ABSTRACT
There are several elements to a computer system, all of which require support. Support for each of these elements may come from a different source. Figure 4.1 shows the usual sources of support for a typical computer environment. Note that the helpdesk or equivalent provides only a part of the support needed by the whole system. Note also that support tends to become more vague as the problem area tends towards the user’s specialization; for example, the use of computer aided design (CAD) software requires specialized engineering skills, and those skills cannot be expected of the computer support team. Similarly, a finance specialist writing macros in a spreadsheet may also find that he or she is alone, as may any programmer. At this level, users often fall back on their own resources, training they have had, or contact with other users with similar problems. Who supports what? https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780080495309/61762a65-9ce3-454a-832d-3c736f4fa23c/content/fig4_1_B.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>
