President' s SONA on HRM

Last July 28, 2008, President Gloria- Macapagal Arroyo gave off her State of the Nation Address (SONA). Her SONA was televised in every local channel in the country but honestly, I didn't got the chance to watch it live because I was at school. I also arrived home late and so I didn't had the chance to watch the news. Well, so much for excuses, right.? Well, I just read the President's SONA letter and watched it in the net so that I could answer to this topic. Jejeje

From what I read and heard, I picked out three comments that the president said that have a direct relation to Human Resource Management in the country.

In portion of her speech, she expressed gratitude to certain sectors like GSIS, Pag-Ibig, SSS and some employers. Why.? Because these institutions made changes or should I say developments to their programs and services that would benefit human resource.

According to the president, “employers have funded the two increases in SSS benefits since 2005”. She also said that, “GSIS pensions have been indexed to inflation and have increased every year since 2001. Its salary loan availments have increased from two months equivalent to 10 months, the highest of any system public or private—while repayments have been stretched out.”

“Dapat dagdagan ng GSIS at buksan muli ng SSS ang pautang sa pabahay. I ask Congress to pass a bill allowing SSS to do housing loans beyond the present 10% limitation. “, said President Arroyo.

With such things going on, and more benefits to be expected, we can expect that the human resource will be more eager to work and be more at ease in working, for now they have a chance to have easier loan availments for housing and increased benefits.

Another things that she said was that, “Our P 350 million training partnership with the private sector should qualify 60,000 for call centers, medical transcription, animation and software development, which have a projected demand of one million workers generating $13 billion by 2010. “. High number of work projection, we can expect that a lot of human resource now can have the chance to find and have a job especially in information technology or computer related jobs like those that she mentioned above.

The president also mentioned about certain training that the government sponsored for its human resource. She mentioned that the number of people who joined such trainings (for technical and vocational courses) doubled in number. From its 7.74 million trainees, it has now reached 14 million in number. With such vast number of human resource being trained,we can say that this will benefit not only those individual's but also the economy and the country, with this project having produced more experienced and competent human resource.

from Killeres to Rubicks Cuberz.!!

My mom always tell me that even though I am already in my college (supposedly grown-up) years I still act like a grade schooler. Well, ma, the people you see above are the people who are responsible for my childish ways. Joke.!! haha.

Well, even though my mom makes that comment sound like an insult, I always take it as a compliment because I am childish, and I love it, especially now that I have a group of friends whose "wavelength" in terms of having fun is the same as mine.

When I was in first year college, my friends and I can be always be seen carrying a rubik's cube. We learned of different patterns to solve it or do different designs from it. Later on, the cube mania faded away and a new breed of legos and puzzles were our past time games.

On our second year, we were playing the "anagram game". It’s a game where we twist some words and make the others guess what the correct original word is. Example: Oh.! Draconian devil. Output: Leonardo da Vinci (from the Da Vinci Code).

On our third year, most of us were already playing on line games. It was a bit sad because we weren't able to play as a group but it was fun when we compare what levels are we now or on what things we already bought in the game.

On our fourth year(sadly, its not our last year yet), we were playing the "Killer Game". We pick out a piece of paper where certain roles were written. Most of the time, I pick out the "mongoloid" role. hahaha.!! Anyways, if you pick the killer, you are supposed to wink at the other people without being caught by the police. If you picked out the police, you must not be winked by the killer or else your out of the game. You are also the one responsible for arresting the killer. If your the doctor, you must blow a flying kiss to the people who got winked/ killed by the killer. THe other roles are just the pawns, the ones who are going to get killed or healed. jejeje

We have other games like Otso-otso, marco polo, act-out, and IQ games kuno like the Music Room game, the 12345 game (of which we challenged 3 of our professors to solve it) and many more.

The past week, we played hide and seek at the ground floor of the Engineering building, and the other day we played "soccer (daw.!!)" using a ball made of styrofoam. It was all fun. Even though, we all got dirty, stinky and wet, at least we had fun.

Being in college really doesn't mean that we start being all grown-up and serious in life because if we do, we end up getting crazy. It doesn't mean that we always need to be this prim and proper people who always study because sometimes we just need to go out there and get dirty, play and forget about age and etiquette, only on some occasions though. jejeje.!!

Playing these silly games with my friends doesn't only make me smile but it also adds a lot of fun memories to my thoughts.

And now, we are back to where it all began, to the rubik's cube. We are playing it again, with new patterns to discover jejeje. I wonder what will be the next games to play.!! Love you guys. Melon.!

Internet Connection: Sooooo Slowwww

In my four (and still counting) years spent in this university, I noticed that some things haven't changed a bit. The problems that I encountered from the first time I used the “nodal” facilities until now, still exists.

If I am to be a consultant for the university, I would first address all the problems at hand, so that I could give an attention for looking its supposed solutions.

Upon using the computers, the first thing one would notice is that the Internet Connection is so slow. True, that they have just increased the bandwidth allocation so as to make the connection faster than before, but in reality, as Kate would describe it, the Internet connection is still turtle paced. The supposed improvements still can't b felt. As a colleague would describe it, imagine that the present bandwidth allocation is divided into six panels, with the increased bandwidth allocation, lets say that another 2 panels have been added. Yet, when the connection is used only two panels are used up(for unknown reasons). In other words, the only a portion of the connection was used up.

Second, is the faulty and old aged hardware. I think that the problem discussed above was a result from faulty hardware. Because of the faulty hardware, computer processes and the Internet connection are affected. Computer processing abilities are very slow.

Third, a vast number and kinds of viruses exists in the computers in the lab, mind you there are virus scanners installed in each computer, but sadly its not updated which leads to making the computer vulnerable to viruses. Viruses affect computer performance thus affecting internet connection.

Solution:

If on a strict budget:

Just be sure to update all the virus scanners and orient the students how to use it well. As for the Internet connection, we can use FOSS Internet speed boosters that can accelerate internet speed connection

If there is a proper budget:

Purchase new computers with higher processing and memory. Like a duo core computer. Having such computers can result to faster computer reaction. Also like in the solution above, we ca use internet boosters to optimize our internet connection. Internet Accelerator works to decrease page load times and optimize your Internet connection. It improves various configuration settings that directly affect your network and Internet connection speed.

HRM: Company Visit Part 2.1

I called this entry as Company Visit Part 2.1 because my group mates and I considered July 05,2008 as our second official visit to interview the HR manager of LYR Marketing and Furniture Center.

The sky was a bit gloomy when I left the house at 12 noon. The scheduled time for us to meet was at 3:00 om yet I decided to leave early so that I could go to my favorite internet cafe near the university that I attend to. I have a lot of assignments and reports to do so I thought that I could use two hours of surfing the net to get it all done. As I went inside the cafe, I saw one of my group mates, namely Kate, who was already seated in front of a computer. She told me that she was there for the same reasons that I was there too. After a few minutes, two of our other group mates were there so we all decided to go to LYR together.

As the clock chimed 2:45 pm we got up our seats and started making our way out of the internet cafe. . With all the increase in gas and fare and because of all the unfinished assignments that we still have to do, we decided to just walk from the internet cafe to our adopted company, so that we can gave some money.

Walking, in a cold, gloomy day with your friends was a fun Idea to me so I agreed. Unfortunately, one of my group mates said that she will lead us into a short cut , yet as we all followed her we later realized that she lead us into a farther road. Later on we were lost, and I think that we were already at Uyanguren at that time because as I turned my back I saw "Regency Inn", which was beside LYR , very much far from where we were. So we have to walk around again with the sky which was gloomy a while ago changed into a very sunny and hot afternoon. When we finally arrived we were all sweating, our legs hurt, we were very tired but all of us were laughing because of what we went through just to arrive there. Our group mate, Vanessa who wasn't with us through the whole ordeal, laughed at us, for we chose to sweat like that than to just spare Php 6.00 for the fare. The four of us, just laughed back and said, in a joking manner that "desperate times need desperate solutions". It was all very comical.

As we went inside the HR office, Mr.Llano was talking to six people whom we assumed as applicants. After a few moments, the applicants were seated beside a table and Mr.Llano took out a questionnaire(IQ). As the applicants were answering, Sir Llano signaled us to be seated in front of his table. Each of us, asked Sir Llano questions pertaining to our assigned topics. As the applicants finished answering the questionnaire, Sir Llano excused himself to us and gave the applicants another questionnaire(Mathematics). After the applicants finished the second test, Sir Llano told them to come back tomorrow for further test.

Sir Llano went back to us and after he answered all our questions, he advised us to conduct a simple job analysis on four chosen employees in the company and told us to come back to his desk after we finished so that he can evaluate what we have done. Overall, it was a nice experience and were very thankful to Mr. Llano for guiding us, helping us, and teaching us all about human resource management. He made the learning process interesting and lively for us. He taught us great things, gave very fun examples for us to understand the topics better and he gave us all his time and imparted us all he things he knew. So again, even in this simple gesture, in behalf of all my group mates, I want to thank Mr.Llano and his staff for accepting and teaching us whole heartedly. May God bless you always.

The lessons he imparted with us will be on my next entry entitled "Whats your element: An HRM Special Part 2 ".

It focuses on the ff. topics.

• job analysis

• job description

• performance evaluation

• job evaluation

• job specification

Business Risks in Changing IT/IS

With the fast-evolving technology and the vast number of systems created everyday, it is inevitable for a company to change its information systems or information technology infrastructure. Yet, such changes may present several threats for the company. I found a lot of threats/risks, hence I decided to only list 5 to limit my scope. Some of the said threats are detailed below.

Dependencies and interoperability between this investment and others:
this means that the risks involved are that systems may not achieve the targeted results and that there will be increased possibilities for systems to be penetrating each other.

Overall risk of project failure:
this statement says that the changes that are now being implemented may not achieve the results that was expected from it.

Project resources/financial:
there might be miscalculation of life-cycle costs, lose cost controls, or poor acquisition planning.

Capability of agency to manage the investment:
certain aspects may not be achieved due to the changes implemented. Aspects such as financial management of investment, poor operational and technical controls, or reliance on vendors without appropriate cost, technical and operational controls may not be up to par.

The worst things that could happen is that the projected program effectives or business goals of the program may not be achieved.

Reliability of systems: this may be associated to have the company IT/IS lose some security and integrity and make it vulnerable.

Resources:
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-30/sp800-30.pdf

http://csrc.nist.gov/roi/wksps0603-notes/Risk-Handout.pdf

Wanted.!!

Just watched it (via online).!!! Its great.! Its not the usual action movie where a muscle bound guy or a cute super agent is the main character. I'm not saying that James McAvoy isn't handsome, he just doesn't appeal to me that much. But he's still a cutie though, just didn't like him saying F*** in the movie almost for nth times. Thinking back, its his role so he's suppose to say it. hahaha..

Anyways, I give a nine out of ten. I really idolized Angelina especially when she smiles because she looks pretty and devious at the same time(just like me.!).!! When I was a kid, my dream is to be an assassin. The one whose born with a natural talent to use the sword and to shoot a gun. Maybe that's why I was really interested in watching the movie. I kinda relate with the main character.

The story is about a guy, a loser to be specific. He can't stand for himself and he's this jumpy, cheesy, clumsy guy who wants to know who he really is. He doesn't have amnesia but he grew up not knowing a father who can teach him about life. He feels pathetic all the time and he wants to change his way of life. He works in an office where a b****y woman keeps insulting and pissing himoff, hi girlfriend is cheating on him and worse, his girlfriend is cheating him over his best friend.

He later found out that his father was killed by an assassin. He is taken into custody by Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. He founds out that he is good in shooting and he is now being molded to be a great assassin.

He then kills a lot of men that was said to be an order of fate. Later on as he hunts down for the person who killed his father, he killed his fellow assassin who has been nice to him and then he killed the guy who murdered his dad. Unfortunately, the one who was said to be the murderer of his father is his real dad. The group who took him just lied to him so that they can use him as a bait for his dad.

He sets for revenge and killed all the other assassins in his old organization. Fox (Angelina) killed the other two remaining assassins including herself when she found out that they were just tricked by Morgan Freeman's character. Its a kind of self repentance, I guess. The ending was fun because he used the technique or plan of which his dad used in killing other targets.

Hmmm.. I think he finally found his purpose in life is or to who he really is in the end of the movie.

Lesson learned: We should have the courage to go out our comfort zones and test our limits to make ourselves a better person. And maybe in the end, we can finally say that we made out the best in life and we finally found the things that we were looking for.

Obstacles in IT/IS

Their are a lot of obstacles that stand in the way of IT/IS. A lot of it actually that's why it is separated into several sectors. It just a matter of what obstacle you want to know. The major divisions I saw were: technical resource problems, physical resource problems, human resource problems, communication problems financial problems, operational problems and psychological problems. Since there's too many I will just list down some of it, focusing a bit more on the technical problems.

a. Need for modern information systems resources.
b. Difficulties in setting up information programme.
c. Data processing difficulties
d. Technical constraints to reproducing or copying documents
e. Decoding statistics collected and the structure of statistical reporting
f. Time factor in the collection and updating of information
g. Need for qualitative aspects of information
h.Need for funds for processing, printing and dissemination of information

From what I read, the barriers of IT/IS are more on data collection and management. Data collection for developing systems are the hardest and most complex part in the whole process. Its the most tedious yet important part because it tells us what the system should be, and what is its scope and limitations.

Financial problems is also a huge obstacle for it gives us a passage to acquire certain resources we need. It can be a problem if we only have limited resources to work with.

Time can also be considered as a barrier since it gives us limitations that we must follow. Such limitations can affect the developing process and the output.

Limited Resources, as mentioned in the financial problem also creates its own obstacle for IT/IS.

Resources:
http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/erd/english/wgesa/doc/ethiopia/appendice_2.htm

The Incredible Hulk

I saw the movie a few weeks before I wrote this post up. I wrote it this late because I was cramming about my report and stuff. Well, I watched the movie thanks to a friend of mine who gave me a movie pass. To Vanessa, this post is for you. hahaha.. thanks. PS., I watched this movie alone. huhuhu how sad.!

Oh well, I didn't had the chance to watch the first Incredible Hulk movie but I know how the story ran. I heard a lot of good reviews about this movie so I decided to watch it. Hmmm.. What I love of this movie is that Edward Norton is now the one who got the role as Hulk. I saw the pictures of the first guy who got the role in the first movie and he is totally not as handsome and fun as Edward Norton. His piercing blue eyes can really pierce you through, but when he turns to the hulk and his eyes turns to green it can still pierce you through.


About the movie.. it was great. Maybe an eight out of a ten. The effects were fantastic. The action scenes were amazing and the love story was just "kilig". I love the way Liv Taylor acted there by the way.

The movie started off in Brazil, where "Bruce" was hiding. It was a place where people fugitives like him would consider as a paradise. Over a 150 million people live there, it would be totally impossible to find a person there if one doesn't have enough resources. Well, a well trained unit was sent to Brazil when a tip about whereabouts of Bruce was given to the US Military Unit. An exhilirating run and chase in the outskirts of Brazil from the military unit and the on the hunt Bruce lead him to change into the hulk. When he was discovered he decides to go back to Manhattan where it all began. He found his ex-girlfriend there and reunited with her. Yet the father of the girl who in the same time is the one hunting the hulk made ways to capture Bruce which later lead on to the sending a squadron in full combat gear to a university where Bruce was last seen. The fight there was really amazing due to the top of the notch special effects. After that, Bruce and his girlfriend were being hunted by everyone and finally Bruce decided to meet with a chat friend of his who said that he maybe able to cure him. He went there but after the said "treatment", the leader of the assault team got them and locked him in a plane. This assault leader, hungry for power forced Bruce's chat friend to turn him into a creature more powerful than the hulk. Thus, the Abomination was created. He started rampaging on the streets and killing innocent civilians and destroying anything on this path.

Bruce decided to jump on the plane and turn as the Hulk to defeat the Abomination. He almost died because he was unalbe to transform at first. He got up and a fight between two powerful titans began. In this part, one can say that the will to succeed and love made the hulk win over his oponent. Even after the good that he did, Bruce(the hulk) decided to run away again. But this time it is for the purpose to control the monster inside him. To mold the hulk into something like him and not live on anger and help the innocent. Just like a true superhero.!!

Amazing fact: Robert Downing Jr. who played as IronMan was in the movie announcing that "they " will form a group. On what the said group will be, we will have to wait for it for a while. As for the Marvel comic fans, I konw you already know the answer, I guess we just have to wait for it in the cinemas.!!!

Pictures Galore.!!!

MIS COMPANY PHOTO ALBUM:
Click this link: http://alcatraz05.blogs.friendster.com/photos/mis/



HRM COMPANY PHOTO ALBUM:
Click this link: http://alcatraz05.blogs.friendster.com/photos/hrm/

MIS: Company Visit

If you have read my Company Hunting post, you could remember that we were looking for potential companies to adopt. We were looking for two companies, one for our HRM and one for our MIS. We decided to take MTC Academy as our chosen company for our MIS, and we gave them a letter of request. Sadly or fortunately, they declined our request. I used the term "sadly" because its quite nerving to be declined because you have to find other companies and make another letter and we have to run around our campus to make our professors sign our letter. Its quite a hassle really, but I also used the term "fortunately" because if they didn't turn us down, we wouldn't have asked Davao Light and Power Co. as our MIS adopted company

We passed our letter of request to them last July 3, 2008 and we directed it to the AVP of Information Systems of the said corporation, Mr. Lemuel Quilos. It was raining hard that afternoon and we looked like a couple of shivering nad wet chickens. We were soaked wet, our hair was a mess, WE were a Mess. So we were so ashamed as we entered the premises. We went directly to Mr. Quilos' office and we saw him there, almost leaving actually

After we introduced ourselves and our purpose, we handed him our letter and he was a bit shocked when he saw the name of our instructor was a colleague of his. I think it was one of the reasons why he accepted our request at the first place.

He told us to give him our number and email ads so that he can send us the time and place of our interview. The next day, I received an email for Mr. Quilos saying that we will have our meeting this July 05,2008 at 10:00 am in their ISG Conference Room.
My groupmates and I, with our friend and photographer for that day, Kate arrived there at 9:45 am and we went directly to the conference room. After a few minutes, Mr. John Albutra, the head of the Business Solutions in the IS department introduced himself as our mentor.

After asking him questions about our report, he showed us a presentation about the growth of IS in the world and in Davao Light and Power Co. It was a really complex presentation with the network infrastructure of the company. All routers, software houses, oracle and other complex terms froze my brain, my body was also freezing because the aircon was really at its coldest temperature.. hahaha! But, all of that we weren't really minding it all because Sir John was really a cool person to talk with. He jokes a lot and uses funny comments to relate in our discussion to make us understand better. After that he toured us in the whole IS department namely in the Network Infrastructure, Engineering Information, Data Management and Business Solution(where he is the head/administrator). All the people there were really friendly to us especially in the Business Solutions and in the Billing Department.

We really had a good time because the learning experience there was fun. They allowed us to go inside their restricted areas and a lot of boys there were really cute. hahaha


If you want to see our pictures when we were there just go to this website or simply click this link.!! http://alcatraz05.blogs.friendster.com/photos/mis/

Best practices in IT/IS

I was searching the net for a few hours already and I can't find any other clear source for this topic than the website where the other students who posted before me, got the basis for their answer. So just a foreword, I used as the basis for my reply to this topic. http://www.portlandonline.com/auditor/index.cfm?a=13026&c=27102

Anyways, I found 23 best practices when it comes to information systems. But I will just site the top 5 best practices (according to myself).

5. Know your business processes.

Why? It’s the first step in creating systems. Knowing the business processes in and out can enable the developer to create a system that would be an asset to the company. What I am trying to say is that if the developer knows the business processes well, he can devise a plan that will be of much use and effective.

4. Insist on thorough data collection and documentation.

Why? Collecting data for the requirements of the system is an essential part. In more complex systems when even a single piece of data is incorrect or not collected, it can result to system failure or the output becomes inconsistent or incorrect.

3. Prepare a system implementation plan early.

By doing so, the system will be made much faster. Also, a clear, direct plan on what the system would be can lessen time and effort. There will be clear lists to what data needs to be collected or what resources will be used.

2. Involve users early and often.

Why? Because the users or entities aren't knowledgeable or in tune with what are the capabilities and characteristics of the system. Involving the users in making or testing the system may lessen or totally zero out the possibility of such failure to occur. And an additional factor is that the system would be used at its best features and capability.

1. Test.

Testing not only once but a couple of times can make a more efficient system. Why? Because, certain logical errors can be traced or certain "touch-ups" to make the system much effective can be done. One can see the strength and weakness of the system by continuously checking and testing it.

What's your element.?: An HRM special Part 2

"What's your element.?", is a question Sir Llano asked us when we asked him to give us a some questions that he asks on his applicants. Actually, he asked the same question in our first official visit. He told us that he can derive the character of a person just by asking the said question.

I answered, " Earth". While, three of my group mates picked, "Air" while the other answered "Water". Sir Llano said that the interpretation of EARTH is that, the person is humble and hard-working. She has a direct and through plan to do things and finish it at the arranged time. They are ideal workers. (Wheeew, I love being an Earth element.! Its really me.) Air means that the person is ambitious and loves to travel to places. He/she loves freedom and doesn't like being confined to a place. Water, means always flowing. He/she is calm and always on the go. Even though no one picked FIRE, Sir Llano still interpreted it. He said that FIRE people are passion driven entities. They have a set their minds to a certain goal and are doing everything to make their dreams to come true.

After, the element segment, we asked questions pertaining to our reports. Sir Llano's answers are directed below.

Job Analysis

• process of determining and reporting pertinent information relating to the nature of the job. Mr. Llano explained to us, that the information gathered from job analysis is useful to a company for a number of applications including to define a job description, writing a job description, creating performance appraisals, selection and promotion, training needs assessment, compensation and organizational analysis/planning.

Job Design

• process of structuring work and designating the specific work activities of an individual or group of individuals to achieve certain organizational objectives. As what I understood about this, it is merely about the design of the job. Thus, this addresses to the questions to how the job will be performed, who would perform it and where is it to be performed.

Job Description

• focuses on the job. It explains what the job is and what the duties, responsibilities, and general working conditions. The difference between a job description is merely about job while job design encompasses both the job and the person who would perform it.

Job Specification

• concentrates on the characteristics to perform the job. It describes the qualifications the incumbent must posses to perform the job. Typically, the qualifications includes the degree of education, desirable amount of previous experience in similar work, specific skills required and health considerations.

Performance Evaluation

• evaluates the person on the job that he is doing. How efficient he is in his job and what is his character while on the job. Example, is he always punctual or is he friendly to the customers or does he collect the quota that is expected from him.

Job Evaluation

• systematic determination of the value of each job in relation to other jobs in the organization. I learned that job evaluation establishes the basis for an internal ranking of jobs where jobs are taken as a whole and ranked against each other. This also established the so-called Job Grading where points are given to various aspects of the job such as the educational and skills required to perform the job. Such process consistently place job requiring more of the factors at a higher level in the job hierarchy than that of jobs that require fewer factors. Thus, an important concept of Job Evaluation is that the evaluation is conducted of the job, not the Person doing the job.

HRM: Company Visit 2

We had our second visit to LYR Marketing and Furniture Center last June 30,2008. Since we have a class that ended at 5:00 pm, we thought to go to the said company to ask for an apology to Mr.Llano because we didn't arrive on time for our scheduled interview, and to ask if we could reschedule it this July 5.

Fortunately, Sir Llano told us that he understood our situation and agreed to entertain us this July 5. But before we left, he gave us three papers that he made and compiled himself. He said that the papers may help us in the class sharing and in our report. The following papers comprised of an sample of an appraisal, the organizational chart or flow of authority in their company and a brief discussion about job description and analysis.

Just click the ff. links below to view what Mr.Llano gave us.

Appraisal Page
Appraisal Page 1
Appraisal Page 2

JoB Description
page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5

LYR Organization Chart
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5

Reasons of IS/IT system failures.!

As I searched the net, I found out the causes of IT/IS systems failure are the following:

POOR DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES.
It means that the creator have faults in testing the program or he made some incorrect assumptions that were used in making the system or that there is poor data collection and documentation or that the system made has a poor user interface. The person who is developing the system is the one at fault in this type of failure for he is the one who is accountable for creating and maintaining the system.

INCORRECT ASSUMPTIONS WITH REGARDS TO SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.
This type of failure holds the developer or the user accountable. Data is the most important factor in making systems for it is the basis for what the system does or what are its limits and requirements. Having incorrect data through making assumptions without clear outputs and using it in the system can lead to an ineffective system.

POOR USER INTERFACE .
Such failure can create a problem for the user of the system and therefore the chances of the user to input an incorrect data or receive an erroneous output.

FAULTY/AGING HARDWARE.
Its a problem that can create a grave system malfunction. This problem is caused by damaged or old or a badly designed hardware or by the user, who does not have enough resources needed to make the system effective.

END USER OR ENTITY PROBLEMS.
Basically if the user lacks training/knowledge in using a system, one can assume that he may have provided erroneous specifications and incorrect data thus creating an inefficient system.

POOR FIT BETWEEN SYSTEMS AND ORGANIZATION.
This problem comes about when neither the system developer or the user, grasp the idea of the system that they need to deal with.

POOR INVESTIGATION AND SYSTEM WITHOUT CHECKPOINTS.
Such problems can also result to failure because it means that the developer executed a wrong analysis in creating the system or didn't provide for back-ups or checkpoints for the system can result to an inefficient software.

Lastly, other external reasons such as Natural disaster (e.g., fires, floods, storms, or earthquakes) and electrical power variation while creating/ testing/ using the system can also result to the failure of the system processes.

Reference Sites:
http://www.benmeadowcroft.com/reports/systemfailure/

http://web.njit.edu/~turoff/coursenotes/IS679/679newset4/679set4/sld064.htm

..HumaN ResourCe: An Overview..

“Human beings are the most important, potent, and critical resource if any organization yet the least understood and the worst managed of its own resources.”

Man was created a dreamer: sculpted for towering ambitions and colossal aspirations. He is endowed with conscience and knowledge of good and evil, equipped with exceptional artistry, dexterity and talent. God gave the reason to cherish and relish his life to the fullest, to live in His presence with a community of harmony.

Man is genuinely the most important and potent factor in a fast, developing company and economy. For he/she is the basis of it all. He is the one who render the services an organization offers. He can manufacture any goods, or cook any food for a wedding reception, build houses, offices and large scale buildings for the organization, wields metals and precious gems into fine jewelry or he can make a program any software that can solve a complex equation with just a push of a button. Thus, human beings can virtually do everything and anything needed in a community. He is main building block or foundation of a business, for without man power no enterprise or institution can ever exists.

Yet, they are also the least understood especially when compared to a fully automated machine. A machine has no thoughts, no feelings and can work 24/7 without complaints on salary or about a company's crooked "benefits".Human beings need the right salaries, benefits and must be handled with respect, no matter what is his stature in life. He just can be oiled and cleaned like machines. He can get sick, he can choose to take a leave for a family reunion than work the whole day or she can take a maternity leave and leave all her work pilled up. We are working people yet we are also living a life outside the doors of our colossal offices.

Man, in spite of his knowledge, also needs to be taught, to be enhanced by his community and in his working place for him to be fully functional and useful for the company. Some companies forget to guide its employees in their development, thus the company tend to mismanage their "asset's resources".

Human beings have needs and rights that are sometimes overlooked by companies or institutions. When such needs and rights are trespassed, human beings tend to go on strikes or complain to the company owners. At these times, they are thought as pests who tarnishes the company's name and the people who were once called the company's assets are now called "liabilities".

Learning is unlearning: An HRM Special

If you read my "HRM: Company Visit Part 1", you would know that this is the entry where is would right down a detailed summary of what Mr. Carlito S. Llano, the HR manager in LYR Marketing and Furniture Center taught us, in our first visit.

Acquisition of human resources

Before the any company began there are already some constraints that have been written down. Aside form what services do the company offers, one of the factors is what positions are needed to be filled/ available and how many employees must the company have.

In Hiring People, the company:

• Determines the key positions

• Determines the need of the company

• Determines the need of the people

• 
  

“Business need says what characteristics are needed by the organization from their applicants, what jobs/positions are needed to be filled or how many employees does the company needs.” says Mr. Llano.

In LYR the preliminary characteristics they search for in an employee are the ff:

• Honest

• Loyal

• Diligent

• Obedient

• Patient

• Accommodating

• Cheerful

• Knowledgeable in mathematics

In Recruiting for employees, our adopted company executes the ff. steps to gather new applicants:

• Disseminate the information through pamphlets and posters

• Goes to school/university campuses

• Spreading the information through friends, family and colleagues asking for referrals

After gathering applicants, they test their applicants’ in terms of:

• Mathematics (simple MDAS)

• IQ (state of mind)

• Personality (state of character)

• Interview with the HR manager

• And sometimes, computer typing tests for those jobs that require the said skill

According to Sir Carlito, there are two types of tests that he applies during applicants IQ test: First, is the standardized test. Standardized test are the so-called universal questionnaires, those that have been a “trademark” test questions that are used not only by their company but also by the other companies worldwide. Second, is the Non-standardized test that he made for the company’s use only. In this test, he tests if the applicants have the key points needed by LYR Company. Non –standardized tests have two types, namely the projective and objective. Projective are those subjective types of exams, an example is an essay exam. While objective test has a clear and defined answer, an example of which is an enumeration quiz.

If an applicant passed all test, then the company does a background check on the applicant. The purpose for this is to make sure that an employee does symbolize the characteristics that the company embodies.

If the applicant is deemed an asset to the company, he is then first oriented by the HR manager of the rules and regulations of the company and then he is handed to his supervisor, who will then orient him with what is his duties, responsibilities, accountabilities and will mentor him at his first few days in work.

TRANING

Training as defined by Sir Carlito, is an actual need. It needs analysis, training design based on the training needs.

Why is training needed?

• Lack of knowledge

• Deficiency in performance

• New technology

There are a lot of training methodologies but LYR chose Monitoring and Mentoring as there main training method.

Sample: If one of the collectors in LYR, have failed the reach quota he is expected to, a few times already, he will be then accompanied by someone more experienced in the company or by a senior and retrain him.

Two types of Training:

• Development: Acquiring knowledge

• Enhancement: enriching skills which are already there but only minimal.

DEVELOPMENT

"Learning is unlearning.", Mr.Carlito Llano replied when we asked him on what is his opinion should be done first when you want to develop an employees skills. He said that in order to enhance a person's knowledge and skills, one must first unlearn or take away all his habits and knowledge for that certain skill, so that he may incorporate new methods and new habits. It doesn't really mean that a person should throw all those past knowledge away but he should forget it only for a time for him to gather new knowledge and later integrate it with his old thoughts.

Training=development

LYR trains people to develop themselves in terms of KASH.

• K == Knowledge

• A == Attitude

• S == Skills

• H == Habits

Performance Appraisal

The HR manager is the one who does the appraisals. Mr.Llano gave us a copy of a document that informs on how does LYR executes the performance appraisals of the company.

Collective Bargaining

Mr. Llano told us that collective bargaining refers to unionized companies. But he couldn't elaborate more on the topic for LYR Co. isn't a unionized company. Yet, he gave use examples and its advantages and disadvantages.
One of its the advantages, is that a formulating a payroll system will be easier and that the company human resource is organized.
Its disadvantages however includes, that if in case an employee is to be told off or suspended or dismissed it has to go on a certain process that the union approves of or else the union may decide to go on "welgas" that can tarnish the name of the company and decrease its profits.

HRM: Company Visit 1

After our company hunting, we chose LYR to be our adopted company for our Human Resources Management subject. After weighing our chances among all the companies we visited and interviewed, we thought that LYR was the best choice because the people there were warm and welcoming us but the main reason for our decision was because of Mr.Carlito S. Llano. Those who have already read my "Company Hunting" post can remember that Sir Carlito was the HR Manager of LYR. He was very intellectual and experienced in his 32 years of studying all aspects of Human Resource Management so we thought that if we adopt the said company, he will be equipped with all the information that we need in our research.

And he proved us right.

In our first official visit, we saw an actual interview/screening process of the new applicants. After he interviewed all the applicants, he directly ushered us to sit in front of his table. He was very busy yet he chose to entertain us because he knows the purpose of our visit. As we sat down, we gave him the outline of our study and he started to give all the details listed on the outline.

The ff. are the topics that Sir Carlito taught us that day:

1. Acquisition of Human Resources

2. Training and Developing Employees

3. Performance Management and Appraisal

4. Compensating Employees

5. Collective Bargaining

In my next post which will be entitled "Learining is unlearning: An HRM Special", I will give a detailed summary on the topics above. All of those things said/posted in that entry is my own interpretation to what Mr.Llano have imparted to us.

To Mr. Llano and to all his staff who have been very helpful to us, we thank you very much. We hope your company continues to prosper.

HRM's purpose in BSIT

Managing human resource was established way before the creation of computers, and even way before the invention of light bulb.

The use of man power and managing it can be seen in all aspects of our history and in the present. We can see that long ago building pyramids needs a lot of human work force and are managed by the higher officials sent by the pharaoh. Yet, clearly at those times there wasn't a clear study about human resource management. As time goes by, a study on the said subject was made and its principles are used in all institutions whether it be a major corporation, a school or even by a small enterprise. It was late seen that human resource was a vital part in a growing economy.

But questions such as "why is there a need to study HRM in computer related courses?" or "What is its connection with computers or technology that a need to focus on it is created?". Other statements such as "Its much more related to business related courses and it should just stay there for it has no use in BSIT/BSCS students."

On the contrary, I believe that, we, computer based students should have a study on the matter for the reasons that it will help us be aware of what we will face after we graduate. In the few weeks that I have studied HRM, it taught me a lot of things that my university can't. It lead me to visit IT based companies that opened my eyes on what I want to be after I graduate. It gave me knowledge on what are the rights a worker has, how much pay he/she would receive, how a certain company operates, what skills and characteristics are being preferred by other corporations or on how to know what job would suit an individual best.

I think that it was for these reason why HRM was included in studying BSIT/BSCS courses. To teach the students not only about things that are in the direct relation with their chosen profession but also about things that they will have to go through in their working environment. It enables students to be aware of what the "outside world" would be and getting them ready for it.

Company Hunting

Last June 21,2008, my friends and I were frolicking in the locale where one can see corporations here and there. It was the day that we scheduled for our company hunting as a requirement of two of our major subjects this semester.

The day before, we were discussing who should go where, as five of us were in the same group. We decided that if we divide the group into two we can cover more grounds or in a literal term, we can visit more companies for the next day. As the day finally ended, the first group, comprised of Angel and Kate (the gogo-girls) are going to check out the companies in the Uyanguren area while the second group consisting of Vanessa, Karren and yours truly (demure chikas) will be checking out the establishments in the Quirino area. The reason for choosing such locations is that we can be able to visit the chosen corporations after our classes or even at our break or lunch time because it just a near ride away from the university that we are studying at.

A cloudy Saturday afternoon welcomed us the next day and as the clock chimed 1:00 pm, my group and I were already outside the MTC Academy. When we entered the said establishment, I saw a schoolmate namely Richard Daliba surfing the net. He told us to just ask the receptionist for the name of the owner of the academy, whom we will address our request to. MTC Academy, as my other friends would describe it, is the leading medical transcription center in the city. And it was for this reason we made the said company our number one choice. After we asked for the name of the owner, we left and ate snacks.

While on the Uyangyren area, Angel and Kate were immediately declined by the guard of Sutherland. He said that they aren't finished in building the all the departments of their company so they can't really entertain researchers at this early stage of their company. Because of this disapproval, Angel and Kate went to GCOM. They were told that the HR department of the said establishment is located in Manila, so if they want to continue the research they will have to leave a letter yet it will not ensure the cooperation of the company.

We all decided to meet each other at Gaisano Mall to have our snacks and talk about what we went through all day. As we sat down and ate, we listed other companies that we would visit.
Having are stomachs filled, we were again ready for the long walks and talks with our prospective companies. We went inside Metro Plaza, the one in front of Gaisano Mall. We asked the guard if they have an HR department but sadly (or should I say hilariously), he said that they only sell flat screen TV's and not HR whatever. From the mall, we walked (gas is high, so is the fare.. hahaha) towards LYR in Acacia. We went directly to their HR Manager, Mr. Carlito Llano. He was very busy that time so we thought that he can't entertain us. But after a few moments, he asked us on our purpose in going to LYR. When we said we need a company to as a subject for our study in our Human Resource Management subject, he became enthusiastic and started to tell us that he could be of service. Not only is he an HR manager in LYR, he is also a tutor about human resource. He even conducts seminars about it, so he agreed to have us as his students.
And at that very instant he started teaching us about what an HR manager does, how their company operates and what are the definition of a job analysis and job design. When we left we were already decided to make LYR our chosen company. Yet, we also tried to go to PLDT, sadly because it was a Saturday, no one was there to entertains. So we went to People's Park to relax.
It was the end of our day and we were quite satisfied on how things went.

What would 21st Corporations be like.??

Technically, we are already in the 21st century. From what I know, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, the 21st century began on January 1, 2001 and will end December 31, 2100.

From what I have observed in the companies existing today, most of them are already in tuned with the latest advances in technology and are now applying it into their corporations.

With the way technology evolves, "an overnight sensation", as others may state it, I really don't have a clear picture how such changes can affect corporations, schools, the people and the world in the next coming years.

When people talk about the future or on how would the world or the corporations would change in the next few years, they have a common assumption that people will be wearing plastic made jumpsuits for work or that they will be driving airborne cars. In my own mind's eye, I think that throughout the 21st century corporations will have to reduce man power in some sectors of their company. Manpower becomes obsolete when compared to a fully automated machines.

Example, when we talk about manufacturing companies whether it be a sardine, canned goods or even dress manufacturing companies, instead of employing people into their factories, the owners would rather use computers and technology that could execute the work needed. A few years from now, machines like that could be built so I believe that what I wrote about above is possible.

Questions like "Will the unemployment rate go up?" or "what will happen to human resource then" (just like what Jade have stated) will be brought up. I firmly believe that yes, the unemployment rate will go up but human resource will still be a vital part of every organization. Human resource has already been tested through time. No matter how advance the technology is, no matter how big, and advance the companies will be, human resource will still be there, growing stronger. As time and technology changes, the workers adapts to each of this changes and learns for it. Like today, a lot of people are already knowledgeable in manipulating computers and other devices. I think that the rate of people who will be "literate" in the world of computers will grow even larger everyday.

Machines may replace humans in other areas in labor yet humans have already proven that they are the best technology ever built. Adaptive to change and always developing. Machines can never replace man power in terms of customer service and even in programming softwares for such machines.

As a summary, I believe that throughout the 21st century, corporations will be using advanced technology and yet empowering their human resource.