Relating Systems Integration to Knowledge Management (and other classes)

So I'm sitting in Knowledge Management class now, where Dr. Stucke is proctoring for Dr. Gallivan, who is stuck in China somewhere.  We're about to watch a YouTube video, so I figured this is a good time to blog instead of taking my customary nap.

I'm trying to link the Systems Integration class with the Knowledge Management class in my mind, maybe somebody has some ideas.

First, my definition of Knowledge Management (KM) is the art/science of linking up knowledge seekers with knowledge keepers.  This can be done through knowledge management systems (codification of knowledge, usually knowledge stored in a database, etc.), social knowledge management programs (personalization of knowledge, this can include email, conferences, IM), or knowledge in the community (like in blogs and social networking).

I think KM relates the most to Systems Integration ideas when the KM codification approach is used.  Here's how I think we can link KM with SI:

Let's say we want to make a database driven Intranet to hold and store knowledge, and we want to link or integrate the KM database with an employee database, perhaps using ETL on way to a data warehouse.  Well, whenever you are linking two databases, using ETL, or a data warehouse, we have moved into the realm of Systems Integration!

I was blogging to Asha about this on another posting - that really no matter what you're doing in Information Systems, that Systems Integration plays an important role.  Without integrating systems, you just have information systems silos that may be important by itself, but silos are very weak when information or data needs to be shared.

I never considered Systems Integration before this class, but now I see it everywhere, and it feels like a fog has been lifted.  Now the next time I'm dealing with a system or thinking about implementing a new system, I will think of how it will possibly need to be integrated later.

Anyway, the YouTube video is ending, I have to pay attention now.  Does anyone have any thoughts of how Systems Integration relates to their other classes?  Thanks!

Shibboleth

I did small researches on Shibboleth in Wiki and Shibboleth's web site :

Shibboleth (pronounced /ˈʃɪbəlɛθ/ or /ˈʃɪbələθ/) is any distinguishing practice which is indicative of one's social or regional origin. It usually refers to features of language, and particularly to a word whose pronunciation identifies its speaker as being a member or not a member of a particular group. The term originates from the Hebrew word "shibbólet", which literally means the part of a plant containing grains, such as an ear of corn or a stalk of grain or, in different contexts, "stream, torrent".

Shibboleth® System:

The Shibboleth System is a standards based, open source software package for web single sign-on across or within organizational boundaries. It allows sites to make informed authorization decisions for individual access of protected online resources in a privacy-preserving manner.

Because I have some library cataloguing experiences, this method reminds me of Dewey decimal classification. But under the name I can see that it uses a method similar to Object-oriented design to manage those individual accounts. Using this method, the account management will be able to manage the accounts more effectively and efficiently. Last September I joined a presentation sponsored by Deloitte Consulting. They introduced a role-based method to manage the identities in the industries and used a similar way to present how to manage the accounts. How is Shibboleth related to this role-based identity management? Perhaps we will ask our speaker again.

With the coupling of more technologies, Identity Management becomes more urgent not only in academia but also in industries. In ING, every year we test access controls to a large amount of financially significant applications. Without appropriate management on these access controls, the company or the university might incur great financial risk and reputational risk.

Systems Integration Philosophy - lessons learned from this class

I want to share some random thoughts I have about Systems Integration while sitting on the couch eating M&Ms.  Here are some things I've learned that will forever change my view on integration.

My first thought is that this is an extremely complex subject.  I never thought about systems integration much before coming into this class, but after taking this class and learning about the myriad of technologies available, it seems to me that no one can know much about all of these technologies, and the more you know the more superficial the knowledge is across the board, as the technologies are so varied and different.  In fact, I think you can make a whole undergrad or grad degree called MS Systems Integration, for example, and that still wouldn't be enough.

Also, as new and newer technologies emerge, you need more and more techniques for integrating systems, which is sort of a rehash of what I just said, but from a different angle.  The ERP is a relatively new advent, and think of all the technologies associated with it.  Think of all the integration technologies involving the web, databases, servers, etc.  Because there are so many new technologies, it's hard for anyone to keep up with them.  So like most technologies, specialization becomes very important.  So you can be a database integration expert, an application integration expert, an ERP implementer, but I doubt you can be an expert in all the kinds on integration, unless you're just an exceptional superstar.

Another thought - where would the world be without integration?  What good would all these technologies be if they cannot interoperate?  I always thought of technologies as more of standalone islands, but the key is getting them all to talk in a meaningful way.

Another - what does the future hold?  I wonder if the trend will continue of the technologies becoming more and more sprawling, or if we'll start to see more standards and fewer ways to have to integrate systems.  Will the integration of systems become more graphical, automated, and intuitive?  Or will they become more flexible and require coding?  Will they rely more on things like APIs where you don't need much back-end knowledge?  Will there more of a push to open source integration?  As Microsoft loses more and more of its grip on future market share, will systems integration become yet even more complex?  Is there going to be a large vendor that specializes in just integration?

Wow, it's enough to make your head spin.  I really enjoyed learning about all these, but the more I learn, I realize I know less and less.  But the first thing to learning is knowing what you don't know, realizing what's out there, and then you can pick and choose what fits your needs and become expert at it - and go from there.

Are there any other philosophical thoughts on systems integration out there? Am I right in assuming the present is extremely complex to warrant high specialization and even its own degree?  Will the future become even more or less complex?  As I finish my bag of M&Ms, I'm curious to know what you think.  I have a free bag of M&Ms to the best response.  Blog on!

CIS 8020 Assignment 2 FF Google Chart API - Mega Hot Pot Financial Group

The Scenario Mega Hot Pot Financial Group is a start-up insurance company in the South East. Recently it announced its purchase of 5 financial applications to manage its retail annuity business which is worth thousands of dollars. Risk Management manager, Susan builds a group of 3 Risk Assessment Analysts (RCA) working on controls established for these financial applications. They are required to follow Susan's work process perform their control testing. Susan arranges a Friday meeting for the new group and also invites her boss to the meeting.

This Friday morning Susan found that her chart couldn't be opened 10 minutes before the meeting. Luckily her assistant Mary happened to know how to create a chart from scratch by using Google Chart API. According to Susan's requirements, this chart will mark the work process for the team. It will mark the start process, the end process and each step with the percentage. It will visualize the process, standardize the process and help the team management manage their time and resources under each control test. Additionally, this chart will be easily generated, shared by everyone, and easily updated by each team member if there is some variance on the percentage phase by phase.

A Potential Solution Google provides a useful Chart API (Application Programming Interface) which can be accessed to quickly and easily produce highly customizable charts. The Google Chart API lets users generate line, bar, pie charts within a web page. The user can specify parameters such as color, size and titles. Mary created this chart by defining its type, its parameters for data and labels, its size, its title and its color in Google .

The Prototype Here is the chart prototype:

http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=p3&chd=t:5,5,15,5,20,25,15,5,5&chs=550x200&chl=Start>>>Send requests(5%)|Receive the population(5%)|Request change tickets(15%)| Collect change tickets(5%)|Document the test table(20%)|Document the work paper(25%)|1st review(15%)|1st review approval(5%)|End>>>2nd review approval(5%)&chtt=IT+RCA+Control+Testing+Work+Chart|By+Mary&chco=ff0099

The Reason Why This web API is chosen for implementation because:

1. It is easier to generate

2. It is shared by all the team members

3. It can be updated by all the team members

4. It meets their requirements including marking the start, the end, the work process and the work step percentage

5. It provides a dashboard like chart visualizing their work process

This prototype is ideal for users who don’t want to buy complex charting solutions like Mega Hotpot. Other charting solutions like Excel can achieve the goal. In this scenario, Excel can't be used, so they have to build the chart from the scratch.

There are other solutions building the chart. They include:

1. Insert the chart JPG after creating a chart in a software(e.g. Excel)

2. Input some data into a database and create a chart by using data analysis tools (e.g. Crystal Reports)

But these two solutions have their drawbacks compared with the Google Chart API:

1. The process is complicated and long to create such a chart

2. The user should know how to know how to input the data into a database and how to use the tool

CIS 8020 Assignment 2 MM Google Calendar API

This blog entry shall discuss my implementation of the Google Calendar API to solve a particular business problem.

1. Introduce the scenario or the case.

Morgan Computer Consulting has a big client (Client Alpha) that requires a new ERP implementation. Morgan Computer Consulting has formed a 20-person international project team to work on this big project. Coordination among team members and project managers will prove to be essential in getting the project done efficiently.

The team needs a way to easily coordinate meetings, installations, testing, etc. Morgan Computer Consulting doesn't want to have to buy any new software or go through the trouble of installing bulky software on employees' computers. Morgan Computer Consulting needs an easy to use, cloud-based, free calendar system that all global project team members can view in order to stay coordinated and connected.

2. Explain how you can use one of the Google APIs for a potential solution.

Google Calendar offers a very easy to use API that solves the project team's needs. Google Calendar offers the flexibility of easily embedding within a dashboard or any web page (using an iFrame), and allows the customization of allowing users to see daily, weekly, monthly, or agenda item views. Every team member can see the calendar at the same time, and the calendar can be controlled by specific people (one or multiple) such as the project managers simply by logging into Google and giving Calendar permissions. The Google Calendar is free and easy to use, features an easy print option, and allows the global project team to view all project team calendar items.

3. Use Google API to build a prototype. The output can be directly integrated to the same blog entry; or you may need a separate HTML/Script gadget.

Here is the implementation of the Google Calendar. Some sample calendar entries have been entered:



4. Explain why you chose this web API for implementation; if possible, compare to other possible solutions.

This particular API's huge advantage is that it's extremely easy to implement and customize. Other advantages are that it's free and visibly aesthetic. Other solutions would be Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Sharepoint, neither of which are free or particularly easy to use. Those products would provide too much bulk and overhead to be an effective, efficient solution.

Google Calendar offers real-time coordination without the need for backup or maintenance. Printing is very easy using Google Calendar, and can be easily embedded in an iFrame for easy web, dashboard, or mashup implementation. It's a great solution for this particular problem.

CIS 8020 Assignment 2 BC Google chart API--Sinopec stock valuation

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) is one of the largest petroleum companies in China. Sinopec has recorded a strong financial performance in recent years. However, because of over high crude oil price, the company suffered loss in its 2008 fiscal year. Still, many portfolio managers desire to invest in Sinopec during 2009 and they need to take a look at its recent financial data to valuate its stock market performance.

Google Chart API is a good candidate solution for this problem. Google API chart generates bar chart as well as line chart images which shows the company's yearly and first quarter net profit and Earnings per share(EPR) data. The charts is prototyped as following:







Based on the Google chart API, we can see that the company’s annual and first quarter net profit is highly correlated with its Annual and first quarter EPS. The graph shows that its first quarter EPS increased in FY 2009 compared with that in FY 2008. As we can see, this company is a valuable stock to invest in now as part of the portfolio.

Google API charts are much more straightforward and illustrative than examine Sinopec's financial statement and balance sheet for their profit analysis. This application can be nicely integrated to the website as well.

Here I attached the video that Dr. Zheng suggested to upload in our blog. This video gives a very good example helping us to understand how abnormal data is analyzed in the existing database using SSIS' data profiling function.