Assignment title: Better Buy Bespoke

You are starting up an online company called Better Buy Bespoke that will offer bespoke software solutions to a range of customers.

In order to reduce the start-up costs of the company, you have decided to design and create the company's website rather than outsource the work.  The website will be used to advertise the software solutions available to customers and will be the first point of contact for potential customers.

You will also develop various features of application software that you will use in the day to day running of Better Buy Bespoke.  You will use your expertise to create macros that will automate features and functions of the application software.

In order to secure funding for the business, your bank's Business Advisor has requested that you produce two reports for her that provide further information on your plans for the company.

Task 1 - Application software and business processes

When developing Better Buy Bespoke's website you will need to ensure that it supports various business functions.  The homepage of your website should include the advantages that bespoke software solutions will offer to potential customers.  

You have taken the decision to use data mining software as it will bring a number of advantages to the company.  You have decided to use three types of multimedia software to promote your company's software services.

Produce a 500 words report for the Business Advisor that discusses EIGHT (8) business functions that your website will include.  Your report should also describe FIVE (5) reasons why potential customers should consider bespoke software solutions as an alternative to commercial software.  You also need to discuss THREE (3) benefits and THREE (3) drawbacks associated with data mining software.  You should identify THREE (3) types of multimedia software that you will be using to help you to promote the company and explain your reasons for choosing each type.  

Task 2 - End-user development

You have decided to develop various features of the application software that will be used for day-to-day tasks by Better Buy Bespoke.  Now you need to take into account various aspects when planning and designing the development of the application software.   

You want to customise the interfaces of the application software used by Better Buy Bespoke.  To ensure that the application software features and functions that you develop are successful, you need to compile a checklist of success criteria that you will refer to throughout the software development process.

Produce a 500 words report for the Business Advisor that identifies SIX (6) examples of potential problems associated with end user development.  Your report should also outline SIX (6) actions that you will need to follow when designing the development of application software.  You should consider SIX (6) methods that can be used to customize the interfaces of the application software.  Your report also needs to include a checklist of SEVEN (7) success criteria that you will adhere to when undertaking end user development.         

Task 3 - Advanced features and functions of Microsoft Word                 

a) You want to construct a macro that when run, inserts the date and time into the headers of word processed documents.

(i) Construct a macro that inserts the date and time into the header of a word processed document.  Link your macro to a toolbar button.

(ii) Word process a list of the steps that you have taken to construct your macro.

(iii) Demonstrate that your macro works by opening a new document and running the macro by selecting the toolbar button that the macro has been linked to.

b) You want to automate a text formatting feature in a word processed document. 

(i) Choose a text formatting feature of the word processing software that you use, for example, embolden, underline, etc. and construct a macro, using the macro recorder, to automate it.  Ensure that you link your macro to a toolbar button.

(ii) State your choice of text formatting feature and word process a list of each step that you have undertaken when constructing your macro.  

(iii) Demonstrate that your macro works by selecting some text in your list of steps and run the macro by selecting the toolbar button that it has been linked to.

Task 4 - Advanced features and functions of Microsoft Excel            

a) You want to develop an interactive form, using spreadsheet software, which will make it simple and efficient to enter the data of each of your customers.  Construct an interactive form that will prompt you to enter the following data:

-A customer's name

-A customer's location

-A customer's order number

b) Now you want to enhance the interactive form you developed in task 4 (a).  Edit the macro so that the following actions are performed: 

(i) After you enter a customer's order number, a message box is displayed with the following question: 

Do you need to enter additional data?

(ii) Underneath the message in the message box in task 4 (b) (i), there are three buttons to choose from:

-The first button should be labelled Yes

-The second button should be labelled No

-The third button should be labelled Cancel

(iii) If the Yes button is selected, another message box is displayed that states the message: 

Press OK to continue 

(iv) Underneath the message in the message box in task 4 (b) (iii) there is a button labelled: OK

Assignment title: IT Systems Upgrade for Hotel

Scenario -

You work for an IT company who have been asked by a hotel in Toulouse, France to upgrade their IT systems.   

The company currently consists of one hotel in Toulouse but they are hoping to expand and open another two hotels in Bordeaux and Lyon. 

The hotel management team have decided to upgrade their IT system. The current IT system is outdated, inefficient and unable to cope with the additional hotels. The new IT system will need to link the three hotels, will also need to be secure and private as it will deal with guest reservations and payment. It will also use for staff payments and accounting.  

The senior management team has allocated a budget of £35 000 for the project. Now your task is to identify those problems and propose a solution, within the allocated budget, which is capable to meet all the stated requirements from the hotel. The new IT system should also be able to cope with the on-going expansion of the company.  

The senior management team has requested a detailed report on your plans before they make the funds available. This should include any assumptions you have made.

Task 1 - Report content

Prepare a report on your problem solving activities and solution. The nature of the report is that asked for at the end of the scenario stated above.  The following subsections must be included in your report. 

1. Plan

2. Description of Problem Solving Process

a) Problem definition

b) Identifying Selection Criteria

c) Process of selection (evaluation of solutions)

d) Statement and details of solution

Task 2 - Report structure

-Table of Contents 

-Introduction (a brief overview of the report) 

-Main Body (Task 1) 

-Conclusion (a brief summary of the report) 

-List of References