The Aims versus Means

By Raul Bernardino

 First of all, I would like to start with the definition of the words Aims and Means.

Aim defines as verb in which is meaning to direct, position, intend, guess, and strive. Aim defines as noun in which is meaning intended point, particular point, purpose, and the direction. It is also meaning as target, objective, goals, and END.

Mean defines as verb in which means to intend, to have, to value, to mind, and to be minded.  Mean defines as noun usually word is means in which is meaning resources, intermediate or between two extremes, and in math it is an average.

Therefore, the statement of the Machiavellians in which is stated that, “the aim justifies the means”. For me, especially on personal opinion, it is not quite confident to say yes or go with this idea because the aim itself, it is just a starting point or just the beginning of something and it is willing to achieve one target point. For example, in political aim sometimes the political leader will be sacrificing certain people to achieve common interest. Other example is today’s political tense where in the name of the democracy as common interest but in other hands there were lives that have been sacrificed. In the economic situation if the company in the country is monopoly certain goods and services, this company can play prices for their own goods by having a very good profit (higher profit) while sacrifices the customers. Therefore the free market and liberalization come to balance the situation.

Meanwhile, the statement from the Gandhi in which is stated that is, “the end is not important, only the means are important.”  I am quite confident and I do agree with the Gandhi statement because, the means itself is a result of the acts. And the means it also as a positive value to everyone. Therefore, Gandhi came with that statement.
We had coincidental discussion and found that many of my colleagues are favorites with Gandhi’s statement. They have same perception that, if something has a positive value or result it will have common good impact as well; and it also will be meaningful to everyone.

In my option the organization or even a nation will be use these two approaches differently. And it is totally depend on the political will of each country political leaders.

Conclusion:

These two approaches are relevant to the organization or  nations. And it is also totally depends on the leadership in the companies and in the nations. They can use this approaches for their own purposes.

References list:

• Huczynski, A & Buchanan, D (2007) Organizational Behaviour (6th Ed) Essex: Pearson Education
• Aim according to the dictionary [on-line]. Available from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/aim  (Accessed Date: 1 February 2013)
• Means according to the dictionary [on-line]. Available from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/means  (Accessed Date: 1 February 2013)

The Corporate Ethical

 By Raul Bernardino

The ethical behavioral is an integral and important part of the success of any business or organization. The diversity human being intelligent, culture, and emotion have to be controlled by rules and code of conducts that has been established in the groups or in the companies.

These rules and code of conduct are to be created for a good working environment for everyone in the company to work and produce. The intention is to make the company mission and goal is successful.

The most important parts organizations cultures are organizational integrities, trustable, professional leadership and flexibilities.

Now, I am trying to answer some relevant questions which is “Can you enhance it by using Information system? -ethical behavior” My first reaction is yes, information and technology can help enhance the ethical behavior in the company. How this can help? Information technology is the tool to facilitate today human works to be more efficient and effective. People or workers can use their flexibility time to have more production to the company in mean time they have work life balance which is to reduce stress and increase the performance.

“…all computer based information system have a direct effect someone’s life, it is hard indeed to think of one that does not have a significant ethical dimension to its design, construction or use.”(Simon B, and ALL, 2006, ch2, p.40)

By having this thought above , I do think every companies have competed in this 21^st century whereas the challenging the global market are head, using new technologies that developed toward the needs, the high standart of the quality and services are became other challenges, the motivation and commitment of the emplyment took another part, the managing the divers workers, and the ethical behavior. The organisations, campanies, and inttitutions have to overcome these challenges in order to be survive in next future.

The communication is taking a mojor part in the institutions, companies or organizations. With the regualar communiation from top to the bottom line and vise verse communication can be allow staff to work more effective, efficient, and have good result. Today, era of the globalization, most of us use communication tools to interact with each other. There are varios of communication tools for instance, we can communicate via emails, forums, blogs or even use instant messages, videoconferencing, webconcerencing, etc. These tools or means are to facilitate the companies, the organizations or the institutions to have enough and acurate information for the quick decisions making processes. Moreover, it will be also decreasing some cost of the unnecessary trips or saving a cost for uncesecary business trip. The implementation of these tools has contibute a high ROI for the institutions. How to reduce the cost of traveler or relocation of emplyees? Employee does not have to relocate to the destination country to perform the the work. The employee can works from remote location. Additionally, they can use webconference, video conferencing, audioconferencing tools rather than have to travel to another destination just to get the same source of the information; this also allow the company owner to have direct communication and interact with emplyees or third parties.

           

In other part and it is most essential for corporate ethical is to give rewards to the employees or recornigtion to the emplyees efforts toward comamy, institution or organization goal, mission, and vision. This is has to become a company or  institution culture. These all can motivate the employees to have more initiatives, creativities, and motivations and of couser the perfomance of the employees will be high.   

   

Conclusion:

The information and technology or information system management can facilitate the workflow processes in any companies, organization or institutions. The information system management can facilitate employees to work from anywhere at anytime in which can contribute the best knowledge to the organization and in meantime the workers have a work life balance.

References list:

•  Huczynski, A & Buchanan, D (2007) Organizational Behavior (6th Ed) Essex: Pearson Education
• Simon B., Steve M., and Ray F. (2006) Object-Oriented System analysis and Design, Information System, McGraw-Hill, Ch 2, P. 40-43
•  Ronal R. Sims (n) Organization behavioral [on-line]. Available from: http://construct.haifa.ac.il/~danielp/soc/sims.htm   (Accessed Date: 5 March 2011) 
• Models of Ethical Behavior in Business [on-line]. Available from: http://www.ehow.com/list_6406921_models-ethical-behavior-business.html (Accessed Date: 1 February 2013) 
• The relation between emotional intelligence and job performance: A meta-analysis [on-line]. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/job.714/full (Accessed Date: 1 February 2013) 

Think Creatively and Imaginative Skills

By Raul Bernardino

The creativities of each individual to decide or think of anything are based on the each individual knowledge, experiences, and the environment in which is surrounded to him or her in order to determine the act of thinking or decisions. The environment can be a group of people, entities, relevant information, facts, or anything that is contributing to the decision making process. The dynamic of the entities or of the groups are important resources of the creativities in taking decisions.

The creativity, it is also helping to generate the unique of the solution to the same or new generic problems. There are several techniques that can be triggered the creativity of each individual such brain storming, tree analysis, fish bone, SWOT analysis, etc. The information management system is the ability of computing base method to help the individuals, groups, or teams in order to make an effective decision making process.

It is a matter of fact, that the creative of thinking has been given a big room for the tolerance of the elusiveness situation. In other words, imaginative thinkers are not compelling that “there is only one truth” and they are prepared to test “the current truth”.

There are five stages of creative thinking as follows:

• Grounding: in this part, individual requires a day to day learning processes and sensing in which to deal with multiparty situation
• Focus: in this part, our focus on defining or framing the issues or problems in order to consider the alternative solutions
• Incubation: in this part, we are allowed the alternative ways of solving the problem
• Elucidation: in this part, we are flashing and recognizing the issues
• Confirmation: in this part, we use the logical analysis to verify that good decision has been made

The organization has to encourage these stages of the creative thinking above in order to improve the qualities of individuals as employees. In some case, these have to be limited for instance in the decision making part; why is that? It is because of the deference’s of each individual’s job description.

There are three components of creativities as follows:

• Expertise: This is person who has knowledge, ability, and proficiency. He or she has specific knowledge of something. For example Albert Einstein expert in ‘Relativity Theory’
• Creative Thinking Skills: this personal has character in which is associating with the creativity thinking and also use his or her own ability to analogy the issue. In some form, this is a talent of each person in which can categorize into individual, intelligent, self-confident, risk taking, etc.
• Intrinsic Task Motivation: this is a willingness of the person to work because it is exciting for him or her. This is also extending to fully engage in the work situation. Because they love their work, it becomes more creative in their organization or work place

The creativity is a positive word in a society constantly aspiring to innovation and “progress”. The culture is the general expression of humanity, the expression of its creativity. The culture is linked to meaning, knowledge, talents, industries, civilization and values. (European affairs, June 2009)

In order to be called the culture based creativities, these have required the individual abilities of non learner ways of thinking and imaginative of thinking. This is including an artistic skills and social atmosphere in which the individuals can educated and learned from.

Conclusion:

The creativities of the individuals that come with the nature and including the human natural of culture can enrich the society. The culture base creativities can enrich the organization with new ideas, vision, and products.

Annexes:

The Fish Bone Analysis:

http://www.google.com.sg/imglanding?imgurl=http://www.leankaizen.co.uk/images/free%2520stuff%2520fishbone%2520diagram%2520web.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.leankaizen.co.uk/fishbone-diagram-i-ishikawa-diagram.html&h=272&w=427&sz=25&tbnid=rHPaxmZ7nUSMiM:&tbnh=80&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfishbone%2Bdiagram&zoom=1&q=fishbone+diagram&usg=__oJNuiDQaBg7g7w-DqHYZdFVJlXQ%3D&sa=X&ei=XiuETYOaDpT0cdawhZQD&ved=0CDAQ9QEwAw

The MDF tool Problem Tree Analysis:

 http://www.toolkitsportdevelopment.org/html/resources/91/910EE48E-350A-47FB-953B-374221B375CE/03%20Problem%20tree%20analysis.pdf

References list:

•  Huczynski, A & Buchanan, D (2007) Organizational Behavior (6th Ed) Essex: Pearson Education
• Albert Einstein (1879-1955) [on-line]. Available from:
• http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/stu/advanced/20th_people_einstein.html   (Accessed date: 1 February 2013)
• THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON CREATIVITY [on-line]. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/key-documents/doc/study_impact_cult_creativity_06_09.pdf   (Accessed date: 1 February 2013)
• Charles Warner (n.d.) How to manage a creative people in the media [on-line]. Available from: www.charleswarner.us/MgtCreativity.doc (Accessed date: 1 February 2013)
•  Dr. C. George Boeree (2006), A. Maslow, Personality Theories [on-line]. Available from: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/maslow.html (Accessed date: 1 February 2013)

Future Computing Profession

By Raul Bernardino (Dino)

We all knew that nowadays, the information and technology revolution has become a part of the human being life. It is become an integral part of the human society. Every effort that is built toward the new technologies is for the best of the society.

As a computing profession, we have to be ready to introduce new technology that is being developed, the technology that will be most probably to be developed and also design new capable system to accommodate society needs.

The computing profession it will be look like the same as it is today. In my personal prediction there would no major change in this field of the profession.  

There would be lot of developers whereas to develop the database application or information systems databases will be not as difficult as it is today and it maybe just using drag and drop tools (cross platform).  Or the developer found the smarter application databases that can adjust and adapt to any needs.

In the schools starting from elementary to senior high are using computers for the interactive learning process and as part of the integrate curriculums. It would be possible also to implement the on-line study senior high schools even non formal education. The youth under care can also still continue their study from home.

Today green environment campaign also triggers to have a paperless at schools, offices, and etc. Therefore, in coming future from 10 to 50 years there would be no more paper found in the schools, shops, home and offices; all are in digital mode. The trend is mobility. A lot palm devices will produce with interactive application in which to use on time decision in the business, connect anywhere and anytime, and easy to operate.

The cloud computing and internet communication are also helps a lot for the new running enterprise business because this new entrepreneurs do not need to invest in Information Technology Infrastructure. They can just started with their own mobiles and connect to cloud computers in which all data are being processed.

The ethical of the computing professional is still need because it is dealing with the copyright, trade-marks, privacy, data security and freedom of speech.

The culture will be quite different because there would be no more boarders at all. Internet connection will be everywhere. Everyone can interact or communicate with everyone else without and precondition. What about language in computing profession? I think English still a preferable language for the information and technology and however there would be an adaptation to the original mother tongue.   

Reference list:

·        Developing the Project Charter and Baseline Project Plan [on-line]. Available from: http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/95/04717153/0471715395-3.pdf   (Accessed: 8 January 2013)

·        The Future of the Computing Profession [on-line]. Available from: http://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/co/2010/07/mco2010070088.html   (Accessed date: February 26, 2011)

·        From Computing Machinery to Interaction Design [on-line]. Available from: http://hci.stanford.edu/~winograd/acm97.html (Accessed: 8 January 2013)

Ethical Hacking

By Raul Bernardino

Introduction:

Today global communication has become an easy to communicate and become a complex to control. Moreover, it has become a huge issue on data migration whereas without any boarder. Nobodies know exactly known with whom they are connected. Either, they are connected to the right and wrong infrastructure or a person. Nobodies can guaranty, that their networks and systems are most secure than the others.

Ethical hacking is a science of the computing security in which is to test the vulnerability of his/her networks or standalone personal computer (PC). The technical person will be closing all open ports or plug all other systems holes before the bad person is trying get into system and attack the networks or the individual PCs.

Several ethical hacking whereas sometimes are hard to define. Either, they are still in an ethical corridor or they are in the hacker parts. There are several types of ethical hacking that can be explained the differences between ethical hacking and hackers.

Moreover, before we talk about the ethical hacking issues, there are several fundamental elements, that we need to know. They are: the important issue of the security in the system, several elements of the security, to see phases of the hacking, etc.

Why should we talk about the importance of the security? It is because, in today technologies are intending to be an easy for the users to be used, the technology and the complexity of the network in which we have no ideas whereas the level of the security, either it is secured or not. There is a triangle model (annex: picture 1) in which can explain about the three component of the technology. They are functionality, security, and easy to use. If the technology is focusing on “easy to use” then there would be less functionality and security. Same as if the technology is focusing on the functionality, there would be less secure and more complex of the using the technology and so on so for. 

The elements of the security are: the data integrity, the confidentiality of the information, authenticity, and availability of the data. (Annex: picture 2)

Additionally hacking phases are: starting from recognizing, scanning, gain the access, maintain the access, and clear the track.  (Annex: picture 3)

“White hat cracking”: This is a first type of ethical hacking in which is involving a security test to the network system or standalone PC with an agreement upfront or with the signed contract arrangement. This is ensured the scope of testing produce, a report, and recommendation.

“Grey hat cracking”: This is a second type of ethical hacking in which without establishing an agreement upfront before he or she is assessing the target system environment and possible to identify the vulnerability of the system. Additionally, they will be reporting or informing the facts to the system administrator or network administrator to know the status. This type sometime can be become white or black hat.

“Black hat cracking”: This is a third type of ethical hacking in which is involving to access the systems. Anyone can determine that black hat is immoral. However, it is depending on the target. If black hat is after gain the access he/she is intend delete some information or controlling the information then it should categorize as crime. The black hat has more knowledge on how to cracking a systems and find the possibility to prevent hacker then he or she doing a good job. The black hat is also able or have the ability to make counter-attack of phishing on server, spam, etc.

“Hacktivism”:  This is another type of the cracking or hacking; however, this one has higher level of purpose of cracking the system. For instance, it has political agenda behind the attack. The cracker is sending a message to target attack that they are able to do so.

“Is it possible to crack systems and still be ethical? Support your position”.

My answer would be two: Yes, if the crackers are in the corridor of white hat, grey hat with the condition of reporting to the target, and black hat with ability to counter-attack the phishing and plug all holes.

No if the crackers like grey hat is not informing the issues finding to the target and back hat use his/her ability to delete some information on the target or control the target. Whatever is the reason to gain unauthorized access is crime.

Conclusion:  As a computing professional, we have to have a responsibility in every activities of hacking. In this sense, either you are a white hat, grey hat, or black hat it does not a matter.

Annex:

Picture 1: Triangle from Module 01 v 6.1 of CEH P.12

Picture 2: Element of Security from Module 01 v 6.1 of CEH P.11

Picture 3: Phases of hacking from Module 01 v 6.1 of CEH P.14

Reference list:

·     Adams, A.A. & McCrindle, R.J. (2008) Pandora’s box: Social and professional issues of the information age. West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Ch 11, P. 366-369

·        Hacking For Dummies: Ch 1 - Intro to Ethical Hacking  [on-line]. Available from: http://www.ethicalhacker.net/content/view/21/2/  (Accessed date: February 12, 2011)

·        Crack System [on-line]. Available from:  http://www.brainmass.com/homework-help/computer-science/other/297377  (Accessed date: February 12, 2011)

·        Introduction to Ethical Hacking [on-line]. Available from:  http://media.techtarget.com/searchNetworking/downloads/hacking_for_dummies.pdf  (Accessed date: February 12, 2011)

·        The Ethics of Vulnerability Research [on-line]. Available from: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/05/the_ethics_of_v.html  (Accessed date: February 12, 2011)

 

 

Information Technology and Business Value

By Raul Bernardino

Introduction:

Nowadays, the computer professional does not only concentrate in the technological science. But is today’s business, it is most important for computer professionals to know additional knowledge in which is the business sector of the Information and Technology operation’s toward to the existing of the companies, institutions, and or firms.

The computer professional whereas willing to deploy any new technologies and or investment in the technology must be in line with the company, firms, and institutions business needs.  The investments have to have a positive impact in long running of the company, firm, and institution operation.

Therefore, it is a mandatory for the computer professionals to have to know several financial terms and it is statements of the financial reporting system including at least have to know a basic understanding of information technology and the business.

Terms and definition:

Asset or Assets:  In the accounting system and finance system, asset is a resource of the economic. Assets are resource of value that can be concerted in any time into the cash value and whereas cash is also seen as an asset value.

Fixed assets:  The fixed assets are namely a property that are owns by company, institution, and firms and they are use for producing other income, output, or services. It is not intending to consume and or it is not intending to be converted into the cash more quickly or in less than one year. There are two types of properties. First is a tangible asset. The tangible assets for instant land, office equipment and its own furniture’s photocopy machine, building, real state, and residence. Second is an intangible asset. In “general, the intangible long-term assets such as trademarks and patents are not categorized as fixed assets but are more specifically referred to as "fixed intangible assets".

The current Assets: The current assets are namely represents resource value that own by company, institution, and firms in which the asset will be converting into the cash among the 12 months. The current asset is usually use for funding the business operation in the daily basis. This resource is including cash itself, inventory, account receivable, market-able securities, other asset that ready for liquid into cash and prepaid-expenses. For example in the individual finance is the asset that can be liquid to pay the bills without has to sell the fixed asset.  In the United-Kingdom (UK), the “current assets are known as current accounts".

The Balance sheet: the balance sheet is namely a table summary that is shown the company, institution, and firm’s the financial statement. It is including fixed asset and current asset and liability and shareholder equities. Why is it call balance sheet? It is because the balance sheet has two sides of the total equal of the balance.

These are the three segments of the balance sheet in which are usually giving an investor’s an ideas, of what the company, firm, and institution have been invested, what are things that firm, company, and institution have been owned and what are the debts on the company, firms, and institution. For example cash, inventory, account receivable, temporary investment, prepaid expense, long term investment such as land and building, and other properties are in the assets side of the balance sheet. While account payable, tax payable, long term loan or Mortgage, interest payable, and accrued payroll are in the liabilities side of the balance sheet.

There are no exact accounts on the balance sheet that will be same from one company to another company or from one industry to the others industries. These are the huge differences of the balance sheet accounts from companies, firms, and institutions. In other word “there is no one set template on the balance sheet that is accurately accommodates for the all differences between different types of running businesses.”

The formula for balance sheet is very simple as follows:

“Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders' Equity”

Question of problem and solution in the balance sheet:

We have known that, the “company has a stock of the 500 user manuals for version 1 of the package (inventory=$25 by 500 manual version 1in which it is equal $12,500) including version 2 which is coming soon. The company paid $5,000 (Prepaid expense and cash) to owns 1,000 manuals printed and it has been selling them at $25 per copy (account receivable= $25 by 1000 manuals version 2 in which it is equal to $25,000)”. 

We also have informed that “the company has a file server costing $15,000 that is used by the software development teams” (long term investment ‘Server and fixes’)” and no depreciation is calculated. From these explanation above, we can now able to elaborate the balance sheet in excel sheet format in which is easily to interpret by investors.

	Balance Sheet
		February 14,2011
	ASSETS				LIABILITIES
	Current Assets				Current Liabilities
	Cash		$5,000.00		Accounts payable		$5,000.00
	Accounts receivable (1000 manuals)		$25,000.00		Short-term notes
		(less doubtful accounts)			Current portion of long-term notes
	Inventory (500 manuals in stock)		$12,500.00		Interest payable
	Temporary investment				Taxes payable
	Prepaid expenses		$5,000.00		Accrued payroll
		Total Current Assets	$47,500.00			Total Current Liabilities	$5,000.00
	Fixed Assets				Long-term Liabilities
	Long-term investments				Mortgage
	Land				Other long-term liabilities		$15,000.00
	Buildings					Total Long-Term Liabilities	$15,000.00
		(less accumulated depreciation)
	Plant and equipment
		(less accumulated depreciation)			Shareholders' Equity
	Server and Fixes		$15,000.00		Capital stock
		(less accumulated depreciation)			Retained earnings		$42,500.00
		Total Net Fixed Assets	$15,000.00			Total Shareholders' Equity	$42,500.00
	TOTAL ASSETS		$62,500.00		TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY		$62,500.00

Conclusion:

According to the balance sheet above, the company, firms, and institution have good investment and have good profit. This can be seen on shareholders equity column of the balance sheet table. Therefore the investor will be most likely to invest in this company or firms. The industry or company will be making a lot profit from increasing the products. 

References List:

·         Chris G., Pak A. Deborah D. (2002), The Key element of introductory accounting, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. Mod. 1, P. 7-15

·         Assets   [Online] Available from:  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset  (accessed date: February 15,2011)

·         What does Fixed Assets Means?  [Online] Available from: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fixedasset.asp  (accessed date: February 15,2011)

·         What does Current Assets Means?  [Online] Available from: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/currentassets.asp (accessed date: February 15,2011)

·         Balance sheet introduction for Fixed Assets  [Online] Available from: http://tutor2u.net/business/accounts/assets_fixedassets_intro.asp (accessed date: February 15,2011)

·         What does Balance sheet Means? [Online] Available from: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/balancesheet.asp  (accessed date: February 15,2011)