What is the problem with Premier’ s present IT system?

W: Well, Paul, now I’ve shown you around our offices here at Premier Advertising, I suppose we should discuss details.
M: Yes, Claire. I’ve seen all the equipment you have.
W: Well, let’ s have a break and decide on something useful today.
M: I don’ t see why not.
W: Well, I’ve heard only good things about you and Systemco.
M: Actually, I meant to ask you how was it that you contacted us in the first place?
W: It was someone we deal with. Will Meaner?
M: Yes?
W: Works for Villas, you know. They produce television advertisements and he said they had a good experience with you.
M: Ah, we did their studio system for them.
W: Which is the best form of advertising.
M: Well. That’ s what we hope.
W: Anyway, to look at today.
M: Yes.
W: Our system here today is very far from perfect.
M: Aha. Because it’s unreliable?
W: Well. It’ s more than that. It’ s just too difficult to use.
M: Not quick enough?
W: It takes a lot of concentration to do what should be simple operations. It’ s as if you need special training to perform basic tasks which isn’ t what we want here.
M: Absolutely.
W: So, is this the kind of job you normally do? Supplying new systems?
M: Very much so. We usually set up full systems, mainly for marketing agencies. We’ve built up a lot of business with them. I enjoy it because it’ s a rapidly developing area and it involves a lot of travel which gets me out of the office.
W: Right. Well, there’ re 50 work stations here and they vary in quality. And our sales agents are out there with 20 laptops.
M: How many of the work stations need replacing. Would you say?
W: Certainly 20 of them need to be changed for new ones and as our business expands we’ll need to replace laptops and also buy more. Another 10 I expect, up to 30.
M: Fine. That should be quite straight-forward.
W: Now, how soon can you do this for us? The situation is rather urgent.
M: Getting the new equipment in here is no problem. I could do that by 21st, June. But then there is networking at all.
W: Aha.
M: Running tests on the software, the phone lines. We usually allow one working week for that. So 26th would be our completion date.
W: That’ s not soon enough. We’ re already behind on orders. Could you try to bring it forwards, say 24 th?
M: If we work late for a couple of days, yes.
W: Great. And there is the question of training—who to train. The IT people here at Premiere will train themselves of course.
M: Yes. With most companies, we tend to work with middle-management, not at the board level, obviously. And train them at a reasonable level. Then they are equipped to pass on the training to their own staff, concentrating on those aspects which they know they really need.
W: That sounds very sensible. Let’ s do that. Of course, you’ll be sending over a copy of the contract for me to check. But there are a couple of areas I want to discuss first. For example, what sort of service arrangement can you offer?
M: That’ s all included. On-site free. Some suppliers will only do one year, but we provide service for 3.
W: That’ s very good.
M: We’ re very confident in our reliability. However, I have to point out that this doesn’ t include laptops, because they’ re not kept on-site. But we cover them for 2 years if you send them back to us.
W: Yes. That’ s very enough. Ok, and finally what about payments? We want to spread that as far as we can.
M: Naturally. We’ll invoice you at the time of delivery. There’ll be 2 payments to make. The first dues 30 days after the computers arrive, and the second after another 30 days. That’ s our standard arrangement.
W: Ok, right. Well, and your...
Q6. What is the problem with Premier’ s present IT system?
Q7. What will Systemco supply?
Q8. Who will Systemco provide training for?
Q9. For how long does the contract include free on-site service?
Q10. When will Premier make their first payment?