I think a Web site is essential for all businesses because of the highly "computerized" world we live in today. Many people gauge their opinion on a company simply by the presentation on their web site. It's critical to have an understanding of what is pleasing to the customer in the online environment - this is truly your first impression.
Secure e-mail is a trend that is starting to become more standard in the business field. As word gets out about it's use and benefits, more companies will surely start requiring e-mail encryption.
The main goal is secure e-mailing is to keep the subject matter confidential. This can be beneficial in several areas of business - financial, medical, and legal just to name a few. I have not experienced the use of secure e-mail before this class but I have made use of its counterpart - secure transactions over the web. In the same sense, by using a certificate, the information is kept confidential to only the party's involved. I believe that secure e-mail will be very rewarding to companies that rely on keeping the trust of their clientele. It can also be a means to keep top secret business plans under wraps.
Perhaps soon, the day will come when even the public will be communicating via secure e-mail.
Collaborative computing via Sharepoint has many benefits to the business world. From my experience, such benefits include its user friendliness, simplicity and and functionality. In today's business world, employees have different levels of computer knowledge. This may create difficulty or tension among groups that do not utilize collaborative computing. Sharepoint specifically is such a simple tool to use that a person with minimal computer experience is likely to appreciate its' ease of use.
Another great benefit to using a collaborative computing program such as Sharepoint, is that it is bound to simplify the decision making process. When all of the information you need is collected in one central location, the decision can be arrived at promptly. Collaborative computing is also done in real-time which also aids in the time it takes to make a decision.
I especially like the fact that the website sends alerts to your personal email. This makes it easy to know if there have been any changes to the project, who made them and what category the changes are in - all in a single glance. On the contrary, it is comforting to know that all the changes you make to the site will also be alerting your teammates. This simplifies the process by eliminating extra emails to each member of the group to let them know you've updated something.
From my experience using this tool I came to understand that long-distance working relationships can be easily maintained. I would highly recommend collaborative computing to any business entity.
Check out our DVD advertisement!In this project, I was able to demonstrate how to analyze and manipulate data in a way that will help build a business plan. In this case, I operated a DVD distribution company and was wanting to see how I might increase my revenues by using various Excel functions.
First, I learned how to take a single cell of data and separate it out by using the FIND and LEFT/RIGHT functions. I then learned how to take a mass of data and make it presentable and professional by using the PivotTable Wizard. I also learned how to set revenue goals and then have Goal Seek tell me how I can reach those goals. I imagine these tools can be very useful for the everyday business person. Using the embedded Excel functions makes it simple to examine a mass of data that would otherwise be illegible.
My experience with Microsoft Access is limited as far as building the databases, however, it is a program that I use on a daily basis in my job. In my office, we have several uses for Access. One of them is it is a great way to keep track of our assets. We employ approximately 700 people and the majority of those require some type of hardware to perform their job tasks. Whether it's a scan gun, a CB radio, or another piece of equipment, each of these is entered into our Asset Tracking database. In addition, each of these pieces of equipment is tagged with a barcode label making it possible for us to scan out to a particular employee.
Another way we use Access in the office is with a program called HR Tracking. With this program, used by Human Resources, it's possible to transmit all information keyed into the Payroll system to the Access program. It takes the information and allows you to create various reports and alerts with it. It is extremely helpful to have all of this information in one program rather than several spreadsheets.
With this project, I have learned the "other side" of Access. Instead of just being the user, like at work, I have an understanding of what goes in to creating these databases. Access does a great job of keeping the process user-friendly and fairly self-explanatory. At my place of business alone it is a tremendous help to several departments in the building.
My new Access skills will allow me to present an even broader knowledge of the Office package. It will allow me to develop and maintain databases for my office that will improve the efficiency of our daily tasks. I can carry this information with me to other jobs I take in the future as well. Knowing about Access is an invaluable strength in today's modern office.
