Information Technology & People (Business)

Today's rapid growth in information technology has occurred without a full understanding of the human consequences of its use—on individuals, on organizations, and on society as a whole. As a result, initial expectations have frequently not been met, and a backlash has developed. Clearly a more realistic approach to information technology is needed, and applied psychology can offer great help in this effort.



For me it is important, that the information technology will change a lot in our society:

• What kind of public services can be expected?
• How do we protect our consumer? 

We need to discuss quite a lot of issues.  Also, we need to work with the designs of IT-products today. They must be accessible to all.  In fact, a lot of us experience a huge gap between what we want to do with the technology and what we are able to.  Therefore, I will arrange a "universal design competition" for Danish designers this year.  I want to stimulate architects and designers to design IT-products for all of us. That is what is in focus of the Danish way of life. 

So far, I have had only positive reactions. The information technology has made it possible to make a lot of new services available for people. They must - of course - be accessible to everyone. And I believe they will.  But today we still need special services for people with special needs.  For instance within my field, deaf people or people hard of hearing need a compensation for the ordinary telephone service. That is a political wish.  In the near future, and over a period of two years, the Danish telecommunications operator, Tele Danmark, will install their new upgraded text telephones for deaf subscribers, I hope.  And at the same time, an Internet connection will be established. 

I firmly believe, that the future communication line will be the Internet.  Already, the Internet has opened a door of communication for a lot of people.  Once I heard of an old retired professor saying: "I keep myself going using the Internet. Here nobody looks at me as an 80 year old man - here we are all the same."  For me the example shows, that if we dare to use the new technology, we surely have a lot to gain.

• A better use of human resources
• A better sense of communication for all
• A better future

http://www.ifhoh.org/papers/hilden.htm



Benefits of Working in IT - Career Advice by Kamil

What are the benefits of working in IT field? I'm sure that there must be someone curious about it. Let us viewing this video... Maybe we can get the answer from here!!!

From Information Technology (IT) To Business Technology (BT)

Nowadays, information technology has becoming more and more important in our daily life. In doing business, we can use internet as one of our marketing channel. This video would like to share with us against some of its personal view towards IT business. Internet is a huge market and provide us such great opportunities. We have to grab this opportunity and follow current trend in earning unlimited income.... wahaha!!!

How to Cope with Information Technology Outsourcing Nowadays

IT workers in the U.S. are already witnessing some impacts of IT outsourcing, but the future impacts will possibly be even greater. What can you do to prepare? Consider the following ideas.

• Don't Panic - The prospect of job searches or career changes can be quite stressful to Information Technology workers. IT students may understandably begin to question their choice of career. However, the more stress and worry a person takes on, paradoxically the more difficult it becomes to successfully reach their career goals.
  
• Don't Wait for The Upturn - So-called experts predicted a sharp upturn in the U.S. economy and increase in IT jobs for several years, that largely did not happen. Expect that IT will operate in the current climate with respect to outsourcing for the foreseeable future.
  
• Become a Generalist - Years ago in Information Technology, specialization was king. Those with the heaviest technical backgrounds and loftiest job titles, like Enterprise Architects, commanded the highest salaries. Nowadays, a person is much better positioned if they are skilled in multiple areas of both technology and the business side of IT. Flexibility is king.
  
• Look to Smaller Organizations - Fortune 500 companies will primarily pursue offshoring ventures but smaller firms less so. Outsourcing creates a substantial amount of overhead before the gains kick in, and small companies can't afford to pay that price for the foreseeable future.
  
• Start Your Own Business - Uncertain economic times, and occasions of industry change, are often the best ones for starting a new business, due to lower prices for capital, less competition, and the natural emergence of big new market opportunities. All it takes is an entrepenurial attitude and a few good ideas.

Above all, whatever your chosen career path, strive to find happiness in your work. Don't fear the ongoing change in Information Technology just because others are afraid. Control your own destiny.


http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/careersjobs/a/career_outsourc.htm

We Appreciate

IT is the area of managing technology and spans wide variety of areas that include but are not limited to things such as processes, computer software, information systems, computer hardware, programming languages, and data constructs. In short, anything that renders data, information or perceived knowledge in any visual format whatsoever, via any multimedia distribution mechanism, is considered part of the domain space known as Information Technology (IT).

IT professionals perform a variety of functions (IT Disciplines/Competencies) that range from installing applications to designing complex computer networks and information databases. A few of the duties that IT professionals perform may include data management, networking, engineering computer hardware, database and software design, as well as management and administration of entire systems. Information technology is starting to spread further than the conventional personal computer and network technology, and more into integrations of other technologies such as the use of cell phones, televisions, automobiles, and more, which is increasing the demand for such jobs.

In short, we would like to say thanks for our lecturer - Dr. Sharin Hazlin Huspi. After taking this course, we learn a lot of knowledge about IT and we know that these knowledge would help us in the future days while we graduate. Thanks a lot.  

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DO UNTIL & DO WHILE

Do...Loop enables the script to continue to perform certain actions until a specific condition occurs. Do While...Loop enables your script to continue to perform these actions as long as the specified condition remains true. Once the specified condition is no longer true, Do While...Loop exits. In contrast, Do Until...Loop has the opposite effect the script continues to perform the action until a certain condition is met.

Here are common uses of Do Until:

• Read text from a file
• Read through records in a record set
• Create a looping condition for monitoring purposes

The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, except that the test condition occurs at the end of the loop.  Having the test condition at the end, guarantees that the body of the loop always executes at least one time.

The do-while loop is an exit-condition loop.  This means that the body of the loop is always executed first.  Then, the test condition is evaluated.  If the test condition is true, the program executes the body of the loop again.  If the test condition is false, the loop terminates and program execution continues with the statement following the while.

http://mathbits.com/mathbits/compsci/looping/dowhile.htm

http://vbscript.org.ua/0735622973/ch02lev1sec5.html 

PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE C++ SOFTWARE

A C++ program is a text file containing a sequence of C++ commands put together according to the laws of C++ grammar. This text file is known as the source file . A C++ source file carries the extension .CPP just as a Microsoft Word file ends in .DOC or an MS-DOS batch file ends in .BAT. The concept extension .CPP is just a convention, but it's used almost exclusively in the PC world.

The point of programming is to write a sequence of C++ commands that can be converted into a machine language program that does whatever it is that you want done. Such machine executable programs carry the extension .EXE. The act of creating an executable program from a C++ program is called compiling (or building — there is a difference, but it's small).

To write a program, you need two things: an editor to build your .CPP source file with and a program that converts your source file into a machine executable .EXE file to carry out your commands. The tool that does the conversion is known as a compiler.

Nowadays, tool developers generally combine the compiler with an editor into a single work-environment package. After entering your program, you need only click a button to create the executable file.

The most popular of all C++ environments is Microsoft's Visual C++, but the software is expensive. Fortunately, there are public domain C++ environments — the most popular of which is GNU C++. (Pronounce GNU like this: guh NEW). You can download public domain programs from the Internet. Some of these programs are not free — you are either encouraged to or required to pay some usually small fee. You do not have to pay to use GNU C++.

GNU stands for the circular definition "GNU is Not UNIX." This joke goes way back to the early days of C++ — just accept it as is. GNU is a series of tools built by the Free Software Foundation.

GNU C++ is not some bug-ridden, limited edition C++ compiler from some fly-by-night group of developers. GNU C++ is a full-fledged C++ environment. GNU C++ supports the entire C++ language and executes all C++ programs.

GNU C++ is not a Windows development package for the Windows environment. You'll have to break open the wallet and go for a commercial package like Visual C++.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/an-introduction-to-c.html

PROGRAM CODING

It is important to remember program coding is not the first step of programming. Too often we have a tendency to start coding too soon. As we just discussed, a great deal of planning and preparation must be done before sitting down to code the computer instructions to solve a problem. For the example amortization problem (fig. 3-6), we have analyzed the specifications in terms of (1) the output desired; (2) the operations and procedures required to produce the output; and (3) the input data needed. In conjunction with this analysis, we have developed a programming flowchart that outlines the procedures for taking the input data and processing it into usable output. You are now ready to code the instructions that will control the computer during processing. This requires that you know a programming language.

All programming languages, FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC and so on, are composed of instructions that enable the computer to process a particular application, or perform a particular function.

Instructions

The instruction is the fundamental element in program preparation. Like a sentence, an instruction consists of a subject and a predicate. However, the subject is usually not specifically mentioned; rather it is some implied part of the computer system directed to execute the command that is given. For example, the chief tells a sailor to "dump the trash." The sailor will interpret this instruction correctly even though the subject "you" is omitted. Similarly, if the computer is told to "ADD 1234," the control section may interpret this to mean that the arithmetic-logic section is to add the contents of address 1234 to the contents of the accumulator (a register in which the result of an operation is formed).

In addition to an implied subject, every computer instruction has an explicit predicate consisting of at least two parts. The first part is referred to as the command, or operation; it answers the question "what?" It tells the computer what operation it is to perform; i.e., read, print, input. Each machine has a limited number of built-in operations that it is capable of executing. An operation code is used to communicate the programmer's intent to the computer.

The second specific part of the predicate, known as the operand, names the object of the operation. In general, the operand answers the question "where?." Operands may indicate the following:

• The location where data to be processed is found.
• The location where the result of processing is to be stored.
• The location where the next instruction to be executed is found. (When this type of operand is not specified, the instructions are executed in sequence.)

The number of operands and the structure or format of the instructions vary from one computer to another. However, the operation always comes first in the instruction and is followed by the operand(s). The programmer must prepare instructions according to the format required by the language and the computer to be used. 

http://www.tpub.com/neets/book22/93d.htm

SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE PROCESS

This section describes the six software maintenance processes as:

1. The implementation processes contains software preparation and transition activities, such as the conception and creation of the maintenance plan, the preparation for handling problems identified during development, and the follow-up on product configuration management.
2. The problem and modification analysis process, which is executed once the application has become the responsibility of the maintenance group. The maintenance programmer must analyze each request, confirm it (by reproducing the situation) and check its validity, investigate it and propose a solution, document the request and the solution proposal, and, finally, obtain all the required authorizations to apply the modifications.
3. The process considering the implementation of the modification itself.
4. The process acceptance of the modification, by confirming the modified work with the individual who submitted the request in order to make sure the modification provided a solution.
5. The migration process (platform migration, for example) is exceptional, and is not part of daily maintenance tasks. If the software must be ported to another platform without any change in functionality, this process will be used and a maintenance project team is likely to be assigned to this task.
6. Finally, the last maintenance process, also an event which does not occur on a daily basis, is the retirement of a piece of software.

There are a number of processes, activities and practices that are unique to maintainers, for example:

• Transition: a controlled and coordinated sequence of activities during which a system is transferred progressively from the developer to the maintainer;
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and specialized (domain-specific) maintenance contracts negotiated by maintainers;
• Modification Request and Problem Report Help Desk: a problem-handling process used by maintainers to prioritize, documents and route the requests they receive;
• Modification Request acceptance/rejection: modification request work over a certain size/effort/complexity may be rejected by maintainers and rerouted to a developer.   
•  

C Programming Language Introduction

Before we start designing our own program, we must know the programming language. Here, this video show us about each meaning of the programming language and how to use them. For example, what stands for br, var50 and so on.

Reasons to learn the R Programming Language

Why should we learn programming language??? Dr Courtney Brown would like to tell us the reason with his personal view against this issue. Definitely, programming language is very useful when we wanna design a program. Let us listen to him...

Software Design

Hey, this guy is going to share his own point in software designing... Let's see how do it and improve our knowledge... This guy has a lot of experience in this field. Share with all guys and girls who has interest with IT software designing..... ^^

FIVE STEPS OFf PROGRAMMING

1. Clarify Programming Needs

• Clarify objectives and users
• Clarify desired outputs
• Clarify desired inputs
• Clarify desired processing
• Double - check feasibility of implementing the program
• Document the analysis

2. Design the Program

• Determine program logic through top down approach and modularization, using a hierarchy chart
• Design details using procedure and/or flowcharts, preferably involving control structure. 

3. Code the Program

• Select the appropriate high-level programming language
• Code the program in that language following the syntax carefully 

4. Test the Program

• Alpha testing is the process of reading through the program in search of errors in logic. The second step is to run a diagnostic program to search for syntax or input errors.
• Beta testing involves using the program in the real world to see if it contains any bugs or other deficiency

5. Document and Maintain

• Write user documentation
• Write operator documentation
• Write programmer documentation
• Maintain the program 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_five_steps_in_programming

RAD (Rapid Application Development)

~ RAD refers to a systems development process designed to provide much faster development and high quality results at a lower cost than SAD.

RAD = Speed + Quality + Lower Cost

 

~ Quality in system development means meeting the true business requirements as effectively as possible at the time the system comes into operation.

 

~ Types of RAD

–I-CASE (Martin)

–Code generators

–4GLs (OASIS)

–Prototyping tools (VB and Access)

In all cases, small teams are an important feature :

•Flexible: Fully adaptable to circumstances

•Computerized: Minimizes manual work

•Non-bureaucratic: assumes developers are intelligent and creative

•Understandable: Makes good sense to developers and users alike

•Involves learning: both developers and users are constantly learning during development process

•Quote: "The last act of a dying regime is to create a vast, unchangeable procedures manual!"

 

 

How to draw a process flow diagram

Yoh, everyone... how to draw a process flow diagram??? let's see this video and get some knowledge from it. That will be very interesting^^
By using specific software, the video had show us step by step... Everyone can learn within 1 hours, hehe~

System Repair Engineer (SREng) Diagnostic, Maintenance Software Tool by ...

~Learn something about system diagnostic and maintenance by viewing this video^^
~there has several procedure which you have to follow in order to repair the system successfully...
~To acquire this skill, you have be patient and take some time.
~This is quite complicated for the beginning till the end of the process.

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE & MANAGEMENT

System maintenance and management are essential parts of managing these risks. Many IT suppliers can monitor problems remotely and take action to prevent a system failure.

Many different types of maintenance contract are available. Most are on-site contracts where an engineer comes to your premises to fix the problem. However, some contracts still operate on a return-to-depot basis where you are required to return the equipment for repair. Costs vary considerably depending on the minimum response time and working hours you need.

Contracts may seem expensive, particularly for standard PCs and peripherals with extended on-site warranties. After assessing the risks, you may decide not to get a maintenance contract and simply hold spares or purchase new parts when necessary.

But the value of a contract is that someone else takes the responsibility for system maintenance. However, some suppliers may be reluctant to offer help desk, software support and other services unless they're also maintaining the hardware.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1073792236&type=RESOURCES

CREATE A DATA FLOW DIAGRAM

Data flow diagrams can be used to provide a clear representation of any business function. The technique starts with an overall picture of the business and continues by analyzing each of the functional areas of interest. This analysis can be carried out to precisely the level of detail required. The technique exploits a method called top-down expansion to conduct the analysis in a targeted way.

The result is a series of diagrams that represent the business activities in a way that is clear and easy to communicate. A business model comprises one or more data flow diagrams (also known as business process diagrams). Initially a context diagram is drawn, which is a simple representation of the entire system under investigation. This is followed by a level 1 diagram; which provides an overview of the major functional areas of the business. Don't worry about the symbols at this stage, these are explained shortly. Using the context diagram together with additional information from the area of interest, the level 1 diagram can then be drawn.

The level 1 diagram identifies the major business processes at a high level and any of these processes can then be analyzed further - giving rise to a corresponding level 2 business process diagram. This process of more detailed analysis can then continue see through level 3, 4 and so on. However, most investigations will stop at level 2 and it is very unusual to go beyond a level 3 diagram.

Identifying the existing business processes, using a technique like data flow diagrams, is an essential precursor to business process re-engineering, migration to new technology, or refinement of an existing business process. However, the level of detail required will depend on the type of change being considered.

The process model is typically used in structured analysis and design methods. Also called a data flow diagram (DFD), it shows the flow of information through a system. Each process transforms inputs into outputs.

The model generally starts with a context diagram showing the system as a single process flowchart  connected to external entities outside of the system boundary. This process explodes to a lower level DFD that divides the system into smaller parts and balances the flow of information between parent and child diagrams. Many diagram levels may be needed to express a complex system. Primitive processes, those that don't explode to a child diagram, are usually described in a connected textual specification.





http://www.edrawsoft.com/Data-Flow-Diagrams.php  

DATA FLOW DIAGRAM

A data flow diagram (DFD) is a significant modeling technique for analyzing and constructing information processes. DFD literally means an illustration that explains the course or movement of information in a process. DFD illustrates this flow of information in a process based on the inputs and outputs. A DFD can be referred to as a Process Model.

Additionally, a DFD can be utilized to visualize data processing or a structured design. A DFD illustrates technical or business processes with the help of the external data stored, the data flowing from a process to another, and the results.

A designer usually draws a context-level DFD showing the relationship between the entities inside and outside of a system as one single step. This basic DFD can be then disintegrated to a lower level diagram demonstrating smaller steps exhibiting details of the system that is being modelled. Numerous levels may be required to explain a complicated system.

  Example of data flow diagram

http://www.edrawsoft.com/Data-Flow-Diagrams.php

SYSTEM LIFE CYCLE

System life cycle is an organizational  process of developing and maintaining systems. It helps in establishing a system project plan, because it gives overall list of processes and sub-processes required developing a system.

System development life cycle means combination of various activities. In other words, we can say that various activities put together are referred as system development life cycle. In the System Analysis and Design terminology, the system development life cycle means software development life cycle. Following are the different phases of software development cycle:

• System study
• Feasibility study
• System analysis
• System design
• Coding
• Testing
• Implementation
• Maintenance

 

 Different phases of software development  life cycle

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4052801/Introduction-to-System-Analysis-and-Design

 

DEFINING A SYSTEM

A collection of components that work together to realize some objective forms a system. Basically there are three major components in every system, namely input, processing and output.

In a system the different components are connected with each other and they are interdependent. For example, Human body represents a complete natural system. We are also bound by many national systems such as political system, economic system, educational system and so forth. The objective of the system demand that some output is produced as a result of processing the suitable inputs.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4052801/Introduction-to-System-Analysis-and-Design

 

How To: Create A Simple Program In Visual Basic 2010

Microsoft Visual Basic is a software that allow us to arrange our database in creating website or programs.

You can know how to create a simple program by using visual basic after viewing this video.

1.1 Introduction to PASW Statistics: PASW (SPSS) Statistics v.17 video

~ PASW stands for Predictive Analytic Software.

~ This software allow us to create a data file by defining variables and entering cases.

~ PASW uses statistics for its analysis.

~ Statistics is a set of mathematical techniques that can be used to summarize research data as well as determine whether the data supports the researcher's hypothesis or not.

Database Management System (DBMS)

DBMS is the system in which related data is stored in an "efficient" and "compact" manner.

Efficient means that the data which is stored in the DBMS is accessed in very quick time and compact means that the data which is stored in DBMS covers very less space in computer's memory.

In above definition the phrase "related data" is used which means that the data which is stored in DBMS is about some particular topic.

A DBMS is a set of computer programs that controls the creation, maintenance, and the use of a database.

DBMS packages are designed to provide end users with quick, easy access to information stored in database.

On the whole, DBMS is a system software package that helps the use of integrated collection of data records and files known as databases.

Inverted Database & Relational Database

Inverted Database

Suited for direct marketing applications because it has speed and flexibility to respond to unanticipated questions

Easy to add new elements to an inverted database as and when updated information is acquired

Relational Database

A relational database matches data by using common characteristics found within the data set

Examples are Databases like Oracle, SQL Server, and Microsoft Access

E.g., A data set containing all the real-estate transactions in a town can be grouped by the year the transaction occurred; or it can be grouped by the sale price of the transaction; or it can be grouped by the buyer's last name; etc

Flexible because users can create queries to extract information from these tables and recombine it

 

Hierarchical Database

In a hierarchical database, records contain groups of parent/child relationships, similar to a tree structure.

Example : Under a customers name (parent) would be stored the child; description of their last purchase and the date, a child under that would be the individual items purchased, the cost per item and a description of the item, and another child under that would be the items manufacturers name. 

Database Based on Nature of Underlying Marketing Activity

Active Marketing Database

To develop strategic marketing plans

 After marketing plan are executed, the results are used to update the database

 The updated database can then be used to help marketers adjust or redesign the strategic marketing plan

TYPE OF DATABASE

1.CUSTOMER DATABASE

~ Core of any Marketing Database

~ Data from active customers - help marketers learn what has been done well in the past and,

~ Inactive customers  - help to identify what needs to be improved

~ For inactive customers – how long been inactive? How much did they spend, why are they

                                               inactive.   

~ Customer database – use for

~ Identifying and profiling the best customers and communicate with them

~ Example, e-mail marketing, discount offers, newsletter, cross-selling

~ Basic information: name, address, postcode, and telephone number

~ Demographic information: age, gender, marital status, education, number of people in 

                                                 household, income

~ Psychographic information: values, activities, interests, preference

~ Transaction history: frequency of purchase, amount of spending

2.PROSPECT DATABASE

~ Non-customers that have profiles that are similar to the profiles of existing customers

~ Segment them and position the differentiated product to their specific needs – 

~ How? Example, analyze which channel, they prefer to receive info

~ Why? By doing this, marketers can effectively utilize advertising media to achieve a high 

                response rate

 

3.CLUSTER DATABASE

Clusters defined based on geographic reference groups(postcode), affinity groups (club, association), etc

 Depending on the membership of prospective customers to specific clusters, firms can customize their marketing communications to increase the efficiency of marketing efforts

4.ENHANCEMENT DATABASE

Used to transfer additional information on customers and prospects

Enhancements may include demographic and psychographic data, transaction history, changes in address, changes in income levels, etc

The InfoBaseR - Enhanced database provides the ability to append the latest demographics, socio-economic and lifestyle data to existing in-house customer database

Example, Consumer goods firm can use it to better target its advertising and marketing campaigns to increase profitability.