Question

You are the owner of a small business offering advertising services for local home building professionals. Originally, you were the only employee, working at your desktop at home. Now, your business is growing, and you need to add more workers. Assess the current situation: one worker, one desktop computer, one modem, one printer/scanner, one phone line (DSL). Draft a situation for adding two more workers (three in total), including technology requirements. Perform a one-page benefit analysis study comparing:

A. Adding two desktops vs. one or two laptops.

B. Replacing the modem with a router/modem.

C. Building a WAN vs. a LAN or a VPN.

D. Total cost of maintaining the home office vs. building a network with two satellite locations.

Answer 1

To accommodate two additional workers in your growing business, you need to consider adding desktops or laptops, replacing the modem with a router/modem, and deciding between building a WAN, LAN, or VPN. A one-page benefit analysis study can help compare the costs and benefits of these options. Additionally, you should consider the total cost of maintaining the home office versus building a network with two satellite locations.

Step-by-step explanation:

To accommodate the two additional workers, there are several technology requirements to consider. Firstly, you can choose to add two desktop computers or one or two laptops for the new workers. The decision depends on factors such as budget, mobility needs, and the specific tasks the workers will be performing. Secondly, replacing the modem with a router/modem can provide better connectivity and allow multiple devices to connect to the internet. Lastly, you can choose to build a Wide Area Network (WAN) or a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect the three locations. The choice depends on the distance between the locations, the need for secure communication, and the budget.

A one-page benefit analysis study can compare the costs and benefits of these options. The analysis should consider factors such as upfront costs, maintenance costs, productivity gains, flexibility, scalability, and security. By evaluating these factors, you can determine which option provides the most value for your business.

As for the total cost of maintaining the home office versus building a network with two satellite locations, you need to consider factors such as rent, utilities, additional equipment, and communication costs for the satellite locations. Building a network with two satellite locations may involve higher upfront costs but can provide benefits such as improved collaboration, access to a larger talent pool, and the ability to serve clients in different areas.