Jessica Lascona

Sunday, December 11, 2011

REFLECTION (DATABASE)

Much of database is about collection of logically related data and a description of this data, designed to meet the information needs of an organization. This subject has helped me to learn more about technology. I have learned how to make ERD (Entity Relationship Diagram) which I never did before.

From taking this subject, I have learned that my preferred learning style is visual. I learn best from making diagram and posting data into database like Microsoft Access. I feel that I have accomplished even a little thing with this subject.

I can relate to the fact that I was uncomfortable during my Thesis1 time which is documentation, because I didn’t know how to make any Diagram.

This subject has taught me skills and it will take with me to my other I.T subjects. I have enjoyed this subject because I’ve learned a lot in terms of diagram and flow chart. I have become more confident because my skills have improved.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

IM 418 E-commerce (Activity 09.13.12)

QUESTION #1

List technologies and applications that could be covered by this list and decide, in discussion, if they are usefully / appropriately classified as e-Commerce.

ANSWER:

The following are the applications covered in this chapter;

The four applications covered in this chapter

Electronic Markets - typically for trade transactions in a
commodity market.
EDI - used for regular, repeat, business to business transactions
such a components for assembly of stock for retailers.
Internet e-Commerce used for retail transactions of goods or
services.
Internet e-Commerce used for business transactions.

The Three technologies covered in this chapter\

1. Interactive teletext - the French Minitel being the only significant example
2. Interactive television used for e-Commerce.
3. The use of (web enabled) portable telephones for e-Commerce.

Other technologies and applications that appear (Or could appear) to fall
within the EU definition are:

Tele-sales.
Electronic Point of Sales Terminals (EPOS).
Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) (Bank Cash Machines).
The use of e-Mail for commercial purposes.

As with many terms in IS and IT, e-Commerce is ill-defined, the study of e-Commerce needs to be cognisant of related technologies but too broad a definition of e-Commerce is probably not helpful. It is noted that some writers, in practice at least, reserve the term e-Commerce for the business use of the internet and exclude (or ignore) technologies such as EDI.

QUESTION #2

Suggest where and in what form Higgies' Potted Beef could implement
e-Commerce.

ANSWER:

The most obvious opportunities for Higginbottoms of Heckmondwike to use e-Commerce are:

An EDI system for trade with the supermarkets. Getting the supermarkets to stock the product is not necessarily going to be easy (there are more products available than the supermarkets have room for). If the supermarkets do accept the product, EDI could be a condition of trade. EDI will not be cheap for Higging- bottoms to install (although there are short cuts that small firms can use).
A web site for business to consumer sales of the firms products Expatriate Yorkshire folks who have possibly accumulated 'a bit of brass' would very possibly be prepared to pay a premium price for a taste of their home county. A web site could be set up reasonably cheaply and could do very well. Hampers including Yorkshire specialities such as curt tarts and Hendersons Relish could be a new line (Eh lad, you can't beat a splash of Hendersons on your bangers and mash).
EDI could also be appropriate for use with suppliers, particularly for regular supplies such as the firm that makes the jars.

e-Commerce could have further applications, possibilities include other supplies (although items such as beef might require the buyer to inspect the product to ensure quality) and, for instance, office stationary (although this is arguably unnecessary for a small firm which might want to use a small local office supplier).

Friday, August 05, 2011

IM 418 - (E-COMMERCE) CASE STUDY

QUESTION:
What were the inefficiencies at knight before Fleet View was installed?
ANSWER:
The inefficiencies at knight before Fleet View was installed are the following;

First is a truck may wait hours or even days until a store has the room or personnel to off load the cargo.

Second is communication between truckers and their delivery sites is poor.

Third is the company often does not know which of its trailers is loaded and which is not.

Fourth it is often sends trucks with empty trailer long distances to pick up cargos, while there is an available trailer much closer to the location.

QUESTION:

What information do m anagers have now that they did not have before?

ANSWER:

The information do m anagers have now that they did not have before are the following:

First is they can locate trucks through GPS devices and communicate the location of trailers.

Second is they can detect the presence of cargo.

Third is they can determine if an environment is empty.

Fourth is they can record the exact time a trailer is emptied.

Fifth is they can detect exactly when the trailer doors are open and closed.

QUESTION:

What are the indicators for greater efficiency at knight transportation now?

ANSWER:

The greater efficiency at knight transportation now are the following:

First is they have an enough information about trailer contents, location, and times.

Second is they have special software aggregates the information for staff at headquarters, and the workers receive a complete picture of vehicle activities.

Thirds is they can also immediately detect when a trailer is hitched to an unknown or unauthorized truck, which could mean a theft is in progress.

QUESTION:

Of the approaches to gaining strategic advantage discussed in this chapter, which one applies to this case?

ANSWER:

The most strategic advantage of this topic is the effective and efficient software which global positioning system or (GPS) which is also the sensor uses ultrasonic high frequency sounds waves to determine the flow of environment.

QUESTION:

Considering the devices and software that knight uses, can it keep an advantage over competitors for long? Explain why or why not.

ANSWER: Yes, because if you have this kind of device and software your work can be more faster, easier, accurate and without effort, because all you have to do is to monitor and assist the high technology device,unlike the competitor who did not use this kind of device.

QUESTION:

Amazon.com tries to take strategic advantage of its resources. Of what physical resources does amazon.com take advantage?

ANSWER:

The physical resources does amazon.com take advantage is they offers its own network of web-based storage devices to businesses and individuals, who pay only for what the clients storage use. There is no minimum fee and no start-up cost. Besides they are reliable, fast, inexpensive and simple storage.

QUESTION:

Does amazon.com strategically leverage anything else in addition to physical assets?

ANSWER: Yes, because the amazon.com has an efficient and effective way in terms of business, not only they earn money but they can also help others to earn money. Or should I say “give and take”

QUESTION:

What are the benefits of S3 for small company?

ANSWER:
The benefits of S3 for small company is they helps clients to avoid the cost and time establishing their own network, one that is distributed around the globe.

QUESTION:

At the current rates for S3 services,Amazon.com does not make a great profit ( or any at all). Why, then, do you think Amazon.com offers S3?

ANSWER:

The current rates for S3 services,Amazon.com does not make a great profit, I think it’s because the amazon.com give their clients for a low rates, like for example they don’t require their clients to pay minimum fee and start-up cost, then clients only pay 20 cents per gigabyte. I think they still have a profit but not as much.

Yes, the amazon.com still offers S3, because through this site they can help other people to put up business without hassle. In fact the amazon.com does not expect to make money. However, it certainly uses its technological muscles in a new strategic direction.

QUESTION:

Is 99 cents only on the leading edge of IT? Is it on the bleeding edge?

ANSWER:

Yes, because 99 Cents only stores is the oldest chain and consists of 251 stores in caliornia, Nevada, Arezona and texas.

Yes, the 99 Cents only stores, is on the bleeding edge.

QUESTION:

What characteristics of the dollar store industry make s important to increase efficiency?

ANSWER:

The characteristics of the dollar store industry make s important to increase efficiency is when you purchase not by item but by price. When purchasing officers spot an opportunity mto buy a lot of a discontinued product they offer a very low price. This is the way of selling their product.

QUESTION:

The company has performed better than its competitors. In terms of the eight initiatives discuss in this chapter which initiative has gained it the competitive advantage?

ANSWER:

The initiative has gained it the competitive advantage is they use electronic voice and generated by a computer that runs the distribution centers warehouse management software, its instruct them what to do, it is also calculate the most efficient route while ensuring that the carts do not crash to each other. The 99 cents only store use a high technology device to more efficient and effective their works.

QUESTION:

99 cents only must modify its information systems frequently . why?

ANSWER:

They modify its information system frequently because they keep updating of their system in order to improve their system from time to time for them to gain more profits through their high technology device or system.

QUESTION:

Often, CIOs are frustrated with the time it takes senior management to support their strategic initiatives and with the difficulty of earmarking funds for such initiatives. How is 99 cents only different in this respect?”

ANSWER:

The 99 cents only store is family-run, the decisions are made quickly. They did not need to go through formal meetings. Therefore, the time between request and implementation is very short, compare to other company.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

CS323: Case Study 4

Using the process state diagram, explain why there is no transition:
• From the READY to WAITING.
• From the WAITING to RUNNING.

On the diagram above, we can see that there is no transition from the ready to waiting same with waiting to running. In the ready state to waiting state, there is no transition between them because you can only send the job in the waiting state if it came from the running state. Also, it will proceed to the waiting state if there are some interrupts and if it needs input/output request. In the waiting state to running state, there is also no transition because the process scheduler selects processes from the ready state for the CPU. Also, all jobs in the waiting list was arranged and prepared to proceed in the ready state. In addition, only the ready jobs or only the jobs in the ready state will proceed to the running state to be run and to bypass the ready state would make process management impossible. To further understand the process let us assign job (a) to be processed. First job (a) will go to the hold state then it will proceed to ready state. If the job will fail because of some device failure it will go back to the hold state, if not, it will proceed to ready state which is controlled by the job scheduler. From the ready state, job (a) will go on to the running state. If there are no interrupts and there are no input/output request faults it will automatically proceed to the finished state. But, if it will encounter interrupts it will go back to the ready state and if it fails to have the input/output request it will proceed to the waiting state. The remaining processes will either be ready or blocked, and for each of these states there will be a queue of processes waiting for some event. The lines connecting the process state diagram represent possible transitions from one state to another. Processes entering the system must initially go into the ready state. A process can only enter the running state from the ready state. There would be no transition that would occur when any job transfers from waiting to running.