Assignment 1 (Due: before November 14, 2009, 13:00hrs)

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there? (at least 3000 words)

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there? (at least 3000 words)

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there?

I see myself as a systems analyst or an IT consultant 10 years from now. I know there are still a lot of things to search out, explore, discover and improve along the way in reaching that dream but there could never stop you from attaining that goal or dream. As one speaker says, "you are the greatest prophet of yourself". So what you say to yourself will become you but it should be accompanied with actions or work. I still need to do something to get my goal though there are struggles, frustrations and problems that may be encountered on my way to that dream. I need to overcome the level I am now to reach that dream. I believe 10 years is too far in reaching it as long as I will do the things I need to do now in preparation for that goal.

Systems Analyst

A systems analyst is responsible for researching, planning, coordinating and recommending software and system choices to meet an organization's business requirements. The systems analyst plays a vital role in the systems development process. A successful systems analyst must acquire four skills: analytical, technical, managerial, and interpersonal. Analytical skills enable systems analysts to understand the organization and its functions, which helps him/her to identify opportunities and to analyze and solve problems. Technical skills help systems analysts understand the potential and the limitations of information technology. The systems analyst must be able to work with various programming languages, operating systems, and computer hardware platforms. Management skills help systems analysts manage projects, resources, risk, and change. Interpersonal skills help systems analysts work with end users as well as with analysts, programmers, and other systems professionals.

Because they must write user requests into technical specifications, the systems analysts are the liaisons between vendors and the IT professionals of the organization they represent. They may be responsible for developing cost analysis, design considerations, and implementation time-lines. They may also be responsible for feasibility studies of a computer system before making recommendations to senior management.

A systems analyst performs the following tasks:

* Interact with the customers to know their requirements
* Interact with designers to convey the possible interface of the software
* Interact/guide the coders/developers to keep track of system development
* Perform system testing with sample/live data with the help of testers
* Implement the new system
* Prepare High quality Documentation

Many systems analysts have morphed into business analysts. And, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that "Increasingly, employers are seeking individuals who have a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in information systems."

IT Consultant

A consultant (from the Latin consultare means "to discuss" from which we also derive words such as consul and counsel) is a professional who provides advice in a particular area of expertise such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law (tax law, in particular), human resources, marketing, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public affairs, communication, engineering, sound system design, graphic design, or waste management.

A consultant is usually an expert or a professional in a specific field and has a wide knowledge of the subject matter. A consultant usually works for a consultancy firm or is self-employed, and engages with multiple and changing clients. Thus, clients have access to deeper levels of expertise than would be feasible for them to retain in-house, and may purchase only as much service from the outside consultant as desired. It is generally accepted good corporate governance to hire consultants as a check to the Principal-Agent problem.

Information technology consulting (IT consulting, Computer consultancy, Computing consultancy, technology consulting or business and technology services) is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives. In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf.

The IT consulting industry can be viewed as a three-tier system:

* Professional services firms which maintain large professional workforces and command high bill rates.
* Staffing firms, which place technologists with businesses on a temporary basis, typically in response to employee absences, temporary skill shortages and technical projects.
* Independent consultants, who function as employees of staffing firms (for US tax purposes, employed on "W-2"), or as independent contractors in their own right (for US tax purposes, on "1099").

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* 1 See also
* 2 References

There is a relatively unclear line between management consulting and IT consulting. There are sometimes overlaps between the two fields, but IT consultants often have degrees in computer science, electronics, technology, or management information systems while management consultants often have degrees in accounting, economics, Industrial Engineering, finance, or a generalized MBA (Masters in Business Administration).

According to the Institute for Partner Education & Development, IT consultants' revenues come predominantly from design and planning based consulting with a mixture of IT and Business Consulting. This is different from a Systems Integrator in that you do not normally take title to product. Their value comes from their ability to integrate and support technologies as well as determining product and brands.

Here are my strategies:

1. Plan

This should be the first step that I'm going to do. I should plan all the things that I should do and consider in attaining my dream 10 years from now. Every step that I should take should be planned. This is one of the most important thing to do in order that I may have focus in my dream. In addition to this, I have taken some sources to give more idea in planning.

Planning is one of the most important project management and time management techniques. Planning is preparing a sequence of action steps to achieve some specific goal. If you do it effectively, you can reduce much the necessary time and effort of achieving the goal.

A plan is like a map. When following a plan, you can always see how much you have progressed towards your project goal and how far you are from your destination. Knowing where you are is essential for making good decisions on where to go or what to do next.

One more reason why you need planning is again the 80/20 Rule. It is well established that for unstructured activities 80 percent of the effort give less than 20 percent of the valuable outcome. You either spend much time on deciding what to do next, or you are taking many unnecessary, unfocused, and inefficient steps.

Planning is also crucial for meeting your needs during each action step with your time, money, or other resources. With careful planning you often can see if at some point you are likely to face a problem. It is much easier to adjust your plan to avoid or smoothen a coming crisis, rather than to deal with the crisis when it comes unexpected.

Planning is a process for accomplishing purpose. It is blue print of business growth and a road map of development. It helps in deciding objectives both in quantitative and qualitative terms. It is setting of goals on the basis of objectives and keeping in view the resources.

What should a plan be?

A plan should be a realistic view of the expectations. Depending upon the activities, a plan can be long range, intermediate range or short range. It is the framework within which it must operate. For management seeking external support, the plan is the most important document and key to growth. Preparation of a comprehensive plan will not guarantee success, but lack of a sound plan will almost certainly ensure failure.

Purpose of Plan

Just as no two organizations are alike, so also their plans. It is therefore important to prepare a plan keeping in view the necessities of the enterprise. A plan is an important aspect of business. It serves the following three critical functions:

* Helps management to clarify, focus, and research their business's or project's development and prospects.
* Provides a considered and logical framework within which a business can develop and pursue business strategies over the next three to five years.
* Offers a benchmark against which actual performance can be measured and reviewed.

Importance of the planning Process

A plan can play a vital role in helping to avoid mistakes or recognize hidden opportunities. Preparing a satisfactory plan of the organization is essential. The planning process enables management to understand more clearly what they want to achieve, and how and when they can do it.

A well-prepared business plan demonstrates that the managers know the business and that they have thought through its development in terms of products, management, finances, and most importantly, markets and competition.

Planning helps in forecasting the future, makes the future visible to some extent. It bridges between where we are and where we want to go. Planning is looking ahead.

How to write an action plan

When writing an action plan to achieve a particular goal or outcome, you can get much help from the following steps.

* Clarify your goal. Can you get a visual picture of the expected outcome? How can you see if you have reached your destination? What does make your goal measurable? What constraints do you have, like the limits on time, money, or other resources.

* Write a list of actions. Write down all actions you may need to take to achieve your goal. At this step focus on generating and writing as many different options and ideas as possible. Take a sheet of paper and write more and more ideas, just as they come to your mind. While you are doing this, try not to judge or analyze.

* Analyze, prioritize, and prune. Look at your list of actions. What are the absolutely necessary and effective steps to achieve your goal? Mark them somehow. After that, what action items can be dropped from in the plan without significant consequences for the outcome. Cross them out.

* Organize your list into a plan. Decide on the order of your action steps. Start from looking at your marked key actions. For each action, what other steps should be completed before that action? Rearrange your actions and ideas into a sequence of ordered action steps. Finally, look at your plan once again. Are there any ways to simplify it even more?

* Monitor the execution of your plan and review the plan regularly. How much have you progressed towards your goal by now? What new information you have got? Use this information to further adjust and optimize your plan.

2. Study/School/Education

The second thing to do is to identify a school for me, which I am now, to be fully equipped, shaped and trained in order give me a knowledge about what my dream is all about. Studying or identifying myself in a school is an essential tool for to improve my interpersonal skills, technical skills and my mental aspect.

Education in its broadest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another.

Teachers in educational institutions direct the education of students and might draw on many subjects, including reading, writing, mathematics, science and history. This process is sometimes called schooling when referring to the education of teaching only a certain subject, usually as professors at institutions of higher learning. There is also education in fields for those who want specific vocational skills, such as those required to be a pilot. In addition there is an array of education possible at the informal level, such as, in museums and libraries, with the Internet and in life experience.

The right to education has been described as a basic human right: since 1952, Article 2 of the first Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights obliges all signatory parties to guarantee the right to education. At world level, the United Nations' International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 guarantees this right under its Article 13.

Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and many other super achievers never finished grade school. They succeeded because they knew how to research, collect information for a selected project and process knowledge. Classroom environment does not work that way, it focuses on the collection of knowledge without a clear purpose, other than high-class grades. If the purpose does not motivate, other than to please the teacher, then there is nothing to process outside of memorizing answers for test. The typical student is academic challenged while being motivation starved. Lack of motivation is lack of knowledge processing skills. The typical college graduate will have a professional skill that supplies life’s basic needs, that’s all.

What is education? The answer is, all elements in the opening paragraph and more, relate to education and all should be considered. This would be ideal and sounds good, but "all" is not possible where performance must be measured. Only what can be measured will be selected and the measuring tool is the written test. Anyone who does not have the ability to put clear thoughts on paper is labeled a failure. All natural skills, including knowledge processing, does not count. The fact is, what is exercised grows stronger, what is ignored stays dormant. The classroom exercises the collection of academics leaving all other natural skills in the closet.

Test does not measure intelligence or ability, it does not measure how the mind processes information, how motivating experiences develop persistence, or how the mind sorts out instincts, opinions, evaluations, possibilities, alternatives. Knowledge by itself has no value, it is like a dictionary filled with words. Words by themselves have no value, it is the process of stringing them together that gives them value. How they are strung together determines the level of value. Now our education system is becoming a system that memorizes the dictionary. When students have memorized selected knowledge, then they will be given a one-day test, based on dictionary knowledge, which will influence employment opportunity for the rest of their life. Natural skills are not considered. Is this how America became the worlds' economic leader? NO! Knowledge only has value when used with a process and process in an artificial environment is not predictable or measurable.

Achievers in life use inspiration and motivation to overcome barriers. Teaching to the test does not inspire or motivate anyone, memorizing does not inspire a love to learn, in fact, it does just the opposite, it turns off the desire to learn. Education’s goal should be to develop a love to learn that stays with students throughout a lifetime. Education should be a lifetime experience, not limited to the youth years.

Educators are switching to test because there is a crisis in education of their own making and society wants measurable results. This pressure is passed on to political leaders who base political decisions on what is measurable, which is academic test and test are based on acceptance of the status quo. Every student must now accept the status quo and be an academic intellectual or be labeled a failure. Natural talent and knowledge processing skills does not count. Students receiving the failure label are growing in numbers and percent, all because the system measures selected knowledge on a one day standardized paper test.

Consider the parent who is having a problem with a word processor. On their own they can’t solve the problem. They have been collecting knowledge for years, but their knowledge processor is in hibernation. With any new gadget someone has to teach them, they can’t figure it out for themselves. Their thirteen-year-old boy comes to the rescue. He has limited knowledge, but he knows how to processes available information. He explores the word processor problem until he finds a solution. He is not unusually smart, this is a teenager’s natural approach to finding solutions.

All young children have a natural talent for creative process of information. It’s during the teen years that natural creative processing is replaced with the status quo. The status quo memorizes knowledge and forgets how to process it. In the classroom, memorizing is what counts. Standardized test reinforces the status quo. It kills creative processing ability. Status quo attitudes will follow them into adult life where they will have to ask their children for help.

Today, the education has a new tool on the market. Behavior control drugs. Any student who refuses to accept the status quo is labeled a troublemaker and will be drugged. The student now behaves in the classroom with glassy eyes and school officials receive high performance ratings. The student may get passing grades and land a job with a comfortable wage, but that will be all. Teenage dreams of great ambitions are gone.

Fact: Self-made millionaires are not "A" students in the classroom. The way they process knowledge is in conflict with classroom priorities. The self-made millionaire has a vision, then he researches specific knowledge, applies intuitive knowledge and process all elements, searching for a workable solution. Finding alternative ways to do common tasks makes millionaires. The secret is vision, research and processing, not pre stored knowledge.

The typical employer wants employees with dictionary knowledge, not visionaries. They want employees who follow orders, are willing to do repetitive tasks, be happy with a limited role, and accept the status quo. Repetitive tasks' is efficiency and this is where profits are made. Also, accepting the status quo prevents the exposure of blunders by leaders. Too many blunders and profits disappear. In a status quo environment visionaries become bored quickly and soon receive the troublemaker label by offering alternatives or exposing blunders, sometimes leading to dismissal, yet, their ideas increase efficiency and create new sources of profits for the company. In the long haul, visionaries are the one’s who make above average wages no matter what their formal education level. The education system now has the tools to kill off this type of person, behavior control drugs! As these students move into the workforce, status quo and blunders will kill off the typical business.

What can be considered a quality education? A quality education is custom design that addresses the unique abilities of each student and has a positive emotional experience. Custom education evaluates natural talent and how the student learns. This is why home schooled students out perform classroom students. Parents learn what works and does not work, then focus on what works. With this method, students develop a love to learn and learning becomes a lifelong process.

>>to be continued..


References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_analyst
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology_consulting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultant
http://www.time-management-guide.com/planning.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning
http://www.time-management-guide.com/plan.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education
http://www.motivation-tools.com/youth/what_is_education.htm

*wala pa nahuman..

References:
http://www.whoi.edu/services/HR/jobdescp/administrative/mismgr.htm
http://www.sd-lb.com/WhitePapers/WP_MISProfile.pdf
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-management-information-systems.htm

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there?

At first when I enrolled at this course I have no idea on what this course is all about. Because this course is not one of the course that I have in mind after I graduated high school. When I was just in high school I really want to take architecture, that’s why I have taken entrance exam in different schools here in Davao. I’m afraid that the result of those entrance exams is failure that’s why I took more entrance exams in different schools that are not offering architecture. Actually taking an entrance exam in USEP is just one of my back-up plans. But luckily not one of those exams that I took had failed. My Grandmother really wants me to study in Ateneo. But when we visited my aunt’s house she asked me if I had taken an entrance exam in USEP and I said yes. She told me that USEP is nice school with low tuition fee. After I heard all the good things that my aunt said to me about the school I decided that I want to enroll in that school. Because before, I am just a happy go lucky person. The things that are in my mind before after I heard what my aunt told me about the school is if I enroll in a low tuition fee school my allowance will increase. That’s why I want to enroll at USEP because it is high standard university and have a low tuition so my allowance will increase. Because I’m a happy go lucky person I just do what I want to do. Hahahaha. I’m really stupid. After that I have to choose what course that I will take in USEP. When I was young until now, I really love art and I always draw. When I was in high school, I became addicted to music. I learn how to play musical instruments and have our band and I also became part of the school’s dance troop. I also became addicted to video game, that’s why I choose IT. Before, I want to be an animator or graphic artist. I want to use technology to enhance my skills in art. But when I became an IT student, I understand what an IT is all about. Although it is somehow related to what I have in mind before, but IT is more than what I think of it before. As time goes I’ve became more interested about this course.

IT has wide scope of fields. IT professional can work in a variety of work area, such as Programming, Engineering, Database Administration, Networking, Web Development, E-commerce and IT consultant.

IT professional create, operate, maintain and program computers. IT professional must have the skills and knowledge required to carry out specialized tasks in a recognized field of IT.

To be a competent IT professional, you must know what the expectations of your colleagues, your industry, your clients and the general public are. Meeting these expectations is what qualifies you to call yourself a professional, and what gives you recognition as a professional. Because like our MIS teacher said there many IT professional nowadays that is not worthy to be called IT professional. In today's world the role of the IT professional is crucial. IT has become an essential resource for most organizations. The evolving scenario is one of a growing complexity of computer systems and businesses dependence on them. Qualified and competent IT professionals are needed to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of computers.

10 years from now I see myself as a competent IT professional specialized in many fields. But before that I want to talk about the things that might happen before I reach 31. There are many things I want to learn in achieve in the field that I’ve chosen. I want to be a web developer, IT educator, Database administrator and be an IT consultant. I even want to be a 2D and 3D animator and do 2d and 3D modeling to practice my artistic skills.

10 years from now I see myself working in a big company as a successful IT professional. 10 years from now I see myself as an IT manager, system analyst, DBA or web developer. But I really want to be an IT consultant.

Information technology consulting is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives. In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf.

The IT consulting industry can be viewed as a three-tier system:

• Professional services firms which maintain large professional workforces and command high bill rates.
• Staffing firms, which place technologists with businesses on a temporary basis, typically in response to employee absences, temporary skill shortages and technical projects.
• Independent consultants, who function as employees of staffing firms, or as independent contractors in their own right.

There is a relatively unclear line between management consulting and IT consulting. There are sometimes overlaps between the two fields, but IT consultants often have degrees in computer science, electronics, technology, or management information systems while management consultants often have degrees in accounting, economics, Industrial Engineering, finance, or a generalized MBA (Masters in Business Administration).

According to the Institute for Partner Education & Development, IT consultants' revenues come predominantly from design and planning based consulting with a mixture of IT and Business Consulting. This is different from a Systems Integrator in that you do not normally take title to product. Their value comes from their ability to integrate and support technologies as well as determining product and brands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology_consulting

I know that getting in that position is not an easy thing to do. In order to become a competent IT professional you should work hard and be knowledgeable about the IT industry to meet the demands of the company that you’re working for.

To be an IT professional that I want to be someday it is essential to have strategies and plans on how to get there.

Strategies

First is to finish my studies as an IT student and obtain my college diploma. This is the very first step to become an IT professional. Because without your college degree the dream of becoming an IT professional will be out of reach.

Know some IT people and become familiar with the IT industry. People in the IT industry could really help me grow as an IT professional because along the way I will know people that have the skills and abilities that I don’t have. I could learn many things from those people. Exchanging knowledge with IT professionals could really help me great.

Gaining enough work experience. Gaining enough experience could really help me grow to become a competent IT professional because experience is the best teacher.

Training and workshop. Training is very important in achieving my goal. Because training can help me acquire new knowledge and skills. And training can also strengthen me and convert my weakness into strength.

Have an inspiration. You should have an inspiration so that you could stay in the path that you are taking. To remind you on why you are here, why are you doing this and why you want to become somebody someday.

And the last is, to enjoy everything that you are doing and love your work. Hahahaha. Just enjoy.

After working with the company and obtaining knowledge on how to run the company. I will start my own business and have my own company someday. Wish me luck.

"Ten years from now...I will be leading the team in automating business and non-business transactions in the city's local government units..."

A dream. An aspiration. But knowing the possibilities of time, that is not far from getting true. Who knows?

When our professor met our class for an orientation of the subject Management Information System 2, he asked the same question. Most of us were inaudible as to what we really imagined our lives to be in the next decade. Some were called to stand and verbalize their thoughts. But none of us I guess, satisfied our instructor. It was the same as answering the question 'what would you want to be when you grow up?' during the end of elementary and high school years.

As I was deliberating my thoughts of how to answer the question, I also asked myself what would really be me in the next few years after I finish my studies? Should I be one of those fresh graduates who venture into freelance jobs or apply to other colleges and universities for part-time teaching and enrolling in masteral degrees at the same time? Nevertheless, I discard the idea though I am not so sure of how my future would look like.

When one of our classmates cited that he wanted to go and work abroad (peace, Franz!) and our instructor moaned a disagreeing tone discouraging everyone to go abroad immediately just a few years after graduation, it helped me organize my ideas in a clearer view. What our instructor wants is for us to realize that we are scholars of our localities and the nation expects us to serve our very own than the other foreign nations. Furthermore he said that developed countries are not anymore hiring IT professionals for they are now into outsourcing.

The first point stated by our instructor led me to one thing I have been thinking some time ago. What most of the people nowadays wanted is to go abroad and land into jobs there where they could earn a relatively higher rate than what our local employers could give. Practicality, that is what they said. With the economic crisis gradually tightening our belt stiffly, I would not be surprised that more and more Filipinos are applying jobs outside leaving their lovedd ones behind just to provide the financial needs of the family. Maybe that is the common reason why most college students took courses in demand in the foreign countries. But me? I have the slightest idea of the global demand status of my course. I thought that if ever opportunity comes, maybe I could grab it. But I never thought of aspiring to work outside though, it never crossed my mind that I will be pressuring myself to finish my studies and be eager to work abroad. I choose to work here.

My professor was right. We have been lucky to be studying in a state university. It is then worthy for the government and the country to be served by us, who have been given the chance to have college education. I think it would not be detrimental if we just have to spend even a few years to work here before venturing to greener pasture if we have plans to do it. Not only we could gain experience in working here but we will be able to pay back what our country have given to us by sharing our knowledge and skills for the benefit of our own. It should end that way, shouldn't it? How could we let the other countries get the benefit of our services when our own nation lacks assistance and needs help? It is just the same as 'why are we suffering financial budget just to import goods we consume while we are exporting world-class raw materials for the products that we buy?' Silly, isn't it? That is what we hear from the news and current affairs regarding the economy of our society.

As an Information Technology student, I have learned the value of how important and critical even just a single bit of data or a simple detail of information is for an organization. With the computerized system we have nowadays, the rise of economy in developed countries relies much on the software and hardware aspects of technology. And we, people have big roles in leading our nation from scratch to riches. We may not have the technology other big countries have but I believe we have enough resources and skillful people to start small. Enough to survive on our own. Only these resources are not utilized to their real functions that is why it is not performing well according to its purpose. I think the authorities failed to invest more on developing and maximizing the resources we have to its full worth.

I will tell you an evident thing why I was able to say that. Just look at our government and private transactions. While the foreign countries are mechanizing their industries, we still use the old manual (and convenient) way of processing our documents. Convenient for those who have been used to it and refuse to give in to the new flow of modernity. We, students are studying the what's and how's of the trends and applications of technology yet we could not find it anywhere being used WIDELY especially in mission-critical or even private business organizations locally. Only some. Just a few I guess, contrary to others who are using it almost in all establishments and institutions. I knew we all know of the advantages of computerized systems and that it is not that easy to switch immediately to automation. I am happy that some organizations are considering helping private institutions improve their manual systems by introducing applications of IT into business. I guess that should where we should fall into the picture. We have big roles in helping the organizations use the information technology to the benefit of the business.

Say for example, my mom works in the local government unit (e.g. barangay) in our place. I could not exactly recall when or what year she has been staying for soooo long in the office until late in the evening just to finish all these sorts of paper works. I could still remember, she called me in asking me to help her with some computations and listings and everything that she could not do alone without getting late for the deadline. The works are just easy-to-average but kind of pain in the head. Imagine a sort of numbers and forms to be filled up, copied, referenced, computed, updated, and reprinted again. If in any case the numbers and budgets are not in tally the job has to be redone. If entries are not on the right track, reviews should be made and you will find yourself getting back to scratch over and over again. Hassle, isn’t it? The only system computerized in their office, I guess, is the encoding of data and printing of all kinds of papers and forms to be submitted and signed by the officials. I could not find a single system where it is not just used for printing and encoding ONLY but something else. Hopefully they had. But unfortunately, even the higher office which requires them to process their documents are also doing almost the same thing – manual processing of data. I am not surprised to see bulks of papers in the tables in the offices where you can only see heads of the people working on it because they are all covered with piles of documents. And what makes it annoying is that if the higher office finds some erroneous parts on the documents, the recent ones you are working in the present would be affected. So the result, you will be reviewing the stuff from the past months or years and stop the current document you are working now. Not mentioning that as the time goes by, your job to be done is also piling up in queue and the budget your office is allocating for current projects will be delayed due to chain effects of the process. Whew! Just imagine the stress that manual processing could do. I guess it would just be okay if what you are processing are only just some sorts of simple things. But it is complicated.

Thinking about these made me wonder if the local government already has or starting to have (or just planning to have!) a convenient way of gradually changing these manual system of processing documents in the local barangays into computerized and centralized way. I could really imagine other employees too with almost the same duties as my mom has. They are doing jobs overtime with no extra pay (sometimes, depending on what institution you are working with) but just concerned of beating the deadline so to get things done.

This is just a simple scenario where we could apply the basic advantages of an automated system. That is, to reduce difficulties caused by manual data processing. Regarding data storage, an office could house thousands of papers if manual system will be pursued up to now. There will be problems in finding just a single sheet of form if needed because it will take time to sort files and folders and cabinets and drawers and before you realize, you spent two hours delaying your other tasks just to find a single important document where in fact you could search the archives of your database in the computer if and then these things are stored in the computer. Regarding data security, you will have lots of cabinets and drawers with various files and folders to be protected from fire, water, insects, and interested third parties who might want to grab your data. Plus, much of these are taking space in your office not mentioning the eyesore it gives for failure to maintain orderliness in your workplace. Human errors which may happen every now and then will reduce the accuracy of data and that would eventually lead to unreliability of information. How I wish every business and non-business transactions in the local government units and private organizations will be as easy and convenient as a computerized and automated system of data processing.

..continuation on next thread...

..first part on previous thread...

As an IT professional in the very near future, I am very positive that I will be of help to my nation by sharing my knowledge and skills and applying what I have learned to the benefit of my community. I know there may be lots of IT graduates and professionals out there who are more skillful than me but I am saying to myself that I could also give a part of me to my country. A good start is to lend a hand in planning a good way of easing the complexity of works in the manual system.

By helping and visiting some time in my mom’s office, I was able to observe the flow of what they were working. This gave me the idea of identifying some points from which possible problems would arise. Most of the time I would not touch any of my mother’s work for fear that I might mess up with her things or take her out of her concentration. So I would choose to explore the office computers to find interesting things whatever that would catch my attention. And oftentimes when I do not find any games or sort of recreations, I would content myself with searching the archives of word and spreadsheet documents saved in the computers. Boring, isn’t it? But inspecting these files makes me realize that we are really lacking in the appropriate skills even in just organizing files and folders of our office. With this, how can the government consider making its way to full automation of processing documents? Not all employees and staff working in the government units have basic knowledge in computers.

I think the government is also considering the fact that it would take much time and effort on the end-user part that will be undergoing training when the automation of manual data processing will be pursued. That is why, maybe, the human resources that are working in the present and are conveniently working their tasks according to what and how they have been used to do it are just enduring the system.

But what about the next generation that will replace the staff in the long run? Won’t they think of an easier, more convenient way of working? Of course, they are not the only ones who will benefit this. I am sure the government is gradually making steps in doing away with the old data processing and shift to electronic automation.

In the moment I am kind of starting a simple program of storing lists of sponsored scholars I have found in the office computer into a database and retrieve it just like what we do in our school projects. I am not giving pressure to myself since nobody asked me to do that but I was thinking that I might do it part by part only by some point in time when I happen to visit the office. I was envisioning myself of making an automated system in our barangay where my mom and other barangay staff would not find hard times in searching the archives and updating the database of whatever information they want to store or retrieve. And as a consolation to myself, I was just imagining that because of the system that I might be doing, our barangay will be known and acknowledged by the city government and the other barangays and would eventually be given a reward for this wonderful innovation. Hahahaha! That is just a dream but I actually wanted to do it anyhow. Who knows, if it ever happens then the local government would make our barangay a premier in automated transactions and they would realize that they should also start doing the same to the other barangays and the central office. In that way they would consider investing budget for this simple innovation and will eventually lead to automation of all business and non-business transactions. Act begets act.

And because of that little concern I did, I will gain experience in applying the concepts I have learned to my community. Ten years from now, I will be leading the team in automating business and non-business transactions in the city’s local government units. In the next five years, I am envisioning myself as part of a group of advocates who desires for the improvement of data processing in a centralized office. I will be helping my local barangay in developing and using programs and applications that will lessen the hassles and disadvantages of the manual system. Through this, more and more tasks will be quickly and accurately done because processing time will be reduced. Eventually, more people will be served and will be happy because of the prompt response of the personnel in the offices.

Well, before we let our minds wander through the imagination of the future let us think of the present first. Of course, what I am thinking of tomorrow would not be as effortless as picking an apple in the tree. I need strategies to get to my goal. And one of these is to invest in the present.

Before I could lead the team of IT professionals I should prove myself worthy to be one. It is not as simple as showing your credentials having earned a bachelor’s degree in that field of work but attesting your skills of being a properly qualified and experienced one in the environment. So to be able to develop a system, I should have firm foundation of the knowledge about the system. Right now, I should put into mind and heart whatever things I learn in my university to be able to apply these concepts later. My exposure to the industry would greatly help. It would give me a better view of the actual happenings inside an organization. By studying the flow and structure of the information system of an organization, I will be able to point out some areas that need improvements. But of course, corresponding recommendations should be made to make the study significant especially to the role of the IS in the company and the value of the organization to the community as a whole.

Not only concepts and teachings will make me proficient, but also familiarity in actual programming or software developing (gosh…scary!). With several school projects, documentations, machine problems that I am required to do and submit in school, I am confident that all of these will make me practice my abilities and eventually learn.
I am hoping that I could learn much as I go along with my experience as an IT student.

Of course, I would not learn the full cycle of my profession without the assessments and reviews of my evaluators. If then I would not know my strengths and weaknesses. I need their opinions and suggestions on whether I need to maintain or improve my performance and to help me know if I am keeping on the right track. Furthermore, I should also know how to get along with my colleagues as well, since I will be working with them for some point in time in systems that might be used in mission-critical situations. As early as now while I am still studying in the university, I should know whom should I choose to be with in my group projects. As what one of our professors is telling us, there should not be all good programmers in one team. In a group, there should be at least a good project manager, a good analyst designer, a programmer, and a good documenter. This is very important since a major task will not be handled alone by programming only or by documenting only. There should also be fine relationship with each team member as it affects the performance of each other and to the quality of work. A certain project should be worked out by all team members collaborating and complementing each other’s respective skills and corresponding tasks.

With these simple yet effective strategies, I believe I will achieve my simple dream someday. Who knows, I might reach my goals far better than I am saying today? Only time could tell. With hard work and perseverance, a determined mind and dedicated heart could surpass any challenge. Think positive. Think clear. Aim high!


You can drop your comments on http://charmainespeaksup.blogspot.com/2009/11/it-professional-10-years-from-now.html

http://www.jidaw.com/article2.html
http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Effective-Computer-Software-Training&id=779018
http://www.windsoftechnology.com/index.htm

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there? (at least 3000 words)

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there? (at least 3000 words)

Assignment 1 (Due: before November 14, 2009, 13:00hrs)   

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there? (at least 3000 words)



These questions bother me so much. It makes me realize what really my goals here in Institute of Computing in which I am enroll in Information Technology course. I was thinking what made me decide taking this field, how did I came up with this decision.

5 Years before....


Way back in my fourth year in my high school when everybody was planning to their path in college and busy thinking of what course to choose to their dream career . Also, they were preparing on taking up of entrance exams in different universities. It was the time I really got confuse and baffle with what course to take up. (Wheew! Honestly I had really had the hard time to think at that time.) Before I was left out with my classmates I just took several entrance exams offered by different schools but still I had not make my mind up on what course should I took up. Many of my classmates encourage and recommend me to take entrance exam in University of Southeastern Philippines and chose Information Technology as our course. Fortunately, I got passed with the entrance exam and preceded with an interview with one of faculty staffs. I had remembered that I was asked by my interviewee on what would my future career once I finish my degree and why I had choose IT as my course, I just answered IT is in demand here and abroad (where you can earn dollars, jejeje) and might end up as a call center agent or IT staff/professional (funny, I was not even know what kind of job it is) etc. With the different level I was into I try my best to be here. Luckily, I was one of the lists ready to enroll in Institute of Computing.
I had decided to pursue to stay here at the university and took IT because USEP offer the lowest rate per unit in tuition fee compared to other colleges here in Davao aside from University of Philippines. And being enrolled in one of the State Universities here in Philippines is an achievement to me and it surely made me proud of myself. In my first semester in my college days it was quite fine, I was able to pass the subjects. But in my second semester, I got failed in one of my major subjects and it was my first programming language, Turbo C++. Maybe I was not able to prepare and plan my college which was different to high school. Because the failure I made, I realized if I had to pursue this course that I chose. Instead of giving up, I had given it a second chance if I really belong to an IT world.
I started to appreciate this course when I took the second time in Turbo C++ with one of the best professor of Institute of Computing, she really good in teaching. It fascinated me how coded words create a simple computer program. It enhanced my logical analysis in making simple programs. With this, I made up my mind to continue and pursue this field which I had already started to love and to adopt. I admittedly not really good in this field I chose, but I had to. I did not have any choice. What I have realized is that we can able to learn to love everything, you just need to put effort on it and perseverance, and maybe you might win it in the end if you have determination.
I have been here in this university for five years, I have already invested so much and I think I must finish what I have started. I just merely have to sacrifice and face one and half year of suffer and pains and everything would be paid off. At this point I want to explore more to gain more knowledge. And if I get a hold with my bare hands of my diploma (because I promise to have it!!! Bongga..) I can able to use everything I learned and gained here in my course to my career someday. I might not good but I know I can able to share and to contribute what I have learned here.

One of my possible end point careers after college, it might be to be an IT professional. With this I am still wondering what the roles of this are in the real IT industry. With this I am able to research who is the IT professional for me to be able to visualize my self to be as one.

According to my research below:

Who is the IT professional? 

Key areas are those that relate to the Attitude, Skill and Knowledge of the IT professional. Interestingly these are the same areas of change that training focuses on. Training seeks to close or fill any gaps that an individual has in these areas. However, it must be noted that simply going for training programs does not make one a true and complete professional.

Who is the competent Information Technology professional?
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The competence of an IT professional is about meeting needs – satisfying the demand of the markets (local and global). Understanding competence needs will help IT professionals achieve greater success in their careers and businesses. Acquiring technical skills are the most obvious means of addressing these needs. Your competence as a professional however goes beyond paper qualifications.

Are you meeting Expectations

To be a competent IT professional, you must know what the expectations of your colleagues, your industry, your clients and the general public are. Meeting these expectations is what qualifies you to call yourself a professional, and what gives you recognition as a professional.

In today's world the role of the IT professional is crucial. IT has become an essential resource for most organizations. The evolving scenario is one of a growing complexity of computer systems and businesses dependence on them. Qualified and competent IT professionals are needed to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of computers.
The Diverse Nature of IT
Professionals work in areas such as Programming, Engineering, Database Administration, Networking, Web development and E-Commerce.

IT professionals create, operate, maintain and program computers. An IT professional must have the skills and knowledge required to carry out specialized tasks in a recognized field of IT. This is the minimum requirement. But IT skills demand far outstrips supply. Current IT skills shortage worldwide is enormous

With this I am able to know how can able to achieve my aspiration to be an IT professional.
To be worthily called an IT professional I think I must attain the following which I based on my research in which I actually become conscious.

• Knowledge
  Training and Certification
  Experience
  Lifelong Learning
  Ethics

Knowledge

This aspect is important, it able us to perform well in our chosen field. With the learning from our more than four years in college we are able to gain and to expand the knowledge we already have.
To define what knowledge should acquire to be capable in this field.
Knowledge (intellectual and conceptual) can be acquired through formal education sources such as private training institutions, colleges, institutions of higher learning, as well as E-learning on the Internet. The focus is on the intellectual, i.e. understanding concepts, generating ideas.
Skills however, can be acquired and improved from work experience and practical training. The most effective form of skill building is through practical exercises.

Training and Certification

Training and certification assists in improving skills, increasing knowledge and gaining recognition. Certification exams identify the necessary skills for an individual to perform their job competently and most important, successfully. For example, A+ certifies the competency of service professionals in the computer industry. Anyone who wants an internationally recognized credential as a competent computer service professional can take the A+ examination.
Because Certification is becoming the vogue in the IT industry today, more and more potential and working IT professionals want to get certified. It makes sense. Certification gives an IT professional, a valued credential that is recognized in the IT industry. Not only that, it is a powerful tool for providing job and business opportunities and for meeting challenges on the field. Improved income and enhanced professional credibility are powerful motivators for becoming IT certified.
Does having a popular certification make you a competent and recognized IT professional? Is certification part of your career development plan? If it is, this must be based on a solid understanding of what certification entails and how certification fits into your personal work / career goals.
But as noted earlier, certification is only one way of ensuring you have the required skills and knowledge for IT professionalism. Formal education and Work experience, i.e. practical and relevant work experience, are also essential for IT skill and knowledge achievement.

Lifelong Learning

IT professionals must also address is the issue of currency. Professionals must find ways of staying current on IT and IT related issues. This requires continuous self-development on the part of the IT professional. Simply because you are certified, or you have many years of experience, does not mean you should go to sleep. The IT field is one of the fastest developing fields worldwide. You cannot afford to be outdated or allow your skills to stagnate. You cannot serve your clients or employers well if you only have outdated ideas and information. As an IT professional, you cannot be relevant to your society if you are not current.
Luckily with the digital age, there are many information, and learning opportunities available for serious and career-minded IT professionals. The Internet can be used for education and continuous self-development. Other tools that can be utilized for staying up to date include: books, publications, training, software, etc. But the presence of all these tools is not enough; as a professional you must have the ability and desire to update yourself on a continuous basis. We must never stop learning. This is especially crucial in IT. There must be a readiness and hunger to learn. Yesterday's knowledge may not be able to handle today's opportunities and challenges.

Ethics

This should acquire and attain by every IT Professionals because this is your attitude towards your work, your client and people around you. This factor can truly make you worthily called an IT Professional, aside from having IT expertise.
However, does having superior IT skills, knowledge and certification make you a true professional? "Administrators and network engineers do not live by Windows 2000 alone. " I have personally come in contact with IT certified individuals who I cannot dare to call professionals. Or what would you call an individual who has no regard for ethics and is ever ready to sacrifice professionalism at the altar of money? As a professional what is your attitude to the public, your work, your colleagues, or your clients?
What is your attitude towards business ethics? In today's fast and slick business environment, how relevant is ethics when you can take the easy way out? Everybody wants to be "fast and smart". To a professional, money is important but it is not everything. Money should not be your master. To maintain this attitude can sometimes be difficult, with the attendant daily pressures. But that is no excuse. If you want to be a true professional that is the price you must pay. IT professionals need to ask themselves: "Am I in IT for quick, short profit or am I in IT for the long distance?" The choice is yours.

----Just think of this paragraph below-----

Is the CCNA certified individual who defrauds his employers an IT professional? What about those who use their skills and knowledge for anti-social and destructive activities? Are they professionals too? The most notorious are hackers and Virus developers. These are highly skilled individuals but what they use those skills for are not in the interest of society. The same goes for IT fraudsters. If you have all certifications in this world and you use your knowledge and skills to steal and destroy you are nothing but a thief.
The right attitude also extends to how you treat your clients or employers. Are you dependable and trustworthy? There are many examples of so-called professionals who talk down to clients, and who cheat their clients or employers.
Is it truly ethical, for example, for a professional to take longer than necessary to perform a job? To say that he/she is sick in order to take a day off for leisure? To fail to report rule violations by a co-worker?
The public expects the IT professional to be socially responsible and disciplined and should be a role model for the youth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one can state that IT professionalism does not end with getting certified and earning a fat pay. It isn't simply about being a skilled expert. Just as professionalism is about skills and knowledge, it is also about responsibility and duty. It is about using your skills and knowledge in a responsible and humane manner. It is about using your privileged status to bring about positive change in society.
And what ever skills and knowledge we attain, we should use it in a way we can help others.

10 years from now…..
What would I be ten years from now? What would be my status in an IT industry

Reference:
http://www.jidaw.com/article2.html

"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." -Denis Watley-

Basically it is one of the toughest questions given to us for the reason that, it really hard to think of becoming an IT professional with our situation today. However since we envision of becoming a member of IT professional league, I think we must first define what does this “worthy IT Professional” means.

In the World of IT many people call our selves “IT Professionals,” but what I would like to know is the true meaning of a “worthy” IT professional? Can we be an IT professional if we only use the GUI side or do we really have to be able to use the command line area as well? Would I have the qualification to be called as IT professional?

Worthy, I have heard this word a million times before since when I was young up to now, and yet, I really don’t know the exact meaning. Why does this word exist? What is the word worthy? The word worthy, is it merely just a word? Or is there something deeper meaning beyond its word itself, can any anyone narrow its meaning? It has been used by most people. It is the mostly asked.

The word worthy just what is it? To define the word worthy, according to the dictionary, it is somebody who is good or morally upright or a respectable person. Am I fit to what the word worthy defines? If yes, I don’t know why and how. If not, are there ways to make my self praiseworthy? To be a worthy person, a respectable person, or a good person, they say it starts with small deeds. However, if a person fails to do so then, how could you do big deeds just to be called a worthy person?

Everything around us is changing. Technology is one of the most ideal examples of change. There has been a rapid pace of change in technology in these past years. New technologies were introduced to improve the quality of our life. It is for our own comfort. It is for ease of getting things done. Technology has change the way of our living. And it makes me wonder, “Are there still things that are needed to improve in our life?”

We are in line of what they so called future “IT Professionals”, not because we are soon to graduate as IT student only but the mere fact that we can contribute a massive development to the industry of technology. Can we commit our self worthy to be called IT professionals?

Well, IT professional covers a lot of different jobs similar to doctor a veterinarian, general practitioner, surgeon and all doctors; I would say the same for Programmer, helpdesk support, SQL designer are all types of IT Professionals. It all really comes down to one thing a good knowledge of Computers and a pay packet for doing it. Just as intended applicants to any club or organization are scorned, however, so are technology professionals scorned by the established professions. The intent is to maintain high standing of existing professions by demeaning all else. Most technical professionals are constrained to operate under duress, however, working under deadlines created by delusions and fantasies of persons having no particular technical basis for their determination. Any work product produced under such situations is bound to be flawed.

As I surf the net I found out that Information technology professionals within an organization tend to work together in a team environment. Team members within an organization must learn to work together to complete a job. Professionals that make up this team may include systems analyst, information systems management, programmers, users and other specialists. In order to work well together, a team must strive to communicate clearly and completely with its members. To achieve this, members will have to trust and respect each other. Furthermore each member should put one’s own views second to the views of the group. The responsibility and accountability within a team should be shared, for success in a team environment.

Not so long, I dream to become a boss in my own company or travel around the globe with the help of my premises, but never in my dream to become an It professionals. Really things are meant to be change as time goes by, and this would make me realize that upon choosing my carrier now, I can barely say that dreaming to be an It professional is indeed a big challenge in my life now. Although IT covers many works, still I’m confused on what to choose. Would it be an IT programmer? IT consultant? Or what?

Hmmmm maybe, just maybe 10 years from now Ill be an IT Consultant, not because it deals with meeting with different clients but also indeed it fit my personality as more comfortable in talking and convincing a lot. Here are some definitions about an IT consultant:

An IT consultant works in partnership with clients, advising them how to use information technology in order to meet their business objectives or overcome problems. Consultants work to improve the structure and efficiency and of an organization’s IT systems. IT consultants may be involved in a variety of activities, including marketing, project management, client relationship management and systems development. They may also be responsible for user training and feedback. In many companies, these tasks will be carried out by an IT project team. IT consultants are increasingly involved in sales and business development, as well as technical duties.
Definition and Nature of the Work

The widespread use of computers in businesses of all sizes has created a need for computer consultants. Companies that are large enough to computerize their operations but too small to need a computer specialist on staff usually hire computer consultants on a contract or retainer basis.

Most computer consultants work independently, although some are employed by consulting firms. Their duties vary according to the needs of their client companies. A computer consultant might spend only a few hours helping a dentist select and learn to operate a small office system. For a larger company, the consultant might spend several months establishing a complicated database, creating a network of small and large computers, writing user manuals, designing a Web site, or conducting computer training classes. Consultants also may recommend and design security features for a computer system. Computer consultants can be software programmers, hardware system installers, networking specialists, database specialists, systems analysts, or a combination of the above.
Education and Training Requirements

Most computer consultants are college graduates. They may have degrees in computer science or data processing. Experts recommend that aspiring consultants gain experience as staff computer specialists before working independently.

Getting the Job

Interested individuals can apply directly to computer consulting firms. If someone wants to work independently, he or she can advertise in computer magazines or send a resume directly to firms that potentially require the services of a computer consultant.

Typical work activities

Task typically involve:

• meeting with clients to determine requirements;
• working with clients to define the scope of a project;
• planning timescales and the resources needed;
• clarifying a client's system specifications, understanding their work practices and the nature of their business;
• traveling to customer sites;
• liaising with staff at all levels of a client organization;
• defining software, hardware and network requirements;
• analyzing IT requirements within companies and giving independent and objective advice on the use of IT;
• developing agreed solutions and implementing new systems;
• presenting solutions in written or oral reports;
• helping clients with change-management activities;
• project managing the design and implementation of preferred solutions;
• purchasing systems where appropriate;
• designing, testing, installing and monitoring new systems;
• preparing documentation and presenting progress reports to customers;
• organizing training for users and other consultants;
• being involved in sales and support and, where appropriate, maintaining contact with client organisations;
• identifying potential clients and building and maintaining contacts.

Information technology (IT) consultants work in firms of management consultants, software and systems houses within large manufacturers of computing equipment, or occasionally internally in major industrial companies.

What IT consultants do

• analyze IT requirements within companies and give independent and objective advice on the use of IT
• provide specialist support and back-up to professionals within client companies
• advise on strategic planning and operational efficiency
• may run facilities for clients
• design, develop and test new systems
• train staff in new systems.

Key skills for IT consultants

• analytical approach to work
• excellent problem-solving skills
• interpersonal skills
• communication skills
• ability to absorb complex technical information and pass this on clearly
• stamina to meet deadlines
• ability to work under pressure
• project-management skills
• detailed technical knowledge
• motivation.

Training to be an IT consultant

Training is usually on the job, and may include training in programming languages, systems analysis and testing, or in business skills. Practical project experience under supervision is also given.

Information technology consulting (IT consulting, Computer consultancy, Computing consultancy, technology consulting or business and technology services) is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives. In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf.

The IT consulting industry can be viewed as a three-tier system:

• Professional services firms which maintain large professional workforces and command high bill rates.
• Staffing firms, which place technologists with businesses on a temporary basis, typically in response to employee absences, temporary skill shortages and technical projects.
• Independent consultants, who function as employees of staffing firms (for US tax purposes, employed on "W-2"), or as independent contractors in their own right (for US tax purposes, on "1099").

There is a relatively unclear line between management consulting and IT consulting. There are sometimes overlaps between the two fields, but IT consultants often have degrees in computer science, electronics, technology, or management information systems while management consultants often have degrees in accounting, economics, Industrial Engineering, finance, or a generalized MBA (Masters in Business Administration).

According to the Institute for Partner Education & Development, IT consultants' revenues come predominantly from design and planning based consulting with a mixture of IT and Business Consulting. This is different from a Systems Integrator in that you do not normally take title to product. Their value comes from their ability to integrate and support technologies as well as determining product and brands.

With all these thoughts and beliefs, I would probably say that that the mere fact that I’m holding my own key to success is the fact that I have to struggle more in fulfilling my vision and mission in life not only an ordinary person but as the future IT professional.

I don’t know if this will help me a worthy person or a worthy IT professional. It is just small and there is nothing special. However, it will be a good start isn’t it? I shall end this with a quotation by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt saying that far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Sources:
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/it_consultant_job_description.jsp
http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/196/Computer-Consultant.html
http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/consultancy-IT-consultant
http://www.answers.com/topic/information-technology-consulting


My Blog: http://brian-takealook.blogspot.com/

Sources:

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/it_consultant_job_description.jsp
http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/consultancy-IT-consultant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Explain_the_importance_of_planning
http://www.about-goal-setting.com/get-organized.html

First things first, I have to finish my IT education.

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there?






These are my personal strategies……….

1. Positive


2. Responsible

A responsible person, in the legal sense, is one that would use good judgment, be prudent in his decision making processes, and have a track record of responsible living.

3. Optimistic


4. Work hard


5. Confident

Sources
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawn_Lim
http://www.freestylemind.com/successful-people-traits/


mY bLog:http://stihlyn.blogspot.com/

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there?


Being an IT professional is seems so easy , but then if we analyze it,a worthy IT professional is really a hard task to do to be in line with them . If we think of it the responsibility ,the knowledge , the commitment should be equip to us to be one of those IT professional. The experience on the field is one of the necessary thing to develop our skills and imply knowledge but these thing are useless if we don’t have plan t be build up for the future responsibilities.

If we think , we can’t deny that many of us when we graduate , we end working on the company not related to our course or even related but then it is not cool work that is attainable with our degree .And these is all because we fail to plan or we call it plan to fail .In other we just go with the flow .It is hard to accept but it is true ,I even can’t deny that .

Lovely that this assignment is made, a good way for us to think, analyze our damn selves for planning for the future. I’m thankful these kind of assignment is brought to our class for me to understand why I am here and analyze what should be my purpose and who should be me tomorrow , my plans for how to get my goal in life.

For me to be worthy professional I should have my strategic plans as w e have learned in our class discussion. Before I reveal my strategic plans we should learn much about strategic plan. What ?For what? How? Why? is a strategic planning

In doing strategic plans most companies hope to be successful and survive need to develop there long-term strategic plan with specific goals and objectives that relate to the customers' needs and the company's competitors. In today's difficult economic climate, organizations do not have the resources to function aimlessly without direction. And these is hard most of them plan for short term since nowadays climate change is fast changing.

Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. Various business analysis techniques can be used in strategic planning, including SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats ), PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological), STEER analysis (Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Ecological, and Regulatory factors), and EPISTEL (Environment, Political, Informatic, Social, Technological, Economic and Legal).
Strategic planning is the formal consideration of an organization's future course. All strategic planning deals with at least one of three key questions:
1. "What do we do?"
2. "For whom do we do it?"
3. "How do we excel?"
In business strategic planning, the third question is better phrased "How can we beat or avoid competition?".
In many organizations, this is viewed as a process for determining where an organization is going over the next year or more -typically 3 to 5 years, although some extend their vision to 20 years.
In order to determine where it is going, the organization needs to know exactly where it stands, then determine where it wants to go and how it will get there. The resulting document is called the "strategic plan."
It is also true that strategic planning may be a tool for effectively plotting the direction of a company; however, strategic planning itself cannot foretell exactly how the market will evolve and what issues will surface in the coming days in order to plan your organizational strategy. Therefore, strategic innovation and tinkering with the 'strategic plan' have to be a cornerstone strategy for an organization to survive the turbulent business climate.


• Step 1
What is important to you? Is it a job, is it a family, is it education, status? Write down what is important to you for you to be happy in life.
• Step 2
Who is important to you? Write down a list of people who are important to you. Your spouse, your parents, your friends, etc.
• Step 3
How do you want the important people to in your life to remember you when you are not around? Next to each person, write down what you want them to remember about you when you are not around.
• Step 4
What do you want to have accomplished in one year, five years, ten years or even twenty years? Setting goals ensures that there is a set of milestones. It’s up to you to create the path to get there.
• Step 5
Break your goals into smaller steps to celebrate small victories along the way. I like to write down my goals and then create a little “how to” plan to get there. For example, I would like to get a degree. To get there, I plan to attend two courses a semester until I achieve my goal. This means, I will achieve my goal in XX years or by XX date.
• Step 6
Continue to evaluate your plan. No plans are set in stone. If your goals in life change, make your plan flexible to change with it. After all, it’s your life.


The application
Try not to fill out the application at the workplace take it home or if you cannot fill it out away from the job site.
Make sure that the application does not have errors or omissions. List your most important traits that are relevant to the job you are attempting to gain. Do not use your any device such as your BlackBerry or IPods; focus all your energies in this job application.
Remember people are watching you

The interview
Beforehand, practice your interview with a close friend, it sounds stupid but acting or “perception” is as significant as reality.
Former president, Ronald Reagan was a professional and wonderful actor. His acting skills actually changed the world! Recall- “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
Dude, make sure you don’t use the word DUDE. Or any word that makes you looks “unprofessional” such as LIKE (out of context), YOU KNOW and especially the word BRO! No terms of endearment – sweetheart, baby, honey, ECT…
Always look and act professional……
Things You'll Need:
• Suit/tie
• "Thank you attitude"
• Dress Business or do not go
• Be positive
• Attention to detail
1. Step 1
NEVER SAY "IT'S NOT MY JOB." Every job that you have the knowledge (or potential knowledge) to do can be your job. No boss wants to hear negativity from their employees - those are usually the first ones to go in a layoff. If you don't know how to do something, either figure it out if you can or ask someone who does. Go above the call of duty and extend yourself. Your employer will see you as far more than a team player.

2. Step 2
PUT YOUR HOURS IN. No employer likes paying someone for hours they haven't worked. If you are 15 minutes late every day, that works out to be over 50 hours every year they are paying you to not be there. Now add it all up if you take extended breaks, lunches, play games on the computer, and check out early. Work they hours that they pay you to work.

3. Step 3
DRESS FOR SUCCESS. You should dress at the top of the category for your job title. In other words, if your employer says "dress casual" is the attire for the office, you should dress the best you are able to on your budget. You can think of it as dressing for the job you WANT, not just the job you HAVE.

4. Step 4
SEEK ADDITIONAL TRAINING. A valued employee is one that is always looking for ways to improve himself and his workplace. Ask your boss for classes that would be appropriate for you to further your career. Discuss your goals with her, and make plans for your future with that organization. This will show your employer that you want to grow with the company and that you're there for the long term.






• Step1
First, brainstorm ideas about what you want to do. Think of things that interest you and your hobbies. Whether it is a thrift store, selling crafts, a video rental store or selling cars there is always a need for everything. Pick out something that you have a lot of knowledge with.

• Step 2
Research to see if you would make profit in that line of business. Some businesses are unsuccessful because there is not a high demand of the items owners are trying to sell in that area. Read books and search the internet to find out if there is a high demand in the business that you want to open.

• Step 3
Start small. Starting your business in your house may be your best option because you aren’t paying any renting fees. Your business may expand and you then can think about finding a building for your business. It doesn’t make sense to pay rent on a building which only holds a few items.

• Step 4
Advertise locally. You have the opportunity to advertise in newspapers, on bulletin boards, handing out flyers and on craigslist. The more people that know about your business the more business you will get and more sales you will make.

High Demand Careers

The Facts
1. When a career is in high demand, the employers will offer a higher pay and sometimes even a bonus for people who join the field. There are many websites available online which offer information on which careers are in high demand, which ones will be in high demand and also which careers will have little or no openings. These statistics will remain the same for a long period of time. Sometimes a career won't be in demand because there are already so many people working in that field. A person will go to school to practice in that field, but finding work will be hard, if not impossible.

Time Frame
2. A High demand career will stay open for a number of years. However, these high demand careers are subject to change at least every 10 years. The reason these job openings change is because a lot of people will educate themselves in the field because they know it is in high demand and will then seek out employment. Eventually the jobs that were once widely available will become hard to land. Other jobs will then be in high demand and seeking future employees. The government keeps up with these statistics so one can find out what will be available long before the time has come.

Benefits
3. There are benefits of choosing a job that is high in demand. Certain employers will hire a person who isn't fully educated in the field because they are very desperate for employees. The employers will then allow their employees to train on the job. Some employers will even pay for the person to further educate them self in the field, while working for their company. If the employer offers to pay for education, they will have you sign a contract stating that you will stay with the employer for a certain number of years.
As stated earlier, when a career is high in demand the pay will rise a great deal. The reason companies raise the pay for high demand careers, is to attract people to that field. They will offer better health insurance plans as well.

Risk Factors
4. There are not too many risk factors involved when you are choosing a career that is high in demand. The one risk factor that does tend to happen at times is a change in pay. When a job is in demand and offering high pay, it will attract a lot of people to the field. Eventually there will be so many people interested in the field that the career is no longer high in demand. They aren't looking hard for employees. Finding people to work for their company will become very easy, so they will then drop the pay of their current employees.
Companies will drop the pay for people who aren't high up on the scale, because they can be easily replaced. However, if you have been with the company a long time, your pay will remain the same or may possibly increase.

Features
5. A high demand career is a smart choice for someone who is looking to make good money and find employment easily. If a person sees that a career will be in high demand within the next couple of years, it is a good idea to get educated in that field. When you have a good background in the field and it is in high demand, you can guarantee that you will be making a very good salary.
If a person is one of the first people to get into a career that is in high demand, by the time the jobs have filled up, they will be in great standing with their company and won't have to worry about pay drop or loss of employment.
Choosing a career that is in high demand is a great idea for anyone. If someone has decided to take a job that is high in demand, they will want to keep up with the statistics of that field and always educated themselves further to ensure a happy, wealthy future.
MY PLANS

As I have research about these assignment I have learned guidance in my goal and I have establish my plans 10 years from now…
1st – I should graduate my IT course by next year .In that I should study hard and give more time for my studies for me to start my new life after school.
2nd – If I graduate I will find job that is related to IT that could enhance my skills on my course .We all now that IT people are in demand so there’s many applicants in a company .I’ll work hard to be employed .In that I could enhance my capabilities and learned much about my field. Because I know that not only in school we get knowledge but also in the fields we are into .I should work only 1 year only .
3rd- In that If could be qualified to work as a manager that handles people in the big IT company ,Ill grab it .In that time I’ll be more productive to be promote and earn much money .Ill equip myself in e businesses as my part time job.
4th- If I have earned much money ,I will build a small business .An internet café that is owned by my parents to help my family and to make them more productive .
5th –I’ll go to school again to have my masteral to learn more for me to build IT business in the Philippines.
6th-I could finally have time for my happiness in this life and buy things not only me but my family..Ihope I could follow these plans ..So help me God


References:
http://www.ehow.com/about_4567515_high-demand-careers.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5582232_successfully-start-own-business.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5593773_land-job-over-other-applicants.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5599838_create-effective-life-plan.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_planning


Visit my blog:
http://gleizelle.blogspot.com/

On our later subject HRM, we were asked to develop a job description of the job we want to hold in the future. As an answer I've chosen the job called game developer. The next paragraphs are the description of the said job.

A good story line, nice graphics and characters, unique animation schemes and a bug-less programs is what a good game holds. The story of the games must reach the player’s mind as if it was somewhat real or life-like thus, making the game interesting. Graphics and the compilation of arts that moves through animation are the things that make it fun and a bug-less program is what keeps the player’s patience and makes them want to reach the goal of the game. Common game story line may involve strategic games, word games, dress up game and escape games, which is one of my favorites. Games enables player to be in control of the game thus, letting them act as the main character of the game. Through this gamers will be able to develop quick thinking to win the game.

Games, particularly computer games also called video games, were introduced as a new kind of entertainment on the year 1971. The growth of technology has made it more popular. As years pass, many kinds of computer games have been developed including LAN or local area network and online games. LAN games can be played on everyone’s desktop. Online games can be played with the aid of internet, this way a certain player can play with another player no matter how many miles they’re apart. These games have even reached the cell phones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_games).

The ones who make and develop games are called games developer or games programmer. The job needs a vast and wide range of imagination thus, making it possible to create a unique story and characters. A good skill in arts and animation would make the things on the developers mind to come into life. The sound effects can make the game exciting. This also helps to catch the people’s eyes because a good graphics is a big impact on how the game will sell. Of course, the most important skill to have is knowledge with regards to programming language such as, C++, Java and any other programming language. A good skill in arithmetic will turn your program to become bug-less.

A game developer meets problems during and after producing the games, thus the most important attitude a developer can have is patience. This will enable him to find and correct bugs that are found during or after the game have been produced. The pressure of meeting deadline may be stressful but, this is just one thing a good developer should overcome because a simple bug on the game will destroy the game thus, making the game boring and unfair for those who doesn’t know the bug yet, which will push them to stop playing or choosing another game, which are better than the one you have just developed.

I both love arts and anime so I guess a games developer would be the best job for me in the near future. I would love to be part of a team that creates a new kind of game. Since I am a type of person who doesn’t want to be exposed in unfamiliar crowd, a job like this would fit me best. Another thing is, I would be able to give out my talent and skills with teammates, whom I already know and comfortable with. With this kind of profession, I can also work alone and I’d be able to work at home then, just sell my developed game to those who are interested.

As for this subject, MIS 2, we were asked to think about ourselves worthy to be called an IT professional, how do we see ourselves 10 years from now, what are our strategies to get there?

When we think of the title "IT professional" and the span of time, 10 years from now, we may think that it is still too far away, but as fast as how the climate changes, 10 years is indeed a very short time. Even the firms in the country or even all over the world, make plans for their companies in a span of little time, because they are aware that they should surpass how time passes.

As for my plans for the next 10 years, I would first set my visions, then get through my missions and reach my goals step by step.

My vision would be: "Worthy to be called IT Professional."

Information technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware."[1] IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and securely retrieve information.

Today, the term information has ballooned to encompass many aspects of computing and technology, and the term has become very recognizable. 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.

When computer and communications technologies are combined, the result is information technology, or "infotech". Information technology 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.

In recent days ABET and the ACM have collaborated to form accreditation and curriculum standards for degrees in Information Technology as a distinct field of study separate from both Computer Science and Information Systems. SIGITE is the ACM working group for defining these standards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology


the best way, for me, to interpret an IT Professional are those people who has vast and very wide knowledge with regards to Information itself, he/she is able to manipulate information naturally. He she must have experiences with regards to the profession itself.

My mission for now is, of course, be a worthy IT professional and for me to reach that and to hold that title is to have a step by step strategies. The following are my steps on reaching my mission and even my vision:

First, I would have to earn a bachelors degree that has connection to my vision. I would have to keep my study as my priority while I'm still reaching for my diploma. I would also have to get good grades in order foe me to land a good job.

Second, I would have to land a good job that is exactly my interest and that would be able to make me even more competent as a person striving to be called an IT professional. I would need to have as many experience as I can while I'm on the go for enjoying what I have at present.