Digital Infrastructure T-Level

  Critical path analysis   What is critical path analysis? Critical path analysis is a technique of analysing dependant tasks and calculating the total time to complete the project. This allows the project manager to see the shortest time that the project will take to complete. It will also show which tasks are critical to the project rather than tasks which may not be necessary to successfully complete the project.     When will an employer use critical path analysis? An employer might use Critical Path Analysis (CPA) to plan, execute, and manage projects, especially when tasks are interdependent, deadlines are crucial, and resources are limited. Some specific scenarios may be project planning and scheduling, resource management, cost management and risk management. An example industry using critical path analysis would be manufacturing. CPA would be used to streamline production processes and supply chains.   Critical path analysis used in MS...

  Emerging technologies allowing adaptability and future proofing Machine Learning Machine Learning is a field of study in artificial intelligence concerned with the development and study of statistical algorithms that can learn from data and generalise to unseen data, and thus perform tasks without explicit instructions. Advances in the field of deep learning have allowed neural networks to surpass many previous approaches in performance.   Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence is a set of technologies that enable computers to perform a variety of advanced functions, including the ability to see, understand and translate spoken and written language, analyse data, make recommendations and more.   Internet of things (IoT) The internet of things refers to a network of physical devices, appliances and other physical objects that are embedded with sensors, software and netw...

  Useful core A acronyms     NGO – Non governmental organisation  KPI – Key performance indicator  USP – Unique selling point  CRM – Customer relationship management  Saas – Software as a service  CAB – Change advisory board  SMARTER – Specific, measurable, accurate, realistic, time-bound, evaluate, re-evaluate  IPO – Intellectual property office  RCD – Registered community designs  UCD – Unregistered community designs  TNA – Training needs analysis  PRR – Post project reviews  COBC – Code of business conduct  BCS – British computing society  ML – Machine learning  CVS – Computer vision syndrome  RSI – Repetitive strain injury  DSE – Display screen equipment  HSE – Health and safety executive  ODD – Optical disk drive  RPM – Revolutions per minute  CPU – Central processing unit  RAM – Random access memory  EMI – Electromagnetic interference  RFI – Radio...

  Core B – Similar exam questions   Section A: Networking and Infrastructure 1.      Explain the role of a DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol) server in a network. The role of a DHCP in a networking protocol is to hand out IP addresses to devices on a network. It is given a range of IP addresses so that when a device is added to a network, it is given a unique address to be able to communicate with other devices on the network.   2.      Compare and contrast the functions of a switch and a router in a network. Both switches and routers are crucial components to a network. Although they are both crucial, they do have different uses, and they offer different services. The primary function of a switch is it can operate within a singular network and connect multiple devices. (This is such as computers, printers etc). It also allows them to communicate. On the other hand, the primary function of a router is it connec...

  Network configuration on user machine   To be able to connect the host server and the user machine together, we need to point Adapter settings – First go to the control panel. Then press ‘view network status and tasks’. Then press ‘change adapter settings’. Then right click the ethernet tab. Press Properties. Select the ipv4 tab. Then go to properties. Then add the ip address, in this case is 192.168.2.114. I made the alternative ip address the ip of google, so 8.8.8.8. Then I went to settings, system then about. Then I scrolled down and pressed ‘domain or workgroup’. Then made the computer description ‘Office PC1’. Before pressing ‘ok’, I pressed ‘change’. The I changed the computer name to Office-PC1. Selected ‘domain’, and named the domain name of ‘will’. Press ok. Then a window should pop up called ‘windows security’. Type the username of the login of my personal server. In this case the username is ‘Administrator’. The password is Pa55w0rd. I was then successfully a...

  Core A – Formative Assessment   Section A: Business Context and Culture 1.    Identify a potential psychological impact of unsafe digital technology use. A)     Disturbed sleep patterns   2.     Describe one step in setting SMART objectives. The S in SMART stands for Specific. The first step, creating your plan is to be thoughtfully specific. If you're using SMART goals to advance your career, identify what you'd like to accomplish. You can include goals like-- find a new job, transition into a new field, or receive a promotion at your current company.     3.     Explain one impact of increased reliance on technology on company culture. One significant impact of increased reliance on technology on company culture is it can lead to making the employees feel isolated and disengaged, reducing overall morale and team cohesion. As employees can rely on emails, messaging and other digi...

 Topologies What is a network topology? A network topology is the arrangement of the elements, such as links and nodes, of a communication network. Network topology can be used to define or describe the arrangement of various types of telecommunication networks, including command and control radio networks and computer networks.  Network topology examples Point to point topology -      This is arguably the most basic topology as it only consists of 2 nodes and a connection between them. So for example, if you were to configure a router in London, to connect and use resources on a network in Manchester, you would want to make sure that you had a link between them that supports your needs.  Star topology - A star topology is a centralised topology consisting of multiple nodes and a central hub/switch. It is also a design where all devices are connected to a central hub or switch, and messages are passed to the central core that, in turn, passes the

 SOHO Network documentation Firstly I added the required hardware. These consisted of 1 wireless router (acting as a gateway and DHCP server), 1 Switch (to connect wired devices), 2 Desktop PC's (connected via ethernet cables), 1 Laptop (connected via Wi-Fi), 1 Printer (wired, connected to the switch), 1 internet service provider (ISP) cloud to simulate internet access.  Then, I connected the two pc's, using a copper straight through cable to the switch. Using the same cable, I connected the cloud to the wireless router.  I then set the laptop up for Wi-Fi capability. I then turned the laptop off and swapped the ethernet module for the antenna. Then I set up DHCP on the router. I then made sure DHCP is set up on every device.  

  Approaches to project management     Agile – Agile project management is an iterative approach to managing a main project. A gile project management is composed of several iterations or incremental steps towards the co mpletion of a project. One of the aims of an agile approach is to release benefits throughout the process, rather than at the end . Agile projects should exhibit central values and behaviors of trust, flexibility and collaboration. This would mainly be used in software development projects, where an agile management method would be most suitable.         Waterfall – The waterfall project management approach entails a clearly defined sequence of execution with project phases that do not advance until a phase receives final approval. The waterfall project management approach follows a linear formula. A single missed deadline or scope change during a waterfall project can cause impacts on releases. Although, it can simplify pr...

  Project management methodologies (some!)     When discussing different methodologies used in project management to control and manage a project, it’s important to highlight key approaches, their characteristics, and how they are applied to different project types. Below are some key methodologies, important points about each, and key considerations for effectively managing projects.     ### 1. Waterfall Methodology   Definition: Waterfall is a linear and sequential project management approach where each phase of the project must be completed before moving to the next. It is commonly used in industries like construction, manufacturing, or software where requirements are stable.     Key Points:   - Stages: Follows distinct phases: Requirements, Design, Development, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.   - Advantages: Easy to understand and manage, works well for projects with well-defined requirements.   - Disadvantages: Inflexibi...