Module:

Office Solutions Development

Assignment Title
Happy Radio

December 2014

Marking Scheme
Markers are advised that unless a task specifies that an answer be provided in a particular form, then an
answer that is correct, factually or in practical terms, must be given the available marks. If there is doubt
as to the correctness of an answer the relevant NCC Education textbook should be the first authority.

This Marking Scheme has been prepared as a guide only to markers and there will frequently be many
alternative responses which will provide a valid answer.

Each candidate’s script must be fully annotated with the marker’s comments, where applicable, and the
marks allocated for each part of the tasks.

Throughout the marking, please credit any valid alternative point.

Notice to Markers

Where markers award half marks in any part of a task they should ensure that the total mark
recorded for a task is rounded to a whole mark.
 Task Guide Maximum
Marks
1. a)
Applicatio
n
Software
 Word processing software – could be used to produce
and letters to customers, marketing documents, reports,
Business agendas, minutes, invoices
Processes
 Database software – could be used to record and
maintain customer details, staff details, parcel data,
delivery data, returns data; reports could be produced
and customised on the above data, various queries
could be run on the above data to find data efficiently,
the above data could be sorted according to various
criteria which would facilitate efficient data selection

 Spreadsheet software – could be used to record and

maintain staff salary data, company data, charity data,
events data, playlist data, efficient data sorts and
searches could be run on the above with the aid of
methods such as conditional formatting and H-lookups
and V-lookups, reports could be produced and
customised on the above data, graphs could be
produced that illustrate the results of data searches,
management could forecast future trends using the
above data

 Desktop publishing software – could be used to

produce documentation for marketing purposes and
training documentation for staff, management

 Presentation software – could be used to produce

presentations and accompanying handouts and
materials for staff and management briefings and
marketing purposes

 Stock control software – could be used to record and

maintain playlist data and produce documentation such
as playlists

 Accounting software – for staff payroll, to produce

payslips

 Communication software – email to communicate with

listeners, staff, companies and charities

Award 1 mark for each correct software and at least one

associated usage to a maximum of 14 marks.

14

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 b) Desktop publishing software

 Documents are easier to lay out

 More suitable for work where layout and design are
important
 Additional features
 Effective for documents that combine text with
graphics

Award 1 mark for each correct point to a maximum of 3 marks.

Word processing software

 Easier to use
 Less suited to design work
 Better suited to high volume, text-only work
 Word processing involves creation, editing and
printing of text primarily

Award 1 mark for each correct point to a maximum of 3 marks.

The maximum number of marks to be awarded is 6. 6

c)  Bespoke software is more expensive than commercial

software
 Bespoke software development can take a long time
 Commercial application software is generally less
expensive than bespoke
 Commercial software is available immediately
 Commercial software contains additional features that
may be required at a future date

Award 1 mark for each correct point to a maximum of 5

marks.
5

Total 25 Marks

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 Task Guide Maximum
Marks
2. a)  User has knowledge of how the software/system
End User works
Development  User has knowledge of the business requirements
 User has knowledge of the user requirements
 It’s a less costly method than buying software
 It’s efficient use of staff skills
 It’s efficient use of staff time
 The existing system can remain in place without
expensive training on the use of new software
 The more the user is involved in the development,
the better the software will match business
requirements
 The more the user is involved in the development,
the better the software will match user requirements
 There will be greater user satisfaction – the user who
develops the system
 There will be greater user satisfaction – those who
use the system
 Decision-making regarding the software development will be
improved due to the recommendations/involvement/
suggestions of the end user
 Users of the system can be asked for their feedback
by their colleagues on a regular basis

Award up 1 mark for each correct point to a maximum 13

of 13 marks
b)  Analyse the task/problem in detail
 Identify the business requirements, establish
exactly what needs to be done,
 Plan how it should be done
 Design a solution
 Test the solution thoroughly
 Document the solution

Award 1 mark for each correct point to a maximum of

6 marks. 6

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 c)  Ensure the software is efficient in its
functionality, e.g. helps solve problems, make
decisions and improve system functions, such
as automating regular processes
 Ensure the software is user-friendly, e.g. easy to
operate and interact with
 Ensure the software is reliable, i.e. operates as
required
 Ensure the software is secure
 Ensure the software is maintainable, e.g.
changes are made easily
 Plan the project carefully
 Analyse tasks carefully to ensure that they meet
business and user requirements
 Design solutions that meet business and user
requirements fully
 Test solutions and results thoroughly
 Document solutions, ensuring the
maintainability of further software development
 Adhere to software interface design methods
 Ensure the software is accessible to all users 6

Award 1 mark for each correct point to a maximum of

6 marks.

Total 25 Marks

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Office Solutions Development December 2014 Formatted  NCC Education 2014
 Task Guide Maximum
Marks
3. a) The student should demonstrate to their tutor that they
Advanced have undertaken this task successfully. Marks should
Features and be awarded as follows:
Functions of
Microsoft Word
 After having started the macro, a word is selected as
being spelled incorrectly.

Award 1 mark

The student shows the tutor how they created their

macro:

 The macro recorder is turned on

 A name for the macro is entered. It can be assigned to
a button or the keyboard. It is saved and a description
can be given to it
 The recorder is started
 Steps for the macro are entered
 The recorder is stopped

Award 1 mark for each of the above macro creation steps

to a maximum of 5 marks. A total of 6 marks are to be
awarded. 6

b) The student should demonstrate to their tutor that they

have undertaken this task successfully. Marks should
be awarded as follows:

 A suitable formatting feature is selected, e.g.

formatting of text, formatting of a picture, formatting
of headers and footers, etc.
Award 1 mark

 After having started the macro, the automation of the

feature is successful.
Award 2 marks

The student shows the tutor how they created their

macro:
 The macro recorder is turned on
 A name for the macro is entered
 It is assigned to a button or the keyboard,
 It is saved and a description given to it
 The recorder is started
 Steps for the macro are entered
 The recorder is stopped

Award 1 mark for each of the above macro creation steps 10

to a maximum of 7 marks. A total of 10 marks are to be
awarded.

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Office Solutions Development December 2014 Formatted  NCC Education 2014
 c) The student should demonstrate to their tutor that they
have undertaken this task successfully. Marks should
be awarded as follows:

 After having started the macro, the automation of the

word count is successful.

Award 2 marks

The student shows the tutor how they created their

macro:

 The macro recorder is turned on

 A name for the macro is entered
 It is assigned to a button or the keyboard,
 It is saved and a description given to it
 The recorder is started
 Steps for the macro are entered
 The recorder is stopped

Award 1 mark for each of the above macro creation steps

to a maximum of 9 marks.
9
A total of 9 marks are to be awarded.

Total 25 Marks

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 Task Guide Maximum
Marks
4. a) The form should ask staff to input the following:
Advanced Staff ID, Playlist Number, Playlist Title, Song Title, New
Features and Song? (which will elicit a Yes or No response)
Functions of
Microsoft Excel
The student should demonstrate to their tutor that they
have undertaken this task successfully.

Marks should be awarded as follows:

 A box that displays 1 request
 A box that displays 2 requests
 A box that displays 3 requests
 A box that displays 4 requests
 A box that displays 5 requests

Award 2 marks for each of the above to a maximum of

10 marks

 The tutor enters an identification number

 The tutor enters a playlist number
 The tutor enters a playlist title
 The tutor enters a song title
 The tutor enters a Yes or No in response
successfully

Award 2 marks for each of the above to a maximum of 10

marks

A maximum of 20 marks is to be awarded for this task.

20

b)
 A data entry form
 A check box
 A combo box
 Creating input messages
 Creating error alerts

Award 1 mark for each of the above methods to a

maximum of 5 marks. 5

Total 25 Marks

Overall Total 100 Marks

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Grade descriptors

Learning Outcome Pass Merit Distinction

Understand how
Demonstrate Demonstrate robust Demonstrate highly
application software can
adequate level of level of comprehensive level
support business
understanding understanding of understanding
processes
Provide wholly
Provide detailed and
Provide adequate appropriate and
Be able to design and appropriate design
design to address innovative design that
implement office solutions to address the
the specification meets the
specification
specification
Be able to demonstrate
Demonstrate Demonstrate ability Demonstrate ability to
that business processes
ability to perform to perform the task perform the task to the
have been
the task consistently well highest standard
enhanced/improved

Learning Outcomes Matrix

Task Learning Outcomes Marker can differentiate

between varying levels of
achievement
1 1.1, 1.2 Y
2 1.3, 2.1, 3.1 Y
3 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2 Y
4 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2 Y

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