Last July 02, 2009, I together with my classmates attended a COMDDAP Exposition on its 23rd year! Held at Grand Ballroom, Apo View, Davao City.
What is COMDDAP?
Computer Manufaturers Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines is an association of the country's top information technolgy businesses. Its primary objective is to promote the sustainable development of the of the country's information technology industry through voluntary collaboration of its member companies. It is the goal of COMDDAP to be able to provide its members general views and updates from different sectors - private and government, and highly regarded individuals to further uplift the morale and knowledge of its organization.

The vision of promoting and elevating the standards of Information technology (IT) in the Philippines fueled a group of prominent computer companies to form the Computer Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines or COMDDAP. Its initial member-companies represent the world's leading makers and providers of computer products, solutions and peripherals.

In 1997, the manufacturing sector - represented by industry leaders Hewlett Packard, Epson and Compaq, among others - was integrated into the COMDDAP membership, making the association a more diverse representation of the IT sector and thus the new name, COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND DEALERS ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.
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My Reflection:
We arrived their maybe 1:30pm. Before we get in, the staffs gave us a sticker which serves as our identification. I was amazed of what I saw. I was having fun trying those very nice and stylish technologic advancement with the latest I.T products and software for computing, imaging, printing, connecting and communications, security, entertainment, and lifestyle applications…whew!(together with my classmates). I saw the big CANON printer and wondered “if I have that can I use it for a small business ‘tarpaulin maker’??” hehehe.. Aside from that, we enjoyed falling in line for the freebies (candies, ballpens and a bag..whehehe!^_^ thank you to them. I also enjoyed taking pictures. Anyway, I was astonished when I saw my classmates getting some promotion prints and flyers of different booths and ask them about that. They just said that “we can use this for an evidence or for ‘remembrance’..hehe!” Actually, it really helps…weeeh! I’ll tell you later……^_^

We entered late at the first seminar of the nexus group because of falling in line on the booth of Smart featuring their latest promo ‘SANDBOX’ who are giving a free ID sling. Unfortunately, wala mi kakuha..T_T…when entered the room it is almost half way of their topic. Mr. Celmer Santos talked about Jupiter Systems Inc. and the ERIC (Enterprise Resource Information and Control) DMS. Honestly speaking, I was a quite bored that time because what I obtain on that topic is, they introduce to us their product and trying to sell it. Another is, I am not really interested in cars. Maybe, when ‘I grow up’..jeje.. The speaker told us that Jupiter Systems Inc.(JSI) is a Philippine-based IT company dedicated to delivering business solutions for medium to large companies globally. JSI is one of the most experienced software houses in the Philippines and was one of the pioneers of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in the country. The company has been delivering business solutions for the past 25 years. This company contains service transactions, cars, etc. This company is one of the pioneers of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in the Philippines. It has 100 personnel and 100% Filipino-owned. He also shared that ERIC DMS is a complete, end-to-end solution for auto dealerships. The exhibitor opened up the general features, characteristics, process flow and some of the clients of the said DMS.

The next presenter is from HP invents who introduced the HP thin client. “Think Big, Go thin: HP Thin Clients” is the quotation phrase by Leonard Zapa a Market Development Manager. I am excited because I know that the said company was well-known to its premium quality of products such as the HP notebook and desktop computers, HP printers, HP scanners, etc. I am also energized when I heeded that he will be giving a price for those who can answer his questions. Hehe. Expectedly, me and my seatmates (Ilyn and Venus) took down notes and enthusiastically listen to the discussions. The speaker explained to us the HP thin client. A thin client is a computing device without a hard drive, which displays data and applications from remotely located servers, blade PCs, and virtual desktops. As the issue goes on, I was so astounded and overwhelmed of its capabilities. It can be used independently, as a task specific computing device with a minimal set of application installed. A thin client (sometimes also called a lean or slim client) is a client computer or client software in client-server architecture networks which depends primarily on the central server for processing activities, and mainly focuses on conveying input and output between the user and the remote server. In contrast, a thick or fat client does as much processing as possible and passes only data for communications and storage to the server. Many thin client devices run only web browsers or remote desktop software, meaning that all significant processing occurs on the server. However, recent devices marketed as thin clients can run complete operating systems such as Debian Linux, qualifying them as diskless nodes or hybrid clients. Some thin clients are also called "access terminals." Many people that already have computers want the same functionality that a thin client has. Computers can simulate a thin client in a single window (as thru a browser) or with a separate operating system boot-up. Either way, these are often called "fat clients" to differentiate them from thin clients and computers without thin-client functionality.

As a consequence, the term "thin client", in terms of hardware, has come to encompass any device marketed as, or used as, a thin client in the original definition – even if its actual capabilities are much greater. The term is also sometimes used in an even broader sense which includes diskless nodes. There is a big difference between a desktop and server. A desktop computer is a personal computer (PC) in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Prior to the wide spread of microprocessors a computer that could fit on a desk was considered remarkably small.
As the subject matter goes on………. I feel so heavy-eyed and starting to siesta..hehe! And woke up when the speaker started to ask a question. Unfortunately, I am not lucky towho won a gift..huhu!
I revealed earlier about the promotion prints and flyers…..actually…. because of that, my mother bought me a laptop in that event. Hehe!

AUTOMATED ELECTION

Is The Philippines Ready for an Automated Election System?

Is the Philippines ready for automated election? Are we ready for something new?
What is Automated Election System (AES)?
Is it Feasible? How reliable can the computerized (automated) election system be?
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First, let us discuss the advantages and disadvantages that will emerge if our country engages with an automated election.
Advantages
It provides efficient way for voting with less hassle.
Voters cannot prolong the process of voting and lined up in a crowd.
You get a tally immediately, rather than having to count votes by hand.
Increased speed and efficiency of electoral task and faster electoral results

Disadvantages
Financial Savings
Possibilities for the candidates can hire a computer experts to hack the system and manipulate the entire votes.Unless if the system is fully secured.
Since it is computer based, there is no paper trail and no way to double check the tally.

What is Automated Election Sytem(AES)?

• Computerized voting is a superior form of casting ballots. It allows for fairer and faster voting. It takes many forms with different processes but how it is implemented depends on the technological facilities allocated for the elections procedure. Automated election system (AES) is a system that uses appropriate technology to accomplish and aid such tasks as voting, counting, consolidating, canvassing, and transmission of election result, and other electoral process. Republic Act No. 9369, which is the Amended Elections Automation Law provides for the use of two forms of AES.

• The voters have to shade the oval which corresponds to their candidate of choice using pencil in a specially scanned paper ballot. It is composed of 2 Laptops, 2 Digital Scanners, 2 card readers, 1 hub and 1 printer. The votes in the shaded ballots will then be scanned and counted using an Automated Counting Machine (ACM).

• The first is a paper-based election system defined as “a type of automated election system that uses paper ballots, records and counts votes, tabulates, consolidates, canvasses and transmits electronically the results of the vote count.” It uses the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) Technology.

• The second form is the Direct Recording Electronic (DRE). It is defined as “a type of automated election system that uses electronic ballots, records votes by means of a ballot display provided with mechanical or electro-optical components that can be activated by the voter, processes data by means of a computer program, records voting data and ballot images, and transmits voting results electronically.” voters are provided with a Voting Pad where the photos of candidates can be selected by pressing on the desired picture. Once the vote is final, a receipt is generated after pressing ‘BOTO‘. The Board of Election Inspectors keeps the receipt just in case there are complaints raised.

http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Online/Automated_Elections_in_the_Philippines
Providers of the Technology

• Computerized elections would not be possible without Republic Act No. 9369 and the lawmakers behind it. But, ultimately, this new system of voting cannot be implemented without the technology need to run the whole system. As far as the government is concerned, making such provisions is the extent of their ability to provide computerized elections. A third party is needed to fully implement the Act by providing the government and the Philippines with the technology needed to run the elections. Here is where the technology providers come in. Different firms have showed interest in providing the machinery and computers for the Philippines’ automated elections. 11 of which are foreign companies, though only one of them will be chosen and be given the contract through a series of bidding. These are US firms Sequioa, Avante, ES/S, Hart and Scantron; Venezuela’s Smartmatic; United Kingdom’s DRS; India’s Bharat; South Korea’s DVS Korea; Gilat Solution of Israel and Spain’s Indra System. Whoever gets the contract will be renting out about 80,000 machines that will be used for the 2010 elections. Two of these providers have already serviced the elections here in the Philippines, specifically the ARMM elections.

http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Online/Automated_Elections_in_the_Philippines
Is it Feasible?

• It is feasible. An automated election, for a fact, cannot fully prevent cheating but only certain forms of it could be prevented through check and balance. It is also a fact that there is no system that is tamper proof. The following are plausible forms of check and balance: paper audit trail of ballots, protection of software source code, no switching of ballot boxes, the testing of the technologies, and the addition of some amendments on the Senate Bill No. 2231. The Automated Election Bill in the Philippines requires that there should be a voter verifiable paper audit trail. This feature of the bill will reduce the incidents of vote buying and increase the security and credibility of the people’s votes. The voter verifiable audit trail enables the voters to review and edit their votes. On the same note the right amount of protection on the automated elections' software source code would prevent hackers on hacking on to the computers for counting and thus prevents the tampering on the number of votes. On the old system, manual transmissions of ballot boxes allow the possibility of ballot switching but with the new system, it would be prevented. Another way to check if it is feasible to have an automated election without cheating to be prevalent is to test the technology itself. The technology should be checked if it is efficient and if it works the way it should be to further eliminate certain problems with it. By testing the technology, COMELEC will know beforehand if the system can be tampered as well as its errors. The Senate approved Senate Bill No. 2231, the Amendment to the Election Automation Law states additional security for the random auditing of the system and system for recount. Other kinds of check and balance are instead of writing the name, voters marks the candidate of their choice, the voter should physically feed the ballot into the machine where the ballot has its picture taken, the election returns are proposed to be automatically transmitted, the OMR machines should not be equip with any kind of communication devices, there should be seven copies of the ER to be sent to different computers, COMELEC would provide PC’s for the different parties so that they can follow the tabulation, and the statement of vote would be projected in each canvassing center so that the watchers can compare the totals.
  

• According Ustadz Esmael Ibrahim of the Assembly of Darul Ifta of the Philippines said illiteracy in the ARMM is worst in Sulu, with 40 percent of its people unlearned.

• On a national level, one in 10 Filipinos can not read and write, according to the survey.
  

• The 2003 functional literacy survey of the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed ARMM as having the lowest basic literacy rate in the country, with 30 percent of its people aged 10-64 years old considered illiterate.

http://www.jpsimbulan.com/2008/08/06/is-the-philippines-ready-for-an-automated-election-system/

As an IT student,we are aware of the possible situations that will happen. Of course, I rather choose the new system becuase of its big advantage. But there are still many questions that bugs me and we will find out after the election. As what I've read in the article "Let the “trial-and-error” in our election process begin"

“ Girl-boy Relationship is it a Boon or Bane? ”

Nowadays, students are engaging in early relationships. Most of teenagers are now doing it for fun or to experience having a relationship with the opposite sex. But is it really good for us? what can you say about this?

In the second panel discussion, the group had a very significant topic which was very important to all especially to the youth today. In their panel discussion entitled “Is Student Girl-Boy Relationship is it a Boon or Bane?” I was really confused of the panelists they had. When the speaker asks the panelists about what can they say about their topic, they were not really consistent about their answers, for I observed that they have doubts in it. The speeches were not organized and they did not presented some points and evidences or relevance in their topic. They were not ready for their topic that they don’t have the introduction, body and conclusion which are the most important of all. As one of the audience, I was really confused if they where in the boon or bane side.

What was good about their discussion was they let their spectators relate to their topic for they shared their own experiences. I learned that having a student girl-boy relationship is not good because it just an interlude of our studies and sometimes it will destroy our future.

What is a Leader Role?

- defines the relationships between the manger and employees.

Managerial Roles

Managers assume multiple roles to meet the many demands of performing their functions. Henry Mintzberg has identified ten roles common to the work of all managers.

The ten roles are divided into three groups:

· Interpersonal - link all managerial work together

· Informational - ensure that information is provided

· Decisional - make significant use of the information

The performance of managerial roles and the requirements of these roles can be played at different times by the same manager and to different degrees depending on the level and function of management. The ten roles are described individually, but they form an integrated whole.

The three interpersonal roles are primarily concerned with interpersonal relationships.

In the figurehead role:

- the manager represents the organization in all matters of formality

- the top level manager represents the company legally and socially to those outside of the organization.

- the supervisor represents the work group to higher management and higher management to the work group.

In the liaison role:

- the manger interacts with peers and people outside the organization.

- the top level manager uses the liaison role to gain favors and information, while

- the supervisor uses it to maintain the routine flow of work.

The leader role:

- defines the relationships between the manger and employees.

- The direct relationships with people in the interpersonal roles place the manager in a unique position to get information.

The three informational roles are primarily concerned with the information aspects of managerial work.

In the monitor role:

- the manager receives and collects information.

In the role of disseminator:

- the manager transmits special information into the organization.

- the top level manager receives and transmits more information from people outside the organization than the supervisor.

In the role of spokesperson:

- the manager disseminates the organization's information into its environment. Thus, the top level manager is seen as an industry expert, while the supervisor is seen as a unit or departmental expert.

- the unique access to information places the manager at the center of organizational decision making.

There are four decisional roles.

In the entrepreneur role:

- the manager initiates change.

In the disturbance handler role:

- the manger deals with threats to the organization.

In the resource allocator role:

- the manager chooses where the organization will expend its efforts.

In the negotiator role:

- the manager negotiates on behalf of the organization. The top level manager makes the decisions about the organization as a whole, while the supervisor makes decisions about his or her particular work unit.

The supervior performs these managerial roles but with different emphasis than higher managers. Supervisory management is more focused and short-term in outlook.

Thus, the figurehead role becomes less significant and the disturbance handler and negotiator roles increase in importance for the supervisor.

Since leadership permeates all activities, the leader role is among the most important of all roles at all levels of management.

"My Reflection"

Good morning! Last June 18 2009 was a very breath-taking day for me because it was our first meeting in our subject MIS ( Management Information System) with our very handsome professor/ facilitator (ahem) .
Our facilitator Mr. Randy Gamboa, discussed about our subject description which is MIS. He told us about PDOC which is the four key activities of "Management" (Planning, Directing, Organizing, Controlling) and I + S= "Software and Hardware".I was enlightened when Sir Gamboa asked us about the meaning of "Management" which means the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives and can also refer to the person or people who perform the act of management. But since we don't want to be controlled and in order for us to accomplish a goal, we need to comprise an effort and "instructed / facilitated" by the facilitator not to be "managed".

That's all.. And the rest...i'm having fun knowing our new classmates especially students from USEP-Tagum Campus who perform in front of the class..

leave your comment...

Kowts ng mga IT..yeah!

Fall in love with nurses,

For they care best.

Engineer,

Who constructs love.

Dentist?

Secures unforgettable kiss.

But dare to fall w/I.T’s,

For they reprogram broken heart. :)

"my journal..whoooaaa!"

Look for various definitions of personnel management and human resource management and their authors and sources (minimum of 5). Critique each.


..First Definition..
Within organizations that employ people, this is the function with policy responsibility for the selection and recruitment of staff, training, performance assessment, career development, disciplinary proceedings, pre-retirement advisory work, equal opportunities policies, pay bargaining, and industrial relations.
comment: I agree on this definition because within the organizations, the personnel management is the in charge of these functions combined with other management responsibilities and concerned in setting policy and its performance.

source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Definition_of_personnel_management
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.. Second Definition..
The terms "human resource management" and "human resources" (HR) have largely replaced the term "personnel management" as a description of the processes involved in managing people in organizations. Human Resource management is evolving rapidly. Human resource management is both an academic theory and a business practice that addresses the theoretical and practical techniques of managing a workforce.
comment: The definition above mentioned that Human Resource Management describe the process involved in managing people which also means giving importance on the manpower who plays an important role in an organization.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_resource_management
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..Third Definition..
Human Resource Development is the framework for helping employees develop their personal and organizational skills, knowledge, and abilities. Human Resource Development includes such opportunities as employee training, employee career development, performance management and development, coaching, succession planning, key employee identification, tuition assistance, and organization development.

comment: The above definition explains that the HRM (Human Resource Management) give some opportunities to their employees such as "employee training, employee career development,etc." that serves as framework in developing their abilities and skills. Which is very important in terms of developing the most superior workforce to serve the customers.

http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryh/f/hr_development.htm
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..Fourth Definition..

In any organization, there has to be someone concerned with the welfare and performance of persons who are a part of the operation. When an individual or a team of individuals takes on this task of seeing to programs and setting policies that impact everyone associated with the company, they are engaged in the process of personnel management, sometimes referred to as human resources management.
comment: The definition above state that Human Resources Management is the process of setting policies that impact everyone associated with the company.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-personnel-management.htm
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..Fifth Definition..

Personnel Management is responsible for the provision of specialist personnel and human resource management advisory services to departments, and the development and implementation of a relevant, coherent and modern framework of employment policies and practices throughout the University.
comment: The above definition states that Personnel Development is responsible for the provision of the said services.

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/uniservices/personnel/management/index.php