Journal Log Term 3: Day 4

MSPOLIS Day 4

We had another group presentation and the topic assigned to us was the typical challenges occur during system implementation. Just sharing another entry for this system implementation, I remembered how we do this kind of process on my previous work. It started when we are doing regular and ADHOC reports manually usually time process increase when there are issues occurred like disconnection on the internet due to server restart and data cleansing for the datasets. Issues regarding to this delayed reports was raised and then our internal supervisor decided to do system implementation for the reports – making it automated to run. They had partner with another consulting technology for doing this automation. While still on process, we submit turnover documents for the reports need to automate and their SLA (i.e. out of scope, service levels and duration). 3-months after, the system was implemented they return the reports to us and we run it automated. There are still challenges occurred since the process will be set on schedule using windows system schedule and run on batch file. The application used is still SAS but the only difference is that we will not manually set time for the schedule on the script and edit macro since the run can be set automatic on excel and click the automatic run for the batch file.  Some counts for the data are missing at that time after the report generated and whenever disconnection failure on the internet exist, we will run it again from the start not like on manual if there are issues occurred, we will just run the part where the error occurred on the script. Logs are saved both on automated and manual but the difference is that in automated, even though logs are saved, the datasets on where the error occurred cannot be re-run on that specific script but you need to re-run the whole process. There are reports that took 3-4 days to run, so what if you are going to re-run again the whole process, you need to take additional days for the errors.

We had this discussion in the office regarding this matter, they decided to cut the reports which will use big data and do parallel run. And making sure all the sources and internet are secured before running the automated reports. We tried to fix all the possibilities issues that might occurred running the automated reports and still it’s us developers still need to adopt with the new system since the system is already implemented.

 

MSHCMAN Day 4

As part of the discussion about structural capital – is more important from Human Capital. Instance of this in our office, after our 6-months training we undergo for a 2 years bond and part of this is to continue working with them and to their other clients. Our company still provides training if there are new events, technology and software developed. They also have other training not only related to technical skills but can help also to our communication and soft skills for us to be an effective employees in the company. Sources, common files and data knowledge are shared and they provide us permission for us to easily access it and no need to start from the scratch unless reports are ADHOC and new. Whenever we are also done with the generated reports, our project manager and internal supervisor always asked us to provide documented user manuals so the company in case of any emergency still has back up and knowledge with the report. This also helps in case we will be moved to a new project; other new employees can use those templates as a guide how to generate the reports.

I learned that employees have life-cycle in terms of average turnaround time like in range of 3-6 months, already familiar with work, 6-12 months to be fully involved in projects, 1-2 years to be contributor in the team and 2-3 years to be a key player in the organization.

Journal Log Term 3: Day 3

MSPOLIS Day 3

We are now in the Policy lecture and there are lot of laws concerning to IT and IS industry. I remember back when I am still new working in the company, I know that when we signed disclosure agreements we should follow the rules and regulations stated there because there will be corresponding penalties if you disobey and fail to comply with it. I thought it was just the company who formulate that rules but there I learned that they also have this set of rules which govern by law. Now, I am assigned to work in a financial government sector, part of the training is to attend their IT security awareness briefing. They discussed to us their different IT Policies like General IT Security Policy, Password Policy, and Virus Protection Policy, Policy on Internet and email and IT Security Policy for Personnel. After the discussion and reading the policy they provide on us, there are also forms need to be accomplished like, undertaking on non-disclosure, acknowledgement of IT Security Policy and IT Security Awareness Evaluation Sheet.

At that time, I am just thinking that the reason they are doing this is because we are outsource and the company we will be working with contains confidential financial data until I realized that they have ISO standards that helps to reassure consumers that products, systems and organizations are safe, reliable and good for the environment. Also benefits of an effective management system include more efficient use of resources, improved risk management and increased customer satisfaction as services and products consistently deliver what they promise.

 

MSHCMAN Day 3

As part of the discussion we had about leadership, I remembered what I am as a leader before on my previous work. Not that leader wherein you own the team, but I was assigned to be an assistant leader on the new project. When there are meetings with the client, I am also included to attend the discussions so when it comes to do the tasks assigned I’ll divide it to our team. Being a leader to them, I consider myself leader as a steward. If there are hard tasks on which my members still don’t know how to generate that process, aside that I will start to do it instead to make it easier, I will also teach them what are the changes I had done so that on the next process or run, they will know what are the things they will do on their own and start to think of their own solution. Also there are instances when someone is much expose on running the other applications while others don’t know much about it, I will set them as the leader for a while to teach that application to others since we are in a team and others can contribute if they are more experts to something. Another, if there are mistakes that I commit while running and generating the report, I accept the comments my team shared from there I learn what will I do and revised on my process and vice-versa if my teammates also had issues or problems on their reports, we will help each other resolving the issues or they will have the initiative how to resolve it. Lastly, we are all open for communication. If others are suggesting for something on how to do the project/tasks assigned, we let them speak also so other can also have the idea what others are thinking.

My realization being a leader is that when your teammates know that you are in the higher position, they will start to think and assume you are close to the management and conceited with others. For my team not to over think about this, I still level myself as just a member. I also don’t want to use my position to put all the works to someone, so when I distribute the tasks, I always make sure they are all divided to each members and if someone has a workload on their tasks, we skip them for this division of work. And for everyone to have a peace of mind after of all the workloads, efforts done and completed, we set schedule for their free time to have bonding and build good relationship on the team.

Journal Log Term 3: Day 2

MSPOLIS Day 2

I know there are challenges occurred on or before the project will start but there are also ways to control and avoid these by having a well-planned process and proper coordination with the client. We had this system implementation in my previous work and part of this is to have a new system to be used in generating report. Though we still need the previous system for data checking and validation, it will be an extra effort for us to learn and adapt the new system. Our immediate supervisor advised us that they will set schedule for our team to learn and study the system implemented but for us, we think we cannot make it since we still program and do the ongoing reports using the previous system to meet its regular deadline. So our project manager and immediate supervisor decided to assigned new consultants instead who have skills already on using the system implemented to avoid time delays. The conflict occurred was when they re-assigned previous consultants to other projects and assigned new 2 consultants for the position of using the new system implemented because the other reports were migrated already as part of the implementation.

There I realized that the reason the new system implemented was to decrease delays of the report submission since using the previous system for other reports that has big data cause lag and to have efficient checking and validation on data. Also an implementation will not be successful if end users don’t embrace the new system. As part of this, training and tools are keys to user adoption, as is establishing a champion’s network from within the user community that will advocate for the project and user adoption before, during, and after the implementation. Whether it may cause conflict for other factors as long as the system is already implemented, this will be the priority.

 

MSHCMAN Day 2

We had this topic about “The Bone of Contention”; the story was about feeling demotivated in work and can cause conflict on the relationship with other people or co-workers. From this, I remembered my last experience on my previous work. I was already on my 6-months working on the project assigned to us and when we are on our 6-months there will be an evaluation so that our project manager will know if we perform well in our work. Sad but my partner on that project did not meet the client expectation and he need to go back to our main office to have some examination for his behavior. While the project is still ongoing, our project manager needs to assign a new consultant for me to have a new partner on the project. I never thought that the new member on our team will still be my batch mate from boot camp. We were not that close way back then but we talk a bit about new lectures and games on PC. When our project manager introduce him to me, I said that we were batch mates from boot camp, then our project manager just smile and said that this will be another good start then. He is nice when it comes to work since he is really sophisticated to all things though there are problems that disgusted me where he don’t consider others if they are busy or not as long as you need to accommodate him first, he will not respond right away and say something negative before he will start the task you assigned to him and his wheezy breathing. I assume that maybe he has asthma and just consider his wheezing but for the other workloads you will assigned to him, I just can’t stop it even though he claimed that he graduated in a well-known school. So when our next evaluation came, I include these remarks on his performance.

When the results came, our project manager talked to us personally. I expect that my batch mate will react on my remarks I gave to him, he also asked our project manager why my grade was higher than him though he passed the evaluation and he is just new to the team, there I discussed it to him calmly and he just said “okay”. I know he felt emotional inside but after that, the week after, he became good and always ask me first if I’m busy so he can proceed to ask on his question regarding on the report. It just went well and we became buddies for almost 1 year just until there was another new project and I was the one who re-assigned first, now we both have these different projects but the friendship we build since we were batch mate and work mate is still there and we respect each other no matter what.

Journal Log Term 3: Day 1

MSPOLIS Day 1

It is now my 3^rd term in my Master’s Degree, yet I feel that the higher level it is the more and more complex it becomes to face the new subjects but I still believes that doing the right attitude and behavior will help and guide you in your journey. Sad that we are now only 4 in our batch, others decided to shift on other Master’s Degree course while other need to undergo treatment and will enroll on the next term.  While on class, excited on my first day, I did not realize that our 3^rd term for others are another new degree for other new enrollees because it’s June and this is the enrollment month. There I remember that I am a late enrollee back then. So we had another new set of classmates. I don’t know how should I behave but I still remain calm, introduce myself to others and share what I experienced on my previous last term. I am hoping to meet new one who are just the same old bracket with me but then, I know only few on my age take Master’s Degree and mostly of those who took up this degree already have stable positions and experience in their expertise. Though, it’s a way that we can also learn from them and share their experiences.

Hope to have a good experience on this term and enjoy the lessons we learn along the way.

 

MSHCMAN Day 1

Welcome to Human Capital course. When our professor gave us the course syllabus, while I’m reading it I started to think more of it as a psychological learning behavior. Though maybe because it topics also about human and their involvement with the society, company or environment they are working with. In the class, there I see my old classmates on my previous term and new faces as well. At my back, I thought we also have a new seat-in professor but when my classmate beside me said that she is also our classmate, I was amazed on how she speak and participate in the class. She looks like in her middle age already. At that time, I did not have the chance to know her more but there was this one moment wherein we did not have class but still I went to the school just to stay there for a while.  I went out 12noon and wait for the shuttle, while waiting someone ask to seat beside me outside the school because she will be waiting for her driver, so then I gave the other side of the seat. Upon looking at her, I started to ask her if she is my classmate on this subject, there she also think but then she said, how should I have my Master’s Degree already, I just only look like a senior high. I don’t know if that would be a compliment but I just laugh then and say thanks. Then she ask me a follow-up questions on what is my work and where do I work? And I said, I am a programmer working on a consulting company providing software as a service. And then she names someone and asks me if I know that person, I said yes and that person she asked is our director in our company. There she ask me to send her regards to him and she also shared that she still remember those time when both them are close to each other talking about business and investments.

There I realized that it’s good how you also interact with other people, you will know some of their personalities and how they act with others. I guess experiencing this is a part of my MSHCMAN this term also hoping for good results on this subject.