2009年3月26日星期四

IT and the Design of Work

1. Why might a worker resist the implementation of a new technology? Give some examples to support the idea.
Different productation will use different way, not the new technology fit any work. For example, handtailor product compared to electronic embroider , some people like handtailor product due to its special and can not find one as the same as it in the world.

2. What are some of the possible consequences of asking a worker to use a computer or similar device in his or her job? Critically discuss this.
If the worker can use the computer very well, he will get a good job, and like the computer. But if the worker can not use it , he will feel the computer is not a good tool for his work, he will work like before, then don't use this computer, if he must use this computer to work, maybe he will be in trouble and lose his work.

3. How can IT alter an individual’s work? How can a manager insure that the impact is positive rather than negative?
Though the computer, even people are far from each other, still can communication with the work .For a manager , before doing the thing, he need collect dat from internet which is much more fast way.then planning and allocating the jobs. before do a project, he can evluate it with IT's help.

2009年3月25日星期三

1.The relationship among business strategy, organizational strategy, and information strategy.

A busniess strategy is a well-articulated vision of where the business seeeks to go and how it expects to go there, it is the form by which a business communicates its goals. Successful firm's business strategy drives both their organizational and IS strategies, all decisions are driven by the firm's business objectives, they must seek to balance business, organizational and IS strategies.From the Information System Strategy Triangle, we can see that the IS strategy triangle consists of Business Strategy, Organizational strategy is concerned with envisioning a future for your family business, creating value in the eyes of your customers, and building and sustaining a strong position in the marketplace. Information Strategy means the hardware, software, application, database, procedure, people, network.
As we know, the Successfully firms’ business strategy drives both their organizational and IS strategies. It means that they must seek to balance business, organizational, and IS strategies. IS Strategy is affected by the other strategies a firm uses. Organizational and Information Strategy are then dependent upon the Business Strategy. Changes in any strategy requires changes in the others to maintain balance (rubber band!). Business, IS and organizational strategies must be constantly adjusted. IS strategy always involves consequences on business and organizational strategy.
2.As a business strategy is developed it should be used to inform the strategies of the departments that make up the organization, in this way the Organizational and IS strategy of a company would be influenced by the business strategy. When a company wants to change its business model from traditional to E-commerce, the Organizational and IS strategy will also change following the Business Strategy so that the IS Strategy Triangle can keep balance. Adoption of e-commerce strategies implies that new technologies must be mastered and new ways of working will be encountered. An organization must analyze the requirements and ensure that it can meet them so that the organization can have a high success in its business.
When a company wants to change its business model from traditional to online, the overall strategy should be changed. But the most important is that the triangle must be balabce, make the business strategy drives the organizational and information strategy.
3.The Chief Information Officer (CIO), whose position is providing strategic direction, planning, oversight, delivery and accountability for information technology (IT) activities. This position requires an individual to roll up their sleeves and contribute while leading the IT function within the organization. Key areas of responsibility include planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling company information technology functions. The Chief Information Officer will serve as the primary point of contact, Kiewit's technology head, and report to the Senior Vice President of Operations and Administration. The incumbent will work with technology to provide a strategy for driving the company's Business Plan and effectively communicate the strategy throughout the organization .Since the Respondents said they needed to be more involved in vision setting, organizational strategy and communication, in addition to the advice they provide to the business on technology, the CIOs considered application development and integration as potential areas for cost reductions, while intelligence and analytics were not considered as important. And they also believe that application development and integration are still significant areas of focus for achieving cost reductions and securing overall value. However, Knowledge, intelligence and analytics, on the other hand, are not considered priorities. According these, the CIOs of Fast Company suggested the business strategy and organizational strategy and declare that the job of the CIO is to provide organizational and strategic flexibility.
Reference:
Omaha N.E (January 23, 2009), [Posted 2009/01/23 ]EXECUTIVE CONSTRUCTION JOBS, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Available at:http://www.constructionexecutive.com/constructionjobs/2037/Chief-Information-Officer-(CIO).html (Access on March 25, 2009).
http://cobhomepages.cob.isu.edu/KreggAytes/mba624/notes/IS_StrategyTriangle.htm (access on March 25, 2009)

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Introduction:
The terms Internet and World Wide Web are often used in every-day speech without much distinction. However, the Internet and the World Wide Web are not one and the same. The Internet is a global data communications system. It is a hardware and software infrastructure that provides connectivity between computers. In contrast, the Web is one of the services communicated via the Internet. It is a collection of interconnected documents and other resources, linked by hyperlinks and URLs.

The impact of the Internet
There has been a huge, worldwide explosion in the use of the Internet. It is already changing the way we work, shop, bank and also the way we live.
The PC is becoming commonplace in many homes and there is a general acceptance that this is a way forward. Analogue phone lines are being replaced by faster digital lines (ISDN).Even faster high-speed digital connections will soon be delivered to households, offering a whole day connection to the Net. Many countries around the world are developing in communication technology via satellite, wireless and cable to enhance worldwide Internet access. Accesses to the Internet and its services have already become available through the use of digital TVs and mobile phones. The use of the Internet by many businesses, organizations and the general public has led to a rapid increase in the number of sites.
Clearly all these developments are going to change the way we work, live and experience life.

Information technology has had an impact on the way we work for quite some time, but the Internet has now added electronic mail (email), teleworking and video conferencing to the workplace.
Teleworking
The ability to work from home by means of a PC or laptop and since some communications link are increasing, and there are a number of benefits to the employer: Office running costs and overheads (rates, electricity, heating etc.) can be reduced, which in turn may reduce the need for office space. Travel-related problems may be reduced. It may tempt better staff to come and work for the company.
However, employers need to be able to trust their staff and be prepared to have less direct control over them.
There are so many benefits for the employee, likes; we can work from the comfort of your own home. There is no time wasted traveling and no travel costs. And it enables you to work around the needs of your family and/or children, giving you greater flexibility. It is more convenient - you can plan the working day to suit you, which could help reduce stress levels.
At the same time it can also take us some disadvantages, There is less opportunity to meet up with people and share ideas therefore teamwork is more difficult.
There may be more temptation to spend time on non-work-related activities.
The Internet and freedom of speech, No-one owns the Internet so anybody can post anything on it.
The Internet is a great source of information but it has also become the home of political propaganda, racism, pornography and other controversial or illegal material.
Apart from physically restricting access the only control is through some form of filtering software. Increasingly individuals and authorities are recommending some sort of control.
When the internet takes us more and more conveniences, we also must to consider the internet will take the crime. New technology brings with it new crimes and as a result some governments are setting up special units to deal with Internet crime. Concerns surround:
·the interception of credit card details and transactions online.
·hacking into personal, private files with criminal intent.
·fraudulent web sites taking credit card details from customers.
·the spreading of viruses through the Internet.
Internet security is a very important question. A number of steps are being taken to reassure the general public that the Internet is safe:
Data is encoded before transmission using encryption techniques which scramble the data. The data is then decoded at the receiving end (decryption).
The use of passwords and access level restrictions.
The use of firewalls (servers that filter incoming messages to protect LANs from viruses and hacking).
Tough penalties for offenders under the Computer Misuse Act.

Conclusion:
Increased speed of access combined with digital, satellite and wireless technologies will see Internet use and the resources on offer continue to expand. In the home digital TV offering Internet access will enable home viewers to shop, bank, play games and send email. At work digital phone lines will offer companies high-speed communication enabling business to be conducted quickly, efficiently and with reduced costs. Access to video conference links will become commonplace.
Wireless technology (WAP) will support mobile phones offering hand-held Internet access. Pocket-sized units will link email to weather, news, travel, entertainment listings and holiday information. As connection speeds improve, banking, shopping and video conferencing will take place on the move, in the car on the bus, train or plane. On the road new systems will be able to pinpoint your car on an onboard computer which will provide access to road and traffic information. Car phones will link to the Internet allowing drivers to check their email.

Reference:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-wireless-broadband.htm
http://www.google.com/search?hl=zh-CN&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ZH-CNMY317&q=impact+of+internet&lr=

2009年3月23日星期一

the first blog assignment

1. Define the meaning of the terms data, information and knowledge according to Thomas Davenport's Information Hierarchy (1997).
Data refers to pieces of information or facts usually collected as the result of experiebce, observation or experiment, or processes within a computer system, or a set of premises. They may be numbers, words, or images, particularly as measurements or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as a lowest level of abstraction from which information and knowledge are derived.

Information as a concept has a diversity of meanings, from everyday usage to technical settings. Generally speaking, the concept of information is closely related to notions of constraint, communication, control, data, form, instruction, knowledge, meaning, mental stimulus, pattern, perception, and representation.

Knowledge is application of data and information; answers "how" questions. It is neither data nor information, though it is related to both, and the differences between these terms are often a matter of degree.

2. What are the characteristics of the above terms?
Data - This is the lowest level of 'information'. The contents are usually not very useful as they are. Typically the data is unsorted, unformatted, not yet validated or redundancy tested and in some cases unreadable. In most cases it is not even available to the relevant people. It has to be transformed/post-processed before turned into something useful. Although data is important it is very rarely valuable in itself.

Information - Information is transformed data presented in a meaningful way for the user. The transformation usually involves post-processing of the data and is typically done through spreadsheets, queries to databases or presenting information through a GIS. Many organizations have realized the value of information, but are still struggling with how to manage it in an efficient way, mostly because there has not been flexible enough management tools available to support them.

Knowledge - Knowledge can be defined as the capability that creates actions from information. This is the highest level of 'information' and is the most user-friendly, because it speaks the same language as the user. Example: How to identify, analyze, solve and verify a high dropped call level in a certain BSC/cell. Who is best suited to solve such problem and when should it be solved.

3. Give and example for each term mentioned above.
Data- the exam result for subject BIS:
Student A :90
Student B : 92
Student C :87 ...
Information- BIS's class room change to c407
Knowledge-If the water is boiling, then we know the temperature of the water reaches 100 degree.

4. Is there any possibility of a fourth level of Information Hierarchy? Elaborate.
Yes.
There is a possibility of a fourth level of Information Hierarchy which is Wisdom. Wisdom is an extrapolative and non-deterministic, non-probabilistic process. Wisdom is the ability and the process by which we also discern, or judge, between right and wrong. Wisdom can only process by human.(Gene Bellinger, 2004)


Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data
Access at 17:00 p.m. 23-03-2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information
Access at 18:02 p.m. 23-03-2009

Wallace, Danny P.(2007). Knowledge Management: Historical and Cross-Disciplinary Themes. Libraries Unlimited. pp. 1-14.