Assignment 9 (Due: Septemeber 7, 2009, 13:00hrs)

Identify an information environment of your choice and write an essay to address the following questions:

• What should be your role within this environment?
• How can the principles of information organization and representation help you in performing this role?
• What are the challenges facing you in performing the role? How will you address these challenges?


The flow of information has changed the way we live in today world. Information is the backbone of every system. Every morning when we read a newspaper having out so much information we came to know the latest happening in the world (of course in details), yeah you are right even the internet .
We can take the example of banking. It is very to transact any amount of money from part of the world to other with help of e-commerce. We can purchase anything online with help of debit and credit cards. This has made our lives more and more simple.
Now days if we want to buy to something and are not getting it nearby store then we can simply search for that thing on internet and then order it on the internet. We will get it delivered at our doorstep with just few clicks of mouse. Similarly if we want to travel around the world we can book airline tickets online and even book rooms for our hotels (of course at competitive rates). People are working on the internet without really having to go outside to their workplace.
Companies can share technologies online. Even the doctors can guide the other doctors while operating on a patient with the help of Information Technology.

A whole new world is coming in our way.

E-Commerce

Electronic commerce, commonly known as (electronic marketing) e-commerce or eCommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. The amount of trade conducted electronically has grown extraordinarily with widespread Internet usage. The use of commerce is conducted in this way, spurring and drawing on innovations in electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, Internet marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange (EDI), inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems. Modern electronic commerce typically uses the World Wide Web at least at some point in the transaction's lifecycle, although it can encompass a wider range of technologies such as e-mail as well.

A large percentage of electronic commerce is conducted entirely electronically for virtual items such as access to premium content on a website, but most electronic commerce involves the transportation of physical items in some way. Online retailers are sometimes known as e-tailers and online retail is sometimes known as e-tail. Almost all big retailers have electronic commerce presence on the World Wide Web.

Electronic commerce that is conducted between businesses is referred to as business-to-business or B2B. B2B can be open to all interested parties (e.g. commodity exchange) or limited to specific, pre-qualified participants (private electronic market). Electronic commerce that is conducted between businesses and consumers, on the other hand, is referred to as business-to-consumer or B2C. This is the type of electronic commerce conducted by companies such as Amazon.com.
Electronic commerce is generally considered to be the sales aspect of e-business. It also consists of the exchange of data to facilitate the financing and payment aspects of the business transactions.
Contemporary electronic commerce involves everything from ordering "digital" content for immediate online consumption, to ordering conventional goods and services, to "meta" services to facilitate other types of electronic commerce.

On the consumer level, electronic commerce is mostly conducted on the World Wide Web. An individual can go online to purchase anything from books or groceries, to expensive items like real estate. Another example would be online banking, i.e. online bill payments, buying stocks, transferring funds from one account to another, and initiating wire payment to another country. All of these activities can be done with a few strokes of the keyboard.
On the institutional level, big corporations and financial institutions use the internet to exchange financial data to facilitate domestic and international business. Data integrity and security are very hot and pressing issues for electronic commerce today.

My role within this environment
Electronic commerce is here to stay. No matter how big the dot-com crisis was or how far the e-entrepreneurs' shares fell in the market, the fact remains that there is still confidence in electronic trading. At least it would appear that investors are confident in e-companies again.
However, not only trust of venture capitalists is of importance -- consumers also have to have faith in on-line business. After all, without consumers there is no e-business. Interacting lawyers, technicians and economists are needed to create a trustworthy electronic commerce environment.
To achieve this environment, thorough and inter-disciplinary research is required and that is exactly what this book is about. Researchers of the project Enabling Electronic Commerce from the Dutch universities of Tilburg and Eindhoven have chosen a number of e-topics to elaborate on trust from their point of view.
This volume makes clear that the various disciplines can and will play a role in developing conditions for trust and thus contribute to a successful electronic market.

How can the principles of information organization and representation help you in performing this role?

The quality of "findability" is the ability of a user to find the information they need, regardless of whether he or she has touched it before, knows exactly where it is, or knows in which repository it resides. To manage unstructured content effectively and efficiently, it must be organized. Structure is needed to address the underlying challenge of managing content.

It helps me to...

Understand my content
The first step in coming to grips with content in any organization is to clarify your business goals. What exactly are they? Why do you need to organize this data? What strategic goal will it achieve? This basic question is often overlooked when starting a project. If there is no legitimate business reason to add metadata or build an enterprise-wide taxonomy or business classification scheme, then doing so is nothing more than a waste of money.

Get it organized. To organize information, we use a sequential process. The steps are as follows: hypothesis, audit, inventory, analyze, clean up and enrich, reorganize, and migrate. Going through each of these steps one at a time will help you achieve your goals quickly and efficiently.

Analysis, cleanup, and enrich. During the inventory you should begin to identify groups of information that belong together, such as invoices, contracts, case files, etc. You should start to capture those attributes in the form of various fields of metadata that can be added to the inventory list. This can be metadata that helps you identify, structure, or administer an object. Every bit of metadata added to an object takes time and money, so its purpose must be extremely well defined and thought through. There is no substitute for a clear metadata strategy.

Reorganize and migrate. This step is where you decide what information is relevant and should be moved into the new environment, grouping together what belongs together and migrating it from the chaotic environment that you’ve been working in to an organized and logical environment.

Establishing virtual personas
An effective means of dealing with the challenge of identifying user groups and understanding their needs is to create virtual “personas”. These are fictitious characters created to represent each of the user types within your organization, distinguished by the way they approach and consume information. These personas should be realistic and bestowed with as much detail as necessary to mimic the needs of the actual user groups.

Don’t get lost in the process
An important caveat: Don’t lose sight of the fact that information is only part of the overall user experience and it’s important not to get lost in organizing data for its own sake. Searching is one way to retrieve information and get access to it. No search engine by itself, however, will provide the perfect solution and meet the needs of all users at the same time without some careful tuning and without considering some of the alternatives and different kinds of search.


What are the challenges facing you in performing the role? How will you address these challenges?

Protecting Online Privacy
As the network technology we utilize becomes more advanced so do the security issues surrounding these technologies. Evolving from the days of "sneaker net" to gigabit ethernet has introduced seemingly infinite risks associated with our public and private networks.
The Web can be a dangerous place for consumers and businesses. One recent report says credit card fraud is now 12 times higher online than in-store, while another report pegs online fraud at four times the old-fashioned kind. No matter how you slice it, that’s a pretty scary statistic.
But we must also realize that the Web is driving double-digit sales growth and that online fraud still accounts for less than 1.2 cents out of every dollar spent online. As IT professionals, do we have a challenge managing Web security? Yes, we do, but it’s manageable.
Ease of use, flexibility and economy need to be built into the way we manage Web commerce risk. Today, the customer is asked to provide several layers of information for authentication: user ID, password, credit card number and possibly other identifying information such as his or her date of birth, address or zip code. If this information checks out with the credit card company and the business, the customer is allowed to complete the transaction.
But the natural corollary to all these layers of authentication is that consumers are wary of the Web. They know that a social security number entered online could wind up in an identity thief’s hands. They know that a phone number or e-mail address given for “questions about your order” could quickly turn into dinnertime sales pitches or junk e-mails flooding their inboxes. And they want it to stop.

Lack of Confidence Costs
Have you ever considered what you’re losing in online business by not managing security better? It’s estimated that electronic commerce would double if people had greater confidence that their privacy was protected on the Web. In fact, the lack of confidence in privacy outpaces all other concerns--including price and ease of use--in inhibiting people from buying on the Web.
Harris Interactive says 70 percent of consumers worry that their online transactions aren’t secure, and 75 percent are concerned that companies will share their personal information with others. Those fears reduced U.S. online purchasing by $15 billion last year, according to the latest consumer research.
The biggest mistake IT professionals make in assessing Web security is focusing on the challenge and not looking at the business opportunity. If you help build online relationships with customers based on trust, they will ask you to add them to your mailing lists, they will want you to recommend products from marketing partners, and they will stick by you forever.

Solution…
Privacy is the number one concern of Internet users; it is also the top reason why non-users still avoid the Internet. Survey after survey indicates mounting concern. While privacy faces threats from both private and government intrusions, the existing motley patchwork of privacy laws and practices fails to provide comprehensive protection. Instead, it causes confusion that fuels a sense of distrust and skepticism, limiting realization of the Internet's potential.
A unique combination of tools -- legal, technical, and self-regulatory -- is being designed to address the privacy concerns of Internet users. Top-priority objectives include setting limits on government access to personal information, ensuring that new information and communication technologies are designed in ways that protect rather than diminish privacy, and developing appropriate federal legislation to set baseline standards for consumer privacy. This guide is intended to educate Internet users about online privacy, and offer practical suggestions and policy recommendations.

Ways to Protect Your Privacy Online
• Learn how to read online privacy policies
• Opt-out and use any other privacy options offered
• Get a separate account for your personal e-mail
• Teach your kids not to give out personal information online without permission
• Be careful when using social networking sites and picture/video sharing sites
• Learn about - and use - the privacy features in your browser
• Make sure that online transactions are secure
• Learn how to spot phishing and other scams
• Reject or delete unnecessary cookies
• Use security software and promptly install security upgrades
• Safeguard important files and communications
• Use anonymizer tools, but cautiously
• Use strong passwords and protect them
• Use common sense

References:
http://www.ebizq.net/topics/ecm/features/1695.html?page=2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_commerce#Business_applications

Identify an information environment of your choice and write an essay to address the following questions:

• What should be your role within this environment?
  How can the principles of information organization and representation help you in performing this role?
  What are the challenges facing you in performing the role? How will you address these challenges?

The IT department is staffed with technically competent professionals that support the organization in these critical areas:

End-User Technical Support
Much of an organization’s computer processing is performed by end-users using their desktop PC. When these end-users incur a computer problem (unable to logon, printer does not work, etc.), they call the IT department for technical support. Depending on the nature of the problem, the IT department may assist the user over the phone or send a technician to their location.

Desktop Management
Managing individual desktop computers, laptops and peripherals is a cornerstone of the IT department tasks. Desktop management of individual computers includes: installation of new hardware components or software, software license administration, equipment repair and maintenance.

Network Management
Making sure that the computer network is always available with safe and secure data is the most important task for the IT department. Not only does this involve the physical installation of cabling throughout the facility, but also the installation and monitoring of the firewall, servers and other equipment to keep the network running at peak efficiency.

Voice and Data Communications
The IT department maintains the telephone and computer systems that allow employees to connect with other employees, customers and suppliers through the use of voice mail, email, faxes, message boards, and Internet and intranet web sites. This includes coordinating new requirements with third-party service providers.

Business Applications
Developing and maintaining the business systems that operate the organization are essential tasks of the IT department. This includes software for financial, manufacturing, sales and distribution systems, as well as general office administration, such as word processing and spreadsheet applications.

Strategic Technology Planning
The IT department is responsible for creating and executing a strategic technology plan that keeps the organization up-to-date with technology advances and ensures that equipment and software do not become obsolete. The technology plan also focuses on the requirements needed to support new business growth.


I choose to be in a network management. I want to become a system network administrator or personnel. I have a “little” pc troubleshooting skill. I’m quite confident diagnosing my own Personal Desktop and fix the problems in my desktop. This skill inspires me to take BSIT to improve my knowledge. And I want to extend my knowledge in network troubleshooting and management.

However I have little knowledge about this environment and I may not able discuss the responsibilities more of the job. To explain the details of Network Management an article from http://www.unameits.com/information_technology/network_management.jsp that explains the process and duties that could help me perform the role of a network administrator is written below:

Network Installation

Network Design
• Analyze existing infrastructure
• Evaluate the technology budget
• Research current and future technologies
• Perform cost benefit analysis and Return on Investment (ROI) analysis
• Assess the most appropriate network for business process improvement to meet organization goals
• Plan for network capacity based on number of users and system requirements
• Plan for expansion of network
• Develop network topology and architecture
Hardware Installation
• Install network hardware: servers, routers, switches, hubs, bridges, wireless networking
• Install data protection systems (uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), redundant array of independent disks (RAID), and tape backup systems)
• Install storage systems: storage area network (SAN), fibre channel storage, network attached storage (NAS)
• Set up storage racks to hold network hardware (servers, routers, switches)
Software Installation
• Migrate operating systems (OS), applications, hardware, and drivers
• Install software: operating systems (OS), email server, database server, web server, file transfer protocol (FTP), internet faxing
• Install redundancy and clustering technologies: network load balancing and cluster servers
• Implement remote networking: virtual private network (VPN), secure shell (SSH), remote desktop access
• Install network security: firewalls, demilitarized zone (DMZ), virtual LAN (VLAN), intrusion detection system (IDS), anti-virus software, secure socket layer (SSL)
• Install network services: domain controllers, file and print, domain name system (DNS), dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), windows internet naming service (WINS), proxy servers
Inspection and Documentation
• Perform a quality assurance (QA) inspection on every component of the network (cables, connections, etc.)
• Develop network layouts and wiring diagrams

Network Administration

Security Management
• Update firewall software
• Update anti-virus software
• Test network security: firewall, server, internal, external
Data Management
• Perform routine (daily, weekly, as required) backups of critical data
• Store data backup tapes offsite for disaster recovery capability
• Perform defragmentation (disks, databases)
User Administration
• Develop and implement workstation usage policies for employees
• Administer authorized access ID’s for new and existing employees
• Set security restrictions and network access for users
• Set end-user rights
• Limit desktop administrative rights
• Maintain domain controllers (logon scripts, profiles, domain policies)
Network Maintenance
• Schedule network maintenance
• Install network software upgrades
• Install operating system upgrades
• Update service patches and service packs
• Perform network diagnostics
• Resolve server crashes
Network Monitoring
• Monitor firewall for intrusion attacks
• Monitor logs: system, anti-virus, firewall, error, user, application
• Monitor user activity
• Monitor servers for optimal efficiency
• Perform random checks remotely to monitor user compliance
• Monitor network for usage, collision detection and performance
• Monitor back up drives and software


What are the challenges facing you in performing the role?

Assignment 9
Identify an information environment of your choice and write an essay to address the following questions: (3000 words)
GO FOR GREEN COMPUTING
The field of "green technology” encompasses a broad range of subjects — from new energy-generation techniques to the study of advanced materials to be used in our daily life. Green technology focuses on reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes and innovative technologies caused by the Earth’s growing population. It has taken upon itself the goal to provide society’s needs in ways that do not damage or deplete natural resources. Mainly this means creating fully recyclable products, reducing pollution, proposing alternative technologies in various fields, and creating a center of economic activity around technologies that benefit the environment.

Perhaps the most talked about aspect of green technology is the promise of alternative energy sources. Sun, wind, water, sugar — we’ve heard about them all. However, scientists are working on other aspects of the problem as well, testing building materials and studying chemical processes to reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances. Nanotechnology is also being used in an attempt to manipulate materials at the nanometer scale; scientists are hoping it can transform manufacturing on a global level, from government purchasing to a technological revolution.
The huge amount of computing manufactured worldwide has a direct impact on environment issues, and scientists are conducting numerous studies in order to reduce the negative impact of computing technology on our natural resources. Companies are addressing e-waste by offering take-back recycling programs and other solutions, with lower energy consumption and less wasted hardware. A central point of research is testing and applying alternative nonhazardous materials in the products’ manufacturing process.
VIA Technologies Green Computing
VIA Technologies, a Taiwanese company that manufactures motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and other computer hardware, introduced its initiative for "green computing" in 2001. With this green vision, the company has been focusing on power efficiency throughout the design and manufacturing process of its products. Its environmentally friendly products are manufactured using a range of clean-computing strategies, and the company is striving to educate markets on the benefits of green computing for the sake of the environment, as well as productivity and overall user experience.
Carbon-free computing


Carbon-free computing
(Credit: VIA)

One of the VIA Technologies’ ideas is to reduce the "carbon footprint" of users — the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide (CO2). Greenhouse gases naturally blanket the Earth and are responsible for its more or less stable temperature. An increase in the concentration of the main greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorocarbons — is believed to be responsible for Earth's increasing temperature, which could lead to severe floods and droughts, rising sea levels, and other environmental effects, affecting both life and the world's economy. After the 1997 Kyoto Protocol for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the world has finally taken the first step in reducing emissions. The emissions are mainly a result of fossil-fuel-burning power plants. (In the United States, such electricity generation is responsible for 38 percent of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions.) VIA aims to offer the world's first PC products certified carbon free, taking responsibility for the amounts of CO2 they emit. The company works with environmental experts to calculate the electricity used by the device over its lifetime, generally three years. From this data, one can conclude how much carbon dioxide the device will emit into the atmosphere during its operation. This estimate will serve as an indicator, and the company will pay regional organizations for the “sequestering,” or offsetting, of the emissions. Offsetting carbon dioxide can be achieved in different ways. One way is to plant trees that absorb CO2 as they grow, in the region in which the processors were purchased. The necessary amount of trees per processor is represented by VIA's TreeMark rating system.
In addition, VIA promotes the use of such alternative energy sources as solar power, so power plants wouldn't need to burn as much fossil fuels, reducing the amount of energy used. Wetlands also provide a great service in sequestering some of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Although they make up only 4 to 6 percent of the Earth's landmass, wetlands are capable of absorbing 20 to 25 percent of the atmospheric carbon dioxide. VIA is working closely with organizations responsible for preserving wetlands and other natural habitats, and others who support extensive recycling programs for ICT equipment. The amount paid to these organizations will be represented by a proportion of the carbon-free product’s price.
Carbon-emissions control has been a key issue for many companies who have expressed a firm commitment to sustainability. Dell is a good example of a company with a green image, known for its free worldwide product-recycling program. Dell’s Plant a Tree for Me project allows customers to offset their carbon emissions by paying an extra $2 to $4, depending on the product purchased. AMD, a global microprocessor manufacturer, is also working toward reducing energy consumption in its products, cutting back on hazardous waste and reducing its eco-impact. The company’s use of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology in its manufacturing, and strained silicon capping films on transistors (known as “dual stress liner” technology), have contributed to reduced power consumption in its products.
Solar Computing


Solar powered computing

Amid the international race toward alternative-energy sources, VIA is setting its eyes on the sun, and the company's Solar Computing initiative is a significant part of its green-computing projects. For that purpose, VIA partnered with Motech Industries, one of the largest producers of solar cells worldwide. Solar cells fit VIA's power-efficient silicon, platform, and system technologies and enable the company to develop fully solar-powered devices that are nonpolluting, silent, and highly reliable. Solar cells require very little maintenance throughout their lifetime, and once initial installation costs are covered, they provide energy at virtually no cost. Worldwide production of solar cells has increased rapidly over the last few years; and as more governments begin to recognize the benefits of solar power, and the development of photovoltaic technologies goes on, costs are expected to continue to decline. As part of VIA's “pc-1” initiative, the company established the first-ever solar-powered cyber community center in the South Pacific, powered entirely by solar technology.
Lead-Free and RoHS computing
In February 2003, the European Union adopted the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS). The legislation restricts the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment. The directive is closely linked with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), which sets collection, recycling, and recovery targets for electrical goods and is part of a legislative initiative that aims to reduce the huge amounts of toxic e-waste. Driven by these directives, VIA implemented a set of internal regulations in order to develop products that are compliant with these accepted policies, including the use of nonhazardous materials in its production of chipsets, processors, and companion chips. In 2001, they focused on lead-free manufacturing, introducing the Enhanced Ball Grid Array (EBGA) package for power efficient VIA processors and the Heat Sink Ball Grid Array (HSBGA) package for their chipsets. In traditional manufacturing processes, lead is used to attach the silicon core to the inside of the package and to facilitate integration onto the motherboard through tiny solder balls on the underside of the package. VIA's lead-free manufacturing technologies do not require a lead bead, and the solder balls now consist of a tin, silver, and copper composite.
However, not everyone is satisfied with this new objective. Howard Johnson of the online EDN magazine says that the move toward lead-free devices is not only unhelpful but actually worse for the environment. “The additional tin mining required to produce high-purity tin alloys, plus the mining of other precious metals required to alloy with tin in substitution for lead, is a poor trade for the use of existing lead, much of which comes from recycled products,” Johnson writes. He also believes that lead-free assembly is less reliable than lead-based assembly, partially due to the increased growth of tin whiskers — small, hair-like metallic growths that naturally emerge from the surface of solid tin. On lead-free tin surfaces, these whiskers can grow to a length sufficient to short an electronic circuit to another, leading to product failure.
Energy-efficient computing
A central goal of VIA’s green-computing initiative is the development of energy-efficient platforms for low-power, small-form-factor (SFF) computing devices. In 2005, the company introduced the VIA C7-M and VIA C7 processors that have a maximum power consumption of 20W at 2.0GHz and an average power consumption of 1W. These energy-efficient processors produce over four times less carbon during their operation and can be efficiently embedded in solar-powered devices.
VIA isn’t the only company to address environmental concerns: Intel, the world's largest semiconductor maker, revealed eco-friendly products at a recent conference in London. The company uses virtualization software, a technique that enables Intel to combine several physical systems into a virtual machine that runs on a single, powerful base system, thus significantly reducing power consumption. Earlier this year, Intel joined Google, Microsoft, and other companies in the launch of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative that commits businesses to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star guidelines for energy-efficient devices.
Kevin Fisher, Intel’s EU standards director, says that while the company is dedicated to its green-computing plans, it is important to not blame the IT industry alone for carbon emissions worldwide. He argues that the industry also helps in saving huge amounts of power due to the Internet, enabling, for example, online shopping and billing.

Governments go green

Energy Star logo

Many governments worldwide have initiated energy-management programs, such as Energy Star, an international standard for energy-efficient electronic equipment that was created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 and has now been adopted by several other countries. Energy Star reduces the amount of energy consumed by a product by automatically switching it into “sleep” mode when not in use or reducing the amount of power used by a product when in “standby” mode. Surprisingly, standby “leaking,” the electricity consumed by appliances when they are switched off, can represent as much as 12 percent of a typical household’s electricity consumption. In Australia, standby power is a primary factor for the country’s increased greenhouse gas emissions — more than 5 megatons (CO2 equivalent) annually.
Worldwide, standby power is estimated to account for as much as 1 percent of global greenhouse emissions. Most of the energy used by products on standby does not result any useful function. A small amount can be needed for maintaining memory or an internal clock, remote-control activation, or other features; but most standby power is wasted energy. Energy Star–enabled products minimize this waste.
In 1998, the China National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) founded the China Energy Conservation Program (CECP), a nonprofit organization in charge of the administration, management, and implementation of the certification for energy- conserving, water-saving, and environmentally friendly products. CECP is dedicated to encouraging manufacturers to produce more resource-efficient products and help consumers make more sustainable purchase decisions. CECP undertakes various projects within the national and the international arena, actively supporting improvements in energy efficiency and environmental protection and assisting social and economic sustainable development. In Japan, the Energy Conservation Center is responsible for raising public awareness on energy conservation, training and state examinations for energy managers, and their energy-conservation campaign and exhibition (ENEX).
http://thefutureofthings.com/articles/1003/green-computing.html
• What should be your role within this environment?
As a human we are here to protect everything that God given to us because these things that He given us had a value however it is the smallest thing. Is it correct that our role in this environment is just to destroy the beautifulness of the nature? No it’s not, because our role here as a creature is to take good care of all the non-living and living things. But look at what happen to our nature? As we remembered what happen to Metro Manila when typhoon “ONDOY” destroyed everything do you think we have done our part just to stop the typhoon? No, we didn’t and even the technology didn’t help to stop the typhoon.
Our role here in go for green computing is to continue everything what we have started when the time of technology is not yet popular because as of know we are dependent with the technology. We need to protect and preserve our resources in spite of the vast of the technology because technology needs our help to work with them.

• How can the principles of information organization and representation help you in performing this role?
They can help us by reminding that technology is needed us, because it will not work without the manage of human. Of course it can give us the idea to do our roles and it can help others by reminding them that our environment is very important, therefore we need to protect and conserve our resources. As a user also we need to follow tips in conserving our nature. Green computing also remind us how precious we are because we have given the chance to use technologies and I hope sometimes we will put it in our mind that nature also have a big role to us but not like us that sometimes we are not doing our role and we always happy wasting some energies by playing on lines games and by not turning off the electricity even though we are not using it.
• What are the challenges facing you in performing the role? How will you address these challenges?

The challenges thing for me is those people who don’t care about the environment because they did not perform so as a student of this organization I should be proud because even in a little way I did my role. Also one of the challenges is what happened to our environment now, it’s a lesson to those people who don’t think about tomorrow and who don’t think about the next generation. By that challenges they should be aware that not all the time people cannot control the power of our mother earth.

Information technology encompasses many aspects of computing and technology. The information technology covers many fields. IT professionals perform a variety of duties that range from installing applications to designing complex computer networks and information databases. A few of the duties that IT professionals perform may include data management, networking, engineering computer hardware, database and software design, as well as the management and administration of entire systems. Information Technology (IT) is a general term that describes any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information. Presumably, when speaking of Information Technology (IT) as a whole, it is noted that the use of computers and information are associated.

Information environment is the aggregate of individuals, organizations, or systems that collect, process, or disseminate information; also included is the information itself. If I were to choose an information environment, I would choose to work in an environment of programmers or database administrators. I can’t really pick any of them because I like them all and I would like to work in this kind of environment.

Programmer
Programmer is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to programming may also be known as a programmer analyst. A programmer's primary computer language (Lisp, Java, Delphi, C++, etc.) is often prefixed to the above titles, and those who work in a web environment often prefix their titles with web. The term programmer can be used to refer to a software developer, software engineer, computer scientist, or software analyst. However, members of these professions typically possess other software engineering skills, beyond programming; for this reason, the term programmer is sometimes considered an insulting or derogatory oversimplification of these other professions. This has sparked much debate amongst developers, analysts, computer scientists, programmers, and outsiders who continue to be puzzled at the subtle differences in these occupations.

Computer programmers write, test, debug, and maintain the detailed instructions, called computer programs that computers must follow to perform their functions. Programmers also conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. Many technical innovations in programming — advanced computing technologies and sophisticated new languages and programming tools — have redefined the role of a programmer and elevated much of the programming work done today. Job titles and descriptions may vary, depending on the organization.
Programmers work in many settings, including corporate information technology departments, big software companies, and small service firms. Many professional programmers also work for consulting companies at client' sites as contractors. Licensing is not typically required to work as a programmer, although professional certifications are commonly held by programmers. Programming is widely considered a profession (although some authorities disagree on the grounds that only careers with legal licensing requirements count as a profession).

Programmers' work varies widely depending on the type of business they are writing programs for. For example, the instructions involved in updating financial records are very different from those required to duplicate conditions on an aircraft for pilots training in a flight simulator. Although simple programs can be written in a few hours, programs that use complex mathematical formulas whose solutions can only be approximated or that draw data from many existing systems may require more than a year of work. In most cases, several programmers work together as a team under a senior programmer’s supervision.

Different programming languages are used depending on the purpose of the program. Programmers generally know more than one programming language, and because many languages are similar, they often can learn new languages relatively easily. In practice, programmers often are referred to by the language they know, such as Java programmers, or by the type of function they perform or environment in which they work—for example, database programmers, mainframe programmers, or Web programmers.
Programmers also update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs. Some, especially those working on large projects that involve many programmers, use computer-assisted software engineering (CASE) tools to automate much of the coding process. These tools enable a programmer to concentrate on writing the unique parts of a program. Programmers working on smaller projects often use “programmer environments,” applications that increase productivity by combining compiling, code walk through, code generation, test data generation, and debugging functions. Programmers also use libraries of basic code that can be modified or customized for a specific application. This approach yields more reliable and consistent programs and increases programmers’ productivity by eliminating some routine steps.

Programs vary widely depending on the type of information they will access or generate. For example, the instructions involved in updating financial records are very different from those required to simulate flight for pilot training. Simple programs can be written in a few hours, but some programs draw data from many existing systems or use complex mathematical formulas. These programs may take more than a year to create. In most cases, several programmers work together as a team under a senior programmer’s supervision.

Programmers test a program by running it to ensure that the instructions are correct and that the program produces the desired outcome. If errors do occur, the programmer must make the appropriate change and recheck the program until it produces the correct results. This process is called testing and debugging. Programmers may continue to fix problems for as long as a program is used.

Programmers working on a mainframe, a large centralized computer, may prepare instructions for a computer operator who will run the program. Programmers also may contribute to the instruction manual for a program.

Programmers in software development companies may work directly with experts from various fields to create specialized software—either programs designed for specific clients or packaged software for general use—ranging from games and educational software to programs for desktop publishing and financial planning. Programming of packaged software constitutes one of the most rapidly growing segments of the computer services industry.

Increasingly, advanced software platforms are bridging the gap between computer programmers and computer users. New platforms, such as spreadsheet, accounting, and enterprise resource planning applications, have created demand for computer specialists who have first-hand knowledge of a user-base. These workers use such platforms to develop programs that meet the specific needs of this base. Computer programmers often are responsible for creating the software platform, and then fine-tuning the final program after it has been made.

Computer programmers often are grouped into two broad types—applications programmers and systems programmers. Applications programmers write programs to handle a specific job, such as a program to track inventory within an organization. They also may revise existing packaged software or customize generic applications purchased from vendors. Systems programmers, in contrast, write programs to maintain and control computer systems software for operating systems, networked systems, and database systems. These workers make changes in the instructions that determine how the network, workstations, and central processing unit of a system handle the various jobs they have been given, and how they communicate with peripheral equipment such as terminals, printers, and disk drives. Because of their knowledge of the entire computer system, systems programmers often help applications programmers determine the source of problems that may occur with their programs.

Database Administrator

A database administrator (DBA) is a person responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance and repair of an organization's database. They are also known by the titles Database Coordinator or Database Programmer, and are closely related to the Database Analyst, Database Modeler, Programmer Analyst, and Systems Manager. The role includes the development and design of database strategies, monitoring and improving database performance and capacity, and planning for future expansion requirements. They may also plan, co-ordinate and implement security measures to safeguard the database.

The duties of a database administrator vary depending on job description, corporate and Information Technology (IT) policies and the technical features and capabilities of the DBMS being administered. They include disaster recovery (backups and testing of backups), performance analysis and tuning, data dictionary maintenance, and database design.

Job description:
A database administrator (DBA) is responsible for the performance, integrity and security of a database. Additional role requirements are likely to include planning, development and troubleshooting.
The database approach incorporates the following principles:
• data remains consistent across the database;
• data is clearly defined;
• users access data concurrently, in a form that suits their needs;
• there is provision for data security and recovery control (all data is retrievable in an emergency).

Database administrator (DBA) roles are increasingly identified by the databases and processes they administer and the capabilities of the database management system (DBMS) in use.

Typical work activities:
The work of a database administrator (DBA) varies according to the nature of the employing organization and the level of responsibility associated with the post. The work may be pure maintenance or it may also involve specializing in database development.
Typical responsibilities include some or all of the following:
• establishing the needs of users and monitoring user access and security;
• monitoring performance and managing parameters to provide fast query responses to 'front end' users;
• mapping out the ‘conceptual design’ for a planned database in outline;
• considering both 'back end' organization of data and 'front end' accessibility for end users;
• refining the ‘logical design’ so that it can be translated into a specific data model;
• further refining the ‘physical design’ to meet system storage requirements;
• installing and testing new versions of the database management system (DBMS);
• maintaining data standards, including adherence to the Data Protection Act;
• writing database documentation, including data standards, procedures and definitions for the data dictionary (‘metadata’);
• controlling access permissions and privileges;
• developing, managing and testing backup and recovery plans;
• ensuring that storage, archiving, backup and recovery procedures are functioning correctly;
• capacity planning;
• working closely with IT project managers, database programmers and web developers;
• communicating regularly with technical, applications and operational staff to ensure database integrity and security;
• commissioning and installing new applications.

Because of the increasing levels of hacking and the sensitive nature of data stored, security and recoverability or 'disaster recovery' have become increasingly important aspects of the work.

Roles of the DBA:
• Installation of new software — it is the job of the DBA to install new versions of DBMS software, application software, and other software related to DBMS administration. It is important that the DBA or other IS staff members test new software before it is moved into a production environment.
• Configuration of hardware and software with the system administrator — in many cases the system software can only be accessed by the system administrator. In this case, the DBA works closely with the system administrator to perform software installations, and to configure hardware and software so that it functions optimally with the DBMS.
• Security administration — one of the main duties of the DBA is to monitor and administer DBMS security. This involves adding and removing users, administering quotas, auditing, and checking for security problems.
• Data analysis — The DBA analyzes data stored in the database and makes recommendations relating to performance and efficiency of that data storage. This includes the effective use of indexes, enabling "Parallel Query" execution, or other DBMS specific features.
• Database design (preliminary) — The DBA can be involved at the preliminary database-design stages, eliminating many problems that might occur. The DBA knows the DBMS and system, can point out potential problems, and can help the development team with special performance considerations.
• Data modeling and optimization — by modeling the data, it is possible to optimize the system layouts to take the most advantage of the I/O subsystem.
• Responsible for the administration of existing enterprise databases and the analysis, design, and creation of new databases.
o Data modeling, database optimization, understanding and implementation of schemas, and the ability to interpret and write complex Structured Query Language (SQL) queries.
o Proactively monitor systems for optimum performance and capacity constraints.
o Establish standards and best practices for SQL.
o Interact with and coach developers in SQL scripting.


There are many challenges in performing these roles. As an IT student, you should prepare more for the real world scenario when dealing with these roles.

Challenges surround programmers each and every day, both as motivators and demotivators. While not necessarily a driver of success in every programmer, some prefer to keep it simple and focus on the familiar and ‘what they are good at.’ Nonetheless, leveraging challenges towards positive outcomes is very prevalent where good programmers are found,
challenges that foster …
• personal and career growth,
• new learning, and
• meaning

… represent the best drivers of excitement and reward.
Many programmers will always be able to find fun, productive, and new ways to challenge themselves simultaneously benefiting those around them.
Other programmers may seek a challenge that provides that personal meaning, but require a little guidance. Work with programmers and assist them in finding or building upon challenges that are new and exciting to them. Reinvigorating a common task or a persistently onerous effort through finding that challenging, motivating spark will bring new life and engagement to both the work and the programmer.
Different programmers are motivated by finding different, personally appealing, Challenges in their daily work. These challenges can be anything from …
• Optimizing speed or memory,
• Reducing the total number of source code lines,
• Satisfying the needs of a client,
• Maximizing modularity and reusability, and/or
• Crafting that perfect algorithm.

The DBA`s top three operational database management challenges are: database performance, data recovery/availability and upgrading to new database versions.

Performance means that the database does not cause unreasonable online response times, and it does not cause unattended programs to run for an unworkable period of time. In complex client-server and three-tier systems, the database is just one of many elements that determine the performance that online users and unattended programs experience. Performance is a major motivation for the DBA to become a generalist and coordinate with specialists in other parts of the system outside of traditional bureaucratic reporting lines.

Recoverability means that, if a data entry error, program bug or hardware failure occurs, the DBA can bring the database backward in time to its state at an instant of logical consistency before the damage was done. Recoverability activities include making database backups and storing them in ways that minimize the risk that they will be damaged or lost, such as placing multiple copies on removable media and storing them outside the affected area of an anticipated disaster. Recoverability is the DBA’s most important concern.

Recoverability, also sometimes called "disaster recovery," takes two primary forms. First the backup, then recovery tests.
The backup of the database consists of data with timestamps combined with database logs to change the data to be consistent to a particular moment in time. It is possible to make a backup of the database containing only data without timestamps or logs, but the DBA must take the database offline to do such a backup.
The recovery tests of the database consist of restoring the data, then applying logs against that data to bring the database backup to consistency at a particular point in time up to the last transaction in the logs. Alternatively, an offline database backup can be restored simply by placing the data in-place on another copy of the database.
If a DBA (or any administrator) attempts to implement a recoverability plan without the recovery tests, there is no guarantee that the backups are at all valid. In practice, in all but the most mature RDBMS packages, backups rarely are valid without extensive testing to be sure that no bugs or human error have corrupted the backups.
To address these challenges of a DBA, I must be prepared in these situations in case these would happen and think what the solutions in answering these challenges are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database_administrator
http://www.tri-c.edu/programs/informationtechnology/pages/home.aspx
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos110.htm
http://tpgblog.com/2009/04/06/worlds-best-programmer-challenge/
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS126315+17-Feb-2009+BW20090217
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Database_administrator

Identify an information environment of your choice and write an essay to address the following questions:

• What should be your role within this environment?
• How can the principles of information organization and representation help you in performing this role?
• What are the challenges facing you in performing the role? How will you address these challenges?

As I am doing this assignment I got confuse on how to answers the following questions. With the aid of the internet I was able to understand its meaning. It also made me realize what might I become after I graduate here in this university, what would be my possible career. This makes me realized that I was never dreamed to an IT student or to be here enrolled at this university. But because I got not choice or maybe guts to change my course I just end up loving it and trying to adopt it. But I got no regrets with it; I have learned many things with this course. I may not good at every thing like programming but what matters I have learned.

So much for that, I am going to discus the meaning of information environment and its principles. Also, I have included the principles of effective information management.

What is information Environment?

An Information Environment can be describe as the set of network or online services that support publishing and use of information and learning resources. At the moment online services providing digital resources tend to operate in a stand-alone manner. The user is therefore required to navigate a complex set of different websites with different search interfaces in order to locate relevant resources. Similarly the resources offered tend to be characterized by a lack of mediation to provide vital signposts to explain context and relevance to the user. It has been recognized that this is one of the key features limiting take up of digital resources.

In other words Information Environment is an environment where you can find the information you need in the fast and easiest way.

The information environment is the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems
that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. The actors include leaders, decision makers, individuals, and organizations. Resources include the materials and systems employed to collect, analyze, apply, or disseminate information. The information environment is where humans and automated systems observe, orient, decide, and act upon information, and is therefore the principal environment of decision making. Even though the information environment is considered distinct, it resides within each of the four domains. The information environment is made up of three interrelated dimensions: physical, informational, and cognitive.

What should be your role within this environment?

As a student specifically an Information Technology (IT) student there are many things I want to know about the vast changing technology. If you observe there are lots of technologies that are presented in the market. An Information Environment services can help me in my goals because here I can find the answers to my questions. With just one click information is presented to you. With my teachers that gives us many electronic assignment researches its hard for me to research in an environment that so confusing. Information Environment could be a great help not just for me but to all students who will going to use it. It allows us to gain knowledge and to advance our mind to things that we are not aware of.

But I can be a source of information to others. Form what I have learned in a classroom with my teachers with this I can able to share it to others by posting.

What are the principles of information?

Principles
The value of information is directly linked to how it helps decision makers achieve the organization’s goals.

Computers and information systems are constantly making it possible for organizations to improve the way they conduct business.

Knowing the potential impact of information systems and having the ability to put this knowledge to work can result in a successful personal career, organizations that reach their goals, and a society with a higher quality of life

System users, business managers, and information systems professionals must work together to build a successful information system
Information systems must be applied thoughtfully and carefully so that society, business, and industry can reap their enormous benefits
I
I have also included the 10 (ten) principles of effective information management because ‘Information management’ is an umbrella term that encompasses all the systems and processes within an organization for the creation and use of corporate information.

Information management
Improving information management practices is a key focus for many organizations, across both the public and private sectors.
This is being driven by a range of factors, including a need to improve the efficiency of business processes, the demands of compliance regulations and the desire to deliver new services.
In many cases, ‘information management’ has meant deploying new technology solutions, such as content or document management systems, data warehousing or portal applications.
These projects have a poor track record of success, and most organizations are still struggling to deliver an integrated information management environment.
Effective information management is not easy. There are many systems to integrate, a huge range of business needs to meet, and complex organizational (and cultural) issues to address.
This topic draws together a number of ‘critical success factors’ for information management projects. These do not provide an exhaustive list, but do offer a series of principles that can be used to guide the planning and implementation of information management activities.
From the outset, it must be emphasized that this is not an topic about technology. Rather, it is about the organizational, cultural and strategic factors that must be considered to improve the management of information within organizations.
In terms of technology, information management encompasses systems such as:
web content management (CM)
document management (DM)
records management (RM)
digital asset management (DAM)
learning management systems (LM)
learning content management systems (LCM)
collaboration
enterprise search
and many more…
Information management is, however, much more than just technology. Equally importantly, it is about the business processes and practices that underpin the creation and use of information.
It is also about the information itself, including the structure of information (’information architecture’), metadata, content quality, and more.
Information management therefore encompasses:
people
process
technology
content
Each of these must be addressed if information management projects are to succeed.

10 (ten) principles of effective information management

1.recognize (and manage) complexity
2.focus on adoption
3.deliver tangible & visible benefits
4.prioritize according to business needs
5.take a journey of a thousand steps
6.provide strong leadership
7.mitigate risks
8.communicate extensively
9.aim to deliver a seamless user experience
10.choose the first project very carefully


Principle 1: recognize (and manage) complexity
Organizations are very complex environments in which to deliver concrete solutions. As outlined above, there are many challenges that need to be overcome when planning and implementing information management projects.
When confronted with this complexity, project teams often fall back upon approaches such as:
Focusing on deploying just one technology in isolation.
Purchasing a very large suite of applications from a single vendor, in the hope that this can be used to solve all information management problems at once.
Rolling out rigid standardized solutions across a whole organization, even though individual business areas may have different needs.
Forcing the use of a single technology system in all cases, regardless of whether it is an appropriate solution.
Purchasing a product ‘for life’, even though business requirements will change over time.
Fully centralizing information management activities, to ensure that every activity is tightly controlled.
All of these approaches will fail, as they are attempting to convert a complex set of needs and problems into simple (even simplistic) solutions. The hope is that the complexity can be limited or avoided when planning and deploying solutions.
In practice, however, there is no way of avoiding the inherent complexities within organizations. New approaches to information management must therefore be found that recognize (and manage) this complexity.
Organizations must stop looking for simple approaches, and must stop believing vendors when they offer ’silver bullet’ technology solutions.
Instead, successful information management is underpinned by strong leadership that defines a clear direction (principle 6). Many small activities should then be planned to address in parallel the many needs and issues (principle 5).
Risks must then be identified and mitigated throughout the project (principle 7), to ensure that organizational complexities do not prevent the delivery of effective solutions.
Information systems are only successful if they are used.

Principle 2: focus on adoption
Information management systems are only successful if they are actually used by staff, and it is not sufficient to simply focus on installing the software centrally.
In practice, most information management systems need the active participation of staff throughout the organization.
For example:
Staff must save all key files into the document/records management system.
Decentralized authors must use the content management system to regularly update the intranet.
Lecturers must use the learning content management system to deliver e-learning packages to their students.
Front-line staff must capture call details in the customer relationship management system.
In all these cases, the challenge is to gain sufficient adoption to ensure that required information is captured in the system. Without a critical mass of usage, corporate repositories will not contain enough information to be useful.
This presents a considerable change management challenge for information management projects. In practice, it means that projects must be carefully designed from the outset to ensure that sufficient adoption is gained.
This may include:
Identifying the ‘what’s in it for me’ factors for end users of the system.
Communicating clearly to all staff the purpose and benefits of the project.
Carefully targeting initial projects to build momentum for the project (see principle 10).
Conducting extensive change management and cultural change activities throughout the project.
Ensuring that the systems that are deployed are useful and usable for staff.
These are just a few of the possible approaches, and they demonstrate the wide implications of needing to gain adoption by staff.
It is not enough to deliver ‘behind the scenes’ fixes.

Principle 3: deliver tangible & visible benefits
It is not enough to simply improve the management of information ‘behind the scenes’. While this will deliver real benefits, it will not drive the required cultural changes, or assist with gaining adoption by staff (principle 2).
In many cases, information management projects initially focus on improving the productivity of publishers or information managers.
While these are valuable projects, they are invisible to the rest of the organization. When challenged, it can be hard to demonstrate the return on investment of these projects, and they do little to assist project teams to gain further funding.
Instead, information management projects must always be designed so that they deliver tangible and visible benefits.
Delivering tangible benefits involves identifying concrete business needs that must be met (principle 4). This allows meaningful measurement of the impact of the projects on the operation of the organization.
The projects should also target issues or needs that are very visible within the organization. When solutions are delivered, the improvement should be obvious, and widely promoted throughout the organization.
For example, improving the information available to call centre staff can have a very visible and tangible impact on customer service.
In contrast, creating a standard taxonomy for classifying information across systems is hard to quantify and rarely visible to general staff.
This is not to say that ‘behind the scenes’ improvements are not required, but rather that they should always be partnered with changes that deliver more visible benefits.
This also has a major impact on the choice of the initial activities conducted (principle 10).
Tackle the most urgent business needs first.

Principle 4: priorities according to business needs
It can be difficult to know where to start when planning information management projects.
While some organizations attempt to priorities projects according to the ’simplicity’ of the technology to be deployed, this is not a meaningful approach. In particular, this often doesn’t deliver short-term benefits that are tangible and visible (principle 3).
Instead of this technology-driven approach, the planning process should be turned around entirely, to drive projects based on their ability to address business needs.
In this way, information management projects are targeted at the most urgent business needs or issues. These in turn are derived from the overall business strategy and direction for the organization as a whole.
For example, the rate of errors in home loan applications might be identified as a strategic issue for the organization. A new system might therefore be put in place (along with other activities) to better manage the information that supports the processing of these applications.
Alternatively, a new call centre might be in the process of being planned. Information management activities can be put in place to support the establishment of the new call centre, and the training of new staff.
Avoid ’silver bullet’ solutions that promise to fix everything.

Principle 5: take a journey of a thousand steps
There is no single application or project that will address and resolve all the information management problems of an organization.
Where organizations look for such solutions, large and costly strategic plans are developed. Assuming the results of this strategic planning are actually delivered (which they often aren’t), they usually describe a long-term vision but give few clear directions for immediate actions.
In practice, anyone looking to design the complete information management solution will be trapped by ‘analysis paralysis’: the inability to escape the planning process.
Organizations are simply too complex to consider all the factors when developing strategies or planning activities.
The answer is to let go of the desire for a perfectly planned approach. Instead, project teams should take a ‘journey of a thousand steps’.
This approach recognizes that there are hundreds (or thousands) of often small changes that are needed to improve the information management practices across an organization. These changes will often be implemented in parallel.
While some of these changes are organization-wide, most are actually implemented at business unit (or even team) level. When added up over time, these numerous small changes have a major impact on the organization.
This is a very different approach to that typically taken in organizations, and it replaces a single large (centralized) project with many individual initiatives conducted by multiple teams.
While this can be challenging to coordinate and manage, this ‘thousand steps’ approach recognizes the inherent complexity of organizations (principle 1) and is a very effective way of mitigating risks (principle 7).
It also ensures that ‘quick wins’ can be delivered early on (principle 3), and allows solutions to be targeted to individual business needs (principle 4).
Successful projects require strong leadership.

Principle 6: provide strong leadership
Successful information management is about organizational and cultural change, and this can only be achieved through strong leadership.
The starting point is to create a clear vision of the desired outcomes of the information management strategy. This will describe how the organization will operate, more than just describing how the information systems themselves will work.
Effort must then be put into generating a sufficient sense of urgency to drive the deployment and adoption of new systems and processes.
Stakeholders must also be engaged and involved in the project, to ensure that there is support at all levels in the organization.
This focus on leadership then underpins a range of communications activities (principle that ensure that the organization has a clear understanding of the projects and the benefits they will deliver.
When projects are solely driven by the acquisition and deployment of new technology solutions, this leadership is often lacking. Without the engagement and support of key stakeholder outside the IT area, these projects often have little impact.
Apply good risk management to ensure success.

Principle 7: mitigate risks
Due to the inherent complexity of the environment within organizations (principle 1), there are many risks in implementing information management solutions. These risks include:
selecting an inappropriate technology solution
time and budget overruns
changing business requirements
technical issues, particularly relating to integrating systems
failure to gain adoption by staff
At the outset of planning an information management strategy, the risks should be clearly identified. An approach must then be identified for each risk, either avoiding or mitigating the risk.
Risk management approaches should then be used to plan all aspects of the project, including the activities conducted and the budget spent.
For example, a simple but effective way of mitigating risks is to spend less money. This might involve conducting pilot projects to identifying issues and potential solutions, rather than starting with enterprise-wide deployments.

Principle 8: communicate extensively

Extensive communication from the project team (and project sponsors) is critical for a successful information management initiative.
This communication ensures that staffs have a clear understanding of the project, and the benefits it will deliver. This is a pre-requisite for achieving the required level of adoption.
With many projects happening simultaneously (principle 5), coordination becomes paramount. All project teams should devote time to work closely with each other, to ensure that activities and outcomes are aligned.
In a complex environment, it is not possible to enforce a strict command-and-control approach to management (principle 1).
Instead, a clear end point (’vision’) must be created for the information management project, and communicated widely. This allows each project team to align themselves to the eventual goal, and to make informed decisions about the best approaches.
For all these reasons, the first step in an information management project should be to develop a clear communications ‘message’. This should then be supported by a communications plan that describes target audiences, and methods of communication.
Project teams should also consider establishing a ‘project site’ on the intranet as the outset, to provide a location for planning documents, news releases, and other updates.
Staffs do not understand the distinction between systems.

Principle 9: aim to deliver a seamless user experience
Users don’t understand systems. When presented with six different information systems, each containing one-sixth of what they want, they generally rely on a piece of paper instead (or ask the person next to them).
Educating staff in the purpose and use of a disparate set of information systems is difficult, and generally fruitless. The underlying goal should therefore be to deliver a seamless user experience, one that hides the systems that the information is coming from.
This is not to say that there should be one enterprise-wide system that contains all information.
There will always be a need to have multiple information systems, but the information contained within them should be presented in a human-friendly way.
In practice, this means:
Delivering a single intranet (or equivalent) that gives access to all information and tools.
Ensuring a consistent look-and-feel across all applications, including standard navigation and page layouts.
Providing ’single sign-on’ to all applications.
Ultimately, it also means breaking down the distinctions between applications, and delivering tools and information along task and subject lines.
For example, many organizations store HR procedures on the intranet, but require staff to log a separate ‘HR self-service’ application that provides a completely different menu structure and appearance.
Improving on this, leave details should be located alongside the leave form itself. In this model, the HR application becomes a background system, invisible to the user.
Care should also be taken, however, when looking to a silver-bullet solution for providing a seamless user experience. Despite the promises, portal applications do not automatically deliver this.
Instead, a better approach may be to leverage the inherent benefits of the web platform. As long as the applications all look the same, the user will be unaware that they are accessing multiple systems and servers behind the scenes.
Of course, achieving a truly seamless user experience is not a short-term goal. Plan to incrementally move towards this goal, delivering one improvement at a time.
The first project must build momentum for further work.

Principle 10: choose the first project very carefully
The choice of the first project conducted as part of a broader information management strategy is critical. This project must be selected carefully, to ensure that it:
demonstrates the value of the information management strategy
builds momentum for future activities
generates interest and enthusiasm from both end-users and stakeholders
delivers tangible and visible benefits (principle 3)
addresses an important or urgent business need (principle 4)
can be clearly communicated to staff and stakeholders (principle
assists the project team in gaining further resources and support
Actions speak louder than words. The first project is the single best (and perhaps only) opportunity to set the organization on the right path towards better information management practices and technologies.
The first project must therefore be chosen according to its ability to act as a ‘catalyst’ for further organizational and cultural changes.
In practice, this often involves starting with one problem or one area of the business that the organization as a whole would be interested in, and cares about.
For example, starting by restructuring the corporate policies and procedures will generate little interest or enthusiasm. In contrast, delivering a system that greatly assists salespeople in the field would be something that could be widely promoted throughout the organization.

Conclusion
Implementing information technology solutions in a complex and ever-changing organizational environment is never easy.
The challenges inherent in information management projects mean that new approaches need to be taken, if they are to succeed.
This has enumerated ten key principles of effective information management. These focus on the organizational and cultural changes required to drive forward improvements.
This also outline a pragmatic, step-by-step approach to implementing solutions that starts with addressing key needs and building support for further initiatives. A focus on adoption then ensures that staff actually uses the solutions that are deployed.
Information management challenges
Organizations are confronted with many information management problems and issues. In many ways, the growth of electronic information (rather than paper) has only worsened these issues over the last decade or two.
Common information management problems include:
Large number of disparate information management systems.
Little integration or coordination between information systems.
Range of legacy systems requiring upgrading or replacement.
Direct competition between information management systems.
No clear strategic direction for the overall technology environment.
Limited and patchy adoption of existing information systems by staff.
Poor quality of information, including lack of consistency, duplication, and out-of-date information.
Little recognition and support of information management by senior management.
Limited resources for deploying, managing or improving information systems.
Lack of enterprise-wide definitions for information types and values (no corporate-wide taxonomy).
Large number of diverse business needs and issues to be addressed.
Lack of clarity around broader organizational strategies and directions.
Difficulties in changing working practices and processes of staff.
Internal politics impacting on the ability to coordinate activities enterprise-wide.
While this can be an overwhelming list, there are practical ways of delivering solutions that work within these limitations and issues.
Information management issues can be overwhelming.