Linkage Analysis Planning

Read the article posted in the Content area of D2L and post comments here.

Exploiting the Virtual Value Chain

Read the article posted in the Content area of D2L and post your comments here. Specifically, think (and write!) about what parts of the virtual value chain your project impacts. Does your problem area include gathering, organizing, selecting, synthesizing, and/or distributing information? How does your solution affect those functions?

Chapter 9: Infosys Case Study

Sean C. reminds me we need a post on the Infosys case study at the end of Chapter 9 (p. 294). Thanks, Sean!

Infosys’s stock price is down (whose isn’t?), but they’re still aiming to grow this year, and they’re still taking on new recruits (18,000 from Indian colleges this summer). So even in a recession, their global strategy is keeping them afloat.

Your thoughts on the case study are welcome!

Class Discussion: Cloud Computing

Here are a couple articles on cloud computing (the first references the second):

1. John Foley, “The Oregon Trail of Cloud Computing,” InformationWeek, 2009.01.29
2. Mike Fratto, “Cloud Control,” Internet Evolution, 2009.01.24

Questions to consider (we’ll discuss them in class Thursday and here online now!):

1. Where is your data? Yes, your data, right now, school, work, whatever: where could a meteor strike to kill your data?
2. How secure is your data?
3. What are you afraid of? Hackers? Accidents? Al-Qaeda? China? Fire? Meteors?
4. What’s the difference between trusting a traditional outsourcing partner and trusting cloud computing?
5. Where’s the cut-off point for data you could trust to cloud computing?

Chapter 7 Case Study — Netflix

Read the case study, make your comments here!  We will discuss the case in class tomorrow.  See (or talk to) you then!

Thursday 1/29: Chapter 5, Dell, etc.

Pretty good discussion today! Among the points covered:

1. Database, date warehouse: not the same thing (p. 130).
2. CAH knows TDL* about XML.
3. Dell was putting RFID chips to work in 2003. Wal-Mart and mining companies can do the same — is that support for Carr’s thesis that IT is a commodity and not a source of competitive advantage?
4. Maybe competitive advantage depends as much on thinking of new ways to use existing technology (cell phones in lieu of credit cards? cell phone GPS as basis for city traffic management?).
5. Even the best planning and managing can’t stave off a recession.

At least those are the points that stuk out to me. Your comments (and Tommy, your defense of Wal-Mart?) are welcome!

*too darn little!

Assigned Reading: WikiWork

Ellen Perlman and Melissa Maynard, “Working in Wiki,” Governing.com, 2008.05.

Think about the following questions and be prepared to discuss them in class Tuesday 1/20. You can address these questions or others that occur to you in your one-page reaction paper, due Thursday 1/22 (see D2L for detailed instructions).

1. Mark Forman says wiki-wise workers “will be hailed as the next great visionaries.” Is that hyperbole? If not, what can you do to join that group (assuming you want the boss to think of you as a visionary…)?
2. “It takes a certain mindset to be a first adapter of the Web 2.0 tools.” Do you have that mindset? Do you need that mindset? What stands in the way of getting that mindset?
3. The Montgomery County police chief used the bug-tracking wiki to put pressure on vendors (”the best way not to have technical problems posted was to fix them right away”). Could using that kind of leverage backfire? What content wouldn’t you put on a public company/organization wiki?
4. For what businesses might a facility simulation like the hospital model be worth the expence?
5. Could you put something like Transit Camp to work in your workplace? Could you expand it to include (gasp!) customers and other non-employees?
6. The Washtenaw County example referred to social workers having lots of tech tools, but still not getting the job done. What was missing?
7. How could apps like these be applied to the DSU environment (either classroom or administrative)?

In-Class Reading 1/15: Recruiting in Second Life

Mark Stencel, “The Reality of Virtual Reality,” Governing: The Managing Technology Letter, 2008.09.

1. How will you make use of virtual worlds and online communities when you look for work? How will you use them when you look for workers?
2. Using Second Life and other online communities for recruiting: fad or fantastic?
3. How would you design your Second Life avatar? If you were using Second Life for recruiting, what consideration, if any, would you give to the appearance of job candidates’ avatars?