Difficult Questions (Note: not current from 2003)

Options

Answers to difficult questions: Simon C MOORE (Note: not current from 2003)

37 New King Street, Bath, BA1 2BN.
telephone: 07866 166552 e-mail: simon.moore@ndirect.co.uk

 

Give examples of how you have applied each of the technologies referred to below. These can be from work, study or other interests.

Databases, Programming languages, Internet technologies, Operating Systems, Systems & Network Management, Support & Implementation, other.

Databases

Extensive knowledge of database design gained primarily during their use for web site design.  I have constructed and maintained databases (Access and My SQL) to provide using SQL (along with ASP, Cold Fusion or Perl server side technologies) the backend to various types of dynamic content web sites.  I have also completed a module on database design during my MSc and carried out an assessed group project to design a car park management system.

Programming languages

During my recent MSc I was taught and assessed both individually and as part of an extensive group software development project in Obereon-2 (a modern, modular, object orientated language). I was also taught and assessed individually in C and algorithms and data structures (work was in C).  From this grounding I was able to teach myself C++ in sufficient time to use it for the research programmes I constructed to support my final dissertation.

Internet Technologies

Web site design, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, DHTML, ASP, Cold Fusion, Perl and various design tools.  Two years professional experience as a web site designer, seven years to date from designing my first web sites.

I have used all common and many less common internet technologies since first becoming a regular internet user in 1995.

Operating Systems

All versions of Windows and DOS to an expert level, learned since childhood and applied during my two years at PC Paramedics to repair computer systems.  Windows 2000 and Linux server installation and management, primarily as web servers and servers for small to medium enterprise.  Exposure to UNIX systems at University.

Systems & Network Management

Part of my job at PC Paramedics was to install and repair networks for small to medium size companies.  I also remotely ran the co-located web, dns and email servers which were used by both staff and our customers.

Support & Implementation

During my time at PC Paramedics, I supported a wide variety of customers, ranging from home users to large companies who outsourced their IT requirements to PC Paramedics.  My support roles primarily entailed phone and email support as well as on site visits when required.  During my first year, I was Technical Manager and the highest level of support for computer and network issues. During my second year, as Internet Business Manager, I was the highest level of support for our small ISP service and to associated companies (primarily web designers but including one blue chip company) using our internet services to provide services of their own.

I was responsible on several occasions for implementing new services, including specifying solutions to the IT needs of several medium sized companies and specifying new internet servers and systems for our own use.

 

Describe an event where you demonstrated the ability to overcome difficulties involved when resolving a problem of a technical nature.

Background: Two servers were co-located at different locations, site 1 and site 2, 300 miles apart. We were informed at short notice that one of the co-location sites was to close (site 1).  We had customers (and the customer's customers) relying on an uninterrupted service to their web and email services that were provided by the servers.  I had to solve and implement the solution to the problem within two days. 

The problem was solved

  1. by going to site 2 and reconfiguring it without interrupting service (i.e. no reboots) to take over the services provided by site 1
  2. Transferring the data from the still live site 1
  3. Reconfiguring DNS entries to redirect internet traffic to site 2
  4. Once site 1 was no longer active, any email arriving during the switchover was transferred to site 2
  5. Site 1 could now be closed and the server shut down and removed at leisure by a non skilled person.

The whole transfer was completed on time with no interruption to service and with the minimum amount of cost and travelling.

 


Describe a situation where you have significantly influenced a group to which you belong.

The situation: A group project to construct a large software system (an airline booking system) following the full software lifecycle.  I was not the leader of the group and we did not know each other prior to being placed in the group.

I persuaded the group to program an object orientated database as the core data storage module despite the fact other groups had not considered and later did not use such an option.  The database approach ensured data-integrity, it also provided an ID number to uniquely identify items, that could be translated to the interface and increased the ease of use beyond that provided by the solutions of other groups.  This aspect of our system was specifically commended by the examiner in her report.

 


Please list positions of authority that you have held.

  • Internet Business Manager, responsible for a small team of web designers.
  • Technical Manager, managing the technical and workshop teams.
  • Head Waiter.
  • Yacht Skipper.
  • Leading Seaman CCF, teaching shooting and drill at school.
  • Secretary to the Science Society at school.

 

Describe a major personal achievement that has given you high satisfaction.

Achieving not only a distinction but the highest average by a significant margin in the year group for my MSc.  This was a very satisfying reward for a year of hard work.

 

Describe the most successful team you have worked with, and your role in that team.

During an extended period of considerable company problems, we were able to succeed in keeping the business profitable and our customers satisfied despite the normally ten person team being reduced to only two. 

When the team was later rebuilt to full strength our experiences led to a far more successful team in terms of cooperation, trust, versatility and profitability.  The  team became far superior to the sum of its parts and yet retained a high functionality during any periods when the team was incomplete.

 

List positions or roles within a team that you have held.

  • Internet Business Manager, responsible for a small team of web designers.
  • Technical Manager, managing the technical and workshop teams.
  • RYA Coastal Skipper, both in leadership roles and as part of the crew.
  • Vice Commodore of the Sailing club, working as part of the 1st VI sailing team in a tactical role
  • Film Society member, participating in the co-operative effort to produce several 16mm short films.
  • Leading Seaman CCF, teaching shooting and drill.
  • Technical Manager of Bloomsbury Television.

 

Support Examples

  • Building New PCs (Over 100)
  • Repairing PCs & Upgrading PCs (around ten per day were repaired by me during my time working in the workshop, fault could be hardware or software)
  • Component Testing (Testing individual components, such as motherboards, CPUs, RAM, modems etc. to determine if they were faulty)
  • Installing Networks (Several, including hubs, switches, routers, shared printers, file servers, UPS, CAT5 wiring)
  • Fixing faulty networking (two, locating faults in a network installation, and repairing)
  • Phone / Email support for common applications, email, MS Office etc.
  • Training customers how to use their new Computer / Server / Network and providing post sales support
  • ISP support such as dialup, email, web, internet and firewall issues
     

 

Introduction ¦ Curriculum Vitae ¦ Web Design ¦ Portfolio ¦ Research Interests