You will hear a business studies student called Sam talking to his tutor about an IT projecthe is going to do for a local company called Turners.
Hello Sam, come in and sit down ...
Thanks.
Youre here to discuss your company-based IT project arent you?
Yes ... Ive been to see the Manager and hes given me a lot of ideas about projects that the company would find useful. But I wanted to ask your opinion about them before I choose one.
Yes, thats fine. Now this companys called Turners isnt it?
Thats right. Its a small engineering company - they make machine components for trade use. Theyre well established - they started in nineteen seventy-six - but theyre a bit old fashioned.
OK ... And what kind of projects did Turners suggest you could do for the company?
Well, they want some improvements made to their customer database. The one that theyve got at the moment isnt very useful in some ways. I had a quick look at it ...
That would be a very straightforward project, and itd be simple enough to evaluate, but I dont think youd get enough out of a project like that. You wouldnt learn anything new.
Well another project they suggested is to do with their online sales catalogue. At the moment customers can look at their products but they cant actually order them online, which must affect their competitiveness. But I said I thought it would take too long, its quite a big task.
Youre right. Its too much for the time youve got. Its a pity though.
Then they want some help with their payroll system. At the moment the way they calculate pay involves a lot of manual accounting. I suggested they could have a system where employees register electronically when they arrive and leave work, so the hours they do could be transferred automatically.
I think youd get a lot out of a project like that - it would extend your skills but it wouldnt be too much to take on. A student did something similar a couple of years ago, but this is slightly different.
Well, then they need help with their stock inventory. They do everything manually ...
Really?
Yes! And it takes so much time.
Its probably very inaccurate too ... An electronic inventory would probably be the biggest single benefit for the company. Im surprised they havent had it done before.
I know! Then they wanted to improve their internal security. The Manager had visited other companies where the staff use swipe cards to access various areas of the building ... It sounded useful, but the trouble is, Im not really sure how to do it.
Well, I think youre right in that assessment. At the moment its probably a bit beyond your level of knowledge. Is that all?
Just one more ... Customer Service. They want to be able to collect feedback from their customers in a more systematic way. At the moment its a bit of a mess, and they probably lose business as a result.
Would that involve you going to see customers at their own premises? Because in that case you might have to do a fair amount of travelling, and that would incur expenses that havent been agreed with these companies.
I never thought of that ...
Well it might not be a problem, but its something that needs clarifying ... Well I hope thats been helpful in narrowing down the options?
Yes it has, thanks. Ill be able to make a decision now. But while Im here, can I talk to you about coursework?
Sure .
Sam: Im not very happy about the way our group assignment is working. There are someproblems .
Tutor: Oh dear. Are people just not getting on with each other? Thats the worst thing ...
Sam: Actually were all friends, its not that, but when were having a discussion about theassignment one or two people end up doing all the talking, and the rest dont say anything. Its a bit frustrating, because we need plenty of debate ...
Tutor: Well thats a common observation. Youre studying in a group with people from all over theworld, and you all have your own ways of participating. In some places students are more used to listening than talking, and vice versa.
Sam: Mmm. I suppose youre right ... Ill try to remember that ...
Tutor: Does everyone pull their weight as far as sharing the workload is concerned?
Sam: Id say they do, yes. And our group elected a leader. Shes very good at makingsure noones overloaded ... But personally I feel that there are just too many of us in the group. Whenever we try to arrange a meeting theres always at least one person who cant make it. Its not anyones fault. Its just that weve all got slightly different timetables.
Tutor: Well Im glad youve talked to me about it. Feedback is always useful. Is there anything elseyoure concerned about?
Sam: There are a couple of problems with lecturers that all the students are talking about ...
Tutor: Last semester we had negative feedback about the way lectures were organised. Therewere several occasions when the wrong room had been booked, or the same room had been booked twice ... that sort of thing. Is that still a problem?
Sam: That hasnt happened at all as far as I know ...
Tutor: Oh good, its sorted out then.
Sam: But ... I dont know the reason, but some of the staff often turn up late, so wemiss ten orfifteen minutes of our lecture time ... It might be because theyve been copying handouts for students, I think theres a queue for the machine sometimes ...
Tutor: Well Ill look into that. Thank you for telling me. Anything else?
Sam: The other thing is that it can be very difficult to get to see a lecturer individually. Theyre allvery supportive and friendly when you do manage to find them, but often theyre not in their office, even at times when theyre meant to be available for consultation.
Tutor: OK ... Thats helpful ... Now before you leave, let me...