Assignment Brief [Student]

Qualification

Unit number and title

BTEC Nationals Level 3 Diploma in IT

Unit 25: Maintaining Computer Systems
(10 Credits)

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Assignment 1: Getting things in place

The aim of this unit is to ensure learners understand the organisational issues related
to computer systems maintenance. Learners will develop the skills and knowledge
required to plan and undertake routine maintenance activities and monitor and
improve systems performance.
The learning objectives and purpose of this assignment is to:

Understand the organisational issues related to computer system maintenance

Know how to plan computer system maintenance

The assessment criteria covered in this assignment is:

To achieve a pass grade the

evidence must show that the
learner is able to:

P1 explain the issues organisations must consider when

planning computer systems maintenance
P2 assess the health and safety risks facing the
practitioner when maintaining computer systems
P3 describe a planning technique that can be used to
schedule maintenance activities

To achieve a merit grade the

M1 explain the need for policies and procedures to control
evidence must show that the
the maintenance of computer systems
learner is able to:
Scenario

You are working in a networking consultancy company; they go into different small
businesses and advise them about their computer networking requirements and
install, maintain and fix any problems that are preventing the business ICT systems
from operating with complete efficiency. You have been placed with the companys
corporate policy and procedures advisor, and asked to update their policy and
procedure documents.
Task 1:
Prepare a PowerPoint Presentation that explains the issues organisations must
consider when planning computer systems maintenance.
Your presentation should cover the following issues [one slide per topic eg
procurement],
organisational policy and procedures eg procurement [process of making a
purchasing decision], sustainability and environmental issues [to consider when

buying a system], reporting [what reports are generated by the system on

functioning], problem escalation procedures, availability of help, and employee
[user] and employer responsibilities.
legislation eg health and safety, testing of portable [moveable] appliances
Task 2:

Produce two risk analysis reports in MsWord to describe health and safety risks
facing the user and the practitioner [Maintenance Technician] when maintaining
computer systems, identifying for each one appropriate legislative guidelines and
recommended precautions.
Focus of Report
User
Using Hardware, Software and
Peripherals

Practitioner [Maintenance Technician]

Installing, Upgrading, Repairing

Include details of the following,

Health and safety: minimising risk to users and equipment eg risk of
electrocution, fire, electrostatic discharge (ESD), ergonomic [body posture]
factors
Precautions: safety equipment eg ESD wrist-strap, ESD mat, fires and fire
fighting equipment and training, first-aid training
Task 3:

Produce a PowerPoint Presentation to describe a planning technique such as Gantt

charts that can be used to schedule maintenance activities.
You will need to include information covering the following points:
Planning techniques:
Types of planning documents eg route maps, upgrade paths, and schedules
Operational planning (see below)
Precautions (limitations?)
Operational planning
Scope of maintenance
Frequency eg routine, non-routine; problems that may occur if maintenance is
not performed
Other eg use of maintenance specialists
Task 4:

Write an information sheet to explain the need for policies and procedures to control
the maintenance of computer systems, with relevant case studies.
You must explain the need for policies and procedures to control maintenance activities.
The emphasis here is on why they are needed, not a simple list of what they may be.

 Provide at least two examples of failures in systems caused by lack of policies and
procedures could support the explanation.
Sources of information

Students should use the internet to conduct research into policies and
procedures, planning and to find case studies suitable for task 4.

Additional information:

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assignment given to students)

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