Twelve Post: MIS : Evidenece- Company visit 2

Lapanday Foods Corporation

The company's server with the MIS manager and groupmates.

Generator set

Roy with the company's switches and UPS

Roy and the companyMy Visitors ID as I enter the company.

These pictures were taken last July 8, 2009. We are scheduled to have an interview at 2:30 pm.

Eleventh Post : MIS : Evidences from Company visits.

GH OFFICE DEPOT

These pictures were taken last July 3, 2009, during our company visit for our module.

Tenth Post : MIS : Assignment 4(Green Campus Computing)

4. Find three(3) URL's that talk's about "green campus computing" and suggest ways how the university can adopt this concept.

The three URL’s that I found that talks about “Green Campus Computing” are the following:
http://ecenter.colorado.edu/energy/projects/green_computing.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_computing
http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid80_gci1246959,00.html#

Green Computing is the environmentally responsible use of computers and related resources. It is the study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. One of its goals is to lessen the use of hazardous materials and maximize the energy efficiency during the product’s lifetime.
Some of its practices include the following:
- Implementation of energy-efficient central processing units, servers and peripherals
- reduced resource consumption
- Proper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste).
-Reusing and Recycling
So, when we talk about green campus computing, we are absolutely talking about the responsible ways of using computers inside a particular universities or schools.

Every year more and more computers are purchased and are used by many establishments including schools. As an IT student, we should be alarmed with the danger these large number of computers give. Every university are using this machine (computers) for record keeping, during the discussions, laboratory exercises of the student (especially those computer related course), well in every corner of the university almost everyone is using this breakthroughs. And because of this, it is considered as the cause of the dramatic increase in energy consumption causing it to be the main reason why a certain university has a high budget on paying the electricity bills. Another thing is that, we should also consider paper use, toner cartridges, disposal of old computer equipment and purchasing decisions when considering new computer equipment. So it is essential that every one of us would be encouraged to adopt this green campus computing.

You can take a giant step toward environmentally responsible or “green” computing by conserving energy with your computer. There are some ways that a university may follow to be able to adopt this concept. These may include:
1. Never leave your computers or lights ON to avoid wasting electricity.
2. Power-down the CPU and all peripherals during extended periods of inactivity.
3. Try to do computer-related tasks during contiguous, intensive blocks of time, leaving hardware off at other times.
4. Power-up and power-down energy-intensive peripherals such as laser printers according to need.
5. Use liquid-crystal-display (LCD) monitors rather than cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors.
6. Use notebook computers rather than desktop computers whenever possible.
7. Use the power-management features to turn off hard drives and displays after several minutes of inactivity.
8. Minimize the use of paper and properly recycle waste paper.
9. Dispose of e-waste according to federal, state and local regulations.
10. Employ alternative energy sources for computing workstations, servers, networks and data centers.
11. Avoid using screen savers in computer monitors.
These are just few tips that we can apply in our university. But I suggest that everyone must be responsible enough and lets practice GREEN CAMPUS COMPUTING.

Ninth Post: MIS : Assignment 3

Question: Your thoughts on automated elections with reference to the current situation ... (1000 words)

Third Assignment:

My thoughts about the automated election:

Before I give my thoughts about the automated election here in the Philippines, let us know first what automated election is. Automated election system is a system using appropriate technology for voting and electronic devices to count votes and canvass/consolidate results.

Having an automated election system this coming 2010 election? Well, am pretty much aware that the coming election would be done in a newer way- from a manual voting system to an automated one. But, is there really enough time to do this? Maybe yes, if there are good programmers to work for the success of this automated election. It would be a great help for the Philippines if the automated election system is done right and securely because it may curb cheating. This would be the first automated election here in the Philippines in response for the Filipino voters who aim to have a fair election. It a great relief to all of us because we will be rest assured that our votes is safe and create a government with leaders that are truly chosen by the majority of the Filipinos..

When the Philippines decided to have an automated election, there are two companies that will be involved for this. They are the Smartmatic International (foreign company) and the Total Information Management Corporation (Filipino-owned Company). These companies have been set back on track for the 2010 automated election.

“Smartmatic is a multinational company that specializes in the design and end-to-end deployment of complex purpose-specific technology solutions. With an unsurpassed technology base, continuous innovation, and quality in processes and results, Smartmatic is organized around three business areas: Electronic voting systems, intelligent and integrated security systems for large enterprises and governments, and advanced solutions for people registration and authentication for a wide range of government applications.

Smartmatic is a privately held company with offices in the US, Mexico, Venezuela, Barbados, Spain, Philippines and Taiwan. It has more than 200 employees worldwide. Its capacity for innovation and wide range of products and services have earned Smartmatic extensive recognition in the technology community worldwide.”
Reference: http://www.smartmatic.com/pressroom/article/article/smartmatic-demonstrates-election-technology-to-filipino-journalists/


“Total Information Management (TIM) Corporation is a wholly Filipino owned Information Technology (IT) company with nationwide operations offering varied products and services. It considers itself as "The Filipino IT Company" competing in a field dominated by multinationals.”
Reference: http://www.timcorp.net/main/index.php?pg=about.tim

One day, the Filipinos were alarmed with the news that we may have to go back to the old-manual election because the local partner of Smartmatic , which is the Total Information Management Corporation, backed out of the deal with the COMELEC. Various reactions and reasons flooded by several news articles and on the television. Some says that the TIM Corporation had a problem with the revenue-sharing model with Smartmatic or the conflict is about the necessary money to fund the activity. From the reference that I have read from the net, the TIM president was pulling out their partnership with the Smartmatic with an unspecified reason. He just simply says, “Irreconcilable difference”. Wow! Even I, I was barely puzzled with his reason and I really wonder what this means.

But after that controversial issue, I have read a relieving one. One of my resources/reference that I have read in which they post it on the 3rd day of July, 2009, discuss that the Philippines says plan for automation again. According to the head of the Commission on Elections or Comelec, “We’re back to automation”. It is after the Filipino Company, TIM Corporation, signed for a joint venture agreement with the Smartmatic to supply 82,000 counting machines that would be use this coming May 2010 for the election that is estimated to finish for only two days using the automated one.

or this 2010 election, many of us want to have a fair voting even if it’s a manual system or the more modernized one which is the automated election system. Using this automated election would be a great help for an easier and faster way of voting but after reading those issues/news, am a bit of doubt if this would gave us a peaceful voting system this coming May 2010. There are still possible conflicts or problems maybe technically that may occur this coming election. With those two companies, the two companies must have an equal control on the operations to avoid misunderstanding or conflicts. The decision-making should not fall solely to one company but they should have a joint force towards a successful automated election system. Money should not be the issue for this. If the government would pursue to have this automated election, they should give an exact budget for a more satisfying output. And I hope that no corruption would be involved.

Well, these are just some of the things that I observed. But as a Filipino citizen of this democratic country and a sooner voter to, I always wish that our voice through our votes will be heard fairly and honestly for a bigger future.


References:
• http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8436.htm
• http://www.smartmatic.com/pressroom/article/article/smartmatic-commends-automation-of-elections-in-the-philippines/
• http://www.jpsimbulan.com/2008/08/06/is-the-philippines-ready-for-an-automated-election-system/

Eigth Post : MIS : Assignment 2

Question: Based on the organization(s) that you visited, what do you think are the risks associated with business and IS/IT change?


In assignment two, I adopted to companies to be my bases with the question, “what do you think are the risks associated with business and IS/IT change?” I consider all the opinions coming from the two companies, the GH Office Depot (located at 88A Monteverde Avenue, Davao City) and the Lapanday Foods Corporation (located at Maryknoll drive, Lanang, Davao City). For the first company, I was blessed to interview there IT personnel and on the other hand, for the second company I was given a chance to talk with their MIS manager.

In a certain company, having a new or changing the information system is a tasking job. However, if it is used properly and accordingly, it will be considered as a good benefit for the organization. We are all aware that technologies nowadays are fast evolving. Big or even small and medium enterprises aim to adopt the latest breakthroughs that will be helpful for their company. But using technologies might give the company the risk as well. Change is important, but it should also be controlled so that the risk does not escalate to unacceptable levels. For a company to cope up with the rapid advancement of information technology, changes and facing the risk must be obtain. Risks in changing of the IS of an organization reflects the events that may affect the flow of business in an organization.

As what I have understand from the manager of Lapanday, when changing an information technology or information system they make sure that they all back up the files. They have this off site (usually every end of the week) and on site back up (everyday back up). It is also a big risk for them because every data is essential so they are very sensitive in terms of changes in their systems. In changing with their hardware components, he said that they have these guidelines in which they follow or analyzes before they bought a new one. He told us that some companies may change their computers every (maybe) 3 years but for them it depends. If that computer can still work well, then they will still continue to use it. And I ask him some of those guidelines and he unselfishly elaborate some like a minimum of dual-core, 160GB memory for hard disk, and a 1GB RAM. He added up that they only use higher specs for those computers that are used for engineering department or those with autocad software installed. Since they are the main office, they always secure all their data, because they are afraid to loss all of it. And whenever they used a new system, all the employees (who will be involved with it) are obliged to have their training first before they could use it to avoid some errors. Risk is caused by the reluctance of the employees to use the new system probably because they are not familiar with it. So further training should be done to the employees on how to handle the new system enable to maximize its functions. These are just some of the ideas that I have gathered as we have a talk with the Lapanday’s Management Information System manager.

Another company that I have interviewed is the GH Office Depot. The one who entertained us is there IT personnel. When we ask what are the risk associated with business and IS/IT change, he then said,”there is a BIG risk”. For him it’s not that easy to instantly change their information system because they have to consider everything since they have 35,000 different items. They always make sure to have their backups. Before, according to the IT personnel of the GH Office Depot, they are using those dos base systems and now they are using the visual basic 2005. So, he told us that it is also good to change a system for a faster and more reliable work but they always consider the risk that it may gave to the company. They made some strategies to be able to avoid such risks. They always consider if that system would work or not and if it would satisfy their needs or if it would come up with their desired output to minimize or avoid problems. As what I have said from the first assignment, the GH Office Depot has no proper hierarchy in terms of orders or request. The IT personnel told us that if the boss asked him to do this and do that, they directly follow orders. They consider the cost, functionality and the capacity if they want to change some of their hardware components.

As a whole, I conclude that some of the possible risks that an organization may encounter in changing their information technology or information system are the following: loss of data, incomplete system, unreliable system, security, organizational risk and technical risk. A company may loss data if they change into a new system so it is very essential for them to always have their backups. An incomplete system is also a big risk because it will not satisfy the needs of the company and the organization may spend a system that would not be that useful. So, the company must observe and analyze first before changing their actual system. Security would be a risk because every data that the company have are confidential. When we say organizational risk, the problem occurs if the employees don’t know how to use the new system so it is very essential to conduct a training first. In terms of technical risk, the company must consider if the system will function properly and accordingly.

There are lots of risks that a business may encounter. The success of implementing new or changing the system depends on the people’s acceptance of the change. And the success comes to those organizations that identify and manage the risk more effectively and of course proper management. It is also essential to have some strategies and proper planning on handling the possible risk that may occur. These are just few of the risk that a company may encounter so we must not take it for granted because it is so dangerous so we should always be aware and alert.

Seventh Post : MIS : Evidences - COMDDAP

This pictures are just few of the pictures that we took last July 2, 2009 at the Apo View Hotel for the annual event called COMDDAP (Computer Manufacturers, Distributors, and Dealers Association of the Philippines).

Sixth Post: MIS: Reflection - COMDDAP Davao Expo 2009

The members of the COMDDAP (Computer Manufacturers, Distributors, and Dealers Association of the Philippines), which represents the world's leading makers and providers of computer products, solutions and peripherals, held an expo here in Davao city at the Apo View Hotel last july 2-4, 2009.
People from different organizations, schools,ordinary or professionals came to witness this annual event.

Before the said event, we are informed by our professor to register(free registration online) first on the site that was given to us because the seminars are for limited seats only. The event is open for everyone who are interested with information technology. On the first they of there expo, I and some of my classmates went to visit there exhibit and to check out the new trends of technologies nowadays and the different amazing gadgets. Since it was announced that the speaker for the seminar will be late, we grab the chance to collect some souvenirs for this expo. I enjoy roaming around in the exhibit area and compile different flyers and glossy papers from the different exhibit and also trying to explore the different gadgets that was diplayed in the expo.

Well, as what I have observed, the sessions were managed by the big names in term of IT developers. They are the Nexus Group, Jupiter Systems, Inc., Edupro Inc., and Spinweb Inc. And since I was registered on the afternoon session on the first day of expo, I noticed that most of the audience or listeners are from our institution(both Information Technology and Computer Science students from the University of Southeastern Philippines) so, I feel more comfortable and interested to listen.

Our first speaker is from the Jupiter System Inc. He introduce himself and then he start discussing about the ERIC [Enterprise Resource Information and Control] Dealer Management System (DMS). As what I have understand, its an end-to-end software solution for automotive dealer operation. He mention that the Jupiter System Inc is a 100% Filipino-owned industry. They support dealer activities from marketing to sales and services. At first I am a bit confused because he mention about Ford, Mercedes Benz, Honda, Mitsubishi, and other model of vehicles so I thought they are just selling cars but as he go deeper with his discussion, I discover that the ERIC DMS is a software that is usually used for automotive sales, parts and and services in a business. Well, honestly speaking, I can't relate with what he is discussing because I am not that interested with cars. And on the later discussion, I hear him talking about Microsoft SQL. Wow! This is what I've been waiting for. As an IT or CS student, we should be aware with the use of the different software used in business industry. The first presenter is not quite interesting to hear(am sorry for that) but still I've learn some about the program that he have discussed. As a whole, the presentation is good. As an IT student, it is good to know how a certain program works and how it was used by the industry.

Now, lets go on with the second session. The nest presenter is one from the Nexus Technologies Inc. There topic is about the HP thin client. He present to us their product. At first, I am curious of what that thing works or what are its functions. Its my first time to hear about thin clients so I am interested to listen especially when he told us that they will be asking some questions at the end of there discussion and he will give us some freebies: HP t-shirt and 2gb, 8gb USB flash drive. Honestly, those freebies added my interest to listen with there presentation. I noticed that all the audience are very active with the presentation.(hahaha)

About the presentation, he introduced to us their product, which is the HP thin client. I learned that thin client is a computing device without a hard drive and CPU fan. It has a low energy consumption and data are stored in remote and centralized server. Another thing that I have learned from their discussion is that hp thin client is designed for businesses because it will make your business more efficient. According to the speaker, the speed, flexibility and security of your network are guaranteed. The best thing with the said product is that it is safer in terms of viruses. And if am not mistaken, ones the hardware is reboot, it will automatically delete the viruses. He explains well the functions, features, and how reliable it will be to use.

Now, the most awaited part, the Q&A part. Everyone was excited because of there freebies. Honestly, I would love to have the t-shirt from hp and everyone became so active and alert in answering the questions. Unfortunately, I didn’t won any but the learning that I have is enough to consider this day as one of the days I would always remember.

This is just one of the events held for us to be aware of the latest breakthroughs. As an IT/CS student, its really a great experience and privilege.

Fifth Post: MIS: Mintzberg's Managerial Roles

After surfing the internet, I found these 10 managerial roles by Mintzberg. The ten separated roles in managerial work as identified by Mintzberg has its own role as defined as an organized collection of behaviors belonging to an identifiable function or position. He then group these roles into three subcategories. The first three are the interpersonal contact, the next three roles are considered as the information processing and the last four are past of the decision making.

10 Managerial Roles of Mintzberg:

1. FIGUREHEAD: the manager performs ceremonial and symbolic duties as head of the organisation;
2. LEADER: fosters a proper work atmosphere and motivates and develops subordinates;
3. LIASION: develops and maintains a network of external contacts to gather information;
4. MONITOR: gathers internal and external information relevant to the organisation;
5. DISSEMINATOR: transmits factual and value based information to subordinates;
6. SPOKESPERSON: communicates to the outside world on performance and policies.
7. ENTREPRENEUR: designs and initiates change in the organisation;
8. DISTURBANCE HANDLER: deals with unexpected events and operational breakdowns;
9. RESOURCE ALLOCATOR: controls and authorises the use of organisational resources;
10. NEGOTIATOR: participates in negotiation activities with other organisations and individuals.



reference: http://www.provenmodels.com/88/ten-managerial-roles/mintzberg