[40 points] Answer the following questions briefly: Identify and provide a brief
ID: 3738339 • Letter: #
Question
[40 points] Answer the following questions briefly:
Identify and provide a brief description of at three ways in which computer networks contribute to the success of businesses.
Briefly reflect on why distributed processing has become common in business networks.
List 2-3 characteristics of problems that are most easily solved using the distributed computing?
What are some characteristics of problems that are not well suited for this type of computing?
Briefly argue whether it would it make sense for a company to invest in building a container-based data center? Why or why not?
Explanation / Answer
Identify and provide a brief description of at three ways in which computer networks contribute to the success of businesses.
Answer:
Across all sizes of organisations there is generally clear evidence of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), be it through, for example, the telephone, mobile/cellular phone, network switch/router, PC, laptop or tablet computer. Invariably, these and many other devices are considered integral to a firm, as they assist employees to, among other things:
However, although such technology is considered integral to an organisation, frequently they are not harnessed to their fullest potential to improve its performance. Below four ways in which technology could be better applied are discussed.
1. TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY TO CUSTOMERS
Generally, today’s modern businesses pride themselves on being customer focussed and consumer oriented, and many have invested in ensuring that their frontline staff are versed in customer service. However, frequently, little emphasis is given to improving service delivery and efficiency.
From private sector to government, much can be done to improve the customer’s experience, and technology can be a major contributor to that transformation. Depending on the organisation and the services being provided, it is likely that a detailed list of improvements can be identified, but some likely to be on the list include: providing certain services online and introducing e-commerce facilities, which would, at the very least, offer customers a more convenient and efficient experience.
2. TO IMPROVE YOUR ORGANISATION’S RESPONSIVENESS TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Although this point might seem most relevant to complex, goods-oriented businesses that operate in highly dynamic industries, this point is as applicable to small service-oriented organisations. With regard to organisational responsiveness, ICT/technology can be a major aid in:
3. TO CHANGE THE BASIS OF COMPETITION IN YOUR INDUSTRY
Frequently in industry, a degree of complacency can occur when individual businesses no longer strive to distinguish themselves from their competitors. A certain equilibrium has been obtained and the businesses might be doing “okay”. However, for organisations that aim to grow market share; improve visibility; or wish to become the preferred vendor or service provider, ICT/technology can help them achieve those goals. Again, ICT/technology can be instrumental in:
4. TO IMPROVE YOUR ORGANISATION’S OVERALL PERFORMANCE
Finally, and as a culmination of all earlier points, ICT can introduce a paradigm shift in organisations by helping them to re-evaluate, among other things, what might be possible, how they can raise the bar and perform better, and what new services and quality standards should be introduced. This point may be particularly applicable to micro, small and medium sized businesses, many of which have limited resources, and might be looking for ways to take their operations to the next level.
One way of beginning the process of getting more out of the technology your organisation currently possesses, is not to focus on the devices themselves. Instead, the priority in the first instance should be to set the goals or desired outputs that you wish to realise, and to examine and understand current processes or project cycles in order to be in a position to determine how best they can be optimised with technology to achieve the desire outcomes.
In closing, ICT has long been touted as being able to introduce efficiencies into businesses, but too often the organisations themselves do not actively introducing such measures. Depending on the expertise resident in the firm, some external assistance may be necessary to get the most of the current equipment. However, as the corporate world becomes even more fixated on profits and savings, and competition increases across various sectors, a more considered investment to harness readily available ICT might be worth the inconvenience in the long term.
Computer networking can help your business grow
A good computer networking solution can be very beneficial for your business. It lets you store important business data in a centralized location. This allows the various computers in the network to retrieve important data from the main location. Additionally, computer networking lets you access the data from the other computers on the same network, and modify it according to your needs.
Computer networking enables employees to share ideas more easily and work more efficiently. It increases their productivity and generates more income for the company. More importantly, computer networking improves the way companies offer their services to the world. Let’s now talk more specifically about how computer networking can help you, and your business.
Cost-effective resource sharing
A good networking setup will reduce the amount of money you spend on hardware. How? By creating a computer network and sharing the hardware you already have.
Let us say that your company has a number of unconnected computers. Let’s choose printers as an example of “hardware that you want employees to share”. The employees wouldn’t be able to print documents unless you buy a separate printer for each computer. Buying additional printers for each of the unconnected computers costs you money that you can invest in other things.
When you network all of your computers and printers, you make life easier for your employees as well. They don’t have to plug in a USB drive, copy the files, and then walk over to a computer with a printer, repeating the process. They would simply use the network to connect to the printer directly.
File Sharing is also a breeze Speaking of walking around copying files to USB drives – with a computer network this will be a thing of the past. Your employees will be able to simply copy files to and from any other network computer as if it were on their own computer.
Improving storage efficiency and volume
After you network all of your business computers, the nature of storing data will change for you. First of all, you get the combined storage volume of all the computers in the network. To illustrate this in simple terms, let’s do some simplified math. Let’s say that your business has 20 computers with 2 terabyte drives each. When you network these computers, you can say you now have 40 terabytes of combined storage.
This is important because in a lot of businesses data gets used by multiple employees. Let’s say there you have some generic branding graphic files. Each of your 20 employees might use these files at different times. Without a network, you’d have to store a copy of these files on each of the 20 computers. With a network, you only need to store the file on one of those 20 computers, or a central server. Thereby reducing storage use by 2000%.
Obviously, some date will be unique to an employee, and some will be central data that others will and should access. A good IT provider will help you figure this out when setting up your network. They will also help you decide if you need a centralized server solution or a basic peer-to-peer network.
Briefly reflect on why distributed processing has become common in business networks.
Answer:
computers and/or terminals are linked together by networks
allows for a more mobile work place. People can access information from a wide variety of devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
Related Questions
drjack9650@gmail.com
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.