Assignment Instructions:
Competency
In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following
competency:
Describe the technologies, hardware, and software used within the
information technology field
James Otis tax associates Logo
Scenario
You are working as a contracted information technology specialist. You
have been contacted by James Otis Tax Associates, a small tax preparation
company. The company is growing rapidly and is opening a new office. They
are focused on hiring and retaining the best in the field, and they
believe that one way to do this is to provide every employee with the
appropriate tools and technology they need to effectively complete their
work. Your company has been asked to provide its expertise in identifying
the technology components needed for the computer systems and network for
the three employees in the new office. They would also like you to address
the security needs of the various employees.
Directions
The manager at James Otis Tax Associates has asked you to submit a report
describing the technology hardware and software needed to build a computer
network for the new office. The manager has asked you to describe the
computer system for each new employee, including an explanation of the
purpose for each selected technology component, and to identify specific
software programs that the employees would need. He has also asked you to
describe the security measures needed to support the systems. In your
explanation, include how your knowledge of human-computer interaction
(HCI) impacted your choices for each component.
The manager has provided the following employee descriptions:
Certified Public Accountant (CPA): The CPA is a senior position at a tax
preparation company. The CPA will be not only handling sensitive customer
data from personal tax returns but also preparing tax returns for
corporate clients. The CPA is also responsible for the personal tax
returns filled out by the tax and data-entry specialist employees.
Tax Specialist: The tax specialist has the dual role of entering data and
verifying that tax returns are correct. This position involves customer
interaction in gathering data for minimizing taxes owed or maximizing tax
refunds.
Data Entry Specialist: This position requires data entry for personal tax
returns for customers who walk in the door. Although the data-entry
specialist works with sensitive customer data, they do not have access to
the tax returns once the returns are submitted to the tax specialist for
review.
For each employee, you must: Describe all hardware components, including peripherals, needed to create
the systems
Identify specific software programs (more than one) that would be
beneficial to each identified employee. Programs could include:
Operating systems
Applications such as:
Office automation products
Security products
Describe security measures needed to support this system. Security
measures could focus on:
Access
Administration and user passwords
Firewalls
Along with each description, explain the purpose of each technology
component in each system. In your explanation, include how your knowledge
of human-computer interaction (HCI) impacted your choices for components.
Finally, choose a network topology that could be used to connect all of
the new employees identified by the manager. Create a Visio diagram to
identify the networking equipment needed to enable the workflow between
the employees.
What to Submit
To complete this project, you must submit the following:
Technology Needs Report
Your technology needs report should be 3-5 pages in length (double spaced)
APA style. For each of the new employees, you must describe all hardware
components needed to create the system, identify specific software
programs that the employees would need, and describe security measures
needed to support the systems. Along with each description, explain the
purpose of each technology component in each system. In your explanation,
include how your knowledge of human-computer interaction (HCI) impacted
your choices for each component.
Network Diagram
You have also been asked to include a visual representation of the
topology you selected and the network equipment needed to support
interactions between these employees. Use Visio to create a 1-page (or 1-
slide) diagram that identifies the networking equipment needed to enable
the workflow between these employees.
Supporting Materials
Technology Needs Template Word Document
This template can be used as a note-taking or organizational tool. You may
submit it along with your report and diagram, but it is not a requirement
and it will not be graded.
Times New Roman 12 font
