Sunday, September 20, 2009
We are asked to identify an information environment of our choice and write an essay to address questions like “What should be your role within this environment?”,“How can the principles of information organization and representation help you in performing this role?”, “What are the challenges facing you in performing the role ?and “How will you address these challenges?”
To start with an essay addressing to these questions, let me first give the definition of what an information environment is according to an article that I have searched. The information environment is the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. The actors include leaders, decision makers, individuals, and organizations. Resources include the materials and systems employed to collect, analyze, apply, or disseminate information. The information environment is where humans and automated systems observe, orient, decide, and act upon information, and is therefore the principal environment of decision making. Even though the information environment is considered distinct, it resides within each of the four domains. The information environment is made up of three interrelated dimensions: physical, informational, and cognitive.
With the given definition above, it had reminded me of my future, after I had graduated with this course. Of course every student, or should I say, everybody aims to have work. To earn money not just for ourselves but also for our families. We all know that the very reason why students enroll to college is to learn and of course to prepare themselves to a better job. Being an Information Technology student, I am well aware of the fact that after I have graduated to this course, I will soon engage myself in the Information Technology environment. An environment where one should be capable of observing, orienting, deciding and acting upon information, thus is therefore, the principal environment of decision-making. As part of our training to be in this environment, we are tasked to get ourselves involved in the real world where information systems play a vital role. We are to observe and evaluate the information systems of a particular industry. With this kind of training, we are able to see the real value and role of information technology in the organizations where soon, we will be involved.
When asked about what would be the kind of information environment I would like to engage myself soon, I got confused with what I have to answer. Of course I want to work in such really big companies such as the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications, San Miguel Corporations and abroad like Google. I dream to work with these companies. Be paid with high salaries and got to work abroad. It isn’t a sin to dream though so I would really dream big. I dream of designing and developing new computer systems by choosing and configuring hardware and software. I wanted to learn how to devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional tasks. I may not have the greatest qualifications to be in such job but I do believe that with my perseverance and eagerness to learn and engage myself with new technologies and proper training, I would be able to do the task the best way I can. Thus, I dreamed of working in such an environment where I can harness my skills and will be able to learn a lot new things. A kind of environment where I would be able to extend my hands to help them use technology effectively and to incorporate rapidly changing technologies into their existing systems.
Furthermore, I would like to work as a Computer Systems Analyst. Computer systems analysts solve computer problems and use computer technology to meet the needs of an organization. My job is to design and develop new computer systems by choosing and configuring hardware and software. I will also devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional tasks. I will then be working with specific types of computer systems—for example, business, accounting, or financial systems or scientific and engineering systems—that vary with the kind of organization. The work of a computer system analyst begins with consulting to managers and users to define the goals of the system. I will then design a system to meet those goals. I will specify the inputs that the system will access, decide how the inputs will be processed, and format the output to meet users’ needs.
When a system is approved, I will then determine what computer hardware and software will be needed to set it up. I will coordinate tests and observe the initial use of the system to ensure that it performs as planned. Also part of my job is to prepare specifications, flow charts, and process diagrams for computer programmers to follow.
Now that I have stated the kind of information environment I want to impart myself with and my role for this environment, another question then arises. The question that asks about the principles of information organization and representation help would help me in performing this role.
Upon working in a company, there are lots of things to consider for we all know that we will not work alone, we are going to work and deal with different kinds of people and suit ourselves with them so that we will become an effective employee. The moment that I will be going to work, I know I have to consider lots of factor and one of these are the principles of information organization and representation. I should know all these things so that I can perform my role effectively. There are many principles of information organization and I think it differs in every organization but three of which are common principles of information organization that I have to consider. Among these principles involve the planning and organization of knowledge and information for the society. With this principle, I’d be able to keep the fact that it is always the customer or client’s welfare that should be prioritized and with regard to this detail the learning, knowledge and information should be structured well. Another principle involves designing tools to support the organization of knowledge, guiding principles must be that of user orientation and main and predominant usage. This idea focuses and discusses about the layout and design and display options that should be in tune with our understanding of the target community. This will help in better recognition and comprehension of web designs. And lastly, standardization and networking provide infrastructures, which facilitate effective and efficient access to information and documents. Infrastructures refers to the availability and use of advanced information services by means of a variety of high-capacity facilities especially computers and computers networks. In relation to the adopted information environment, having such upgraded infrastructure will help improve and provide abundant information at high capacities to the generic public. The notion of information representation and organization traditionally means creating catalogs and indexes for publications of any kind. It includes the description of the attributes of a document and the representation of its intellectual content. Today the library catalog is no longer a tool for its own collection for the library visitors; it has become a network node that users can visit from anywhere in the world via a computer connected to the Web information space that is being used for e-publishing, e-businesses, and e-commerce.
These principles, if properly used will help me to become even more effective in my job.
By identifying and being familiar with the principles I hope to make them part of my habit in working to make me more progressive. These principles would be an advantage for me in doing my role in the said information environment such that it enables me to identify how can I execute my job properly, who will be affected by my decisions, how can I represent myself and my job and the information that I have at the moment.
However, with the roles that I will perform in an organization, there would also be challenges accompanied by these roles. Challenges arise because there is a need for someone to be enhanced. These challenges serve as training for someone for him to be a better individual. One challenge that I would face when I’m already in the information environment that I want is the challenge of being an inexperienced individual. When we say inexperience, this means lacking of gained experience. Although deep inside, you certainly know that you can do the job but there is fear inside you that you don’t have experience in doing the job that’s why you are not that confident enough to do the job so. There is a realization inside you that tells that you still need to have more experience and information about that certain job. Another challenge that would arise is competition. This is one of those several challenges that we would face when we are already in the real environment. This challenge arises because everyone inside that environment is aiming to be the best. With regards to the kind of information environment that I have chosen, one challenge is that I have to be familiar or should I say, “expert” in networking tasks since this is part of my job. I need to make the computer systems within an organization, or across organizations, compatible so that information can be shared. For now, I still don’t know how I can manage to do this task but I hope that in the coming days or months, my knowledge and experience about the certain task would be broaden.
With the challenges that I have stated above, a question about how would I address to these challenges arise. With regards to the challenge of being an inexperienced, I think I can cope to this problem by reading and searching a lot. “Practice makes perfect”, as what others would always say. Practicing would be a great help as well as asking your colleagues for assistance. “Marunong ang Nagtatanong”. Addressing to the second problem, I think I just have to be more competitive. I mean, I need to aim for myself to be the best. I need to make sure that I am competent and have the potential to be on the job. Lastly, with the challenge with regards to technical expertise, I think I need to ask the help from the experts to teach me and guide me. As what I have said earlier, “Practice makes Perfect”, if one is really eager to learn, then he/she will be able to gain much more knowledge and experience.
To start with an essay addressing to these questions, let me first give the definition of what an information environment is according to an article that I have searched. The information environment is the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. The actors include leaders, decision makers, individuals, and organizations. Resources include the materials and systems employed to collect, analyze, apply, or disseminate information. The information environment is where humans and automated systems observe, orient, decide, and act upon information, and is therefore the principal environment of decision making. Even though the information environment is considered distinct, it resides within each of the four domains. The information environment is made up of three interrelated dimensions: physical, informational, and cognitive.
With the given definition above, it had reminded me of my future, after I had graduated with this course. Of course every student, or should I say, everybody aims to have work. To earn money not just for ourselves but also for our families. We all know that the very reason why students enroll to college is to learn and of course to prepare themselves to a better job. Being an Information Technology student, I am well aware of the fact that after I have graduated to this course, I will soon engage myself in the Information Technology environment. An environment where one should be capable of observing, orienting, deciding and acting upon information, thus is therefore, the principal environment of decision-making. As part of our training to be in this environment, we are tasked to get ourselves involved in the real world where information systems play a vital role. We are to observe and evaluate the information systems of a particular industry. With this kind of training, we are able to see the real value and role of information technology in the organizations where soon, we will be involved.
When asked about what would be the kind of information environment I would like to engage myself soon, I got confused with what I have to answer. Of course I want to work in such really big companies such as the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications, San Miguel Corporations and abroad like Google. I dream to work with these companies. Be paid with high salaries and got to work abroad. It isn’t a sin to dream though so I would really dream big. I dream of designing and developing new computer systems by choosing and configuring hardware and software. I wanted to learn how to devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional tasks. I may not have the greatest qualifications to be in such job but I do believe that with my perseverance and eagerness to learn and engage myself with new technologies and proper training, I would be able to do the task the best way I can. Thus, I dreamed of working in such an environment where I can harness my skills and will be able to learn a lot new things. A kind of environment where I would be able to extend my hands to help them use technology effectively and to incorporate rapidly changing technologies into their existing systems.
Furthermore, I would like to work as a Computer Systems Analyst. Computer systems analysts solve computer problems and use computer technology to meet the needs of an organization. My job is to design and develop new computer systems by choosing and configuring hardware and software. I will also devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional tasks. I will then be working with specific types of computer systems—for example, business, accounting, or financial systems or scientific and engineering systems—that vary with the kind of organization. The work of a computer system analyst begins with consulting to managers and users to define the goals of the system. I will then design a system to meet those goals. I will specify the inputs that the system will access, decide how the inputs will be processed, and format the output to meet users’ needs.
When a system is approved, I will then determine what computer hardware and software will be needed to set it up. I will coordinate tests and observe the initial use of the system to ensure that it performs as planned. Also part of my job is to prepare specifications, flow charts, and process diagrams for computer programmers to follow.
Now that I have stated the kind of information environment I want to impart myself with and my role for this environment, another question then arises. The question that asks about the principles of information organization and representation help would help me in performing this role.
Upon working in a company, there are lots of things to consider for we all know that we will not work alone, we are going to work and deal with different kinds of people and suit ourselves with them so that we will become an effective employee. The moment that I will be going to work, I know I have to consider lots of factor and one of these are the principles of information organization and representation. I should know all these things so that I can perform my role effectively. There are many principles of information organization and I think it differs in every organization but three of which are common principles of information organization that I have to consider. Among these principles involve the planning and organization of knowledge and information for the society. With this principle, I’d be able to keep the fact that it is always the customer or client’s welfare that should be prioritized and with regard to this detail the learning, knowledge and information should be structured well. Another principle involves designing tools to support the organization of knowledge, guiding principles must be that of user orientation and main and predominant usage. This idea focuses and discusses about the layout and design and display options that should be in tune with our understanding of the target community. This will help in better recognition and comprehension of web designs. And lastly, standardization and networking provide infrastructures, which facilitate effective and efficient access to information and documents. Infrastructures refers to the availability and use of advanced information services by means of a variety of high-capacity facilities especially computers and computers networks. In relation to the adopted information environment, having such upgraded infrastructure will help improve and provide abundant information at high capacities to the generic public. The notion of information representation and organization traditionally means creating catalogs and indexes for publications of any kind. It includes the description of the attributes of a document and the representation of its intellectual content. Today the library catalog is no longer a tool for its own collection for the library visitors; it has become a network node that users can visit from anywhere in the world via a computer connected to the Web information space that is being used for e-publishing, e-businesses, and e-commerce.
These principles, if properly used will help me to become even more effective in my job.
By identifying and being familiar with the principles I hope to make them part of my habit in working to make me more progressive. These principles would be an advantage for me in doing my role in the said information environment such that it enables me to identify how can I execute my job properly, who will be affected by my decisions, how can I represent myself and my job and the information that I have at the moment.
However, with the roles that I will perform in an organization, there would also be challenges accompanied by these roles. Challenges arise because there is a need for someone to be enhanced. These challenges serve as training for someone for him to be a better individual. One challenge that I would face when I’m already in the information environment that I want is the challenge of being an inexperienced individual. When we say inexperience, this means lacking of gained experience. Although deep inside, you certainly know that you can do the job but there is fear inside you that you don’t have experience in doing the job that’s why you are not that confident enough to do the job so. There is a realization inside you that tells that you still need to have more experience and information about that certain job. Another challenge that would arise is competition. This is one of those several challenges that we would face when we are already in the real environment. This challenge arises because everyone inside that environment is aiming to be the best. With regards to the kind of information environment that I have chosen, one challenge is that I have to be familiar or should I say, “expert” in networking tasks since this is part of my job. I need to make the computer systems within an organization, or across organizations, compatible so that information can be shared. For now, I still don’t know how I can manage to do this task but I hope that in the coming days or months, my knowledge and experience about the certain task would be broaden.
With the challenges that I have stated above, a question about how would I address to these challenges arise. With regards to the challenge of being an inexperienced, I think I can cope to this problem by reading and searching a lot. “Practice makes perfect”, as what others would always say. Practicing would be a great help as well as asking your colleagues for assistance. “Marunong ang Nagtatanong”. Addressing to the second problem, I think I just have to be more competitive. I mean, I need to aim for myself to be the best. I need to make sure that I am competent and have the potential to be on the job. Lastly, with the challenge with regards to technical expertise, I think I need to ask the help from the experts to teach me and guide me. As what I have said earlier, “Practice makes Perfect”, if one is really eager to learn, then he/she will be able to gain much more knowledge and experience.
