The management of LM Ltd has recently acquired new premises, and intends to upgrade its entire IT systems.

There are 180 members of the staff, whom require their own computers. The staff computers, which are going to be networked, should all have the same operating system (to avoid incompatibility issues). All staff should be able to access the company's database from the fileserver, as well as the company's intranet. All connections are to be wireless.

The R & D staff members have been requesting the commissioning of a bespoke software for their department, with extranet facilities to give access to some of the external stakeholders on specific projects.

A number of Sales personnel, particularly those who do not reside near the new company location, need to be able to communicate with the company from their own home, and be able to check stock levels and details of orders.

Required

As a member of the IT team, you have been asked to provide responses to the following questions as part of the feasibility report for the management of LM Ltd,so that a quality upgrade could be planned:

1. Discuss the main issues that need to be considered (advantages/disadvantages) of bespoke application software systems

2. What are the main hardware and software facilities required at the homes of the Sales personnel so that theycould remotely access the information held at the company?

3. Discuss the main advantages/disadvantages to the Sales personnel regarding the issue of working from home.