Planning the management and control of hardware resources:
Organisations can have huge amounts of money invested in hardware resources such as laptops, servers, communication devices, etc.
It is important for organisations to know exactly what specifications every computer in an organisation has. For example, the organisation may want to upgrade to the latest operating system and they will need to determine how many computers will run the new software without being upgraded and how many will need upgrading. The information can be used to determine what upgrading needs to be done and how much the cost will be.
Planning the management and control of software:
Most organisations use networks, so it is possible for a network manager to keep track, using the network operating system, of the software users are actually using or have isntalled on their machine.
Careful management and control of software is needed because:
- Software licenses are expensive, so organisations do not want to pay for more than they need
- They need to ensure that they are using more than their allowed to, this is illegal and they could be fined.
- They need to know exactly what software is stored on each computer to ensure there is no illegal activity/illegal software being used.
- Software will need to be upgraded so its important to know the details of what is being used by each user
- Some specialist software (e.g. software to extract management information, project management software, budgeting software, etc) is only used by certain staff, so they need to ensure users have certain privilages, restrict access to employees lower down.
Planning the management and control of communication resources
As more computers and users are added to a network, the response time goes down until there comes a point when the network needs to be reconfigured.
It is necessary to carefully control what users do using the networked ocmputers.
Planning the management and control of consumables:
Consumables are those items that get used up by the course of the organisation's business activities and that need constnat monitoring and replenishment. THey include items such as paper, envelopes, printer toner cartidges, newmovable magnetic and optical media and stationary.
It is important to manage and control these items as staff are likely to use many of them at home amy see it as a perk of the job to take some items home with them. It is also important to have a stock control system so that items are automatically reordered when low. It is best to have the minimum amount of stock, but an efficient stock control system means that items never run out when needed.
Planning the management and control of facilities and power:
Power is an expensive resource and needs to be used wisely. Computer equipment contributes to greenhouse emissions when manufactured and when used so it is necessary to make sure that equipment is not used longer than its needed.
Most organisations are environmentally aware and seek to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce energy usage and will make purchases with this in mind
Planning the management and control of people (human resources)
People are the most valuable resource in any organisatin and the ability to get the most out of each employee is a goal of all organisations.
ICT systems (called human resource systems) are used to maintain all the information held about employees so all managers can make use of the information it can provide.
HR systems can be used for:
- Identifying the skills and knowledge required for each job
- Storing information about actual skills and knowledge for each member of staff
- Identifying staff who need training in certain aspects of their job
- Setting up appropriate training
- Managing the training given
ICT systems are used by managers to manage the staff under their control, for working out staff rotas, project management, budgeting, identifying, etc.