Accuracy or Speed (INTRICT)

This week was a busy week for our INTRICT class. This week's topic was quite interesting. We discussed about the possible methods and ways on how the 2010 Philippine Election would be conducted. There are two possible ways. The first one is the DRE (Direct Recording Electronic.) The DRE is the cool looking monitor that has a touch screen on it. If we are going to look at it, it looks very accurate and reliable. Yes, it is! Cheating would more likely be avoided when DRE is used in the 2010 Election. The huge downside of this machine is that it'll take a very long time for an individual to cast their votes. More or less, a person would take about 20-25 minutes to cast their votes. There would only be 1 or 2 DRE machines per voting location. This means that the election would take a very long time. Other negative factor of the DRE is the so called "DUGYOT" factor. Let's face it. Filipinos are very DUGYUTIN people. A lot of people would be voting using their fingers. Now think, wouldn't a lot of bacteria or germs be present on the machine? Another factor that we should look at is that a lot of people would be using the machine and it is not impossible for it to break due to the lack of knowledge of some people who are going to use it. The second machine is the OMR (Optical Mark Recognition.) This is the scanner like machine where you put the ballots. OMR is the direct opposite of a DRE. Each voting individual is given a test like paper where they're going to shade their votes. After each and everyone voted, the person in-charge would place the ballots in the OMR and the OMR would scan and tally the ballots then give the results. The good side of this machine is that it's fast. It only takes about 2 minutes for the machine to get the results. The downside is that it is vulnerable to cheating and errors. OMR has a higher error rate than DRE (DRE has a very low error rate, near impossible.) So after saying all of these, what method would be better? Do we go for the DRE which produces accurate and reliable results but kills the speed and has a DUGYUTING factor or the OMR which produces instant results in matter of minutes but is vulnerable to errors and cheating? Whether it is DRE or OMR, it's the people's voice and choice who they're going to vote. Let's just remember that the machines are merely just bridges. We are the ones who are responsible on who are the ones going to sit in our government. VOTE WISELY

One Intrict-less class (INTRICT)

This week, we only had one intrict class due to Sir Oli getting sick last Wednesday. Monday was a continuation of last week's discussion. We discussed Information System Development this week.
Basically, there are 5 steps in developing a information system. The first step is Planning. Planning is important because this is where everything about the new information system begins. Without it, it is nearly impossible to do the rest of the steps in developing an information system. The next step is Analysis. This is the step where we look and think about how the new information system will be conducted. There are tow steps in analyzing. These are conducting preliminary investigations and performing detailed analysis. The 3rd step is Design. Designing is the creation of the new informations system. This is the step where we actually create and develop the new IS. the 4th step is implementation. Like what it simply says, it is the implementation of the new IS. This is the step where we actually try to use the new IS. The 5th and final step is the support and maintenance. This is the step where we see whether the new IS is a click or not. This step is a life long process and will be done up until that IS dies. These are the 5 steps in developing an Information System.

We were also given a problem at the end of the Monday class of Intrict. The information problems are data collection, information processing and distribution and access to information. Basically, if we look deep enough to these problems, they have one common problem. It is the lack of communication. In order to solve this problem, we have to create an IS that will improve the communication and transaction of the systems in a particular company. I'll suggest an IS that will make communication really fast and stress free.

Always to remember for the rest of ICTM life (according to Sir Oli)

Stages of IS Development
1.) Planning
2.) Analyzing
3.) Designing
4.) Implementation
5.) Support and maintenance

Organizational Knowledge
1.) Sales
2.) Marketing
3.) Accounting
4.) Customer Service
5.) Production
6.) Distribution
7.) Inventory and Purchasing
8.) Human Resource
9.) Product Development

Information Problems
1.) Data Capture
2.) Data Storage
3.) Information Processing
4.) Distribution and Access to Information
5.) Presentation of Information

Information System Elements
1.) hardware
2.) software
3.) people
4.) process
5.) data
6.) network

What would you do? (INTRICT)

This week in Intrict Class, Sir Oli tossed us a problem that puzzled us for at least the whole 1 hour and 30 minutes of the duration of the class. Here's the scenario. Sir Oli is an owner of a big company, a company that makes coconut juice to be exact. He is having problem with his products because he is losing a lot of income due to the spoilage of the coconut juices. If you were the company consultant what questions would you ask him in order to help you solve the problem?


We all thought that the asking part was quite easy. But after asking about 13 questions, he told us that none of them were even close in getting us to solve the problem. Here are some questions we've asked
1.) Where do I get the raw materials?
2.)How do I transport the coconut?
3.)Where do I store the coconut?
4.)How many coconuts do I get? What I order?
5.)How long does it take to transport the coconut?
6.)How long does the process of making coconut juice take?
7.)How many coconuts do I process in a day?
8.)How many coconut juice are being stored?
9.)What do I currently use (equipment) to produce coconut juice?
10.)How long does it take me to deliver?
11.)How much do i buy the coconuts and how much do i sell them as juices?
12.)How much sales do I make in month?
13.)How much do i lose for spoilage?

Well, it's sad that none of our efforts was even close. At least we tried right? :)


In order to solve a problem in a company, we have to stay close in the problem instead of exploring away from it. Questioning is one good method of collecting data in order to solve a problem of a company. So here is a question that was called "perfect question" by Sir Oli. "What day, month, year do the juice usually spoil?" This question is really essential in order to get closer in solving the problem. With this, we would know when do the coconut juices usually spoil and would be able to avoid losing lots of income. It is also our part where we would integrate technology in order to help the company. We also have to learn whether which system or systems does the problem occur. Basically, in this scenario, the problem occurs in the inventory, production and Sales. The problem occurs because of the lack of communication of these systems. Sales doesn't have a clear view and knowledge about the number of products that has been produced and stored. So we have to integrate a technology in these systems in order for them to work together by communicating to each other. This way, we could avoid spoilage and lose of income. This is basically the main solution to this problem. There are other different solutions with different approaches in solving this problem. So if you were one of us, what would you do?

Another week in Intrict (INTRICT)

Last week in Intrict class, we learned the true meaning of what an IS really is. An IS is basically an accurate information acquired anywhere, anytime when needed by people who works for an organization. This is the main reason why people creates an IS. There are also some indirect reasons and effects in creating an IS for an organization. One, it increases productivity. Two, it produces a higher and better quality of products. Three, it looks cool and etc. The demand of an IS in companies is quickly increasing because of the fact that it is really quite essential these days. It gives an internal improvement in the conduct of operation, meaning, it hastens and lessens the process in a given task (Productivity). It also help in internal correction of problems hampering the operations. This means that an IS helps solve our daily problems in work. An example of this is the help of a form of technology that integrates several different system in a company in order to work and communicate together in a better and faster method. It is also essential to have an IS because of the fact that a lot of other competing companies have an IS in their enterprises. No one would like to be left out right? It is also proven that it is strategically determined. Having an IS will definitely save not only money but time as well. After saying all of these, it seems that an IS is too perfect to be true. Well, it is not. (P.S the following information you are about to read is not from INTRICT class. It's just my opinion towards the topic.) An IS may have a lot of beneficial things to give and share to us but it does have some weaknesses. One, having an IS in a company will definitely cut a lot of jobs. Why would you need 5,000 people payed 350++ pesos a day if you can have 100 people or less and an IS? A lot of people will lose their jobs because of the replacement of technology. Looking in the deeper effect, more unemployed Filipinos equals a sucky economy. Two, An IS is really quite expensive. Not all companies can afford one. Lastly, it's against the will of God.. Nah just kidding.. Well basically, an IS is really kick ass and cool but it still have some weaknesses that we should all think about and consider. If it is for the better, then go for it. We'll never know what might happen next. Maybe next time not companies alone would have an IS in their's but also jeepneys running around Metro Manila.