell more music making your product more affordable.
• Recent Blog posts and Feedbacks about some Sheet Music
Good way of interacting with your existing customers and attracting new customers. You can improve the quality of the service getting customer feedbacks.
• Security Signature Certificate Logos or Signs
It has been probably the top issue in e-business. Customers want to make secure payments. Displaying the Secure Certificate Signs on your website, you can attract more customers.
• Music samples to listen before the purchase
Most music selling websites have this facility, nowadays. That way, customers can listen to the music before they decide what to buy. This is a very useful tool to increase the sales.

Case studies for 3 highly visited online sheet music selling websites.
Case Study 1
http://www.sheetmusicdirect.com
One of the mostly visited websites about selling digital music sheets. When you type the domain name of the website, the first thing it asks you is your location. Instead of asking your location, it could get the location from the IP address and display the relevant results in UK.

Pluses:
• It displays the accepted payment methods.
• More than one currency can be used to pay.
• You can register to the website and create your personal account with them.
• Free Downloads
• Simple search and Advanced search capabilities.
• Get a free sheet music viewer.
• Bestsellers list
• Affiliate Programme (sign up and start selling digital sheet music on your website)
Minuses:
• Not a good categorised links.
• Simple Design.
Case Study 2
http://www.musicnotes.com
This website appears on top of the list on Google search results.
Pluses:
• Register and have your personal account.
• Good Design
• Well categorised links
• Search facility
• Top Downloads and Recent Entries Lists
• Free Downloads
• Sales and Discount Banners
• Secure Payment Certificate Logos and Signs
• Accepted Payment methods
• It automatically guesses your location, but can be changed manually.
Case Study 3
http://www.everynote.com
The website says that it is the world’s largest digital music library.
Pluses:
• Search facilities
• Probably the biggest digital music library
• Create your personal account
• Categorised Links
Minuses:
• Amateur Design
• No secure payment certificate signs or logos
• No accepted payment methods
Conclusion
I evaluated positive and negative sides of 3 digital music sheet selling websites’ using an approach of the most common ways of building an online business.

Sample Applications (A1 .... A6)

2009-03-21T15:44:00.004+00:00

These are sql queries you need to write for sample applications.

For A5 and A6 you need to create an html page to do the wanted queries. I just put here one sample of each, but to get different results, you need to change the queried word or phrases.

I hope this will help you.

Good luck with it!

-------------------------------------

A1.

select employees.name from employees, city
where city.population>40000
and employees.city=city.city_name;

A2.

select projects.project_name, employees.name
from projects, engineer, employees
where projects.est_cost>2000000
and employees.employee_id=engineer.employee_id
and engineer.type_of_degree='mechanical';

A3.

select employees.name, married.to_whom
from employees, married, projects
where employees.employee_id=married.employee_id
and employees.projects like '%London%';

A4.

select employees.city
from employees, secretary
where employees.current_job='secretary'
and secretary.typing_speed>80;

A5.

select name, address
from employees
where skills like 'prepare%'
or skills like '%prepare%';

A6.

select name, address
from vendors
where equipment_type='soil densimeter';

-------------------------------------

Note: These queries will work on the database we created in one of the last posts.

Max

Deliverables

2009-02-28T09:42:00.001+00:00

I didn't put the whole thing in an organised manner, but still it gives you everything you need except ERD. I made an ERD on paper and try to put that on internet as soon as possible.

OK, let's start. :)

I put the sql code for creating database and tables in the last post. You can check it first. After creating the database and tables, you need to populate the tables, meaning you need to enter some information into the database.

This sql code below will do the work for you:

--------------------------------------------

INSERT INTO `employees` (`employee_id`, `name`, `address`, `city`, `dob`, `current_job`, `skills`, `projects`) VALUES
(NULL, 'John Paypal', '96 Shadwell Gardens', 'London', '1970-10-20', 'engineer', 'prepare requisitions, checking drawings', 'Millenium Dome, London Crossing'),
(NULL, 'Max Levchin', '126 Kingston Avenue', 'Liecester', '1978-09-25', 'foreman', 'prepare requisitions, checking drawings', 'Millenium Dome, Channel Tunnel'),
(NULL, 'Sergey Brin', '95 Queenland Square', 'Manchester', '1980-10-30', 'secretary', 'typing', 'Millenium Dome, London Crossing'),
(NULL, 'Larisa Palmall', '97 Maryland Street', 'Newcastle', '1980-10-25', 'engineer', 'prepare requisitions', 'Millenium Dome, London Crossing, Channel Tunnel'),
(NULL, 'Eric Schmit', '124 Google Street', 'London', '1968-10-22', 'foreman', 'prepare requisitions, checking drawings', 'Millenium Dome, Channel Tunnel'),
(NULL, 'Marissa Meyer', '18 Mary Street', 'Blackpool', '1982-10-24', 'secretary', 'typing', 'Millenium Dome, Channel Tunnel'),
(NULL, 'Maisha Frost', '12 Lower Thames Street', 'London', '1965-10-20', 'secretary', 'typing', 'Millenium Dome'),
(NULL, 'Paul Scott', '23 Lisbon Street', 'Blackpool', '1972-09-15', 'engineer', 'checking drawings', 'London Crossing, Channel Tunnel'),
(NULL, 'Andrew Miliband', '10 Case Street', 'Manchester', '1982-04-10', 'secretary', 'typing', 'London Crossing'),
(NULL, 'Patrick Batchmen', '97 Russkin Street', 'Kent', '1959-11-25', 'engineer', 'checking drawings', 'Channel Tunnel'),
(NULL, 'Adam Garcia', '12 Gobbles Street', 'Kent', '1978-06-20', 'foreman', 'prepare requisitions, checking drawings', 'Millenium Dome, Channel Tunnel'),
(NULL, 'Harriet Harman', '77 Bow Street', 'Blackpool', '1982-10-24', 'secretary', 'typing', 'Channel Tunnel');

INSERT INTO `engineer` (`engineer_id`, `employee_id`, `type_of_degree`) VALUES
(NULL, 1, 'electrical'),
(NULL, 4, 'mechanical'),
(NULL, 8, 'mechanical'),
(NULL, 10, 'electrical');

INSERT INTO `secretary` (`secretary_id`, `employee_id`, `typing_speed`) VALUES
(NULL, 3, 100),
(NULL, 6, 70),
(NULL, 7, 85),
(NULL, 9, 75),
(NULL, 12, 110);

INSERT INTO `married` (`employee_id`, `marriage_date`, `to_whom`) VALUES
(1, '1995-02-08', 'Larisa Palmall'),
(3, '2007-03-19', 'Marissa Meyer'),
(7, '1988-10-26', 'Andrew Miliband');

INSERT INTO `skills` (`skill_no`, `skill_name`, `description`) VALUES
(101020, 'preparing requsitions', 'identifying and checking the quality of the materials'),
(102030, 'checking drawings', 'checking drawings of all the newly installed cupboards');

INSERT INTO `departments` (`dept_name`, `tel_no`) VALUES
('engineering', 44021234561),
('secretarial', 44021234562),
('research', 44021234563),
('sales', 44021234564),
('aqusitions', 44021234565),
('human resources', 44021234566),
('technitions', 44021234567),
('programmers', 44021234568),
('database admins', 44021234569),
('health and safety', 440212345610),
('scientists', 440212345611);

INSERT INTO `vendors` (`name`, `address`, `equipment_type`, `last_meet_date`) VALUES
('Supplyforce inc', '96 shadwell avenue, London', 'soil densimeter', '2009-02-10'),
('Forgenet suppliers inc', '87 monty python street, London', 'ss shape sensor', '2008-12-29'),
('Magnesium Engineering', '123 Fleet Street, Blackpool', 'electric sample ejector', '2009-03-04'),
('Procter inc', '67 Densel Street, Manchester', 'permeameter', '2009-03-17');

INSERT INTO `projects` (`project_no`, `project_name`, `est_cost`) VALUES
(123, 'East London Crossing', 12000000),
(124, 'Channel Tunnel', 15000000),
(125, 'Millennium Dome', 1000000);

INSERT INTO `city` (`city_name`, `city_state`, `population`) VALUES
('London', 'London', 5000000),
('Manchester', 'Manchester', 2000000),
('Kent', 'Kent', 1000000),
('Blackpool', 'Southwestern', 30000),
('Liecester', 'Liecester', 35000);

--------------------------------------------

See, if it works fine when you copy and paste this code on phpmyadmin.
Give me a shout, if you have a problem.
Good luck!

Max

2nd part of the assignment.

2009-02-22T21:15:00.008+00:00

I was working on the ERD of this assignment, but it will take time and effort to draw it on MS Word or any other software. I just draw it on paper. :) I am such a lazy bastard. :)
Anyway, here we go, the database design. The whole MySQL code is here. It will roughly be like this.

You can open PhpMyAdmin and copy/paste the sql commands there.
You will get exactly the same results you see in the image. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Note: I made some changes on the sql code below when I was populating the whole database tables.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
create database projectsinc;
use projectsinc;

create table employees
(employee_id int unsigned not null auto_increment primary key,
name varchar(50) not null,
address varchar(50) not null,
city varchar(40) not null,
dob date not null,
current_job varchar(40) not null,
skills varchar(80) not null,
projects varchar(80) not null
);

create table engineer
(engineer_id int unsigned not null auto_increment primary key,
employee_id int unsigned not null,
type_of_degree varchar(20) not null
);

create table secretary
(secretary_id int unsigned not null auto_increment primary key,
employee_id int unsigned not null,
typing_speed int unsigned not null
);

create table married
(employee_id int unsigned not null primary key,
marriage_date date not null,
to_whom varchar(50) not null
);

create table skills
(skill_no int unsigned not null primary key,
skill_name varchar(60) not null,
description text not null
);

create table departments
(dept_name varchar(30) not null primary key,
tel_no int unsigned not null
);

create table vendors
(name varchar(40) not null primary key,
address varchar(60) not null,
equipment_type varchar(60) not null,
last_meet_date date not null
);

create table projects
(project_no int unsigned not null primary key,
project_name varchar(60) not null,
est_cost float(12,2) not null
);

create table city
(city_name varchar(20) not null primary key,
city_state varchar(20) not null,
population int unsigned not null
);
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good Luck with rest of the assignments. I hope this code will help.

Max