ASSIGNMENT 2. :D

Topic : Based on the organization(s) that you visited, what do you think are the risks associated with business and IS/IT change? (1000 words)

In organizations without a formal information technology (IT) change management process, it is estimated that 80% of IT service outage problems are caused by updates and alterations to systems, applications, and infrastructure. Consequently, one of the first areas to address to improve service reliability is to track all changes and systematically manage change with full knowledge of the risks of the change and the potential organizational impact. While tracking change events is fairly well understood and is a common practice, consistently and reliably predicting the impact of change requires a disciplined, standards-based approach to assessing risk and likelihood of impact, a technique not usually found in off-the-shelf change tracking tools. –PNNL, Joanne R. Hugi

Since that the company I conducted an interview in my previous assignment was SONY, to be consistent, I would still used this company as my reference for this current assignment. Sony is still located at Magallanes beside Aljem's Inn. Based on the interview I conducted two weeks ago, I observed that even a large and international company like SONY can be very dwarf in terms of their Information System. I mean, as what their assigned IT said, their home base or main server is located at MANILA, therefore, all the sales, expenses, and other important matters are relayed via internet.

But still, he gave me some of the problems they encounter as their IS change. Since they relay data via internet, one of their problem is NETWORK CONNECTION, according to him, this happens every time especially when an interruption to the signal occurs. Some of the said possible reasons (internet based) were it may be that you have simply made a typing mistake, and there is an error in the name of the remote host computer. In this case you should also receive an error stating that the host is unknown. Second, There may be problems with the configuration or physical setup of the network connection. Verify that other network connections are functioning. And, there may also be a temporary problem with the remote host computer. If this is the case, you should wait for a while and try to connect again later. Contact the administrator of the remote host computer for additional information.

SONY as stated earlier has only ONE MAIN SOURCE, or they only have one main server which is currently located in Manila. Therefore, if IT personnel changes or there IS (Information System) changes, it would be very difficult for the new employee (if IT personnel changes) to cope up with the main server unless if He is used to having a main server on a far area or location. Data Recovery would also be prolonged if their would be an IS change, IT personnel in charged especially if it is outsourcing, would feel different and likely would not use the new implemented system.

But then before a change of a system, a company such as SONY focuses on controlling the integrity of information systems and resources, including all network devices, computer systems, applications, and databases in the infrastructure. To accomplish this, the change management process tracks all changes and requires reviews and approvals commensurate with the potential impact of the change. To promote thorough consideration of change impact prior to instituting the change, the process is integrated with the systems and software development lifecycle: change risks are considered before systems are built and tested. Modifications to the change release plan during the build and test phases are allowed, but the plan will be reviewed before implementation is approved. After implementation, a release status report records the success of the change, permitting self-assessment of change effectiveness.

My learnings are, actually, a system needs to be changed in order to improve its efficiency and competitiveness. Even though a change is crucial to a success, but still as an IT we must accept and embrace change, since that technology is fast pacing, nothing is constant except CHANGE nowadays, we really have to deal with it. But as changes occur, we must make sure that we keep on the right track. Implementing changes is a repeatable process, one must learn to get abide with it as quick as it should be.

--whew!i had hard time composing these since that I was supposed to have an interview with JOLLIBEE regarding this assignment. I was hoping for their call but 'till now, I haven't received any. (sigh!)