IT support specialist at a help desk for a large company

Scenario
You are an IT support specialist at a help desk for a large company. Recently, the company created a knowledge base that IT support specialists can refer to when a user calls in with technology issues. The knowledge base has been helpful because the help desk receives many tickets and calls for what turn out to be the same issues. When IT support specialists have documents to refer to during a call or the review of a ticket, the knowledge base increases efficiencies and provides users with more consistent and higher quality support.
As an IT support specialist at the company’s help desk, you are assigned to create documentation that will be added to the company’s knowledge base. This document will speak to the frequent issues that users have experienced within the past 30 days. To complete this project, you will review five tickets, two audio recordings of user calls, and a chat transcript from users who experienced technical issues. Then you will use your troubleshooting skills to assess the underlying causes of the users’ reported symptoms and how they should be resolved.
Directions
Given the scenario and for the purposes of this project, create a user report that describes the IT issues that users have been experiencing and the resolution, where the resolution was found, whether the help desk had to look around for a solution, or the steps that you took to resolve the issues

Full Answer Section

   

Issue 1: Slow Printing

Summary: Users reported that their printers were printing slowly or not printing at all.

Resolution:

  • Check the printer queue: Ensure that there are no documents stuck in the print queue. If there are documents stuck, delete them.
  • Check the toner cartridge: Make sure that the toner cartridge is not empty or low on toner. If the toner cartridge is empty or low on toner, replace it.
  • Check the printer connection: Verify that the printer is properly connected to the computer or network. If the printer is not properly connected, reconnect it.
  • Restart the printer: Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source. Wait for 30 seconds, then plug the printer back in and turn it on.

Resources:

  • Printer's user manual
  • Company's IT knowledge base

Issue 2: Unable to Connect to Wi-Fi

Summary: Users reported that they were unable to connect to the company's Wi-Fi network.

Resolution:

  • Restart the computer: Turning off and restarting the computer can often resolve Wi-Fi connectivity issues.
  • Check the Wi-Fi adapter: Verify that the Wi-Fi adapter is enabled. If the Wi-Fi adapter is disabled, enable it.
  • Forget the Wi-Fi network: Remove the Wi-Fi network from the computer's list of available networks and reconnect to it.
  • Update the Wi-Fi driver: Check for updates for the Wi-Fi driver. If there are updates available, install them.

Resources:

  • Company's IT knowledge base
  • Manufacturer's website for the Wi-Fi adapter

Issue 3: Email Problems

Summary: Users reported problems sending and receiving emails.

Resolution:

  • Check the mailbox size: Ensure that the mailbox is not full. If the mailbox is full, delete some emails or move them to an archive folder.
  • Check the internet connection: Verify that the computer has an internet connection. If the computer does not have an internet connection, troubleshoot the internet connection.
  • Check the email settings: Make sure that the email settings are correct. If the email settings are incorrect, update them.
  • Restart the email client: Close the email client and reopen it.

Resources:

  • Company's IT knowledge base
  • Email provider's help center

Issue 4: Software Installation Issues

Summary: Users reported problems installing new software or updating existing software.

Resolution:

  • Check the system requirements: Verify that the computer meets the system requirements for the software. If the computer does not meet the system requirements, the software will not install.
  • Close other programs: Close any other programs that are running before installing or updating software.
  • Run the software as administrator: Right-click on the software installer and select "Run as administrator" before installing or updating software.
  • Restart the computer: If the software installation or update fails, restart the computer and try again.

Resources:

  • Software vendor's website
  • Company's IT knowledge base

Issue 5: Password Problems

Summary: Users reported problems logging into their accounts due to forgotten passwords or locked accounts.

Resolution:

  • Reset password: Users can reset their passwords by clicking on the "Forgot password" link on the login page.
  • Unlock account: If an account is locked, contact the IT help desk for assistance.

Resources:

  • Company's IT knowledge base
  • Company's password reset policy

Conclusion

This user report provides a summary of the most frequent IT issues experienced by users within the past 30 days. The report also provides resolutions for each issue and identifies the resources used to resolve the issues. By addressing these common IT issues, we can improve user experience and reduce the workload of the IT help desk.

Sample Answer

   

User Report

IT Issues and Resolutions

Date: 2023-12-01

Prepared by: IT Support Specialist

Introduction

This user report outlines the most frequent IT issues experienced by users within the past 30 days. The report provides a summary of the issues, the resolutions, and the resources used to resolve the issues. The goal of this report is to identify common IT issues and provide solutions that can be used to improve user experience and reduce the workload of the IT help desk