post-finalexam POST

This would be my last post for my class' blog. And i dont have plenty. But that doesnt mean that the posts I posted are just the things I've learned. Of course not! I had many, from my classmates reports and sir's lectures, to lessons I've learned that were not given by the book. And those are helpful insights and applications in the real world.

Yes! Competition today is so strong that what i am competing with are not just Filipinos, but also foreigners abroad in terms of good job landing. How much more tomorrow when globalization would become stronger.

Of all the things and advices sir gave- becoming special, etc., I landed on a single concept that I think is very valuable and fundamental. I just stared outside the windows and just saw nearby trees waving. I think what I am gonna need first is to build up my confidence. That's what I lack now. If I would be confident of myself I would be able to use up all of my potentials that I have kept on hiding because I really lack confidence.
I think and believe that what drove Einstein, Steve Jobs, Pacquiao, Bill Gates, Friedman, inventors, scientists, popular politicians, actors, rockstars and everyone who were able to do things that are not common and unimaginable, is just a speck of hormones inside their brains that prompts them to keep going, and that is, confidence. And I think it is the trait that I should acquire...

This is already reality-a world full of competition and insecurities! And my childish system and old ways would no longer work. I am going thru this maturity thing and I think I really am gonna need it. Now that I am already living all by myself what I am gonna need is confidence that I am talented and can make things that other TIME featured as person of the year had done or even surpass them.

Ill be CONFIDENT first! then I can become special...

thanks for the sem.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Romans 5: 1-5

Today and Yesterday (when was better?)

Way back in highschool, whenever I get late for school, Papa would always get mad. While driving us (me and my siblings) to school, he would keep on lecturing and pinpointing each of our mistakes and keep on comparing them with his past we can't relate..

"Amel you move so slowly!! You're like a turtle!!! It takes you 20 mins to finish your meal, 10 mins to brush your teeth, 30 mins to take your bath, 15 mins to take your uniform on.! You're like a girl!!! You're class is 7am and you wake up 6am...the heck!!! You always think time is yours for everything is already served for you- the meal on the table, the piped-in water, and transportation.

You know what!? When I was at your age in our town in Samar, we would have to prepare uling the night before the morning for LPGs were not yet available, people would cook their food using coal. In the morning before going to school, you're aunts were responsible for cooking, while I and your uncles were the ones who would collect water from limited water pumps in the town. So we have to wake up early in the morning to get first in the line. We had to walk a mile to reach the school. Everything was a hassle and we had to act fast.Now?! people are so relaxed. Look at you! you are so passive cause you don't have to prepare uling anymore, say thanks to microwave ovens it just takes minutes and you have your meal! You no longer have to collect water, for water just comes in our house! And you don't need to walk to go to school, you just ride the car!!! You should be thankful on your time now, for you have lived in this generation! But if you have lived during our time and this is the kind of habits you have, you're not gonna survive! I tell you!!"

I glanced away, and spoke to myself.

Wooohw! I get your point. But sorry Pa, I can't blame myself. Youre maybe right that my habits are bad and they're not satisfying you, but I'm dictated for what I am in now. I know how it was during the past and the kind of lives people had. But I am no longer in the past. I am like this for life is a lot easier. Everything is already served and what is mostly exhausted and used is my hand and fingers.
If I had to call a friend to ask for my assignment, I just have to dial the phone. I no longer have to walk a mile to get to there house. If want to be entertained, I would just click the remote and WHOALA! I have my favorite show. I get my music from my player just making clicks, don't need to wait it to be played over the radio. I get my games in PS2 and computer and play online games (Flyff, Ragnarok, Gunbound, MU, GG) with my friends. We no longer have to go under the heat of the sun just to play with each other, for we already are playing together and in an out-of-this world setup. If I want to be connected with my elementary bestfriend who migrated to another country, I would just have to email him and check out his Friendster and Facebook. There are no more hassle of writing and going to the post office and long waiting for months for his reply. If there's a group report, we no longer need to meet in school, just discuss in YM conference. If there's a research, I no longer have to go to the biggest library in the city and catch allergy from dusts for I have Google with me. If i want to get connected with my crush, I just have to text her without the timid feeling of talking with her in person.
You see things are really easy right now.

But whenever I visit my father's hometown during summer and get to have bonds with my cousins, I am able to get a real picture of the life my father had in the past. There are still things in the past that are still part of their lives today. Like in playing, if you want to play you have to congregate with your neighbors or go to the plaza and meet with your playmates there. And I tell you, the experience is really great and far better in an outdoor than just by sitting and facing the PC. You are able to relate with new people and make new acquaintances and somehow know their culture. (It's really different from acquaintances you get in Facebook). You can't text your friends to meet me at this time and place for cell phones are not yet that available in the place so you have to go to the plaza.
In terms of the collection of water, I was once ordered by my aunt to collect water from water pumps for the town has no piped-in water system yet. And it really was a hassle. So people here make early schedules when to collect water with shorter lines. Moreover, you get an instant weights for your muscles. Not bad at all, no wonder my cousins have good bicep cuts.
I have to walk or bike 2000m to get to my lola's house for there are no vehicles to take you there. So while walking with my cousins, we have so many talks along the way and we would not go instantly to our destination. We would go first to a forested area and explore the place- make a tree house and play there, then to my lola's house. So, a single trip that is made for minutes when Im in the city took me hours. But it was worth it. The laughs and bonds I had and the experience of making a tree house is so good, and is not attainable in the city for I have no gadget or game that creates a real time experience of building a real house.
When people want to have a toy, they make and create it on their own to have one. Unlike in the city you just buy it in supermarkets or get an order over the net through this e-Commerce thing. I just watched them and got amazed how creative my cousins are. They are able to make kites that easily fly out of sticks and cellophane, tops out of a scrap wood, scooter out of scrapped metal and wood, and wooden guns. They even make their own fish baits and traps and I am just envy whenever they a get a catch when we go out for fishing. Sadly, my baits were poor. :/
I am really amazed how creative and resourceful people are in this place.
When my cousin courted her crush, we had to the girl's house and give a harana.

I had so many unusual experiences everytime I get to visit my Papa's place. It's like I am able to time travel and be able to witness my father's story in reality, though there are already changes due to technological advancements brought to the place. But still, the setup is still somewhat same- the lifestyles of the people and the things they have.

Truly, there is a tradeoff between the time of today and yesterday. Today, technology has made life easier, but the values and culture of people are getting poor. In the past, technology was poor and life was hard, but the values, norms, and culture is preserved and rich.

So when is better?

ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS

ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING
ERP is the collection of data and making them available to all business key processes of the organization.
This is made possible through a centralized database that is updated by changes along the way. This is so beneficial to a firm for it makes updates of another business process that is seen and observed by the other.

For example, in the SALES and MARKETING division, the increase in number of customer demand and requests is stored in the centralized database making it available for the FINANCE and ACCOUNTING to record and credit Sales and easily prepare financial statements less the hassle of data gathering. Moreover, this may trigger for an increase in production, so the PRODUCTION and MANUFACTURING division will adjust output level. Likely, more output would update the HUMAN RESOURCE to hire more workers. So, a single plug-in of data from the SALES prompted all other business processes.

It makes the firm efficient and enhances good and rational decisions.
However, the disadvantage of this is that it is costly and expensive. :/

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
SCM is the network of organizations and business processes

Procure Raw Materials --> Transformation of inputs to outputs --> delivery to customers

Problems: During the process, inefficiencies (defective plant, excessive inventory, shortages) and uncertainties (delayed delivery of materials, bad forecasts of customer demand) occur.
So the firm adjusts and make corresponding solutions. The Bullwhip effect is a problem faced by the firm wherein, the information about the demand for a product gets distorted as it passes from one entity to the next across the supply chain.

Solutions: Build more inventory on product that manufacturer thinks customers need and Safety stock

Supply Chain Software

Supply Chain Planning (demand forecast) -----> Supply Chain Execution (goods delivery)

Likewise, this is valuable for a firm during production for it forecasts more accurate information bout demand and matches it to supply, reduces inventory levels, improves delivery service, and reduces cost.

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
CRM emphasizes the realm of business strategy of locking in customers that will bring increases in revenues.

Customer Relationship Management Software
Operational CRM
CRM that is the directly oriented to customers. This would be: Sales force automation, Call center, Customer service support, and Marketing automation.

Analytical CRM
CRM that is in the viewpoint of the firm. This would be the analysis of the data that is plugged in to the data warehouse of the Operational CRM. This helps the firm observe buying patterns and pinpoint profitable customers from those who are not, and may grant them better treatment and service.

Also, this realm is highly valuable for the firm if employed because it increases customer satisfaction, reduces direct marketing costs, makes marketing more effective, lowers cost for customer acquisition and retention, and increases sale revenue.

(source: Teacher Jan's Lecture in class and Handouts) ^__^



"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." Romans 8: 6-7

APPLE and JAPANESE CARS : BPR and SIX SIGMA

BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING
"The Business Process Reengineering method (BPR) is defined by Hammer and Champy as 'the fundamental reconsideration and radical redesign of organizational processes, in order to achieve drastic improvement of current performance in cost, service and speed'."

As Teacher Jan's best example of BPR, was when Apple tried to reconsider the true motivation of its business. As he said, "It's thinking out of the box." They realized that the company is not just on creating computers, but on the invention and creation of unique hi tech gadgets that are new in the market. So several tools that were unimaginable by our ancestors back then were born:
IPod (first released mp3 player of Apple), IPod Touch, IPod Nano, ISight, IPhone, and now IPad (reviews bout the gadget swamp the net)!
(of course there are so many trademarks of Apple and i can't list them down here.hehe Here's a link of the list.
http://www.apple.com/legal/trademark/appletmlist.html)

Their integration of the technology of touch screen in their gadgets is so awesome and cool. I say they are the pioneer of these touch-screen gadgets!


SIX SIGMA
Six Sigma is a method employed by a firm seeking to improve QUALITY.

Again, a best example of this was given by Teacher Jan is of the car industry, wherein, Japanese cars were able to compete in the world market due to the quality and durability and fuel-efficiency of the product relative to its price (though Toyota has suffered from consumer complaints due to product malfunctions recently).

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned."

Romans 5:12