BRIGHTON BELL

INFORMATION TECHOLOGY (I.C.T)

ON THE JOB TRAINING REPORT

BRIGHTON BELL
STUDENT ID: 14ICT07083HP

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DECLARATION
I Brighton Bell ID: 63-2031787-X-63 do hereby declare that this report was produced as a
result of own investigation and research except to the extent of knowledge that is already
known currently existing principles and theories applicable to Information Technology and
that this report has not been submitted in part of in full to any known university or collage for
any diploma or degree program.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I take immense pleasure in thanking Mrs. M. Chahuruva (I.C.T.S
Director) for considering me to be part of the I.C.T.S department as an
attach at the Harare Institute of Technology University.

I also express my gratitude to Mr. N Masunda (Systems

Administrator), and Mr. T. Matiwure (Network Administrator) who
have been a source of inspiration and for his timely guidance in the
conduct of my Laptop Registration System for HIT.

Finally, yet importantly, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my guardians for their
blessings, HIT I.C.T.S Technicians and my friends/classmates for their help and wishes for
the successful completion of this report.

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ABSTRACT
This report mainly focuses on examining the theoretical knowledge of Information
Technology learnt at the College versus the practical knowledge skill and understanding of
the field gained by the author during the one year attachment period at Harare Institute of
Technology.

It should be noted that the author has no intentions whatsoever to expose or make known any
company what strategies are in place and are being put to practice to expand the client base of
the company and also that most facts imposed in this report are of first-hand information

The report is opened up by introductions and explanations of terms and concepts and general
summary of the experiences at Harare Institute of Technology .The second chapter gives a
full detail of the company history, company organogram.

The third gives a detail of the authors pre-attachment perceptions of both the ICT industry
and the company the author was attached to and the fourth chapter touches on the day to day
activities and duties carried out at Harare Institute of Technology.

The fifth chapter goes on to deal with the visible benefits of industrial attachment to the
company as well as the student that have been visibly noted and lastly the author closes his
report with recommendations to the Harare Polytechnic as well as to the Institute (company).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement 3
Abstract 4

CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND OF THE COMPANY

History................................................................................................................6
Mission, Vision and Values ...............................................................................6
Organizations Line of Business.. ..................................................7
Organizational Structure.................................................................7

CHAPTER TWO: INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT EXPERIENCE

Networking..........................................................................................................8
Hardware .................................................... ..10
Software...10
Inventory Management........................................................................10
Computer Lab Management........................................................11
Telephone Systems..11
Teamwork11
Communication11
System Analysis and Design12

CHAPTER THREE: BENEFITS BROUGHT BY THE INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT

To the student........................................................................................................13
To the company.....................................................................................................14

CHAPTER FOUR: RECOMENDATIONS

Recommendations
To Harare Institute Of Technology....14
To Harare Poly Technic ....14

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION.............................................................................................15

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CHAPTER ONE
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) was granted degree awarding status in 2005 with the
promulgation of the Harare Institute of Technology Act {Chapter 25:26}. Harare Institute of
Technology is the hub of technology development and delivery of quality technology
programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. HIT is Zimbabwes most energetic and
responsive institute offering unparalleled educational opportunities for those seeking highest
quality undergraduate, postgraduate and continuous professional development. It is at the
forefront of growing Zimbabwes industrial base and natural resources beneficiation.

HISTORY
HIT was established in 1988 as a National Vocational Training Centre (NVTC). Overtime, it
evolved into a Technical College offering courses in automotive, electrical, and mechanical
engineering, producing artisans capable of operating and maintaining machinery in industry
with little or no research or generation of new technology related knowledge.
HIT conducts research, design, manufacture, develop, incubate, transfer, and commercialise
technology for all sectors of the economy. Harare Institute of Technology produces highly
qualified technical human capital that is creativity driven, project oriented, understand all
stages of invention including idea generation and development and have the ability, stamina
and courage to set up high-tech enterprises.

ORGANISATION CORE VALUES

Innovation
Leadership
Integrity
Commitment
Professionalism

Company location and address

Physical address
15015 Ganges Road
Box BE277
Belvedere, Harare
Tel: +263(04) 741 422-36

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ORGANIZATIONS LINE OF BUSINESS
Harare Institute of Technology enrolling student for undergraduates and postgraduates level.
It commercialise technology through professionalism rooted in integrity, cultivate
commitment towards technopreneurial leadership and stimulant of scholarship in innovation.

MAIN OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS

Our Destiny
To be the stimulant of scholarship in innovation.
Our Cause
To cultivate commitment towards technopreneurial leadership.
Our Calling
To commercialise technology through professionalism rooted in integrity.

ORGANISATIONS
ORGANOGRAM
BOARD

VICE -CHANCELLOR

Pro-Vice PRO-VICE
Chancellor CHANCELLOR
Admin & Finance Academic

LIBRARIAN Chief
FINANCE REGISTRAR Director ICTS
Directors of Internal
DIRECTOR
Centres/Units Auditor

Deputy
Deputy Deputy Finance Librarian Communications Director
Directors Director Director Infrastructu
re

Public Relations
Deputy Deputy
Managers Manager
Registrar Registrar-HR & Projects
Academic Administratio Officer
Affairs n ICTS
Accountants Administrators
Central Buyer Sub
Senior Librarian
Senior Assistant Technicians
Assistant Registrar
Registrar
A

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CHAPTER TWO
INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT EXPERIENCE
Introduction
This is the main chapter in this report as it covers all the experience i was exposed to in the
Information Communications Technology Services (I.C.T.S) department at Harare Institute
of Technology. From the time i began the industrial attachment to the time this report was
produced I was working as an assistant Technician in the I.C.T.S Department.

NETWORKING
At Harare Institute of Technology, the network is divided into two segments which
are: Wired network and Wireless network. During my attachment period I gained
experience in troubleshoot and fixing internet connection, trunking and cable trunking
and laying, cable crimping, installation of RJ45 socket connectors and RJ45
connectors crimping, Wireless router configuration, static IP configuration, cable
testing and naming network ports after tracing from the switch using special cable
testers.
When I was doing networking, I used a number of tools namely; crimping tool, krone
tool, cutters, screw drivers (flat and star) and drills.
Fig 1 shows the Tools I Used.
Crimping tool Krone Tool

Cutters Screw Drivers

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Fish Tape Cable Tester

OTHER ACCESSORIES USED.

RJ45 Connector RJ45 Socket Connector

Used crimping tool for cutting, removing cable jacket and crimping RJ45 connectors
when making Ethernet LAN cables.
Krone tool I used it when installing RJ45 Socket connectors for new or repair of
network points.
Used cutters to cut cables.
Also used screw drivers to screw in network ports to the wall.
Fish tape used it to fish cable through the cable trunk or conduits.
The cable tester used it to test cables for continuity of signal making sure every wire
is giving signal
I used a drill also to drill through walls when I was trunking and laying cables.

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RJ45 connectors used them to make Ethernet cables and RJ45 Socket connectors used
them when installing network points in offices or computer labs.

HARDWARE
Hardware include quite a few duties. I managed to do simple repairs on a number of
computers and printers.
On computers I replaced Faulty Random Access Memory chips (RAM), Hard Disc
Drives, Read only Memory (ROMs), Cmos battery and installing wireless network
card. I learnt how a computer behaves if one of the mentioned parts or chips are
faulty.
On printers I learnt how to change printer tonner, cartridges and repairing.
Tools used included screw drivers for opening the computers or printers and cutters
for cutting power cables replacing plug tops.
Installed new computers in a number of offices at the institution.

SOFTWARE
In software support I mainly dealt with the installation of Operating systems on
desktop computers and laptop from windows XP to windows 10.
I also installed application software like Microsoft office, adobe reader and flash
player, team viewer for remote desktop connection, autocard, matlab, vlc media
player, winra, Heims, antivirus software (Eset), blue stackes, whatsapp, skype and
installation and updating computer drivers using driver pack software package.
I also did data backup and recovery whenever I wanted to do an Operating system
reinstall, recovering computer from a previous backup point and giving users new
computers replacing an old machine.
I recovered passwords on a number of computers in cases when a user forgets his/her
password to sign in.
I also learnt how to use scripts (scripting language) to create bulk user accounts for
students in active directory. I created images of computer operating system with
installed applications and run the images on other new machines in computer labs and
then activate the applications after the installation.

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Inventory management was mainly done manually before the introduction of the
electronic or computerised inventory system. Spreadsheets were updated manually
after visiting all the offices, workshops and computer Labs checking for serial
numbers of the assets.
With the launch of the computerised inventory system, I entered assets into the system
before they are given to user and then assign the assets to the user at dispatch as
assigned.
This has made it easy to track assets and also know who has this asset, his/her
location, department and other details.

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COMPUTER LAB MANAGEMENT
Every technician was assigned to a computer Lab which he/she manages making sure
everything is working well. I had my lab that I managed. The duties that I mainly did
were software support mainly and networking.
In software support I installed applications software as per instruction by the Systems
administrator, recovering crushed computers.
In networking I mainly troubleshoot and fix internet connection and re-terminating
faulty Ethernet LAN cables.
I visited the lab at least twice a week making sure every computer is working
properly.
TELEPHONE SYSTEMS
In telephone systems I fixed broken outside drop wire cables, installing new telephone
extensions from the PABX room to the office of the user, trunking telephone cables as
well as replacing faulty telephone handsets and installing of new handsets. Used some
of the tools I mentioned above on networking like Krone tool, crimping tool, cutters,
fish tape and cable tester. I manage to learn how telephone extensions are connected
from the PABX system to the end user.
Switch Board Operation- I also managed to learn and use the telephone switchboard
which was at the reception were I would receive and transfer calls of externals.
TEAMWORK
Through the attachment period I have managed to adopt to the system of working as a
team. In performing duties that required to cover the whole institute compass team
work is one of the effective tool to use. I was involved mainly in teamwork groups
when doing inventory of computers and other IT related gadgets like printers and
telephone handsets.
COMMUNICATION
Business communication is of prime importance in the ICT/IT industry. I discovered
that written communication was very important for referral purposes as well as for
record keeping , telephone skills are very vital as well as the importance of knowing
communication channels of organization since the institution requires us to stick to
the organogram.

Communicating with my superiors and external contacts required proper skills in

terms of the degree of formality. I managed to follow proper communication skills
with the help of the communication module which I did in my first year. I easily
understood the general running of Harare Institute of Technology as a company
through interacting with personnel from all departments. This was through good
communication skills which I theoretically acquired from the Communication course.

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Over and above all the way one communicates determines the quality and quantity of
business hence creating good relations in the company and externally.

SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

During my attachment time I was assigned to develop a laptop registration system which was
to be used at gate entrances to clear laptops for students and staff when exiting the campus or
the companys premises.

I managed to develop the system using visual basics .Net IDE. Generally the system has a
database which stores students and employee data as well as user credentials and registered
assets. IDs of owner or Laptop serial numbers will be scanned and checked in the data base if
it exists at exiting the campus. The system will be used by the ICTS department and the
Security Department. It is now in the testing phase. After the testing is done, upon approval
with the systems administrator and the ICTS Director the system will be deployed and used at
gate entrance.

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CHAPTER THREE
BENEFITS BROUGHT BY THE ATTACHMENT
TO THE STUDENT

STRENGTHS:

Technical skills I acquired knowledge on how to troubleshoot and fix technical

faults. Through attending many different computer hardware related faults, it
enhanced my knowledge on how computers behave depending on which part of
hardware is not performing well.
Business knowledge I easily understood the general running of Harare Institute
of Technology as a company through interacting with personnel from all
departments. This was through good communication skills which I theoretically
acquired from the Communication course.
Team Work-I grew to become a good team player in the ICTS department and
this is of importance in this professional arena. When working as a team, there is
need to complement each other through finishing a task started by someone else
and perform tasks to achieve a set goal. I have learnt that each team member has
to be competent in order to tackle given setbacks.
Ability to Work Under Pressure-I have managed to sustain times when I had a
lot of work at hand during my attachment period. During the laptop registration
system coding phase, duties were also assigned to me exerting much pressure on
me on the time to finish the system in the proposed time frame as well as doing
the tasks assigned. But however I managed to adjust to the pressure and handled
all tasks.
Some of the benefits are mentioned above as the attachment experience.
WEAKNESSES
My main attributes in terms of challenge were being too much of a perfectionist. This
tended to slow down my rate of accomplishing tasks, for example when I was
developing the Laptop Registration System. It will all be in a wish to eliminate too
many errors cropping up in the outcome. I have however reconciled the two, by
making sure that I finish a job on time at the same time achieving best results.

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TO HARARE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

I managed to fill in the gaps whenever there was too much pressure I was flexible
enough to assist in any way possible.
Harare Institute of Technology managed to benefit in that it had an employee for a
very low cost compared to what they could have otherwise paid to a more
qualified individual who would have been doing the same type of work that is was
doing.

CHAPTER FOUR
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO HARARE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
To improve on WI-FI Bandwidth- band width of Wi-Fi should be improved
since students dont have much of access to wired network unless if they get into
computer labs.
Introducing new technology-new technology should be introduced to staff like
for example introducing and teaching how to use windows 10 and other useful
software.
Response to customers-the ICTS department should improve on attending to
issues with urgency and were there are challenges they should be communicated
to the customers on what is making the job to be done delay.

TO HARARE POLYTECHNIC

Better methods of communication to companies students attached to- I

recommend that the college or accessors should improve on communication when
coming for assessment to state the actual date and time so as to avoid scenarios were
they come and the supervisor is in a meeting or is not available.
Assisting the students get attached early-The College should establish relations
with the industry in which the students can be attached to, hence students not
struggling to get attached in time.

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CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the experience that I acquired from Harare Institute of Technology in
the ICTS department has propelled me to a higher level of bettering my ambitions. I
now have a better vision of where I am headed in the ICT/IT industry I have learnt a
lot about the industry and how one can progress their carrier in it.
The environment was quite conducive for learning as I learnt from the best. I have had
a chance to communicate with students, suppliers and workmates using various
communication channels, and this has had a greater impact in improving my
communication skills and I was exposed to a number of real life situations that
determines the profitability or department reputation and I believe I have been fine-
tuned to be a quality IT personnel or Technician.
After going through intensive training, l strongly believe that a great accomplishment
is just around the corner. I am now more zealous to reunite with Harare Polytechnic
for my final National Diploma year and to thereafter venture full time into the
exciting and challenging ICT/IT industry.
Once more, it is my greatest wish to extend my profound appreciation to everybody
who made my attachment period a remarkable experience. To HIT I say, you are
second to none.

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