After Week 9 of INTRICT

Direct Reading Electronic (DRE) or Optical Mark Readers (OMR)...

In INTRICT class, we discussed which machine between the DRE and the OMR is the suitable one for electronic voting. Of course it involves data capture, and in turn, there are factors to consider in choosing the best one for efficient and effective data capture and these are:

• reliability
• accuracy and correctness
• speed of data capture
• completeness
• the "WOW, I LIKE IT!" factor (user-friendliness), and;
• other factors depending on the environment in which the device will be used like: environmental applicability, disability considerations, cost and life of device, and hygiene in use

If I were to choose which of the two should be implemented and chosen for electronic voting, I would go for OMR. Why? First, DRE usage will pave way for hygiene problems since it is a touch-screen machine. Imagine the germs and bacteria that can pile up in the DRE screen from the 1st voter to the last voter (EEW!). Second, DRE is has the lesser quality of durability. Imagine when one voter gets mad and suddenly punches the screen, the DRE machine will then get destroyed And third, OMR can scan lots of votes in such a short time span. The DRE may seem easier to use but imagine that one voter can take and consume much time in the voting process. It's a fact that we cannot wait for more than 3 months or so for a new president, senator, or whosoever is elected.

Also, we should always remember that input and output always go together... After all, how can you have an output if there wasn't any input? And also, how will you know what you did in your input if there isn't any output? Simple logic and philosophy. Input captures data while output present possible and needed information to make choice of what data is to be captured.

Had the Makro Makati Field Trip by the way... Whatever happened. It was tiring. And there were occurences wherein we cannot hear what the lady was explaining and telling to us about a particular area in Makro. Sheesh.

Got to rest now, 00:25... DLSU vs. UP later @ ULTRA, 14:00. God bless.

My mind is still... Blargh.

After Week 8 of INTRICT

July 14. Simple... Remember these important matters...

Planning, Analysis, Design of the target I.S., Implementation, Support and Maintenance

-> These are the stages of an I.S. development

Data Capture, Data Storage, Information Processing, Distribution and Access to Information, Presentation of Information

-> These are problems in information

Remember, also, the 9 functional units of an enterprise for organizational knowledge and of course the 6 elements of an information system.

Sir Oli gave us a group assignment, and that is to design and come up with an information system that can be THE solution to both the business and information problems of the coco-juice company problem scenario.

So... Sherv, Jet, Koko... Let's get mind ****ed again, haha. At least it's easier now... or is it?

Magandang I.S. para sa kumpanya ng coco-juice... ano nga ba...?

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July 16. We didn't have INTRICT class because Sir Oli was sick. It was raining hard that day, ang sarap matulog, kaya medyo nakakatamad pumasok nung araw na 'to, hahaha.

We were given an activity even though we had no class. List down different devices, their characteristics, and situations wherein they are best used.

Grabe... we have so many devices already. They just keep on developing and evolving, hahaha. I can't think of how those people came up with those different devices. Like yung mga card reader, barcode, game controller... pati 'tong keyboard na ginagamit ko ngayon, haha. I wonder how our world will be like 15 years from now... well, in the technological aspect that is... with all of those gadgets and gizmos around us...

On the down side, I already imagine how our world will be like, in the natural aspect, 15 years from now... Out of the blue 'to ah, haha.

Think of our environment, 15 years from now... Imagine...

Kaya boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen... Be disciplined enough.

Sorry for the random thought, napaisip lang talaga.

RAR. Ang hirap na talaga mag-backtrack! GRR!

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That would be all. God bless us all. :)

After Week 7 of INTRICT

July 7. I came to school late... like 10 minutes late... ugh, friggin' traffic. I wasn't even feeling good coming to school.

We just discussed the four aspects of the development and implementation of an Information System in an organization. These are the:

• internal improvement in the conduct of operation
• internal connection of problems hampering the operation
• external mandate
• stragetically determined

*sigh* It has been another HELL of a week... Backtracking is getting harder now, lots of things are coming up. And not just coming up, they are clogging in my mind... like food that your stomach can digest well... WTH!

I forgot. We only discussed 3: strategically determined, external mandate, and internal improvement (well just a really few info about it since it was already time.) Sheesh...

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July 9. We had a group activity, which was to ask the right question in order to assess the problem scenario that Sir Oli gave... I had the group with Sherv, Jet, and Koko... fun group. Really, haha.

From this activity, I've learned that in order to be a good systems analyst, one should be able to assess the problem right away. When asking a question regarding the problem of the company, organization, or whatsoever, one should be able to get to the point in no more than 4 questions.

Critical-thinking is indeed involved... and sure your mind will be really ****ed if you're just starting with things like these, or if you're not skillful or capable enough in analyzing system problems.

Now, what the hell's wrong with that coco-juice company...?

I mean with their Inventory and Sales unit... and Distribution unit too...? *sigh, drools*

*thinks and gets mind-+%^#ed again* X(

After Week 6 of INTRICT

This week on INTRICT...

Monday (June 30, 2008):

We've learned in class that an Information System a.k.a. I.S. have six parts. These are the:

Software

Hardware

Data

People

Procedures/Processes

Network

Basically, a system is composed of these units that work together in order to achieve a specific goal. The key or essential part of an I.S. is the network since it is that I.S. part which allows all the components of an I.S. to work together. Not to mention, the direct aim of an I.S. is to provide more accurate information at any place and at any time when needed by individuals, groups, or enterprises.

Also, I've learned this day that I'm at that stage of still not knowing how to perform and do specific tasks in the ICT field and still not knowing the possibilities of an ICT professional can do. As I go through this course, I must be well thought about ICT since, just like an effect to a non-well thought organization, I cannot do things well or even cannot finish anything at all, most especially opportunities if I am not well thought with ICT.

Wednesday (July 2, 2008):

There are four components that pertains to the importance of development and implementation of an information system in an organization. These are:

Internal improvement in the conduct of operations. Every company can encounter the rising of their sales as well as the increasing of their customers. Because of this, every company should respond quickly in their operations since if not, there will be a major chaos and confusion on handle their operations well once a factor like peaking of sales pops up.

Internal connection of problems hampering the operations. There are also problems in companies that hinder quality operations like too much inventory. When companies have too much inventory, they have a tendency to lose more of their commodities and services. Not only that, it can also happen monthly; losing not just a specific amount but more. Another problem that companies can encounter is that payments are not recorded or tallied with their sales records. This will then lead to lost of quality information regarding the sales performance of the company, so if this happens, how can the company improve the next time around? Losing track of the sales is a major headache to companies. And so, an I.S. can provide solutions for these problems.

External mandate. Here's an example: an important factor for more efficient operations is that corporations, companies, and enterprises require electronic communication between them and their respective connections (like buyers, suppliers, etc.). Electronic communication is important to provide faster and more convenient processes and operations between firms that communicate with each other. For instance, a company needs to know their orders from another company, and what better way to track the orders through electronic communication, which can be provided by an I.S.

Strategically determined. Take for example an executive manager who wants to reach a higher population of customers than the normal number. To execute this desire by the executive manager, the whole organization or company should be provided with a proper strategy or plan. Also, that strategy or plan should be a strong one to increase chances of being implemented and to make it a reality in the field of business. To make things happen, an I.S. can help in the planning of the company and also in executing the plan of the company.

*SIGH*

That's all...

I'm really tired now... Really.

REST. I NEED REST. God bless to everyone.

After Week 5 of INTRICT

We only had one INTRICT meeting (June 25, 2008) for this week.

Basically... our meeting was for the reporting for the interviews we had with the tactical and the operational managers of a particular company. In my case, I, together with my groupmates, Karla and Christine B., conducted the interview at BPI Card Center, Makati City. There, we interviewed Reggie Vallente (the tactical manager) and George Pangan (the operational manager). It was fun since the managers were humurous and warm to us, but also, it was a bit "scary" (?) since we were somehow shy and quite nervous with how to conduct the interview (HAHA!). Well, moving on...

In this entry, I'll be stressing out some points in how to prepare for this kind of reporting. And so... when preparing for reports similar to these, one should remember to:

• Specify the plans of each manager
• Know and understand what each manager does exactly (e.g. timeframe of work, areas of concentration)
• Know the business functions that each manager covers up
• Know what each manager handles in his/her work
• Inquire about the structure of the company (e.g. ask for the organizational chart of the company) and about the different functional units (e.g. know who's covering or handling a particular work or task)

Lastly, Sir Oli gave out reminders on how to conduct the reporting. And here are those reminders:

• Make a simple introduction
• The presentation should not be wordy/heavy
• Don't read the presentation (it's alright to read, but only to be "guided" in delivering the report and NOT just reading the presentation literally)
• Distribute information equally (all members should know the entire content of the report and must share information with each other, walang nag-sosolo o isa lang nagsasalita)
• Link with lectures and lessons
• Expand the presentation by providing extra information or examples to the listeners that are not found on the presentation

There you go.

Yes, it's only a one-meeting week for INTRICT week 5, but it sure is a really serious one... These lessons should be put into mind. ALWAYS.

And oh yeah... in presentations like these, questions will be asked. And these questions are not simple questions, in fact they are really complex. So complex that they can make the human mind bleed, HAHAHA. Thus, make sure to be really ready and understand the report to be presented. Ayt?

CHILL OUT for awhile. God bless. :)