UNIT 8 ICT and Communications

UNIT 8 ICT and Communications
House Style is a standard system for creating documents (letters, memos etc)

Why use it?
Ø Staff will find it easier to use a template for a variety of documents;
Ø Errors more easily detected as layout is standardised;

E-Commerce is buying and selling online (www.)

Advantages of E-Commerce

Ø Able to have a world-wide customer base.
Ø Can have 24 hour selling.
Ø Reduction of administrations costs of an organisation.
Ø Can give reductions on goods for e-commerce customers.

Provisions of the Data Protection Act:
· Data not held for longer than needed
· Only data needed for purpose should be kept
· Data must be up-to-date
· Data subjects have right to see info on request
· Data must be changed if incorrect

Intranet is an internal network of PCs

Advantages of Intranet
Ø Allow staff to access shared software applications
Ø Reduce purchasing costs of software
Ø Internal e-mail communication is possible
Ø Can control access to the internet

Contacting staff using ICT
Ø Pager
Ø Mobile phone (if they are out of office)
Ø Email (if not urgent!)

Videoconferencing
Advantages of videoconferencing
Ø Time is saved allowing employees to concentrate on normal working duties.
Ø Money is saved by reduced travelling and accommodation expenses
Ø Enables more people to ‘attend’ meetings.
Ø Recordings can be made (which can provide a record).

Disadvantages of videoconferencing
Ø If videoconferencing equipment has to be installed/hired, then it can be expensive.
Ø Problems can arise if technical difficulties are experienced.
Ø Difficult to organise due to international time zones.

E-Diary is an electronic diary

Why use it?
Ø Can set up alarms/alerts
Ø Recurring appointments can be set
Auto-Reply/Out of Office
Why use it?
Ø To be informed that the recipient is not available / on holiday.
Ø To be informed that the recipient is unable to deal with the enquiry at that time.

If work is being lost or crashing on PCs
Ø Establish a back-up system
Ø Have regular IT maintenance
If customers cannot buy 24/7 then:
Ø Introduce e-commerce
Ø Install a voicemail facility
Ø Or an answering machine
Databases is an electronic filing system

If you can't find something on a Database, use search/query of filter function

If a File is hard to locate, then ensure appropriate file names are being used

Advantages of Databases
Ø Can add/delete/edit records/fields
Ø Can be used to mail merge with WP
Ø Can save on storage space

A Spreadsheet is a program to help make calculations

Advantages of Spreadsheets
Ø Calculations are carried out automatically
Ø Formulae can be replicated
Ø Calculations can be carried out more accurately

Graphs and Charts are used to display information more interestingly

Finance and Sales Departments may use Spreadsheets to calculate staff wages or sales figures

Functions that are used are:
Replicate function

Hyperlink is a link that connects you to other websites

Backup is a stored copy of information

UNIT 7 Travel

UNIT 7 Travel
An itinerary is a plan of an intended journey.

Paying for travel:
Ø Local currency
Ø Cheque
Ø Credit/debit card

Travel Expense Claim Form is used by businessmen/women to claim back money they have used on trips

UNIT 6 Presentation of Information

UNIT 6 Presentation of Information
Why use graphs and charts to present information?
Ø Graphs are easier to understand
Ø Can see information at a glance
Ø Easy to identify trends/comparisons

If sales reps are looking at sales figures why should they consider using...

Why use a Line Graph?
Sales reps can see the gradual changes/trends in their sales performance and if they are approaching or exceeding targets.

Why use a Bar/Column Chart?
Sales reps can see at a glance how their performance compares with that of others/previous years.

Why use a Pie Chart?
The sales reps can easily identify how much they contribute to the total sales.

Why use a Pictogram?
This can be used to give a quick general impression of performance and targets.

UNIT 5 Sources of Information

UNIT 5 Sources of Information

Some sources of information:

Ø internet
Ø local daily newspapers;
Ø asking hotel
Ø teletext/ceefax.
Ø train timetables

UNIT 4 Reprographics

UNIT 4 Reprographics
Scanner is used to transfer paper images onto PC

Advantages:
Can take an image and upload it to a PC for electronic use

Laminator puts a protective plastic cover around documents.
This makes it more durable. (Can get used more often and not get dog-eared).

Unit 3: Filing and Security of Information

UNIT 3 Filing and Security of Information

An effective file management system allows:
Ø all documents/files etc to be stored in an organised and consistent way
Ø information to be retrieved from documents/files quickly and efficiently by members of staff
Ø confidential files password protected.

Examples:
Ø all files should be named appropriately
Ø files, dealing with the same subject area, are grouped in appropriately named folders and sub-folders
Ø directories can be created.

If people are accessing building who shouldn't be:
Ø Employ security guards
Ø Install CCTV
Ø Issue ID passes


If work is being accessed by people who shouldn't be:
Ø Create levels of access for users
Ø Issue usernames and passwords protection

Alphabetical Filing
Advantages:
Ø Very simple to use
Ø Requires no training

Numerical Filing
Advantages:
Ø Very easy to expand
Ø Particularly useful for large organisations

Unit 2D Mail Handling

UNIT 2 D Mail Handling
Internal Mail is mail handled within the organisation

Incoming Mail is recieved by:
Ø Letter
Ø Email
Ø Fax
Ø Voicemail

Outgoing Mail is sent by:
Ø Letter
Ø Email
Ø Fax (if is urgent and has a picture on it like architect's drawings)
Ø Recorded Delivery (important!)
Ø First Class Post (urgent!)


Franking Machine is used to stamp letters in high volume. Corporate logos can be used also.

Advantages of using Franking Machine

Ø Allows for letters to be pre-stamped
Ø takes up less time for staff,
Ø gets the job done much quicker and on time.

Unit 2C Reception

UNIT 2 C Reception
Duties of a receptionist
Ø Answer phone
Ø Greet/direct visitors
Ø Make appointments
Qualities of a receptionist:
Ø Polite
Ø discreet
Ø well groomed

Reception Area Items
Ø Comfortable chairs for visitors
Ø Reading materials – newspapers/magazines
Ø Refreshment facilities
Ø Public Telephone
Ø CCTV Cameras
Ø Organisation Charts

Unit 2B Health & Safety

UNIT 2B Health & Safety

Working Conditions must be safe and secure. Min working temperature is 16 C. Central heating should be installed.

If staff are in danger or have problems with equipment:
Ø Organise training for staff

Health problems/Potential hazards:
Ø Headaches
Ø Eye Strain
Ø Backache
Ø Leg Pain
Ø Repetitive Strain Injury
Ø Electrocution/Burns
Ø Tripping over trailing wires

Unit 2A Office Layout Revision

UNIT 2A Office Layout
What is hot-desking? Desks are not allocated to one specific member but shared among the staff.
Staff can book desks for a specified amount of time.

What is Job-Share?
Job Share is an arrangement where 2 people divide the duties and responsibilities of one full-time job (namely hours, salary, holidays etc).

Advantages of JobShare

 Employers are often able to keep staff (who may otherwise have left).
 Allows a good work/life balance., working around family commitments
Core time refers to the hours of the day when an organisation requires its employees to be at work (eg between 10 am and 12 noon and between 2 and 4 pm).

Unit 1 Revision

UNIT 1: Departments

Line relationship a relationship an employee has with a person (directly) above or below them.

Lateral relationship is employees on the same level of management

Chain of Command is the way instructions are passed down an organisation

Span of Control is number of people who report directly to a manager

Tall Structures
Advantages
· More opportunities for promotion
· More staff available for delegation of tasks
Employees know who their supervisor is

Disadvantages
· Decision making is slow
· Long lines of communication
Feeling of too many bosses

Flat Structures
Advantages:
Ø Employees are more likely to show initiative.
Ø Employees more likely to be involved in decision-making.
Ø Less time to reach decisions.
Ø Less time to communicate decisions.

Disadvantages:
Ø Fewer opportunities for promotion to management levels
Ø Workload increase for employees

Centralisation is locating a service in one area of the building.

Advantages of Centralisation
Ø Efficient service can be provided by specialist staff.
Ø Creates more space in departments.
Ø Fewer people to supervise and employ.

Outsourcing is when a job is given to a company outwith the firm
Advantages are:
Ø professionally done
Ø may be cheaper

Downsizing is reducing the number of employees in a business.

Restructuring is changing the organisational structure of the business. (i.e. from Tall to Flat)

Advantages of Restructuring
Ø To reduce costs – staffing / equipment / running
Ø To become more efficient / productive
Ø To improve communications within the org

Job Description
· Job Description contains basic information about the job, e.g. the job title, duties, responsibilities, location, salary etc.

Person Specification
· Person Specification contains what is needed to do the job, e.g. qualifications, qualities and skills.

Job Description and Person Specification are used:
They need to be updated as the job might change, e.g. the duties, the pay etc and this needs to be highlighted in the documentation.

Health & Safety Interview with S3 Pupils

To listen to our pupils work click Here

Health & Safety At Work

Although most people think that an office is a safe place to work, Health and Safety is still important in the office for the following reasons.

· GOVERNMENT STATISTICS SHOW THERE ARE MANY ACCIDENTS IN OFFICES
– HSE noted 13 people killed and 1,941 major injuries during 1995-99.

· THERE ARE LAWS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY.

· IF LAWS ARE NOT FOLLOWED, THE GOVERNMENT OR ANY INJURED PERSON CAN TAKE THE COMPANY TO COURT AND SUE FOR DAMAGES (money).

WHAT ARE THE MAIN DANGERS IN THE OFFICE?

Based on the accidents that happen in offices, the main dangers from working in an office are:

· SLIPS or TRIPS (eg wet floors or trailing wire);
· FALLING FROM A HEIGHT;
· BEING HIT BY A MOVING OR FLYING OBJECT(eg swinging door, falling book, etc);
· POOR HANDLING, LIFTING OR CARRYING:
· EYE STRAIN AND HEADACHES FROM USING COMPUTERS;
· REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY (RSI) FROM USING COMPUTERS;
· ELECTRIC SHOCKS.