Discussion questions - Assignment Example

1. "Internet Explorer” Please respond to the following: • By default, Windows 7 includes Internet Explorer 8. At least a dozen components of the browser were introduced in the lesson. Pick one of the components, then compare and contrast how you would configure it in a business setting (Identify the business: government, banking, retail store, manufacturing, school, etc.) and your home setting. Do not repeat scenarios already presented. Slipstream installation is one of the components of Internet Explorer 8.

It allows the deployment of Internet Explorer 8 and customizations that apply to Windows Vista operating system image (Microsoft, 2009). This can be configured for the home setting so that it can include easy access to different personal files. The same can be done at school setting. It can be configured to include access to student records, for instance. The differences are in the actual content and security access measures.• Internet Explorer is often updated. Imagine you need to explain to a CIO what needs to be explored before deciding whether he / she would need to adopt the new version or stay with the old version and why.

The CIO must explore the benefits and drawbacks of IE 8 and to consider how they will affect the business. For instance, the advantages of IE 8 are security because of Smart Screen filter and other built-in security features, reliability, such as through Automatic Crash Recovery, manageability through manageability features, and accurately displaying Web content. Its drawbacks are: 1) as a closed-source system, to have add-ons means paying for a license and 2) it still has security issues. The CIO must think about the time and costs for the adoption of IE 8.2. Applications.

Please respond to the following:• The text implies that restricting the applications users can run on their computers creates a consistent workstation environment and provides increased security. As a CIO, take a position on this topic and support your position with supporting examples. How would your response differ if you were an end user? This is good if only one group of people accesses the computers. What if aside from IT, engineers also need access to the system? Should engineers ask for permission and access every time they need these computers?

These restrictions will affect overall productivity. Security should not sacrifice the efficiency and effectiveness of the company as a whole. Restrictions must not be too limited, especially to those who need to use the computers for their various workplace needs. Employees should be able to use these computers according to their functions and security levels.• From the e-Activity, provide one reason why application compatibility bugs can occur. Propose solutions that would address these in an organization context.

Sometimes a feature that an application depends on develops bugs because “developers had hard-coded the Windows version that the applications were compatible with and the application failed when the version changed” (Microsoft, 2012). One of ways to fix the problem is to use the right interfaces consistently in all program components. Leveraging NTFS junctions can also diminish these problems (Microsoft, 2012). Junctions are extensively used by Windows Vista for application compatibility. For instance, on a default US English installation of Windows 7, the name “C:\Documents and Settings” is seen as a junction that points to C:\Users.

This enables many programs that position hard-coded legacy file paths to keep on working.3. "Report Plan Suggestions" Please respond to the following:• Identify the recipient, the topic, and the purpose of your report.The report plan is for reporting about the benefits of upgrading to IE 9. The recipient is the CIO. The purpose of the report is to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of IE 8 and IE 9 and to show that IE 9 is better than IE 8 and other browsers. For instance IE 9 is much faster than IE 8.

Furthermore, potential problems will be discussed when upgrading to IE 9, as well as solutions.• Suggest potential resources and a method for gathering information that may provide support for at least one classmates report.Potential resources are the web and academic databases. The Internet offers relevant and updated information, but students should also verify the credibility of their sources. They should determine the author’s background and compare/contrast his/her knowledge and provided information with other sources.

Academic databases are full of scholarly sources that are also updated, especially technical magazines and journals. The research method is to conduct research using the right key terms and scanning the resources for validity and relevance. Annotated bibliographies will be useful in generating reports.4. "Collaborative Writing" Please respond to the following:• Describe an experience you have had with collaborative writing, whether this experience was positive or negative. Explain why you think the experience turned out this way, and what you would do the next time.

With collaborative writing, my experience is positive because my partner and I had clear goals and deadlines. We were aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses as writers and in technical knowledge and skills because we talked about it. We also have good communication channels. We either met face-to-face to discuss the project, or met online, such as through video chatting. Furthermore, we were not afraid to criticize each other’s opinions and ideas, as long as we do it in a courteous manner and we have logic or evidence to back up our arguments.

• If you have never had an experience with collaborative writing, explain whether or not you think you would enjoy this type of collaboration. If you had to produce a project this way, determine what you would do to ensure success. Like what I just said, I enjoyed collaborative writing, only because my partner and I are open to discussing our roles and ideas in an academic and objective manner. We set clear rules, deadlines, and communication guidelines. To ensure success of collaborative writing, the following are needed: 1) clear rules, roles, and responsibilities; 2) knowledge of each other’s strengths and weaknesses as writers and in technical field; and 3) open and honest communication lines.

ReferencesMicrosoft. (2009). Windows Internet Explorer 8 fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/windows/factsheets/ie8fs.mspx_________. (2012, April 4). Understanding application compatibility. Retrieved from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee449431(v=ws.10).aspx