Project Needs Analysis

Choose one of the four small business:

Media Magic is a media design firm located in Kansas City, MO. Fifteen employees work to create advertising graphics, to develop web page branding, and to create fliers and other advertising materials. In addition to artists/designer, there are also web developers and a customer relations team. The company is moving to a new office space. You have been asked to design a network for the firm's new office.

Fixin Folks is a chiropractic, physical therapy, and wellness facility located in Spokane, WA. The team consists of three doctors, two physical therapists, four massage therapists, and a four office administrators. Currently, they have three computers all in the front office area. One stores patient contact information and supports appointment scheduling. The other two are general use and are commonly used for insurance filing, financial records, e-mail communications, and word processing. Patient medical records are maintained in paper form. Fixin Folks has asked you to help design a network that will allow them to move to paperless records with information entered on tablets when interacting with patients and will allow them to do scheduling, insurance filing, and other tasks from any computer.

Kids Korner is a preschool in Provo, UT. The owner wants to provide computer accessibility and training to every child age 2 and older. She has purchased two computers for every classroom as well as set of 20 tablets which move between classrooms. In addition, there are two computers in the front office with a student records database and basic office software. She has asked you to design a network that will allow the children to be connected. However, she has shared concerns about protecting the private records and controlling the children's internet access for safety.

Star Smoothie in Summerville, SC specializes in smoothies but also sells light breakfast and lunch items as well as coffee/tea/soda. The owner noticed that many customers bring their computers to do work while enjoying a smoothie and wants to support these customers by offering wireless internet access. A recent customer survey also indicated that many customers loved the smoothies but were frustrated by the time to wait in line and wait for the smoothie to be made, and one of the employees suggest that an order ahead app would allow customers to choose and pay for a smoothie from their phones and then just stop in at the specified time to pick them up. The owner wants to integrate in support for making and fulfilling such orders. Currently, the only communications from the shop support credit card purchases and telephone. The owner has asked you to design a network that will allow customer internet access, will support the order ahead idea, and will allow them to move inventory, finances, and other records to electronic systems.

Make a list of the specific needs the network must meet. Explain why this need exists and how it specifically supports the business.

• Include the number and types of devices that will be connected. Be sure to include mobile devices as well.
• Identify the different types of users and their access needs (be sure to consider customers or other users as well as employees).
• Describe any application/file/printer/other sharing needs.
• Discuss required bandwidths.
• Discuss budget considerations.