Computer Science Research No.03
Friday, July 11th, 2008For me, I want to address on the topics that I am really interested. Some of these topics involves the current research for the improvement or development of the complete Artificial Intelligence that could be employed in the development of nanotechnology to be used in medical areas. I also wanted to address the involvement of Microbiology, particularly Pathology and Bacteriology, in the research of the implementation of Nanotechnology in medical technology. Although it may seem a bit too farfetched and impossible, these are the topics I wanted to be addressed by the top researches today.
But as an IT student of USEP, I want to add the research in effectively implementing Information Technology in the studies and course of aspiring IT professionals here in our university. The reason for this is because you can not really be encouraged to implement IT elsewhere if the university itself do not implement it. Not only in the manners of hardwares or equipments but also in the delivery of the Technology itself to the students by the professors. I also wanted to address the topic of the significance of IT implementation here in our societies and its effects that may be good and bad. Although implementing IT sounds good in many ways, there are always bad effects of the implementation to our society. Most of these went unnoticed since many of the bad effects takes change indirectly or in long-term. That is all of my current concerns as an IT student. Thank you!
Computer Science Research No.02
I have conducted a simple research for the state of computer science research. My report is as follows:
Microsoft is one of the most famous business companies today. Many of us (students of IT or CS) aspire to be part of the group. And for this reason, I have chosen their line of research work as my source of my assignment.
In early 1990’s, Microsoft has already developed a research sector, which could function as their own research department specializing in the field of computer science. Microsoft Research, as it was named, has been actively doing its share of extensive research since its creation. It has established a technology transfer program, which serves as a bridge between the researchers and the product team. In my own opinion and based from what I have learned, this kind of approach is necessary for a company to gain a competitive edge in the market. With its own research sector, a company has more options and capabilities. An example of this advantage is that a company can create or invent a new product within its own or upgrade an existing one. A research sector can not only help the company for its product, it can also help it with its system and other areas. The Microsoft Research has also developed collaborations with the industry, academia and the governments in different researches. The Microsoft Research has employed vast amounts of scientists specialized in different variety of fields in its five (5) major research centers based across the globe.
Based from the article of the Microsoft research and also from other articles I have read, it is in my own opinion that most of the interest in engaging in the research of computer science are found and funded by the business companies and the government. Even though the universities and some independent sectors have been doing their own research, much of the concentration of the research in computer science has been found in the business companies that deals with Information Technology and the government. The reason for this is the need and/or the significance of the research itself is large on these areas. Although all could benefit from the advancement of the technology, business companies could earn more income and the government more advantages. I also noticed that many of the current computer science researches today are based on existing technologies or products. The idea of creating new technology in the field of computer science, although existing, has gathered less attention from the researches.
Some of the fields/ topics discussed in the research in computer science:
• Algorithms and Theory
• Hardware Development
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Machine Learning, Adaptation, and Intelligence
• Multimedia and Graphics
• Search, Retrieval, and Knowledge Management
• Security and Cryptography
• Social Computing
• Software Development
• Systems, Architectures, Mobility, and Networking
The said article can be found in this address:
http://www.research.microsoft.com
Computer Science Research No.01
The following are short reports I have written about the research papers from Stanford University. The topics of the research papers are related to the implementation of Information Technology on business firms. After discussing the cited research paper, I have added my own reflections or reactions from understanding the matters concerned. Any further comments or reactions you want to add in my statements are welcome. The reports are as follows:
Research Paper No.1:
“Does Internet Always Intensify Price Competition?”
Rajiv Lal, Miklos Sarvary (April 1998)
Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
The paper is committed to the concern of the Internet as a significant factor in the price competition of the global market. It explores on the “actual” effect of the Internet on price competition, pertaining to the impact or effects on the consumers buying in the stores or in the Net.
The material cited two important attributes called digital and non-digital attributes of the products or services that must be recognized in order to distinguish the difference in buying in the store from buying in the Internet. It also discusses the primary role of the Internet on different kinds of business practices. It provides formulas, which is used in presenting the probabilities or the range of the effects of the Internet in various aspects of business practices.
In describing various situations, the paper employs the use of different kind of scenarios in illustrating a range of effects and outcome. The research utilizes direct observation and statistics in derivation of the conclusion. In general, the research provides that the Internet does not always intensify price competition in the market but in some instances provide price increase and cost savings.
After discussing the observations I have made from evaluating the research paper, I have reflected that although the Internet may play an important part in the business markets, it does not significantly affect the price competition. Although with many advantages brought by the Internet, it is important that all the Internet brings are information only, specifically digital images or texts, not the exact product. So other examinations done to evaluate the product cannot be made in the Internet thus affecting the evaluation of fair pricing. And also with the cut in the expenses of transportation and search for the product the Internet brings, it does not fully bring the satisfaction from examining the product directly. The assurance from buying from the Internet is low. All these can tremendously affect the pricing of the products. So it can be also said that you cannot fully reduce expenses if you buy products from the Internet. My conclusion is formed after reading the mentioned research paper and from other small research I made.
Research Paper No.2:
“Information Sharing in a Supply Chain”
Hau L. Lee, Seungjin Whang (July 1998)
Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
The paper addresses the utilization of information technology in sharing information in a supply chain business. Coordination and management of supply chains through the use of information systems that seems practical today have developed difficulties that must be recognized, according to the paper.
The research paper introduces communication in supply chain management through information systems. It also discusses the types of information shared and along with it, the three models of information sharing. Some companies have been cited for their practices in sharing information with their partners in their business.
Lastly, the challenges of supply chain management are mentioned and discussed. Some figures are provided for reference and further representation of data. The paper ends without solid answers to the problems mentioned but it addresses the full value of information sharing depending on the challenges described in the study.
This time the implementation of Information Technology is being established in a common business practice in my country. In my understanding, implementing Information Technology in companies is very advantageous for the firm, especially in the companies found in my city. Famous food chain businesses like Jollibee, McDonalds, etc., and other kind of companies such as Octagon, Cd-r king, etc., can be found that implementing Information Technology in their current system may improve their operations. Not only in the improvement of usual operations, the companies can also produce other solutions to other areas of problems like when dealing with customers that is accustomed to other branch with the same company. With this research, it can be stated that it may cause the company to be more competitive in the market but introducing the Information Technology in these kind of business practice also brings problems and matters that needs to be mentioned and discussed. Further research can reveal that these problems can be solved differently through their own management of the Information system. I expect further research will be made according to the problems not only mentioned in the research paper but the other arising problems as well.
Research Paper No.3:
“Information Technology as a Jealous Mistress: Competition for Knowledge between Individuals and Organizations”
Terri Griffith, John E. Sawyer, Margaret A. Neale (April 2000)
Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
The research paper is about the significance of Information Technology in distributing knowledge to individuals in organizations, which promotes competition between each individual in organizations and individual to the organization. The study addresses the importance of the tacit or explicit knowledge possessed by individuals inside the organization and how the management acknowledges it. The competition derived from it are being affected by the information system being utilized by the organization, whether it helps promote competition or lessens it are the concerns cited in the paper.
Backgrounds of the concerned fields are thoroughly discussed and various figures are presented to help identify the implications concerned. Although concrete derivations or conclusions are not produced in the research, the paper provides definite observations, which may help in providing critical management decisions.
This last research paper I have chosen because I believe in the necessity to discuss the conflicts found inside the companies that had implemented Information Technology in their system. Without discussing these important matters may cause the Information System to fail entirely. The most important case is when handling the competition for proper knowledge is found within the organization. Upon analyzing the research paper, It can be stated that the competition for knowledge is present in most companies although it is not exactly noticeable by the organization itself. The issue is elevated when an Information System is present and is affecting the people surrounding it.
Implementation of an Information System (IS) may bring ethical issues such as the knowledge it brings causing the knowledge of an individual in the company obsolete. There is also the question of the knowledge needed by an individual to operate within the system of the organization with the IS being present. The research did not produce concrete solutions in addressing these problems. Further research can find that many organizations have faced the same kind of problem. With my own observation, I can pronounce that the management of the IS and management of the organization can only answer to these problems.
These reports have been made without trying to duplicate or in anyway copy the statements of my sources. Any part of my report as being familiar or has been found similar to other materials is purely coincidental and I apologize for it. Thank you for reading my short report and any kind of comment or reaction are welcomed.
The research papers being referred to can be found in these links:
https://gsbapps.stanford.edu/researchpapers/library/rp1457R.pdf
https://gsbapps.stanford.edu/researchpapers/library/rp1549.pdf
https://gsbapps.stanford.edu/researchpapers/library/rp1611.pdf
