J808 IT

Question 1

Name the 4 phases of the PLC?

Answer 1

Initiation - 1st
Planning - 2nd
Execution - 3rd
Evaluation - 4th

Question 2

Name all the possible planning tools?

Answer 2

Formal:
Gantt chart
PERT chart
Critical path
Visualisation diagram
Informal:
Flow chart
Mind map
Task list

Question 3

What is a Gantt chart?

Answer 3

A Gantt chart is a planning tool that shows each task as a block of time, this means it shows:

• How long each task should take
• The order in which the tasks should be completed
• Dependencies between tasks
• Milestones
• Contingency time

Question 4

What is a PERT chart?

Answer 4

Project Evaluation snd Review Technique. It uses lines between circles to represent which tasks are dependent on each other.

Question 5

What is a critical path?

Answer 5

The critical path is the longest path that the project should take to complete. It analyses the tasks that are dependent on each other and works out the time taken to complete. It shows the shortest amount of time the project will take if all goes to plan.

Question 6

What is a visualisation diagram?

Answer 6

It is a rough drawing or sketch of what the final product will look like.

Question 7

Name an advantage and a disadvantage for using a Gantt chart?

Answer 7

Advantage:
Can show time schedule 
Tasks are shown against a time schedule
Comments can be added
Resources for each can be shown
Disadvantage:
Can be too simple for a complex project
Task time is estimated so the plan may be unrealistic
Task dependencies can be difficult to identify at the start of a project
Not easy to identify the critical path

Question 8

Name an advantage and a disadvantage for using PERT/Critical path

Answer 8

Advantages:
Can show slack time so resources can be reallocated
Enables scales to be planned
Tasks can be scheduled as dependent or concurrent
Disadvantages:
Can become confusing
Needs skill and knowledge to create
Can be limited large and complex projects

Question 9

Name an advantage of following the PLC?

Answer 9

Structured approach - See how project is progressing
Defined inputs and outputs - Know which parts interact with which
Roles and responsibilities defined - know which task to work on
Resources can be allocated in advance - Issues dealt with sooner
Project manager can monitor the progress - Make sure its on time
End of phase reviews - make sure project is meeting success criteria

Question 10

Name some user constraints?

Answer 10

Time & resources - budget, hardware, software etc

Question 11

Constraints of the PLC?

Answer 11

Regulations/laws
Security/risk management
Mitigation of risks

Question 12

What is mitigation?

Answer 12

Reducing the risk of something

Question 13

What is Data?

Answer 13

Data is raw facts and figures that have no meaning, structure or context

Question 14

What is information?

Answer 14

Information = Data + Structure + Context + Meaning

Question 15

Name some ways to collect Data?

Answer 15

Surveys, Email, Sensors, Consumer panels, Interviews, Loyalty card schemes*, Statistical reports and secondary data

*Loyalty card scheme to be asked later

Question 16

What is a Loyalty card scheme?

Answer 16

It is a reward programme offered by a business to its customers - in return for signing up, users gain rewards.

When purchasing with the card, it will trigger a process of:
The customer record is located in the database,
When payment is accepted the cost of goods is converted into points,
The new points are added to the total
The new points total is added to the record

Question 17

Name some physical prevention methods?

Answer 17

Biometric protection methods
Locking doors in rooms with computers in
Using personalised keys to activate locks - Keypads
Bolting computer equipment to the desk
Using special pens to mark the postcode on equipment
CCTV cameras
Closing windows and blinds when rooms not in use

Question 18

Name some logical prevention methods?

Answer 18

Access rights and permissions - authentication, usernames and passwords
Antivirus software
Encryption
Secure backups