Welcome to the Higher Administration blog of Mr McGowan.

It is the intention of this blog to be an additional and flexible resource allowing pupils to have more say in how, what and when they learn.

Higher Admin is challenging. But by using technology we can make it more accessible.

Do you wish a practice Nab for ITFM Outcome 3?

Friday 6 June 2008

Higher Admin Core Notes

To download or view Admin Services and ITFM Theory notes

Click Here

Wednesday 26 March 2008

Higher Admin Bible New Edition

I know this may not help some of you who will be leaving, but then help me to help others.

What do you want me to put into the second edition of our bible for H Admin?

I think I should put in COUNTOF (Database Query)
Totalling in a query

COUNTIF for spreadsheets (I can't recall if I have already done that?)

So again, rack your brains as I think that booklet has been an invaluable resource. Don't go thanking me all at once....

Anyway let me know!

Second Prelim

Okay so for the Second Prelim you know the types of questions you may be asked.

Concentrate on:

DATABASE

Queries
Labels (I hope you are all seeing the pattern like the past papers!)
A Query based report

BTW remember the use of the wildcard *.

The wildcard is used to search for things beginning and ending with letters.

eg Like "*m" turns up everything with m at the end. Like "m*" turns up everything with m at the start.

Normally you will also be asked to do some aggregate function in a query. This is normally a COUNTOF function.

SPREADSHEET

The usual again. You have to do calculations and totalling. You probably will be asked to do some sort. You will also be required to do a VLOOKUP or an HLOOKUP. We've done this tons of times, so I am really expectant here!

Remember the printing options (ie Row/Column Headings, Formulae or Values view, and with or without Gridlines).

You may also have to create an IF STATEMENT. Remember if you can't do it don't waste time on it. There are enough marks to get you a pass and indeed an A or B.

There will also be a chart involved. If stuck for sorting, then sort the table/spreadsheet BEFORE doing the chart!

WORD REPORT

This will contain the usual also. Comments, footnotes etc. Inserting in previous queries, charts etc.

Just try and not loose silly marks. Have all the page numbering correct, the format correct and pay attention to portrait or landscape for printing.

Good luck

Friday 29 February 2008

Additional Prelim

The next Prelim is provisionally booked for Thursday 27th March 2008 at 9.15am in room 316.

Tuesday 26 February 2008

ITFM Nab News

The date for the final Nab, Outcome 3, has to be brought forward!

We will now conduct the Nab on Thursday the 13th March.

All resits will be resat on Thursday the 20th of March.

These new dates were decided at a Faculty Meeting. I am sorry about the late notice, but if we conduct a Practice Nab this week in class, that will be good practice and focus us all on the nab.

Tuesday 19 February 2008

ITFM SAQs

Download, print off and answer these short answer questions for Higher Admin ITFM Theory Nab:

ITFM Theory Nab SAQs

Thursday 24 January 2008

H Admin ICT Workbooks

If you wish to practice your skills at home, you can download the booklets from here:

Calculations in Queries

Calculations in Reports

IF Statements

Complex Formulae in Excel

Advanced Word Booklet

Filtering in Excel

Create Charts in Queries

Using Comments in Excel

The WP Task

This is worth a lot of marks.

Make sure you have enough time to complete it as best you can and hand it in.

You may have to do further queries and copy and paste the information in.

You will also have to copy and paste in spreadsheet information, most probably a chart.

You will also have to insert either a company letterhead or logo.

Memorandum Layout

MEMORANDUM

To:

From:

Date:

Subject:

VLOOKUP & HLOOKUP

These two functions are used to reference one table with another.

For example in one sheet called DATA we have:

A B C
1 Grade A B
2 Commission 5% 7%

This would need an HLOOKUP because the info is Horizontal.

On the other sheet called SALES we have:

A B C
1 Grade Surname Firstname
2 A McGowan M
3 A Alexander R
4 B Shute G


The formula =HLOOKUP(A2, Data!$A$1:$C$2,2)

This would return the value of 5%.

Looking at the above formula in detail:

=HLOOKUP means that is the function you need
A2 is the cell which is the reference in the sheet you are going to enter the new data
Data! is the name of the other sheet
$A$1:$C$2 is the range of the table (in this case a Horizontal table)
,2 means we want the values in the second row to be returned.

The same is true for VLOOKUP. The only difference is the table is arranged in Vertical format.

Calculating Gross Salaries

Remember to work this out you would:

add together the Basic Salary and any Bonus earned.

Plus you would also add any Commission that is available. (You may have to work this out!)

SumOf and CountOf

If you are asked to total (add) up something in Access, then in the appropriate query you select the icon that allows formulas (it looks the same as Autosum) and then you select SUM.

It is the same if you are asked to count the number of a certain thing (could be branches, number of sales made etc) then you use the query and then click on the Autosum and then COUNT.

Creating Labels in Access

Create mailing and other types of labels

  1. In the Database window, click Reports

  2. Click the New button on the Database window toolbar.

  3. In the New Report dialog box, click Label Wizard.

  4. Click the table or query that contains the data for the labels, and then click OK.

  5. Follow the directions in the wizard dialog boxes.

  6. If the resulting label report doesn't look the way you want, you can delete the report and run the Label Wizard again.

Reports in Access

Remember to locate the Query and use that as the basis for any report.

When it comes to grouping, make sure you add the fields in that order saving you to mess about with the report.

The secret is to read the question in full and highlight important information.

Reading is it seems underused these days. You can take in information and process it or else you are not Higher candidates. Read the question!!!

Make sure you know how to insert pictures or logos.

Make sure you know how to type in a relevant heading!!!

Queries in a Database

Remember a good tip is to add ALL the tables into the query and then you look for the fields required.

The Wildcard *

Remember the 2006 Exam example. In searching for G postcodes you would use G* in the Criteria box.

Query using OR

If you are looking for two items in the same field use OR. For example, if you wish to look for Branches in London and Birmingham, then typing in the Criteria box London OR Birmingham would return the correct results.

Query using AND

If you need items in different fields, then Access does it automatically for you.

Case Study Questions

For the Case Study focus revision on:

Types of Decisions:
  • Strategic
  • Tactical
  • Operational

Types of Working Practices
  • Flexitime
  • Job-Share
  • Part time
  • Fixed Contracts etc

Benefits of Customer Service to the Firm
  • increases market share (due to rising sales of satisfied customers)
  • less customer complaints (they are satisfied)
  • increase in customer loyalty (they will come back)
  • good word of mouth increases sales
  • less time spent over dealing with unhappy customers and more time spent on producing the products or providing the service
  • good customer service may be a competitive advantage (think about why you fly a certain airline, or why you go to a certain supermarket or cinema... is it always just the cheapest you use?)

What laws affect workers?
  • Health & Safety at Work Act (1974)
  • RIDDOR (1995)
  • HAS First Aid Regulations (1981)
  • HAS Display Screen Regulations (1992)