05 Mar Working in the cloud

Part One – Working in the cloud

Cloud computing, as we’ve seen, is a blanket term that now encompasses many different products and services. Take a look at Amazon Web Services or Azure Development Tools offerings to see just how much is available. Then do a search on jobs that involve cloud computing either on the provider end or as an IS professional making use of such services. Write a paragraph or so on one such job. What kind of skills are necessary? What kinds of organizations are hiring and how does the pay scale measure up to your expectations? Do you foresee this career as one with a broad future ahead? Why or why not?

Part 2 – Analytics as part of IS Management

Data Analytics and business intelligence aren’t new concepts, by any means, but the methods, tools, amounts and kinds of data have definitely changed over time. Consider the role of analytics in the management of information systems based on your knowledge and experience as well as our readings and activities.

Discuss some of the ways in which analytics assist information systems management as well as the organization at large. What kinds of data are most useful and how is it gathered? How do managers protect customer, client, and even employees’ personally identifiable information in order for those who may not have permissions to view it? How is the data secured in general?

Part 3 – Knowledge Management

Knowledge management is a method of compiling knowledge, using it as a reference tool, and fostering learning among new employees and staff. It is, in a very real sense, a model seen throughout human civilization. More experienced workers pass on their skills and knowledge to younger ones through guided internships or apprenticeships. Instructions or methods are written down and saved to help train others. Knowledge management formalizes processes so there is a record and a resource available. Seems like a very logical and essential thing to do yet there are examples of the neglect to manage knowledge that caused businesses to falter and, in some cases, fail.

Our readings refer to tacit and explicit knowledge. As we’ve seen, explicit knowledge is knowledge that is easy to explain, write down, or share. Tacit knowledge is gained from experience and can be more difficult to explain. In the article What is KM?  Professor Michael E. D. Koenig suggests this might be expanded to include ‘implicit’ knowledge. Implicit knowledge refers to knowledge or skills that are transferrable from one job to another.

Consider your experiences in a work or other environment where knowledge was essential to success.  Were there resources available to help or were people left to figure things out from the ground up? Was the knowledge of more experienced workers or those about to retire valued and retained or did the organization ‘re-invent the wheel’ over and over? Discuss successful or unsuccessful knowledge management in this situation and how it either did or could have helped.