Report: Introduction to Computer Skills and Technological Advancements

This report provides an overview of the benefits of computer skills and technological advancements for businesses, with a focus on enhancing productivity and management quality. It includes an analysis of cost-related data, utilizing spreadsheets to calculate training and product costs, and highlights the importance of features like charts and graphs for effective data presentation and analysis. The report also explores various technological advancements in software and hardware, such as XML, code management tools, IDEs, and version control, and discusses their contributions to increasing business efficiency. The conclusion emphasizes the significance of embracing information technology to save time, reduce costs, and improve overall business performance, recommending the implementation of innovations and updated software versions to stay competitive. The report is enriched with illustrations and references to support its findings.

Introduction to Computer Skills

Table of Contents
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Covered in excel sheet................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Analysis and Evaluation..................................................................................................................1
2. Findings from TASK 1............................................................................................................1
3. Features that could contribute into increasing productivity and management quality............1
4. Technological advancements in software and hardware for increasing productivity of
business.......................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
5. Conclusion with summarised main points and it could be utilized in increasing profits for
the organisations..........................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Illustration Index
Illustration 1: TRAINING COST: Data View.................................................................................2
Illustration 2: TRAINING COST: Formula View...........................................................................3
Illustration 3: PRODUCT COST: Data View..................................................................................4
Illustration 4: PRODUCT COST: Formula View............................................................................5
Illustration 5: Column Chart............................................................................................................6

TASK 1
Covered in excel sheet
TASK 2
INTRODUCTION
With the advancement in technology, new innovations have come into existence make
life easier and faster for the people. Thus, production time has reduced increasing overall
efficiency of the business. Several services have been provided to solve various issues that has
been prevailing since long time such as connectivity, storage problems and many more (Hahnel,
Goldhammer and Kröhne, 2016). Storage management has been facilitated by cloud services as
it provides facility to store data on clouds reducing problems of storing data on physical devices.
The objective of the study is to prepare a report making people understand of Healy benefits of
technological advancement. Thus, it has also assisted into enhancing productivity of the
company and as a result management of the Healy could also be improved. Spreadsheets will
also be prepared for the calculation of costs of purchase along with benefits of software.
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Analysis and Evaluation
2. Findings from TASK 1
Illustration 1: TRAINING COST: Data View
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Illustration 2: TRAINING COST: Formula View
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Illustration 3: PRODUCT COST: Data View
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Illustration 4: PRODUCT COST: Formula View
From the TASK 1, it has been found that total cost for training excluding VAT was
£2,000.0. After applying VAT of 17.50%, total cost for training changed to £2,350. After
performing calculations, total product cost excluding VAT was £1,500 which was Budgeted cost
whereas cost for Office 365 and Office 2013, cost observed was £3,100. By making use of IF
function, it has been identified that Office 365 was within budget but Office 2013 was over-
budgeted.
3. Features that could contribute into increasing productivity and management quality
Productivity and quality of management could be improved by making use of following
features (Hussain and Farooq, 2016). These are discussed below:
Charts and graphs
Presentation of the document could be enhanced by making use of charts and graphs.
They are very effective in making users understand the topic. There are several benefits of using
it which are given below:
 Statistical data is not easy to understand making people confused with the provided data.
Thus, graphs and charts could be utilized that simplifies the presentation of information
making people understand meanings.
 User involvement also gets enhanced with the use of it.
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 Data analysis also gets enhanced as it assists into extraction of useful information that
could be used for specified purpose.
 Main findings that are required to be presented to the users could be accomplished using
it.
Presentation could be enhanced by making use of variety of charts which are listed as:
 Column Chart: columns are ordered into vertical manner into it. Height of the column
represents associated value (Peng, 2017). When percentages are required to be
calculated, then they could be used as they are very effective. Approximately seven
groups could be used and for separation of columns, blank spaces are used.
 Horizontal Bar charts: Bars are ordered in horizontal fashion into bar charts. Length of
bar represents value. When there are eight groups or more than and mean along with
percentages is required to be calculated, then it is the best possible way. Functions: it is used in the development process of software to in order to make work
easier and faster. It provides facility of using code of the program again and thus saving
overall code writing time (Arnett, 2016). In this, work is equally divided among all the
individuals and outcomes are thus recorded. For example, in a program subtraction of
values is needed to be performed five times. In such situation, function could be
implemented that saves time of writing code every time with the new values. They are
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Illustration 5: Column Chart
(Source: Column Chart, 2017)

advantageous in context of complex and lengthy codes. They are very useful in software
development process. They also limit the possibilities of facing errors in the code.
Program size could also be minimized with the help of it. For function definition, it is
required to have its name along with parameters. Charts and Tables: organisation of data could be enhanced using tables. More details
could be provided when data is presented using tabular structure. Charts have benefited
in enhancing data presentation (Plak, Merkelbach and Bus, 2016). User visibility and
understandability enhances. Pictorial and graphical presentations are very easy to
interpret.
Benefits of Charts:
When data is required to be presented into graphical manner, then it is very useful. Data
sets becomes understandable. Excel charts are useful in corporate sector. Audience could be
engaged into topic by utilising it. It also facilitates by providing data updation feature.
Benefits of Tables:
Random access of values is provided by tables because of the features rows and columns.
When there is facility of accessing data randomly, then overall time also gets saved enhancing
efficiency of the work done (Kron and et.al., 2017). Thus, one is not required to go through
entire list of data for extracting particular data.
Therefore, all the discussed features could be used so that business efficiency and
productivity gets enhanced.
4. Technological advancements in software and hardware for increasing productivity of business
With the introduction of technology, organisations have got benefited in terms of cost,
time and productivity. With the use of internet people have got chance to expand their business
to global market (ADVANCEMENT IN COMPUTER HARDWARE & SOFTWARE, 2012).
Following are the technological advances that could be used by the Healy in order to enhance
efficiency and productivity of the firm: XML: Two levels are there where XML could be operated. It could be used for document
structure and document markup. Syntax of XML could be for presenting this. Data could
be presented into readable form with the help of it. Due to low storage capacity, storing
data was an issue for every organisation. But it has been solved by XML along with
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availability of data exchange. Mash-ups is another feature that involves combining of
software's in order to produce productive results. Code management: While writing a program, various errors are encountered that could
be either because logic is not appropriate or lack of memory etc. Developer is the
intended person who is supposed to rectify it. Nowadays, identification of bugs and errors
in the program have become easier as a result of technological advancement (Wu and
Tsai, 2016). Various tools have been developed that could be utilized which does not
consider the type of programming language used in the procedure. Integrated Development Environment: To combine all the tools of program into single
application, IDEs could be utilized. In this, user interface, macro language and
documentation system does not change. Modelling tools: the work of software development process has been simplified by these
tools. They are useful when logics are needed to be written in the program along with
function creation (Hinkley, Cliff and Hesketh, 2017). For identification of defects and
inconsistencies also, it could be used. Modelling tools are also helpful in prediction of
response of the system under specific conditions. Introduction of new technologies: Technological development has improved working of
hard-wares as well. New technologies are nowadays implemented so that efficiency of
the system could be enhanced along with saving time. Earlier equipments were used to be
bulky and heavy which has been sorted by technologies. Mouse, keyboards,
motherboards etc. are improving continuously. Storage capacity of hard disks have also
increased. Unit testing : After coding the program, it is required to perform testing as well so that
errors in the code could be known and rectified (Robinson-Ervin, Cartledge and Keyes,
2016). Cost of testing the whole is much higher than the code being tested in units. It is
beneficial as all the possible logical errors could be identified at individual level only and
accordingly rectifications could be introduced. Therefore, assistance is provided by unit
testing to examine part of code that deviating from the expected outcomes.
 Version control: It represents the amount the development that has been accomplished in
the code of the program. It also takes into consideration the time intervals in which
changes have been introduced. New features are added in the software and operating
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systems as a result of technology advancement (Molins-Ruano and Sacha, 2016).
Therefore, to remain competitive in the market with enhanced productivity, it is
suggested that new innovations should be introduced.
CONCLUSION
5. Conclusion with summarised main points and it could be utilized in increasing profits for the
organisations
From the study conducted it could be analysed that use of information technology has
benefited individuals in terms of saving time and cost required for accomplishment of task. Day
to day life has also got enhanced as a result of it increasing living standards of the people.
Business performance and efficiency has also got additive advantage. They could now make use
of advanced technology and updated versions of software's to simplify work. Thus, as a result
time required for the accomplishment of task could also be minimized. Production costs has also
lowered down. Staff of the Healy is thus required to understand the benefits of using software's
in order to enhance productivity of the organisation. To implement innovations and information
technology in the working practices it is not required to have specific size of the venture. Cloud
services has benefited in terms of data storage management. Unit testing has assisted in
rectification of errors at basic level thus saving the entire code from getting ruptured.
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REFERENCES
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skills, evaluating online information, and navigation on reading digital text. Computers in
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Hinkley, T., Cliff, D. and Hesketh, K., 2017. Active minds happy kids: A stealth-based pilot
intervention targeting preschoolers’ screen-time, outdoor play and social skills. Journal of
Science and Medicine in Sport. 20. pp.e3-e4.
Hussain, M. A. and Farooq, M. S., 2016. PRACTICES AND BARRIERS IN COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY SKILLS: PORTRAYING STUDENT TEACHERS OF OPEN AND
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Kron, F. W. and et.al., 2017. Using a computer simulation for teaching communication skills: A
blinded multisite mixed methods randomized controlled trial. Patient education and
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Molins-Ruano, P. and Sacha, G. M., 2016. Modelling experts' behavior with e-valUAM to
measure computer science skills. Computers in Human Behavior. 61. pp.378-385.
Peng, G., 2017. Do computer skills affect worker employment? An empirical study from CPS
surveys. Computers in Human Behavior. 74. pp.26-34.
Plak, R. D., Merkelbach, I. and Bus, A. G., 2016. Brief computer interventions enhance
emergent academic skills in susceptible children: A gene-by-environment experiment.
Learning and Instruction. 45. pp.1-8.
Robinson-Ervin, P., Cartledge and Keyes, S. E., 2016. Social skills instruction for urban
learners with emotional and behavioral disorders: A culturally responsive and computer-
based intervention. Behavioral Disorders. 41(4). pp.209-225.
Wu, H. C. and Tsai, C. W., 2016. Effects of Web-based Cognitive Apprenticeship and Time
Management on the Development of Computing Skills in Cloud Classroom: A Quasi-
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Experimental Approach. International Journal of Information and Communication
Technology Education (IJICTE). 12(3). pp.1-12.
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ADVANCEMENT IN COMPUTER HARDWARE & SOFTWARE. 2012. [Online]. Available
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Column chart. 2017. [Online]. Available
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