Technical Proposal for an Architectual Small ompany - Essay Example

?Technical Proposal for an Architectural Small Company Table of Contents A of the Contents of the Proposal 3 Introduction 3 The Office Plan 4 8 Explanation of How the Requirements Will Be Achieved 8 Equipment and Software Specification 8 Justification for the Proposed Hardware and Software Specification 11 Conclusion and Recommendations 12 References 13 A Description of the Contents of the Proposal In this paper, a technical proposal will be drawn for a small architectural company located in UK in order to deliver a sound knowledge regarding the technological IT solutions that comprise both software and hardware requirements in order to establish a strong base of computing and to develop communication facilities for the company. Various aspects such as an office plan, a detailed report of the IT based technological requirements, specifications of the hardware as well as software equipments along with their prices, and evidence of suppliers and a proper justification for the proposal will also be taken into concern in this discussion. Introduction In this competitive world of financial market, it is very much important to install technological IT solutions that comprise both software and hardware equipments in an organisation. The role and importance of installing IT solutions along with technological software and hardware equipments are immense for a particular organisation (Hizon & et. al., n.d.). The adequate installation of IT solutions along with proper technological features, enable an organisation to survive in its industry. In order to develop and prosper, every organisation should desire to introduce enhanced technological IT solution equipments (Chew & Gottschalk, 2009). The small architectural business company consists of few officials that include a chief executive, finance and sales director, architects, administration staffs and engineers. In this context, it can be said that the company is mainly concerned with its architects and architectural engineers among others due to the reason that the architects and the architectural engineers could be working offsite and might feel the necessity of communication facilities with the company. The Office Plan From the perspective of the architects and the architectural engineers of the small architectural company, it should establish certain technological IT solutions along with both hardware and software equipments to communicate with them working in the offsite. The company would entail these particular requirements in order to establish communication facilities with the architects and the architectural engineers for the sake of maintaining a smooth flow of business operations. An efficient flow of information through proper communication channels plays a crucial part in any business organisation. It makes easier to convey any sort of messages, helps to get the work done more efficiently developing a particular idea to be made aware for the participants. Moreover, a perfect as well as an adequate communication often leads toward avoiding any misunderstandings, raises the efficiency of the organisation and ultimately enhances the satisfaction of the workforce (Singla, 2009). After acquiring a brief idea regarding the importance of communication in business organisations, this plan will chiefly be based upon the requirement of the communication facilities between the staffs and the senior officials of the small architectural company. In order to fulfil the requirement of the communication facilities, the small architectural company would have to purchase a few number of desktop computers accompanied with latest operating and software application programs. In addition, apart from these basic equipment requirements, the company also requires a medium of internet for emailing so that it would be convenient to create an efficient communicating network in the workforce, especially with the architects and the architectural engineers of the company working offsite. Contextually, in order to communicate with the engineers as well as the architectural engineers, the architectural company can purchase two desktop computers. The desktop computers to be purchased can be based on modern standardised specifications such as Dual Core Processor of Intel Premium, 6 GB memory based DDR3 SDRAM type, 640GB hard disk drive and 512 Mb PCI Express video cards in order to deal with the latest technology requirements of the organisation. Moreover, the monitor could be 18’’ flat being accompanied with optical sensory mouse, a keyboard and other features such as Ethernet and USB ports (PC Rescue Pty Ltd., 2008). Moreover, the operating system could be Windows 7 Home premium and the software application programs might constitute of Microsoft Office for general word processing and other relevant software programs including Java, Oracle, Tally and Visual Basic among others (PC Rescue Pty Ltd., 2008). The small architectural company can purchase two desktop computers for the time being in their office. As the company possesses small number of architects and architectural engineers, it would be sufficient with two desktop computers including the above mentioned specifications. One of the desktop computers would be used to maintain the databases as well as to communicate with the architects and the other for the architectural engineers, which shall be adequate to serve the small number of workers in the company. Notably, there are only 4 architects and 2 architectural engineers currently working in the organisation. If the company leaders identify the necessity of purchasing more desktop computers, they can purchase at any time, provided the organisation maintains sufficient fund for the purpose. The company might use the same specifications along with similar software application programs in the two desktop computers. After purchasing the two desktop computers along with latest standardised specifications and software application programs, the company would have to create an internet connection linking the two desktop computers. It is worth mentioning that the internet acts as an arrangement of interconnected networks of computers worldwide. It is a type of network which comprises various networks that are linked with a wide collection of wireless and electronic technologies (Gralla, 1998). In the modern era, there lies a huge contribution of the internet in the business organisations whether large or small. Moreover, the internet assists a business organisation to efficiently execute its business activities both in its internal business environment and external business environment (James, 2010). In addition, the internet also helps to maintain customer databases through the execution of e-mail and other supportive tools of the medium. Hence, it can be affirmed that the use of internet is very much effective while conducting online marketing activities (Brown, 2010). The above discussion about the idea of internet along with its importance indicates the necessity for the small architectural company to execute the functions of internet effectively. The formation of the internet would help the company to communicate with the architects and the architectural engineers working offsite. The introduction of the medium of internet would further enhance the communication facilities of the small architectural company enhancing its organisational efficiency to a large extent. Sample of the Office Layout (Before Construction) Sample of the Office Layout (After Construction) Explanation of How the Requirements Will Be Achieved The company could fulfil the requirements of various IT technological equipments such as desktop computers, software application programs and internet by purchasing the necessary equipments from the wholesale suppliers or distributors in its local market. The company can purchase the desktop computers belonging to any leading brands such as Lenovo, Dell and Compaq among others through any wholesale suppliers or distributors because the above discussed brands are the leaders in the IT solutions. Equipment and Software Specification The price range of a latest standardised model, possessing above discussed specifications of desktop computers generally ranges from a least of ?300 and above. In order to maintain a structural base of computing requirements and to regularly communicate with its architects as well as architectural engineers, the company can opt for the price range of the desktop computers that are offered with the selling price between the ranges of ?300 to ?400. The cost of the required software application programs is learnt to range from a minimum price of ?150 and above. The small architectural company can purchase the required number of desktop computers as well as the software application programs from the renowned computer suppliers or distributors who provide efficient support to their customers through after sales services (Shelly & et. al., 2009). The company can obtain the services for internet facilities through the local and most efficient Internet Service Providers (ISPs), also known as cable or telephone company. Notably, the services rendered by the ISPs vary largely on the basis of geographical locations of both the server network and the client network which should be considered by the company while selecting its ISP (Shelly & et. al., 2009). The small architectural company can buy the desktop computers with the specifications such as the original operating software i.e. Windows 7 Home Premium of 64-bit, 1TB hard disk drive and supporting memory up to 8GB which would be quite effective and sufficient for the company in executing its business operations. To be suggested, the com­pany can identify the above specified categories of desktop computers in Dell Incorporation, which is a renowned supplier of desktop or personal computers. Stating precisely, the company can purchase the desktop computers from Dell and identify most of the specifications in one of its wide range of products i.e. Dell Inspiron 570. In this regards, the total cost for the two desktop computers would be ?538 including various taxes (Dell Inc., 2012). Collectively, the total cost for the two desktop computers along with the software application program of Microsoft Office package would be ?600 excluding the monthly internet charges. The monthly internet charges would depend upon the price offered by different ISPs that would be ?100. Thus, it can be stated that the overall cost for the various necessary technological equipments comprising both hardware and software of the small architectural company would amount to ?700. The software such as Microsoft Office would be the basic software specification for the computers. In this connection, apart from the software of Microsoft Office, the other software specifications could be the software relating with financial accounting and multimedia along with the medium of internet that would fit with every computer for the individual of the company. The application software programs such as the financial accounting software would be suitable for the Chief Executive Finance Director of the small architectural company. The software application programs such as Microsoft Office would be appropriate for the Sales Director as well as to admin staffs. For the architects and the architectural engineers, the software application programs like any designing and multimedia software would be appropriate. The off location devices especially for the architects could be any kind of smart phones and a laptop along with wireless internet connection. Justification for the Proposed Hardware and Software Specification The above discussed hardware and software equipment specifications can turn out to be very much appropriate for the small architectural company because the company possesses small number of architects and architectural engineers along with other staffs. The above required equipments along with specifications are expected to be adequate for the company to form a structural base of computing requirements along with developing communication facilities. In this regards, the company will make the use of the desktop computers as well as the software application programs especially to preserve the valuable information of the architects and the architectural engineers working offsite that would be stored in databases and also to establish effective communication facilities between them and the company. These functions can be easily taken care of with the above discussed technological hardware specification equipments and software application programs. The company would have to make efficient use of the internet through its preferable ISPs in order to facilitate better communication procedure between the staffs and the officials of the company. The medium of internet would also play a significant role in the communication procedure of the small architectural company to a large extent. Conclusion and Recommendations After purchasing the desktop computers and installation of the software application programs, the architectural company should make proper use of the software programs to access different information regarding the staffs and the company’s performances. The user who would access the software application programs should also possess a detailed knowledge about the software application program. The inadequate execution and lack of knowledge amid the workforce regarding the software application programs might also lead the company to face a vulnerable situation. In this connection, the user should possess a deeper knowledge regarding the use of internet which can facilitate effective communication between the architects and the architectural engineers along with other staffs of the organisation. It is in this context that the proposed plan for the small architectural company would facilitate its communication procedure with the architects and the architectural engineers and will also contribute in forming a strong base of computing technicalities. References Brown, B. C., 2010. How To Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote, and Market Your Business Or Website: With Little or No Money. Atlantic Publishing Company. Chew, E. K. & Gottschalk, P., 2009. Information Technology Strategy and Management: Best Practices. Idea Group Inc (IGI). Dell Inc., 2012. Dell Inspiron 570 Options. Desktop and All-in-Ones. [Online] Available at: http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-570/pd [Accessed March 25, 2012]. Gralla, P., 1998. How the Internet Works. Que Publishing. Hizon, M. I. & et. al., No Date. Introduction. The Role of Technology as a Competitive Weapon in Each of the Five Phases of Growth. [Online] Available at: http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/research/usasbe/2004/pdf/65.pdf [Accessed March 25, 2012]. James, K. L., 2010. The Internet: A User’s Guide. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. PC Rescue Pty Ltd., 2008. Standard Desktop. Computer Specifications. [Online] Available at: http://www.pcrescue.com.au/specs.htm [Accessed March 25, 2012]. Shelly, G. B. & et. al., 2009. Microsoft Office 2007: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, Premium Video Edition. Cengage Learning. Singla, R. K., 2009. Business Studies. FK Publications. Read More