Feasibility Study Report Business Essay
Assumption
As introduction of the assignment said . The school in the case should be in a small village , and both of the pupils , are in the age 5 to 11 years group . So that it should be envisaged it is a small computer room . By received government funding , there should have a network of 8 desktop computers within Internet connection . Assumed there are not mixed class in the computer room . There should be six groups totally . So the total user of the computer room is around forty two persons . Install two interactive whiteboards for classroom use and a networked laser printer is enough .
I suggested the school should be install Windows XP as the operating system , make sure it is easier to maintenance and have much more higher compatibility in the software market . They also should have an ” off – the – shelf ” database for school administration . For example , teacher can keep the student attendance records at classes and keep the marks for tests, exams and assignments etc . Access in Microsoft office 2003 is suitable for the case . Because it have a higher performance , lower price with patched version . Two interactive whiteboards are also let the teaching staff to show the teaching materials which they find out from the Internet .
In my own opinion , follow the whole project planning . The installation and working should be complete within six months successfully .
TASK1
Feasibility study report
Introduction
This school has received government funding to buy a network of 8 desktop computers with Internet connection , two interactive whiteboards for classroom use , a networked laser printer and an ” off – the – shelf ” database for school specifically . We should complete the hold project within six months .
School background
This school is a locate in a small village with pupils in the age range 5 to 11 years .
There is no in-house expertise to call upon . The senior management of the school is heavily reliant on this plan . We should complete this guide to let the school staff through the project and show what will have to be done to make it a success .
The school’s vision is to provide fast , reliable technical assistance to pupils and teaching staff on both study and teaching .
Our mission is to :
– Teaching staff can keep records of student attendance at classes and marks for tests , exams and assignments .
– Teaching staff can also access the Internet for teaching materials that can be used on the interactive whiteboards .
– Envisaged students will access the Internet for research purposes, and for learning materials .
– Students can also prepare written assignments and print them out from networked printer .
Option recommendation
Hardware
The recommended current model of item in the market . Shown in table 1.1 . Why we choose these model of computer is because the Stability , enhanced security , efficiency , these PCs mean business : HP’s most stable and secure business PCs with powerful technology and professional innovations such as energy efficient features and leading remote manageability solutions . Maximum flexibility . Global configurations , a range of ports , slots and bays and a wide variety of HP pre-qualified options and accessories allow you to maximize your investment .
Energy Efficiency features . The HP 8000 Elite model has improved energy efficiency over previous generations by 30% when the PC’s are at an idle . Take efficiency even further with low power processors and energy efficient power supplies . Enhanced manageability . Designed to be easy to deploy and manage , the HP Compaq 8000 Elite helps lower maintenance costs and protects your assets with a full range of remote management technologies from HP, Altiris and Intel. More secure , HP Protect Tools security software helps you more safely secure your hardware , software , firmware and OS , providing infrastructure protection that allows you to focus on your business , not your points of vulnerability . Global service and support . Get the most out of your investment with HP’ s world – class global services and support portfolio , including HP Total Care and a worldwide network of partners to help you get the most out of your technology investment . Get the most out of your investment with HP ‘s world – class global services and support portfolio, including HP Total Care and a worldwide network of partners to help you get the most out of your technology investment . Warranty , protected by HP Services , including a 3 -3 -3 standard warranty delivering 3 years of parts and 3 year of both labour and on-site repair . Response time is next business-day and includes free telephone support 9. 00 am to 5. 00 pm . Terms and conditions vary by country . Certain restrictions and exclusions apply .
Software
I suggested that the school should be install Windows XP with service pack 3 as the operating system , make sure it is easier to maintenance and have much higher compatibility in the software market . The ” off – the – shelf ” database for school administration . The office 2007 as known as bugs in the program and office 2010 is still in the beta version . So I recommended to install Access in Microsoft office 2 003 is suitable for this case . Because it have a higher performance , lower price with patched version .
Technical
As I am the project manager . So do I will follow the technical problem and give solutions . Also, during the project , briefing of how to use those facilities will be given . So that both teaching staff and student can use it smoothly , reduce the maintenance times and keep those facilities have a longer working hours .
Operational
As the computer is build up to let the teaching staff and student to use . The first priority should be lesson first . Second , the after school time will be open for the student . To do further searching for there projects or studying materials .
Economic
If the briefing is given to both teaching staff and student . The working life of the facilities will become longer . So that those item will be more worth of it . Maintenance is also need to join after the warranty date is expiry . Then they were no need to buy or upgrade the computers shortly .
Cost & benefit
Table 1 .1
Contract Item description
Price
Notes
q HP COMPAQ 8000ELite Small Form Factor
** ( not include Mouse , DVD drive and Floppy Disk Drive )**
– CPU : Intel Core2QUAD Q9550 VPRO( 2.83GHz , 12M L2 , Intel Q45 Chipset )
– Hard Dis k:160GB SATA
– VGA Display : Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500
– RAM : 2GB ( PC3 DDR3-10600MHz )
– Total RAM Slots : 4( spare slots : 2 )
– Expansion Slots: 1 x low-profile PCI , 1x low-profile ( PCI-EX16 ), 2x low-profile ( PCI- EX1 )
– External I/O ports :
: – Front: 4 x USB ports ;
: – Rear: 6 x USB ports ; Serial Port: 1 x Parallel port ; 1 x RJ – 45 port ; 1 x VGA Port ; 1 x Audio input / output;
– Sufficient Bays for installation internal hardware : 1 x optional SATA DVD drive ( internal ) or1 x hard disk ( internal )
with 104 – Keyboard and OS License
Dimensions : ( Width x Depth x Height ) 338 x 378 x 100 mm ( 13.3 x 14.9 x 3.95 in );
Weight : 8.5 kg ( 18.75 lb ) ;
HK $ 4, 995. 0
q LCD Monitor : LG 17″( 4 : 3 )
– Brightness : 300 cd / m2 ; Contrast Ratio 8000: 1 ; Resolution : 1280 x 1024 ;
– Input ports : 15 Pin D – sub ; 　
– Dimensions : ( Width x Depth ( with monitor stand ) x Height ) 370 x 185 x 390 mm ( 14.57 x 7.28 x 15.35 in ) ;
– Weight :3.4 kg ( 7.5 lb ) ; 　
HK $ 1, 165.0
q DVD Drive: HP 16X SATA DVD RW Drive
HK$ 203 .0
q Mouse:HP Wired Ball PS/2 2-button mouse with Wheel
HK $ 7 .0
HP LaserJet P2055dPrinter, bundle with 15ft”USB printer cable
　
– Print speed : Up to 33pages per minute ( ppm)
– Resolution : Up to 1200 dots per inch ( dpi )
– Paper handing : Automatic two-sided printing
– Tray 1 : 50 – sheet multipurpose tray, Tray 2 : 250 – sheet input tray
– Recommended monthly print volume : 750 to 3000 pages
– Standard connectivity: parallel port, USB 2.0 port
– Dimensions ( width x depth x height ) : 365 x 368 x 268mm ( 14.4 x 14.5 x 10.6in ) ;
– Weight : 10.7kg ( 23.6lb ) ;
HK $ 1, 240.0
　
HANSHIN multi touchable interactive whiteboard
– Model :TB – 01U- 105 105″
– Diagonal[16 : 9] 2367 x 1387 x 30
HK $ 20,000
ABC Network facility company
– Network installation
HK $ 20, 000
Subtotal amount of project :
Set of PC x 8
Network Printer x1
Interactive whiteboard x 1
Network installation
HK $ 50, 960
HK $ 1, 240
HK $ 20, 000
HK $ 20, 000
Total amount of project :
HK $ 92 ,200.0
Table 1 . 1 show the total amount cost of the whole project .
Cost / benefit analysis
Year 0
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Hardware Costs
$ 72, 200
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Installation
$ 20, 000
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Total Cost
$ 92, 200
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Savings
Training Development
$ 25, 000
$ 25, 000
$ 25,000
$ 25, 000
Maintenance Cost
Free
Free
Free
Free
Table 1 . 2
Table 1 . 2 show that , besides the build up budget . School is no need to pay extra fund.
In the first three years , there is no need to pay maintenance fee.
Cost-effectiveness analysis is distinct from cost – benefit analysis , which assigns a monetary value to the measure of effect .Cost – effectiveness analysis is often used in the field of health services, where it may be inappropriate to monetize health effect . Typically the CEA is expressed in terms of a ratio where the denominator is a gain in health from a measure ( years of life , premature births averted, sight-years gained ) and the numerator is the cost associated with the health gain . The most commonly used outcome measure is quality-adjusted life years . Cost – utility analysis is similar to cost-effectiveness analysis .
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment consists in an objective evaluation of risk in which assumptions and uncertainties are clearly considered and presented . Part of the difficulty of risk management is that measurement of both of the quantities in which risk assessment is concerned – potential loss and probability of occurrence – can be very difficult to measure . The chance of error in the measurement of these two concepts is large . A risk with a large potential loss and a low probability of occurring is often treated differently from one with a low potential loss and a high likelihood of occurring . In theory , both are of nearly equal priority in dealing with first , but in practice it can be very difficult to manage when faced with the scarcity of resources , especially time , in which to conduct the risk management process . Expressed mathematically .
In auditing , risk assessment is a very crucial stage before accepting an audit engagement. According to ISA315 Understanding the Entity and its Environment and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement , ” the auditor should perform risk assessment procedures to obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment , including its internal control . ” < evidence relating to the auditor’ s risk assessment of a material misstatement in the client’s financial statements . Then , auditor obtains initial evidence regarding the classes of transactions at the client and the operating effectiveness of the client’ s internal controls.In auditing , audit risk includes inherent risk , control risk and detection risk .
There are two methods of risk assessment in information security field , qualitative and quantitative . Purely quantitative risk assessment is a mathematical calculation based on security metrics on the asset ( system or application ) . Qualitative risk assessment is performed when the organization requires a risk assessment be performed in a relatively short time or to meet a small budget , a significant quantity of relevant data is not available, or the persons performing the assessment don’t have the sophisticated mathematical , financial , and risk assessment expertise required . Qualitative risk assessment can be performed in a shorter period of time and with less data . Qualitative risk assessments are typically performed through interviews of a sample of personnel from all relevant groups within an organization charged with the security of the asset being assessed. Qualitative risk assessments are descriptive versus measurable .
Number
Case of risk
solution
recommendation
1
Lost data
Purchase a backup tape drive
See whether have budget or not after government funding
2
Computer repair
Join maintenance
Join maintenance after the third year
3
Abuse the computer and room facilities
Limit the computer room open time
Nominate some student leader to look after it
4
PC performance lower
Upgrade parts in future
See the cost of parts in future if necessary
5
Lost leakage
Purchase encryption software
See the cost of parts in future if necessary
TASK2
The main activities to be undertaken in the project is shown as follow. The life cycle of
it can be a waterfall diagram ( Table 2 .1 ) .
Requirement
Analysis &
Specification
Analysis
Design
Code & unit test
Integration
Test &
Staff training
System & acceptance test
Table 2 .1
In Table 2 . 1 , show how the project run , it is a waterfall model. 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.
To follow the waterfall model , one proceeds from one phase to the next in a sequential manner . For example, one first completes requirements specification , which after sign – off are considered ” set in stone . ” When the requirements are fully completed , one proceeds to design. The software in question is designed and a blueprint is drawn for implementers (coders) to follow – this design should be a plan for implementing the requirements given. When the design is fully completed , an implementation of that design is made by coders . Towards the later stages of this implementation phase , separate software components produced are combined to introduce new functionality and reduced risk through the removal of errors .
We can find that there are six stages need to go throw . It is requirement analysis & specification , analysis , design, code and unit test , integration test & staff training , system & acceptance test .
TASK3
Contract Item description
Price
Notes
q HP COMPAQ 8000ELite Small Form Factor
** ( not include Mouse , DVD drive and Floppy Disk Drive )**
– CPU : Intel Core2QUAD Q9550 VPRO( 2.83GHz , 12M L2 , Intel Q45 Chipset )
– Hard Dis k:160GB SATA
– VGA Display : Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500
– RAM : 2GB ( PC3 DDR3-10600MHz )
– Total RAM Slots : 4( spare slots : 2 )
– Expansion Slots: 1 x low-profile PCI , 1x low-profile ( PCI-EX16 ), 2x low-profile ( PCI- EX1 )
– External I/O ports :
: – Front: 4 x USB ports ;
: – Rear: 6 x USB ports ; Serial Port: 1 x Parallel port ; 1 x RJ – 45 port ; 1 x VGA Port ; 1 x Audio input / output;
– Sufficient Bays for installation internal hardware : 1 x optional SATA DVD drive ( internal ) or1 x hard disk ( internal )
with 104 – Keyboard and OS License
Dimensions : ( Width x Depth x Height ) 338 x 378 x 100 mm ( 13.3 x 14.9 x 3.95 in );
Weight : 8.5 kg ( 18.75 lb ) ;
HK $ 4, 995. 0
q LCD Monitor : LG 17″( 4 : 3 )
– Brightness : 300 cd / m2 ; Contrast Ratio 8000: 1 ; Resolution : 1280 x 1024 ;
– Input ports : 15 Pin D – sub ; 　
– Dimensions : ( Width x Depth ( with monitor stand ) x Height ) 370 x 185 x 390 mm ( 14.57 x 7.28 x 15.35 in ) ;
– Weight :3.4 kg ( 7.5 lb ) ; 　
HK $ 1, 165.0
q DVD Drive: HP 16X SATA DVD RW Drive
HK$ 203 .0
q Mouse:HP Wired Ball PS/2 2-button mouse with Wheel
HK $ 7 .0
Subtotal amount of project :
Total amount of 8 set of PC
HK $ 50, 960
TABLE 3 . 1
In table 3 . 1 show the requirement of PC that hardware recommend and should be meet .
Software side , in the assumption . There was suggested to user Microsoft Office Access 2003 with service pack 3 . Beacause Microsoft Office Access, previously known as Microsoft Access, is a pseudo – relational database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of applications , included in the Professional and higher editions or sold separately. In mid-May 2010 , the current version Microsoft Office Access 2010 was released by Microsoft in Office 2010 ; Microsoft Access 2007 was the prior version . Access stores data in its own format based on the Access Jet Database Engine . It can also import or link directly to data stored in other applications and databases .
Listed below are selection criteria of choosing both the hardware and ” off – the – shelf ” software which we need to purchases . We need to consider about both assessment of supplier , assessment of contractual and assessment of technical .
Supplier assessment
The main criteria to consider when evaluating the suitability of the supplier organization are as follows :
Financial:
Financial strength , time in market place , market presence , future plans , number of employees , R & D investment .
Culture : Values , risk sharing , openness , commitment , responsiveness , strategy , ethos .
Capability :
Size, number of staff and skills , location , track record , availability of staff , size of user base .
Management :
Standards , processes for quality , change control , risk management , planning , control .
Contractual assessment
The main criteria to consider when evaluating the suitability of the contract being drawn up between yourself and a third party supplier of the provision of goods or services are as follows :
Financial :
Pricing structures , penalty clauses , payment terms , disclaimers .
Materials :
Ownerships of materials , service level agreements , support and maintenance , change process .
Personnel :
Lines of demarcation , assignment of responsibilities , use of sub-contractors .
Technical assessment
The main criteria to consider when evaluating the technical capabilities of the proposed solution put forward by the supplier or organization are as follows :
The product :
Meets requirements , robust , sufficient features , adequate documentation , maintainable , capacity for growth .
Modification :
Is it needed, cost , support , how much , how easy , who will do it , time to do achieve , backup etc .
Standards / quality :
Does it match your standards , complies with standards and law , adequate resources , technical knowledge required .
Environment :
Will it work in your environment , complies with standards and law, adequate resources, technical knowledge required .
TASK4
Stakeholder
communicate method
When will need to have communicate
What purpose
Senior management
reports
Specific
review purposes
User ( Teachers )
reports
routine
needs analysis
User ( Students )
task assignments
If use
needs analysis
Supplies
specifications
routine
review purposes
Table 4 . 1
In table 4 . 1 show how do the stakeholder work and communicate with the project manager . Make sure that their opinion can be easier to voice out and enhance the project . The project manager is directly under the senior management . Although the have not got a high knowledge in the information technology field . But they are deeply involve the whole planning and the school development . So the communication must needed . The review of project stage and effective is on a specific time , Too much will be disturb the development . In addition to it . Make sure the project run smoothly also can enhance by training , and also their opinion can be help us to develop other IT project in future . So , user’ s comment also need to take . But it is not regularly . On the other hand , communication with supplies is very important .
Reference and Bibliographies:
– NCC Managing Business Projects . ( International Advanced Diploma in Computer Studies ) 2008 Syllabus .
– Gofton , L . ( 1997 ) . Business Market Research . London , Kogan page .
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Total word count of this assignment :
About 4200 words .