Section 9
External and internal resources
Section 9: External and
internal resources
Management of Internal Resources
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Functions of management
Management is a process of leadership involving 4 main functions:
Planning – the development of long and short-term plans
requiring goals, objectives, strategies, policies, procedures and
standards.
Organising – delegating authority assigning responsibility so
that tasks are accomplished.
Directing – leadership through communication and motivation.
Controlling – observing and measuring performance of the
organisation and modifying plans and activities where
necessary.
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Section 9
External and internal resources
What are the internal resources?
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Why do we need to manage resources?
To improve compatibility
• If resources are managed centrally, hardware and software and data are
more likely to remain compatible between departments
To reduce support
• Standardising interfaces and functionality reduces the demands on support
teams
To make best use of finance
• Bulk buying licences and hardware may lead to discounts
To make best use of staff
• Standardisation makes it easier for staff to move between departments
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Hardware
Purchasing policy – who chooses hardware and decides how
often it is upgraded or renewed?
Should equipment be purchased or leased?
Location of shared resources such as printers.
Allocation of server resources such as disk space.
Backup hardware to be used.
Availability of wireless access.
Control of access to removable media.
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Software
Who chooses what applications
software is purchased and who
has access to it?
Is software installed locally or on
servers?
What network management
software is to be used?
Utility software – firewall, anti
virus, content filtering.
To what degree can users
configure software?
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Communications
Structure of network cabling or wireless
access.
How Internet access is to be provided.
Whether an intranet is required.
Which staff need access to the Internet.
Security issues such as encryption.
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Consumables
Which users have access to which
printers?
Network accounting, e.g. are quotas to
be set for disk space and printing?
Are consumables charged to users or
viewed as an overhead?
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Facilities and power
What rooms will be available?
Will they have secured access?
Will they be air conditioned?
Where will network
infrastructure such as servers,
routers and switches be
positioned?
How will equipment be
protected against power surges
or power failure?
How will use of power be kept
to a minimum?
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Section 9
External and internal resources
People – security
User rights to data files across
network – what access level to
which files?
Security controls – what times,
which workstations?
Training.
Code of conduct and disciplinary
procedure as part of Contract of
Employment.
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Section 9
External and internal resources
Human resources
Human resources should be used effectively
and efficiently. Consider:
Appropriate skill level and job
Health and Safety provision
Training and support
Opportunities for promotion
Ergonomics and system design for
efficiency/comfort
Team leadership: right mix of people
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