1. Post a response to the following questions and then post a reply to one other student's posting. . Please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

Think about your personal computer...

1. Do you have a backup strategy for your computer? 2. How often do you backup? 3. What do you backup? 4. What type of format do you use for your backup? 5. Where do you save the backup? 6. How long do you save the backup? 7. If your computer was stolen, or a hot cup of coffee was spilt on your computer right now, how much information would you lose?

2. Post a response to the following questions and then post a reply to one other student's posting. Please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

H&R Blockhas asked It Systems, a large app development firm, to help them build a system to manage their customer's business better and help identify their top customers. This way H&R Block can send them promotions to incentivize them to come back every tax season

1. What kind of data can the system store that help them understand their customer better?
2. They have a large number of seasonal employees every year during tax season. Is there anything that system can enforce to minimize incorrect data entry on the customer

3. Post a response to the following questions and then post a reply to one other student's posting. Please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

Watch Cirque du Soleil videoa unique and successful circus from Quebec. Topics covered include Cirque du Soleil's mission, competitive advantages, relationships with stakeholders, and the importance of technology to its productions. It is fascinating how much technology is found in the daily operations of a circus.

1. How does Cirque du Soleil use technology to its advantage?
2. What are some of the ways Cirque du Soleil uses wireless and mobile technology?
3. How would networks impact Cirque du Soleil's business?
4. What other "non-traditional" business organizations depend on technology to operate?

4. Post a response to the following questions and then post a reply to one other student's posting. Please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

It is often easy to see how a supply chain works in a manufacturing or retailing business, but what about a services business such as an accounting firm, a financial planning business, or an IT consultancy? Consider the following questions when thinking about the supply chain for a service business:

1. What would the supply chain look like for an accounting firm? Would it have the same primary and support activities as a manufacturing business? How might they differ?
2. What would the "materials" or other inputs be for an accounting firm?
3. How do you think service firms manage knowledge and knowledge-based products that create business value for their clients?

5. Post a response to the following questions and then post a reply to one other student's posting. Please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

Signatures Inc. specializes in producing personalized products such as coffee mugs and pens with company logos. The company generates over $40 million in annual revenues and has more than 300 employees. The company is in the middle of a large multimillion-dollar SCM implementation, and it has just hired your project management outsourcing firm to take over the project management efforts.

On your first day, your team is told that the project is failing for the following reasons:

• The project is using the traditional waterfall methodology
• The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) was not followed and the developers decided to skip the testing phase.
• A project plan was developed during the analysis phase, but the old project manager never updated or followed the plan.

Answer the following questions

1. Describe the steps you would take to get the project back on track
2. What other method would you recommend using and why?

6. Post a response to the following questions and then post a reply to one other student's posting. Your answers and your response to another posting should be no more than 500 words each. Please note that there is no right or wrong answer.

Baby boomers are ageing and getting to the retirement age. This puts a big pressure on the economy overall. 1. How do you think technology can help them age? 2. What innovative technology solutions can help them budget and plan for their retirement?