Computer System Scenarios

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Scenario 1
Sarah’s Flower Designs is a fledgling, home-based business in Madison, Wisconsin, consisting of three employees. Sarah, the owner, handles all of the floral arrangements. Her assistant, Mark, handles the

purchasing of flowers, related materials, and takes telephone and walk-in orders from customers. Mark also keeps the financial and client records in order. Kim is the delivery driver and makes local deliveries to homes and businesses.

Sarah’s Flower Designs is looking to upgrade its computer system (an older model PC) to help keep up with the growing demand of their customers. They would like to house their client information and order histories on their new system, as well as bill their customers electronically. They also want Kim to have a way to keep track of customer addresses and specific delivery instructions while she is on the road. What IT recommendations would you make for Sarah’s Flower Designs?

For Sarah’s Flower Design’s, I would suggest that Kim use a handheld computer. This will allow Kim to keep track of cuts the customer’s addresses and specific delivery instructions while she’s on the road. A handheld computer weighs much less than a notebook computer and can be easily used in the delivery van or truck. The use of a handheld will also help to avoid delivery errors. I would also suggest that the business purchase a desktop computer for Mark to handle the purchasing of flowers, related materials, and to keep track of financial and client records. A desktop computer will also allow them to house their client information and order histories without having to worry about high costs. Mark can also type up walk in orders without having to worry about losing paper invoices. A desktop computer will assist in keeping with Sarah’s Flower Designs completely organized; and as the business grows they will be able to upgrade their system.

Scenario 2
SBI Corporation is a financial consulting organization based out of Dallas, Texas with four satellite offices located throughout the southwestern United States. The company has 300 full-time employees, 20 of whom travel to various office locations 2 to 4 days a week. These 20 employees do not have access to email and other company programs when they are traveling.

SBI Corporation wants to improve their company Web site to provide its clients with access to their portfolio information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The company also wants to supply technology equipment to employees who travel on a regular basis, in order to keep them in the loop. What IT recommendations would you make for SBI Corporation?

For the SBI Corporation, I would suggest that the traveling employees be equipped with laptops. This will allow the traveling employees to be kept in the loop. They will also have easy access to e-mails and other company programs. The laptop desk portable and can be taken on too buses, trains, and planes. The traveling employees will just have to make sure they have plenty of battery power, and a NIC card. To help improve SBI Corporation’s website, I would suggest the use of mini computers so that its clients can have access to their portfolio information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A mini computer can be highly reliable and they can allow SBI Corporation to easily expand its Web capacity for growth. If the corporation grows even more (with millions of clients), I would suggest mainframe computers. It will allow them to store much more information, and can even lead to productivity increases.

Scenario 3
The Helping Hands League is a nonprofit organization out of Orlando, Florida that offers assistance to elderly and handicapped individuals. Currently, the league has 35 volunteers who are assigned to help different people in the community with errands, reading, cooking, and household chores.

The Helping Hands League does not have a lot of money to spend on technology. The league wants to keep records on each client and volunteer for tax purposes and have the ability to create schedules for volunteers to ensure the needs of each client are being met. What IT recommendations would you make for the Helping Hands League?

A desktop computer is a cost effective way for The Helping Hands League to get what they want. A desktop computer can hold the information that will tell each volunteer which errands they are to do for the day. The league will be able to keep records on each client, which will be readily available for tax purposes. A printer should also be used, so that volunteers can print out their scheduled errands for the day. A desktop computer will also let The Helping Hands League create schedules for the volunteers that will ensure the clients are being treated right, and getting what they need. Desktop computers have good processing power and contain enough storage to support standard applications, such as word processing, spreadsheet manipulation, and simple database process aimed that will allow the league’s needs to be met. The Helping Hands League just needs some general computing and more organization, and a desktop computer will help them obtain that.

Scenario 4
John is an up-and-coming jazz singer and songwriter. He has regular gigs performing his original music at a neighborhood wine bar and a local Italian restaurant in his hometown of Santa Barbara, California. John is frequently asked by many of the wine bar and restaurant patrons if he has a CD recording of his songs for sale.

John has not been signed to a record label as of yet, but he has been thinking about recording an album independently and selling it online and at his shows. He would like to record and produce the album on his own, at his house. John would also like to keep track of his personal and professional finances, listen to the audition recordings of session musicians interested in playing with him on his album, and have access to the Internet. What IT recommendations would you make for John?

John should get a desktop computer. With standard office software he will be able to keep track of his personal and professional finances. He can actually record and produce his own album on a desktop computer as well. He will definitely need a good quality microphone, speaker setup, sound card, and other multimedia equipment and software to produce his own album. There are even many computer software programs that will allow him to design his own CD cover, as well. This will do until he will be able to sign onto a record label. He can get Internet access from providers in his area; this will allow him to listen to auditions emailed to him in mp3, wav, or mid files. There are job websites where John could look at the resumes of musicians, too. It might even be a good idea for John to get his own domain online to advertise his music even more. There are even many computer software programs that will allow him to design his own CD cover, as well.

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