magBLOG: MIS Assignment 1: IS/IT Best Practices

MIS Assignment 1: IS/IT Best Practices

{ Posted on 1:50 AM by Ariel Serenado }

For this assignment we are tasked to visit a local organization and to identify its IS/IT best practices.

The approved local organization that I have visited was the Hubport Group Interactive, located at the 3^rd Floor Conpinco Building, along J.P Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City. The person that we interviewed regarding this assignment was Mr. Paulo Saravia, the Operations Officer at Hubport Interactive Inc. Also, he is a Web Designer, Project Manager and under training in Operations Management for Information Technology / Management and Business Process Outsourcing. Besides, he is specializing in IT business process development, IT product branding, human resource acquisition, project management, client negotiations, web design, application process design, interactive flash development and many more.

Before stating the best IT/IS practices of the said local organization. Let us first review the company profile of the Hubport Group Interactive.

Hubport Interactive Inc. enables a business to build an imperative subsistence in the online B2C (Business-to-Consumer) space. We empower your website to attain optimum function and revolutionize your business by creating online channels to effectively connect with existing clients and successfully tap new ones. Our accomplished E-Commerce Storefront encoders, Retail Shop Managers, Online Marketing Consultants, and Production Team associates provide the technology backbone that launch prospering and profitable websites.

Satellite offices in North America, the U.K., and an upcoming presence in Japan help counter communication, and accessibility issues. Subsequently, creating a smooth working relationship between client and service provider. Projects are delivered on time, with little or no hitches. Our fulfillment teams observe a synchronized shifting schedule to accommodate client concerns at any time most convenient to them. Hubport Interactive Inc. is sensitive to a clients’ web investment margin and his ultimate goal of increasing profits.

Hubport Interactive Inc. has a high regard for service excellence and client satisfaction. Hence, we only have people whose commitment is as fervent as ours. Project managers and fulfillment teams who specialize in Website Development, Web Application Program, E-Commerce Business Process Development and Maintenance, System Software Development, Auto CAD, Animations, Graphics Development, Video Editing, Music and Audio Voice Development, GSM SMS Service, WIFI Mobile Solutions, IT Managerial and IT Marketing Development.

As we visited the said organization, we have come to know their best practices on the field of Information Technology and Information System. Here are the following:

ISO Certifications.

ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. It is an internationally recognized standard for the quality management of businesses. It applies to the processes that create and control the products and services an organization supplies. It prescribes systematic control of activities to ensure that the needs and expectations of customers are met. It is designed and intended to apply to virtually any product or service, made by any process anywhere in the world. The benefits of this certification is the key reason why Hubport has been practicing this certification. Implementing a Quality Management System will motivate staff by defining their key roles and responsibilities. Cost savings can be made through improved efficiency and productivity, as product or service deficiencies will be highlighted. From this, improvements can be developed, resulting in less waste, inappropriate or rejected work and fewer complaints. Customers will notice that orders are met consistently, on time and to the correct specification. This can open up the market place to increased opportunities. “By the certification we can cope with the minor and the major changes of the business”, Mr. Saravia added. Therefore, ISO enables a consensus to be reached on solutions that meet both the requirements of business and the broader needs of society.

Proper Documentation.

Proper documentation is really important in a business organization. It enables to have a “roll back”. Roll back has something to do with recovery plan of a certain system. Using the roll back system, this will restore the transaction being made before a system has been interrupted in any instance. If any interruption will happen the administrator can manipulate to do the roll back, to restore the transaction before the interruption (e.g. Power Interruption) occurred. Also, the work of the roll back is similar to “UNDO”. Basically, UNDO is used every time the user wish to revert the current version of the page, turning back the page to its original version.

Security.

It includes FIREWALL, SPYWARES and etc. Firewall is a part of the computer system to block unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications within the network of the organization. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria. Spywares. It is installed on personal computers to collect information about the users their computer or browsing habits without their informed consent. With Hubport, IT personnel are very particular with this security system for some of the data and information requires confidentiality. In the case of Hubport, every system unit designated in every department of the company has NO CD/DVD Rom NOR USB Ports. If one wished to print some information, he/she must go to the IT department where printing of information is made possible to check the print outs as to the data to stick on their practice which is confidentiality with the information within the private network of the organization.

Disaster Recovery Plan.

This plan is intended to mitigate and manage if there is a disaster happening, such as in case of fire also includes server break down. This is one of the measures that Hubport is practicing in their communication plan. Disaster recovery planning is a subset of a larger process known as business continuity planning and should include planning for resumption of applications, data, hardware, communications (such as networking) and other IT infrastructure. In the case of Hubport, they used 3 internet servers; if and when one server will experience break down then it will be easy for the manager to connect to the other internet server. Also, they are monitoring as to which of the servers work faster in terms of its bandwidth. This is to practice IT related infrastructure recovery and continuity plan. Furthermore, disaster recovery planning is the aim of the organization in avoiding larger losses in the event that the business cannot continue to function due to loss of IT infrastructure and data.

Prior the interview was conducted we were informed that some information are confidential. Therefore, not all their practices are presented in this section. In as much as best practices is concern, the (4) four IT/IS best practices are considered vital and some of the best practices that any company must bear.

During the interview we took some pictures. Again, due to confidentiality we were not allowed to take more pictures. However, I have some pictures which I think are proofs that we conduct an interview based on the above-stated topic.