The Finances Department
The Finances runs mainly on the use of ICT, the use of ICT in the Finances department is absolutely vital, they use it to follow the accounts, money coming in, and money coming out. This software allows them to keep track of any money due in and at the same time keep control of the amount of money being spent by the purchasing department. Once again all of the software and hardware and probably used in a designated office or set of rooms. They would have to use broadband to be quicker and carry out tasks faster. Individuals in the Finances department are given a great advantage over other rival companies who have no ICT. With out it they would have to use pen and paper and search through catalogues. Not only would this take much longer, less efficient and harder to get information on the items and users.
At Varndean the 2 main people that control the Finances department are John and Sue. They send out invoices and inform people of the amount of the days they have left to pay, this will tart from 30 days, With the use of SAGE instant accounts package they can follow their customers or buyes around the world and follow there bank accounts. In this their details like Name, address and other contacts details are stored. Another piece of software used is the BACS this is an electronic system that can send any money straight the there bank account. The last main piece of software used is the SAGE payroll. Each month either Sue or John will enter the details of the workers at varndean. This then (Every 3 weeks) will automate print out each check for each worker.
Once again the Finances department would use Macromedia DreamWeaver to create websites to distribute information on their products. Also from the internet they can communicate with other companies and also search the web for the purchasing department to buy. They get information from forums and the products website.
Operations Department
The Operations department is run by Andy, this is the part of the company which creates the products and creates the websites. To create the software they sell, they need to first use several pieces of hardware to create it, for example there software includes Video, so to get this video they need to use a Digital Camcorder to record images, they then upload it to their computers then with the use of ICT they can edit what they have recorder and place them into their software. Operations department is mainly in control of the creating of the software and websites. Once again the advantage of ICT is shown here mainly because the Operations department prove that with out1 of these software weather its SAGE or if it’s Macromedia Dreamweaver the company wouldn’t exist, as every piece of software where is VITAL to the company and is used in its own way, mainly Varndean runs from offices in a large company building. So this means that their Hardware is protected from thieves and is in a non-practical area, For example is doesn’t share a building with a office of a Indoor football training pitch or a workshop.
One of the most important pieces of ICT used in any company or maybe The most important has to be the Internet or the World Wide Web (WWW).This is used everyday, every week and always on. I think that a huge company like Varndean would have to use broadband or a Business connection of a least 1mb. I think this because they have to run heavy tasks over the Internet of Download large files from the Internet in a short time. They also may have to be using the Internet while they speak on the phone to a customer directing them to a website, you don’t want to be waiting 3 minutes for the website to load. Also downloads other pieces of software or maybe other files would take little or no time at all with a high 1mb connection. Also if the company was to have a internet collapse this would mean, Customers can’t visite their website and purchase their products, they can’t order new hardware to improve there current systems. The list of problems that could occur is very long.
(This Information was supplied by Varndean) on their website )
Main Operations, Sales, Finance
PCs x 2
Pentium 4 3.06 GHz Processor
1 Gb Ram
80 Gb Hard Disk
Video Card, Sound Card
Network Card
Operating System
Windows XP Professional
Peripherals
17” Flat Screen Monitor
Tablet PCs x 3
Pentium 3 1.3 Ghz Processor
256Mb Ram
80 Gb Hard Disk
Wireless Network Card
Operating System
Windows XP Professional
Network
Server 1
Duel Xeon 2.8Ghz Processors
1Gb RAM
RAID 5 Disk Array
3 x 36Gb SCSI Disks
Network Card
Operating System
Windows 2003 Server
Server 2
Duel Xeon 2.6Mhz Processors
1Gb RAM
RAID 5 Disk Array
3 x 36Gb SCSI Disks
Operating System
Windows 2003 Server
Other Equipment
Digital Video Camera (Via Firewire Card)
Digital Stills Camera (Via USB 2.0 Card)
CD Copier (Copies 50 CDs – connected to network)
Hardware Firewall (For Internet connection)
Router (For Internet Connection)
Software Used In Company:
Macromedia Dreamweaver
Macromedia Author ware
Microsoft Active Server Pages
SAGE Instant accounts
SAGE payroll
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Access
Without These VITAL pieces of Software Varndean wouldn’t be as big and as efficient as it is now.
The Software
In the interview with John he mentions many different types of Software that his companies uses. These are:
- Microsoft Word, a word processing unit. This is used a lot in companies it is used to write letters etc. (This work was written on Microsoft Word)
- Macromedia Dreamweaver a web Authoring tool. Allows you to create and website.
- Microsoft Access, this contains the name and addresses of all the schools.
- Adobe Photo Shop, They use this software to create flyers or leaflets to hand out at seminars or at open days etc.
Software would be used every day in Varndean to create all the documents needed or to keep up to date with all the latest buyers and sellers. This is a lot more reliable source than pen and paper. So it can be backed up and double backed up and printed to be stored in filing cabinets. Some software Varndean could not do without such as DreamWeaver this is used to make their programs and websites, with out these there products wouldn’t be able to be sold or advertised on the Internet. So you can see how important software is to large companies. Just as much as the hardware that makes the computers works.
Varndean uses their software if a variety of different areas, these can range from a conference hall to an office in a company building. Differ
ent types of hardware are used to run the software. These also range from such things like a hand held PC to a PC.
Hardware
The varndean server uses a Duel Xeon system. Running at 2.8Ghz. The Xeon processor is normally best used in a Duel Xeon system. According to intel.com there is a possibility that as this Xeon processor is 2.8Ghz, that it probably has 512k cache. But there is a chance it can have up to 1mb.
The two operating pcs, both use a Pentium 4 processor. These work at a total of 3.06Ghz. The use 1mb of RAM, and power the whole LAN. Both of the master computers use Sound and Video cards, they are also linked up to LAN with 50 cd copiers. This means they can make up to 50 CDS at one time, Very useful when you are creating software for PC’s.
On the master stations and on the LAN computers, they use 17” Flat screen monitors, these are easier on the eyes, this is very practical seeming as the job of someone that works at Varndean is to stare at a monitor for 12 hours.
All of these computers can be found in a office of a huge Varndean building, no doubt with out the Use of ICT Varndean wouldn’t exist, they need ICT too so much extent that if there computer system was to broken or destroyed then Varndean would be useless until the computers are back up and running. Also with the aid of ICT they can communicate weather it be a Phone and a broadband connection or weather it be an email sent from out look express.
School Office ICT
Cliff Park High School Office
I have sent a questionnaire around the cliff park school office so I can get a good idea on how or if they use ICT in the office and how and new merit system will help or hinder. Results of the questionnaire can be found at the end of this document. At the current time the school office uses a very basic hand documented merit system. With the data base on Microsoft access I am making I hope to make the office’s job of dealing with the merit system a lot easier. With my new merit system the school will be able to keep an accurate count of all the pupils info. The school at the current time, as I said, uses a very basic ICT system. Using Microsoft Word for Written documents and excel for simple spreadsheets, e.g. Forms of all students. Hopefully with the aid of my new system the school office can get around to understand how Microsoft access works, and can make other more detailed data bases, for example student attendance. Here is a list of the software:
The school office uses a vast variety of hardware and would be pointless to state all the hardware used. So I have constructed a table with the most important pieces of hardware the office uses.
The Results of the questionnaire I sent around is easy to understand, the school office understands how ICT is used and the office workers can use it easily. Some exceptions are that some members of the staff are unsure on how to use some pieces of software but after time they could learn more about it. They think mostly that the hardware and software is easy to use. As the school office is very resourceful the workers in the office have purchased only the software and hardware that is needed for their daily tasks, this means that they are not having a debate on which piece of software to use depending on looks or which bit of hardware looks the best. They are using the easiest software for them too use. For example Microsoft word is a very simple and easy to use that any one could use. My next table will show in-depth information on each of the schools hardware.
Workers and Their Jobs in the Office
Mrs Glover:
Accountant, Finance officer
Mrs Trudgill:
Secretary, heads Pa.
Mrs Payne (Until 11:30)
Attendance, Absence ring round
Mrs Rowland:
Assisting curriculum team leaders and senior staff
Mrs Shuman
Attendance, school dinner money, school finance, general finance
Mrs Hamen:
Telephone, reception
Summary
In short Cliff park high school uses a very easy to use school system. They use some software that people use at home and they use some software which is specific for the jobs they need doing for example, Phoenix, this keeps track of all the children’s attendances. The hardware the school use is very simple, they have not got hardware that is not needed for example 1024 DDR Ram or a 168meg graphics card. As these types of hardware are unpractical for their jobs. The Input hardware such as mice and keyboard are all simple to use and can provide a good enough service.