A Technical Proposal for Equipment and Software - Report Example

? A Technical Proposal for Equipment and Software Insert Insert Number Insert Insert Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Abstract 2 Introduction 2 Office Plan 3 Requirements Achievements 4 Equipment and Software Specification 5 Justification 8 Reference List 10 Abstract Development of large architectural and engineering application codes is often difficult, complicated and at times uncertain process. The success so much sought after is critically dependent on identifying and managing the competence and effectiveness of the outcome. One of the ways employed by the technical group has been the inclusion of efficient computer and its applications, as well as the relevant software in the field. The acquisition of equipments and software for “Transformers Architectural Company” has a number of focuses with regard to individual Hardware and Software for use in the work. From every workers’ perspective, the employee will work from their individual own computers. This proposal paper aims at ascertaining the number of computers required in the organisation, the specification of every computer, application and software, as well as the internet connection. Further, the kind of communication facilities required by the architects and engineers working off-site will be tackled. A detailed budget report on the equipments acquisition and installation will be availed; the potential suppliers and their contacts will be provided for easier referrals. This will be a process aimed at development and enhancement of the working conditions of TAC towards effective coming up with outstanding architectural designs. Introduction TAC is an organisation with a staff of eleven employees: the Chief Executive Officer, Finance Director, Sales Director, 4 Architects, 2 Administration and 2 Architectural Staffs, Engineers. With the transforming global technology, TAC has the objective of providing current and up to date equipment to make their practice more effective. With the provision of effective working computers, communication equipments and the relevant software, TAC will promote its working process and enhance its output. The effectiveness of work in any organization entails following up with the set guidelines and specified channels towards the realisation the desired outcome. The design principle in architecture shows that there are the guidelines that are in use, in architecture to organize and arrange events that take place during construction. The guidelines are made in a far more effective and efficient way with the use of computer application ascertained in this study. There are two workgroups at TAC identified with respect to this study. They include executives, administrators and technical group. The executives will consist of the CEO, the directors and their administration assistants while the technical group constitutes the architects and engineers. With respect to the customer care services, the sales administration assistant will handle the practice with reference to the Sales Director and the Chief Executive. Therefore, the applications regarding the keeping of clients’ data and progress of work with respect to the engineers and architects will be carried out in this office. Thereby, the computer application with respect to this office will entail the use of Micro soft applications like Spreadsheets and Database mostly. The office of the finance director and the Chief Executive will entail determining the financial development and progress of the organization. This is with respect to looking for avenues of business by outsourcing probable clients’ financial solutions (Hill 2005). Further, advising them on the best methods of using their finances to acquire the best designs and, if under financial crises, on how to solve the crisis. Office Plan The office plan for TAC will constitute two departments: the technical and administrative department, all under the same CEO and Directors. There will be an office of the chief executive officer adjacent to the Finance director who will be served by one assistant at the receptionist. Then, the office of the Sales Director served by one assistant: this department has its own administration assistant due to the magnitude of the work of sales and marketing with respect to the company. The CEO, the Finance Director and Sales Director will work together, hence, their offices will be adjacent to each other. According to Borson (2010), working environments are highly crucial as they tell visitors a lot about what to expect from the office they are visiting. An architectural firm falls critically with respect to how they design their work place owing to the work they are involved in. TAC will institute an outstanding office arrangement incorporating the above set up. Apart from the two offices highlighted above, there will be two other rooms; one for the two engineers and the other for the architects. This is for enhancement of their consolidation work while they are in the office. There will also be a boardroom for meetings and detailed engineering work requiring consultation among them. The room will also act as the presentation room for architects and the engineers’ findings to the executives or clients. An engineering firm has the requirement of a combination of quiet, secluded spaces for detailed work and open, communal spaces for collaborative efforts. Due to the complexity of the daily tasks of architects and engineers, they necessitate an office that facilitates their augmentation and development for the ideas at hand to formulate them into innovative solutions (Page 2009). It is crucial that there exists a reasonable balance among the individual and group spaces, along with work versus relaxation spaces. Requirements Achievements The equipments search and purchase will be done online and the order made by the sales director after approval by the Chief Executive. The outsourced supplying companies will be responsible for the shipping of the equipments. With respect to the computer hardware and software, the equipment will be purchased from the supplier with the capacity to deliver a fully installed computer with the specifications, and software recommended with respect to TAC. With respect to the Architecture software, they are of much essence in the coming up with designs that are critical for customer interest. With various arithmetic data to be carried out, the computer applications in the field of architecture, sequentially and logically brings out solutions of the complex engineering designs. Further, the technicality involved with architecture and engineering is critical with respect to the critical aspect of artistry, but fairly finds relevance with the magnitude of the solution obtained in this context (Page 2009). TAC organizations have the advantage of using computer applications and technology with respect to architecture to ascertain the efficiency of computer and equipment use. The inclusion of 4G phones is extremely crucial with respect to mobile telecommunication. The phones employed have the capacity to send and receive mails, data and process data with respect to the company’s operating system. Therefore, the engineers and architects whenever they are offsite will not have to worry of carrying around with their computer data for clarification or recommendation. The application in the phone is convertible with the company’s computer WLAN, thereby one can access the information held in the company. Equipment and Software Specification Every workstation will be a Dell Optiplex 990 series and equipped with a Dell 19” LCD flat screen monitors. The software to be installed on each computer will be Microsoft® Office 2010. Further, there exist architectural software’s that are highly crucial for this work, as illustrated below. The network connectivity necessary for TAC is the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). This will be effectively used in the office communication. It will enhance sharing of data, information, solutions and progress of the work within the organisation. With respect to architects and engineers communication; they require phones enabled with emailing services for communication while off-site with other officials. The communication facilities to be employed in this regard incorporate six android Motorola phones with corporate Email support or Microsoft® Exchange. The server for exchange to be incorporated will be Microsoft® Exchange 2010. The essentiality behind this model is that it will enable synchronization with the company’s Exchange Server. Autocad Architecture- this is an AutoCAD Architectural software version of AutoCAD created for architects. The features built for architectural drafting enable the creation of designs and documents more efficiently with respect to AutoCAD environment. ArchiCAD - this is critical coming up with designs and remarkably effective to discover the most crucial commands and their prompt application thus, can be used by upcoming architects. Chief Architect - is 3D architectural, home design software. It is crucial in the development of 2D and 3D product designs of choice. Vectorworks Architects - elegant architectural design CAD software offering BIM capabilities in a dynamic, hybrid-design environment. It has superior 2D and 3D functionality, with ease-of-use with respect to other products. GRAPHISOFT BIMx™ - this is an innovative, interactive, BIM communication tool for architects. It sets new standards new standards for design communication and presentation. With the use of BIMx, interactive, 3D presentation packages can be created at any stage of the design and sent to stakeholders like the clients, builders and others (Architecture and Web Art, 2010). All computers will have similar application for easier communication and sharing of information. This will ensure that the technical part can present their works ton the executives without necessarily having to carry their equipments for the same. The table below outlines the specifications of computers to be used. Apart for few architectural applications like vector works that is so much into the practical work of architects and the engineers, there is a crucial context in having all computers with all applications for easier working and effective working within the organisation. Item Specification for New Computer Minimum Acceptable  Specification  Processor  2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz Intel Core Duo  Memory  2 GB 1 GB  Hard Drive  160 GB 80 GB  Monitor  20" Flat LCD Panel 17" CRT or LCD  Media Drive  8x Double-Layer SuperDrive DVD /- RW CD RW Operating System  Windows(R) 7 Professional 64bit Windows(R) 7 Professional 32bit Network Interface  10/100 MB Ethernet Card 10/100  MB Ethernet Card Warranty  3 year warranty Table 1. Computer Specifications (Dell Technical Guidebook) The specifications have been chosen with respect to convertibility of the computer type and model to be used. The applications are convertible with Dell Optiplex 990 and will be effective with respect to the work of the architects. The engineers and architects will be working offsite and thus require communication devices for efficiency of their work and coordination. They will be provide with T-Mobile® my Touch® 4G - Plum phones communication with the office and their colleagues. ITEM PRICE (US$) TOTAL COST (US$) SUPPLIER REFERENCE Computer Fully installed @ 1698.99 18688.89 Dell Shop http://configure.ap.dell.com/dellstore/config.asp Android Phones @ 399 2394 T- Mobile shop http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/ Table 2. Items Prices, Total Cost and Evidence of Supplier and Source of Reference. TAC organisation will have a web and email combo package from dedicated IP address. This will enable TAC to utilize dedicated SSL certificates, which is very crucial in the current world of e-commencing. The internet connectivity will be provided by Internet Connection, Inc. the reason for choosing the service provider is due to their powerful applications to help grow a given site incorporating popular content management applications that are easier to install (Internet Connection Inc.). Justification With daily worldwide changing of the global technology the requirements analysis, definition and management becomes crucial, prior to acquisition. Hardware and software specification, as well as the effective implementation in the architectural field, has a tremendous impact towards the eventual results in this field. TAC organisation will work effectively with the inclusion of Dell computers and other applications for effectiveness and efficiency. The core components for hardware integration of the enterprise system to be incorporated will constitute the servers systems which are mainly provided by Dell and Power edge servers. The latter is basically used for web service, email, share point, data storage, and printers. Notable, email use and data storage, in collective feature are the key components of communications and plays an integral part in information availability and reliability. In conclusion, the deployment of computer technology in architecture does not merely accelerate drawing processes that had prior been carried out by hand. It opens up a potential not attainable on the drawing board, the one having an enormous capacity for extensions of the forms of the architectural representations. Therefore, Transformers Architectural Company will gain considerably with the inclusion of computer applications relevant to the architectural field. Further, the use of internet and mobile e-mail communication will enhance the effectiveness of the company’s work. Reference List Architecture and Web Art, 2010. Top Five Architectural Design Software Choices. Borson, B., 2010. An Architect’s Office. Life of an Architect. DELLTM OPTIPLEXTM 990 (n.d.), Technical Guidebook- Inside the OPTIPLEX 990. Hill, J., 2005. Building the Drawing, Architectural Design, Special Issue; Design Through Making. Vol. 75(4) Internet Connection Inc., 2012, web. Page, D., 2009. A Practical Introduction to Computer Architecture, London: Springer-Verlag Ltd. Read More