Information technology (IT) systems play a significant role in the world around us. They play a key part in almost everything we do. They give individuals and organisations opportunities to access goods, information and services from around the world to an extent not possible bef

Unit introduction

Information technology (IT) systems play a significant role in the world around us.

They play a key part in almost everything we do. They give individuals and organisations

opportunities to access goods, information and services from around the world to an

extent not possible before. Having a sound understanding of how to select and use

appropriate IT systems will benefit you personally and professionally.

You will explore the relationships between the hardware and software that form an

IT system. You will look at the way that systems work individually and together, as well as

the relationship between the user and the system. You will examine issues related to the

use of IT systems and the impact that they have on organisations and their stakeholders.

You will explore how IT systems enable organisations to access data, information and

users locally and globally.

This unit will give you a fundamental understanding of all areas of IT, supporting your

progression to an IT-related higher education course.

This unit also provides partial coverage to content from the Microsoft Azure Data

Fundamentals Certification.

To complete the set assignment in this unit, you will need to draw on, and apply,

your learning from across key content areas.

Assessment

This unit has a Pearson Set Assignment Brief. Learners must complete a Pearson Set

Assignment Brief.

Learning aims

In this unit you will:

Explore how IT infrastructure meets the needs of organisations and their stakeholders

B Understand how organisations make use of data and information

C Develop policies for the use of IT within an organisation.

Learning Aim	Key Content Areas	Assessment Approach
A Explore how IT infrastructure meets the needs of organisations and their stakeholders	A1 Purpose and functions of organisations A2 Digital devices, their functions and use A3 Peripheral devices and media A4 Computer software in an IT system A5 Connectivity A6 Networks A7 Issues relating to transmission of data A8 Online systems A9 Emerging technologies	This unit is assessed through a Pearson Set Assignment.
B Understand how organisations make use of data and information	B1 Data and information in an organisation B2 Online communities B3 Using and manipulating data	Assessment through Pearson Set Assignment or other designated methods.
C Develop policies for the use of IT within an organisation	C1 Threats to data, information and systems C2 Protecting data C3 Moral and ethical issues C4 Legal issues C5 Professional guidelines and codes of practice C6 Managing information technology within organisations	Assessment through Pearson Set Assignment or other designated methods.

Learning aim A: Explore how IT infrastructure meets the needs of organisations and their stakeholders

A1: Purpose and Functions of Organisations

Understanding IT Infrastructure Requirements

• Apply an understanding of information technology (IT) to identify the infrastructure requirements of organisations in various sectors and vocational-based scenarios.

Key Functions and Infrastructure Needs

• The purpose and differences between organisations that provide a service and/or a product.
• Infrastructure requirements driven by the priorities of an organisation.
• Identifying and defining the features and characteristics of infrastructure required for key tasks carried out by organisational functions:
  • Manufacturing of products
  • Delivering services
  • Supply chain management
  • Marketing and sales
  • Customer relations
  • Resource management
  • Staff recruitment
  • Staff management
  • Support and financial operations

A2: Digital Devices, Their Functions and Uses

Digital Devices in IT Systems

• The features and uses of digital devices in IT systems that meet the needs of organisations and their stakeholders.

Types of Digital Devices

• Personal computers (desktops and laptops)
• Mobile devices, e.g., smartphones, tablets, wearable computers
• Servers (physical, virtual)
• Entertainment systems: televisions, projectors, DVD players, Blu-ray players, PVRs, STBs, media stations, sound systems
• Digital cameras (still and video)
• Navigation systems
• Wearable computers, e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers
• Data capture systems: barcode scanners, RFID, sensors, weather stations
• Communication devices and systems

Function and Use of Digital Devices

• Education and training
• Personal use
• Social use
• Retail use
• Organisational use (business operations, internal and external dissemination of information)
• Creative tasks

A3: Peripheral Devices and Media

Peripheral Devices and Their Uses

• The features and uses of peripheral devices and media in IT systems to meet the needs of individuals and organisations.

Types of Peripheral Devices

• Input Devices:
  • Keyboard, touch screen, pointing devices (mouse, stylus, touchpad, graphics tablets)
  • Microphones, scanners (2D and 3D), cameras, sensors
• Output Devices:
  • Screens, projectors, printers (2D and 3D), actuators, motors, accessibility devices
• Storage Devices:
  • USB flash drives, memory cards, hard drives (internal and external), optical drives/discs, magnetic tape drives
• Accessibility Devices:
  • Alternative keyboards, sip-and-puff systems, wands and sticks, braille embossers

Data Processing and Storage

• Manual and automatic data processing.
• Characteristics and implications of storage media used in IT systems, such as:
  • Magnetic storage
  • Solid-state storage
  • Optical storage

A4: Computer Software in an IT System

Concepts and Implications

• The relationship between hardware and software in both large- and small-scale IT systems and their impact on organisations and stakeholders.

Types of Operating Systems

• Real-time, embedded, and multi-user operating systems.
• The role of the operating system in managing:
  • Networking
  • Security
  • Memory management
  • Multitasking
  • Device drivers

Factors Affecting User Interfaces

• Graphical, command line, and menu-based interfaces:
  • Features and characteristics of different interfaces.
  • How and when they are used.
  • The effect of interfaces on users.
  • The impact on computer system features and performance.

Factors Affecting the Use and Performance of an Operating System

• Factors: data processed, hardware specifications, and system compatibility.

Utility Software

• Includes antivirus, backup, compression tools, disk analyzers, defragmenters, partitioners, encryption, file managers, firewalls, and network utilities.
  • The purpose, features, and uses.
  • Factors affecting the choice, use, and performance.

Application Software

• Includes communication software, CAD, DBMS, digital graphics, ERP, entertainment, and office software.
  • The purpose, features, and uses.
  • Factors affecting choice, use, and performance.

Open Source vs Proprietary Software

• The implications and principles of open source and proprietary operating systems and software.

File Types and Formats

• Features of file types/formats for images, videos, audio, and application software:
  • Images: GIF, PNG, JPEG, RAW, SVG
  • Videos: MPEG, AVI
  • Audio: MP3, WAV
  • Application Software: DOC, RTF, XLS, XML, PDF
• The implications of file types and formats on IT systems, organisations, and stakeholders.

A5: Connectivity

Concepts and Processes

• The transfer of data within and between IT systems.
• Methods of connecting devices:
  • Wired: Ethernet, USB, fibre optic, HDMI, DVI.
  • Wireless: Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, NFC, infrared, mobile/cellular networks.

Connection Features and Impact

• Features of connection types and their role in meeting the needs of individuals and organisations.
• The implications of selecting and using different connection types and their effect on system performance.

A6: Networks

Network Types and Features

• The role of connecting devices to form a network.
• Types of networks:
  • PAN, LAN, WAN, VPN, Internet.

Factors Affecting Network Choice

• Factors to consider: user experience, cost, efficiency, compatibility, security, etc.

Network Components

• Features of network components: routers, switches, Ethernet cables, wireless access points and their impact on IT system performance.

A7: Issues Relating to Transmission of Data

Transmission Protocols

• Protocols governing data transmission for common tasks: HTTP, HTTPS, POP3, IMAP4, SMTP, VoIP, FTP, TCP/IP.
• Security considerations during data transmission over different connection types and networks.

Bandwidth and Latency

• Factors affecting bandwidth and latency (connection type, number of users, protocols, distance, data/signal conversion).

Data Compression and Codecs

• Types of compression: Lossy (MP3, MP4, JPEG), Lossless (FLAC, GIF, PNG, ZIP).
• Applications and implications of data compression.
• The use and implications of codecs for audio and video transmission.

A8: Online Systems

Features and Impact

• The personal and professional use of cloud storage and computing, as well as the implications for individuals and organisations.
• Systems supporting remote working:
  • VPNs, remote desktop technologies.

Selection Factors for Online Systems

• Factors: security, cost, ease of use, connectivity, features.

A9: Emerging Technologies

Technological Developments

• Developments in digital devices, networks, and data modeling:
  • Smartphones, activity trackers, portable computing.
  • 4G/5G, IoT, virtualization, containerization.
  • Augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning.

Learning Aim B: Understand How Organisations Make Use of Data and Information

B1: Data and Information in an Organisation

• The relationship between data and information, and how this impacts the information generated at various organisational levels.
  • Strategic level: Market trends, setting up new offices, etc.
  • Management level: Customer data, financial performance.
  • Operational level: Stock levels, customer numbers, cash flow.

B2: Online Communities

• Features and implications of online communities for data sharing, privacy, and security.
  • Communication through social media, blogs, forums, etc.
  • Impact on stakeholders (cost, privacy, security).

B3: Using and Manipulating Data

• Sources of data (primary, secondary).
• Ensuring data accuracy and reliability through methods like verification, validation, and error correction.

Learning Aim C: Develop Policies for the Use of IT within an Organisation

C1: Threats to Data, Information, and Systems

• Characteristics of data threats: viruses, malware, hackers, phishing.
• The impact of threats on data, information, and systems for both individuals and organisations.

C2: Protecting Data

• Techniques to protect data: file permissions, access control, backup procedures, encryption methods, firewalls, and antivirus software.

C3: Moral and Ethical Issues

• Moral and ethical implications of IT use: privacy, sustainable IT, unequal access, online behavior, ethical hacking, and data protection.

C4: Legal Issues

• Legal issues related to IT systems: computer misuse, copyright, health and safety, data protection, consumer rights, and accessibility.

C5: Professional Guidelines and Codes of Practice

• The role and impact of professional guidelines and codes of practice (ISO standards, WCAG) on IT systems and organisations.

C6: Managing Information Technology within Organisations

• Policies to manage IT infrastructure, data, and users:
  • • User management, customer support, asset management, incident management, performance metrics.

  Learning Aim	Pass	Merit	Distinction
  Learning aim A: Explore how IT infrastructure meets the needs of organisations and their stakeholders	A.P1: Explain ways in which software can meet the needs of an organisation and its stakeholders. A.P2: Explain ways in which hardware can meet the needs of an organisation and its stakeholders. A.P3: Explain ways in which the use of data connections and networks can meet the needs of an organisation and its stakeholders.	A.M1: Analyse how IT infrastructure can impact an organisation and its stakeholders.	A.D1: Evaluate how IT infrastructure can impact an organisation and its stakeholders.
  Learning aim B: Understand how organisations make use of data and information	B.P4: Explain ways in which data is used in an organisation. B.P5: Explain ways in which information is used and distributed by an organisation, both internally and externally.	B.M2: Analyse how data and information are used in an organisation, both internally and externally.	B.C.D2: Evaluate the impact of the use of data and information on an organisation, its stakeholders, and related policies. B.C.D3: Justify decisions and approaches taken when developing policies.
  Learning aim C: Develop policies for the use of IT within an organisation	C.P6: Describe internal and external threats, to data and information, in an organisation. C.P7: Describe procedures to be implemented in an organisation to allow them to protect data and information. C.P8: Describe procedures to be implemented in an organisation to allow them to operate in legal, moral, and ethical ways.	C.M3: Analyse how threats, and mitigation of those threats, impact an organisation and its stakeholders. C.M4: Analyse how suggested procedures that ensure an organisation works in a legal and ethical way would impact on an organisation and its stakeholders.

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