Workshop on Computers for Management (WCM) MB-107

Workshop on Computers for Management (WCM) MB-107

Col SC Sood(Retd)

This subject is being taught as part of MBA first semester curriculum in the form of a workshop. The code MB-107 refers to the subject code as specified in Punjab Technical University (PTU) syllabus. Based on the contents listed therein, a tentative list of ten projects/experiments has been drawn up so that the students get the most out of their efforts.

Lab/Project Work

1. Assembling a PC with its components.
2. (a) Install Windows XP on a given system. (b) Install Ubuntu (Linux) Desktop Edition within windows.
3. Market survey of various components of a PC with a suitable configuration to meet general requirements of a company office.
4. Creating report of above survey in the form of a small booklet in Microsoft Word with Table of Contents and Index.
5. Preparing presentation of above survey in Power Point.
6. (a) Mail Merge in Microsoft Office XP. (b) Mail Merge in OpenOffice.org. (c) Comparison of above word processors for mail merge features.
7. (a) Data entry, formatting and computations using worksheet in Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org and their comparison. (b) Creation of data graphs.
8. (a) Worksheet protection features in Microsoft Excel and OpenOffice.org spreadsheet. (b) Editing range of cells with passwords. (c) Comparison of features in both.
9. (a) Creating presentations using Power Point. (b) Inserting images. (c) Inserting audio clips. (d) Inserting Video clips.
10. (a) Slide transitions. (b) Slide animations. (c) Linking slides in a presentation. (d) Linking external files.

Question Bank: MB-107

1. List components required to assemble a Desktop PC.
2. What is a Flow Chart? How is it related to an Algorithm?
3. Differentiate between High Level and Low Level Languages.
4. Differentiate between System s/w and Application s/w. Give one example each.
5. What is an operating system?
6. Compare Windows XP and Ubuntu (Linux) operating systems.
7. Differentiate between www and Internet.
8. Differentiate between Internet and Intranet.
9. How would you create an email address?
10. What is the advantage of Outlook Express?

Project No. 1 Assembling a PC with its components.

This project aims at:-

1. Making the students familiar with the components required to assemble a desktop PC for their home requirements: e.g. Motherboard, Processor with Cooling Fan, RAM (Memory), SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply), Hard Disk, CD/DVD writer, UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor etc.
2. Various brands available in the local market for above components.
3. Comparative study of their features.
4. Warranty available for each component.
5. Cost comparison.
6. Customer Support.
7. Ultimately the student should be in a position to arrive at logical conclusions based on his/her requirements and above factors.
8. Students should be able to compare branded and assembled computers.
9. They should be able to use these deductions for their home requirements as well as requirements of their office/company etc.

Project No. 2

2. (a) Install Windows XP on a given system. (b) Install Ubuntu (Linux) Desktop Edition within windows.

1. Aim of installing Windows XP is multi-fold.
2. The student must be aware of the fact that Windows is a series of Operating Systems. It has gone through a series of versions such as Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Server 2000, Windows Millennium Edition(ME), Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and the recent one as of October 2009 is Windows 7.
3. Firstly, the student must be able to understand that it is essential to install at least one operating system on a PC before we can use it.
4. Secondly, There are many operating systems available in the market. E.g. Windows, Linux and others. It is important to know as to which Operating System (OS) is prevalent in your area. Accordingly, you would be able to get the support from your local vendors easily.
5. Thirdly, it must be clear that all operating systems would provide you with the following general facilities:- (a) Format a Hard Disk and other media for writing data/information. (b) Creating files and folders so that you can organise your data storage for easy reference subsequently. (c) Addition and deletion of files including audio and video files.
6. It is essential that you understand the requirement of of having the motherboard hardware drivers CD readily available with you. After installation of Windows, you would require this CD for installing these drivers, e.g. On board LAN Card drivers, Sound and Video card drivers, Modem Card drivers etc. Without installing these drivers thr above hardware would not function.
7. Installing Ubuntu (Linux) within Windows follows in subsequent paras.
8. Advantages of using Linux are still unknown to many people.
9. Firstly, Linux is also an operating system. It would provide all essential elements/services as provided by Windows XP etc. It is a question of getting acquainted with the new operating system as you do for new version of Windows e.g. Windows Vista, Windows 7 etc.
10. For doing specific computational tasks, we install various application softwares after installing an Operating System, e.g. Microsoft Office for Word processing, Power Point for presentations and Excel for spread sheet computations. On Linux you have OpenOffice.Org suit.
11. Secondly, while you pay license fee for Windows operating system, Linux operating System, in general, is free of charge. You can send your request to Ubuntu on their website and you would get free Ubuntu(Linux) software CD. You can search for ubuntu on Google. Free CD, free packing, free operating system, home delivery! Wonderful. Hats off to Canonical group and the Ubuntu community.
12. This operating system is fully based on Graphics User Interface(GUI) which means absolutely all action by mouse clicks like you do in Windows.
13. On Windows operating System, you have to pay and buy almost all application software e.g. Microsoft Office, Corel or Photoshop for graphics applications etc, in Linux you get all these applications free of charge.
14. All updates for operating system as well as application packages are also free of cost and you can download them from the internet.
15. If you have Windows XP etc. installed on your, you can install Ubuntu (Linux) by just inserting the Ubuntu desktop CD in your drive.
16. It would just ask you three things:- (a) On which drive do you wish to install Ubuntu. (b) What size of hard disk in GB would you like Linux to use for Ubuntu, (c) Your username and password.
17. You do not have to do any hard disk partitioning etc.
18. If you do not like Ubuntu, you would be able to uninstall it without causing any damage to your Windows Operating System. You can try many times till you feel comfortable.
19. Files created in Microsoft Word, power point and Excel can be read, edited, and saved, in OpenOffice.org. You only have to ensure saving in the same format as that of Microsoft Office files.
20. Virus and Antivirus. The best of all - Linux is much more immune to viruses as compared to Windows. In general, no viruses, no antiviruses.
21. System going Slow. Practically, for an ordinary user, no virus, no antivirus means no question of your system running slow on account of virus and antivirus.
22. Command line facility gives you choice of running many of the infinite Unix like command for getting the most.

Project No. 3

3. Market survey of various components of a PC with a suitable configuration to meet general requirements of a company office.

1. Before we do market survey for buying PC components, it is essential to understand the underlying parameters for the same. The configuration would be based on certain parameters. These parameters are given in next para.
2. Parameters. (a) Operating system to be used in the company. E.g. Windows, Linux, Unix etc. with specific version of the same. (b) Applications to be run on the system. E.g. Office suit (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org), Corel or Photoshop or GIMP image editor (for Linux) and any other specific applications like CAD/CAM, Desktop Publishing (DTP), computer languages etc. (c) Space limitations. E.g. Desktop occupies more space, as compared to laptop, palmtop etc. LCD monitors occupy less space as compared to CRT monitors. (d) Power limitations etc. Desktos PCs and CRT monitors consume more power as compared to laptop and LCD monitors (d) Network plan (e) Nature of power cuts: short/long. Desktops need uninterrupted power supply (UPS) of a much higher rating. They occupy extra space as well. Laptops have inbuilt power supplies.and they also give extended backup time. (f) Warranty on specific items. E.g. Some hard may carry replacement warranty upto five years. Some RAM manufacturers may extend warranty upto five years. (g) Local support for repairs/warranty. Support is easily available for popular items. (h) Future plans of the company. Electronic items as well as software get outdated very fast. This aspect needs due consideration. (j) Whether the equipment is to be bought for short term or long term requirements. For long term requirements, the company may plan slightly newer version with a reasonable balance with cost. (k) Budget constraints. Budget constraints influence the purchases to a great extent.

(More to follow ....)