Sunday, June 14, 2009

Article: Windows 7 on the Archos Internet Tablet

This week on PC World online, an article about the new Windows 7 spoke of the Archos tablet. I tend to like new technologies and platforms as they come to mainstream. The tablets as a whole are pretty cool in my opinion. The Archos is a slim touch screen tablet for internet browsing. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. it has all the fixings, USB and now has Windows 7. Archos 9 is powered by an Intel Atom Z515 processors clocked at 1.2 GHz and runs with 1GB of DDR2 RAM.
Keeping consistent with its PMP siblings, the Archos 9 has an audio and video output (VGA), two stereo speakers and can easily place Skype calls with its integrated 1.3-megapixel camera and microphone. An optical trackpad and an on-screen keyboard can be used for navigation and data input. It will likely cost around $650 which is pricy for internet usage but may very well replace the bulky laptop for lots of users.
I think that for my own needs at this point a tablet is not necessary and I would rather take $300 and purchase an iPhone. I still could have a touch-screen device for internet browsing, given the OS may not be as good, screen not as big, and system processor not as fast. All decisions have trade-offs. The phone allows calling and music, but you probably could do voice over IP on the tablet and download music as well. It is a bit larger but should sell quite well.

Sources: Ionescu, Daniel. (2009). Windows 7 Powers Archos Internet Tablet. PC World. Source Sources: Spring, Tom. (2009). Google's Best Easter Eggs and Hoaxes. PC World. s: Spring, Tom. (2009). Google's Best Easter

Case Study Ch. 15: Nestle Tries for an All-for-One Global Strategy

2. What type of global business and systems strategy did Nestle adopt? Was this strategy appropriate for NestlĂ©’s business model?
Nestle adopted a global business and systems strategy which was the GLOBE. This type of strategy known’s as global business excellence was set to harmonize processes, standardize data, and standardize systems. These applied to all of Nestles worldwide systems and users. The same process for making sales commitments, factory production, billing customers, and compiling management reports along with financials.
As far as this system being appropriate for Nestle business model I think that it was. Having a strong standardized process on a global scale is imperative to smooth running operations. A company the size of Nestle needed a better way to track and rely on global transactions and information handling. The GLOBE project helped facilitate this and ensure a global standardized process.

3. What management, organization, and technology challenges did Nestle have to deal with to standardize its business processes and systems?
In order to standardize NestlĂ©’s business processes and systems the implementation of the GLOBE system occurred. The GLOBE was set out to accomplish just this task of a centrally standardized operational format. The challenges faced by Nestle in the transition to the GLOBE system were on many levels. They faced challenges with budgeting, needed cooperation, no shortcuts could be taken, took a long time. The greatest challenges were no technical in fact hey were personal. The global nature also caused challenges due to different laws, currencies, languages, and cultures.

4. What strategies did nestle management use to deal with these challenges? How successful were these strategies? Explain your answer.
Nestle management attempted to deal with challenges facing the implementation of GLOBE by having each business unit name a GLOBE manager and give them the feeling or responsibility, accountability, and decision-making power. This gave the individual unit s a sense of being present in the process. Each country had a data manager as well. It seems that these managerial challenges were overcome because the company continued to implement GLOBE over the next few years. I think they did a nice job under the circumstances.

I think that this case study with nestle is a great example of a company thinking ahead. They recognized potential shortcomings in the company’s IS and took the steps necessary to fix them. Even though this was quite an undertaking, the management did a good job and they stayed focused and the hard work paid off.
Sources: Management Information Systems Managing the Digital Firm, tenth edition. pgs. 624-627. Laudon, Kenneth C.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Article: E3 2009 Picks and Pans

This week an article on PC World online reported on the E3 show. E3 is a gaming and tech show that is annually held where companies such as Microsoft and Sony display there hottest new technologies and games for the upcoming year. It is a time to show off what they have been keeping quiet for the past year. It typically reveals some cool new features of the gaming world, let’s see….
Lately we have been haring about the human computer interface. Well Microsoft has the natal coming out which is a controller free system which recognizes body gestures as controls. Now that is really cool, it probably will cost a lot at first but I probably will get one. Sony is coming out with a new 3-D technology for its gaming experiences and Nintendo is launching new versions of its best sellers.
I do enjoy playing video games from time to time nowadays; it is a nice escape from reality. I used to play a lot more but the nature of my lifestyle now is too busy to get involved with a regular videogame schedule. I am amazed though at how far videogames have come in the last ten years and what the future is looking like, the prospects of a completely virtual gaming experience are very good. I can’t wait to see what the gamin experience will be like ten years from now..
Then there is the question of ethics which someone brought up the other night. In regards to the premise that we may be able to not contribute to society if we can live in a virtual world, but I think this is not likely. We will still need electricity, food, water and the like but it may decrease the violence in the world, it may make people less confrontational, it may turn to be beneficial if we market it in a good way. It could be the new learning paradigm with great software for people of all ages, who knows…..

Sources: Peckham, Matt. (2009). E3 Picks and Pans. PC World.

Ch. 14 Case Study: What Went Wrong with Maine's New Medicaid System?

1. How important are information systems for Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services? Analyze the impact of its faulty Medicaid claims processing system.
Information systems are very important for Maine’s Department if Health and Human Services. Over 260,000 residents depend on this service. Information systems themselves are very important to the storage of private information. The transfer of information and dealing with all the specifics of codes regarding the laws and systems implemented by the government. Over 100,000 Medicaid claims per week must be managed by these information systems, they are crucial to the organization.
The impact of its faulty Medicaid claims processing system was vast. Millions of dollars of claims were withheld due to system error. The system was holding back approving claims and with it came over 300,000 frozen claims in the first two months. The system would send checks to doctors for the entire amount billed versus the Medicaid amount. In total this mishap cost the state 30 million dollars.

2. Evaluate the risks of the Medicaid claims processing system project and key risk factors.
The risks of the Medicaid claims processing system project were due to many factors. One of which was a lack of expertise from the contracting companies hired by the state. The other issues were lack of preparedness and security systems created for the software. This resulted in costs to the state and much inconvenience to many people. The risks involved with health care information systems are very serious. Confidential information must kept safe, billings and services rendered must be accurate and truthful, and payments must be accounted for and supplied by the state for the persons on Medicaid.

5. If you were in charge of managing this project, what else would you have done differently to increase chances for success?
If I were in charge of managing this project, in addition I would have attempted to increase the chances for success by hiring consultants from well-known high profile organizations whom have experience in such systems. I would communicate with other states and see how they have implemented their systems and what security measures they have in place. I would do all that I can to ensure the likelihood of success and in the case of a faulty system, I would have measures in place to fix the issues as soon as possible.

Sources: Management Information Systems Managing the Digital Firm, tenth edition. pgs. 589-591. Laudon, Kenneth C.