bullwhip effect

Bullwhip effect is a problem in supply chain. It is the problem that recurring happens. Before I explain about bullwhip effect, I will explain about supply chain first.
A supply chain its self is an organizations or business network that connect firm its self, suppliers, manufacture, distribution centers, retail outlets, until to consumer to supply goods and services through final consumption. It is like chain that link supplier – manufacture – firm - distribution center – retailer – customer – consumption.
The link consist process to get raw materials, change these materials into goods in process, and then finished product, and finally distribute to customers.
It is simple if we talk in a small firm. But it can be more complex in big firm. In small company, it can coordinate each other with simple way, and sometimes easily. We just telephone if we want to order or supply something. But in big company, supplier, manufacture, distribution center, retailer, consumer are not just one, but may be a firm have hundreds or even supplier, distribution center, and retailer. Of course, it can’t coordinate easily, and many problems will happen.
The problems are sometime demand is higher than amount of finished product, lack of raw material, late shipment from suppliers, defective parts of raw materials, or trouble in production process. It cause of firm can’t predicted what will be happen in the future because they don’t have information about how many units of product customer wanted, when they want them, when the product can be produced, or how to implement highly efficient with just in time strategy.
One of the problems is called with bullwhip effect. This effect happen because there is distorted information between one entity to the other entity in supply chain about product demand.
The solution of bullwhip effect is all entity in supply chain reduce uncertain information about demands and supply, they must have accurate and up to date information and share it each other. To support this action all entity need supply chain management system to help them make better purchasing and scheduling decisions.
We can see example of Bullwhip effect .In one side, manager of one retailer see increasing in demand from customer amount 100 units. So this increasing demand looked by distributor amount 500 units. And finally firm will see this increasing demand amount 2500 unit. If we have pay attention for this situation, information of 100 unit can looked in firm like a snow ball from top to down. Progressively downwards.a snow ball will be greater. It can be problem for company, the increasing demand that catched of company is too big than tha actual increasing demand. It will make so many inventories in warehouse.

Review : IT infrastructure hardware and software

IT’s infrastructure consist of five major components, they are :
• Computer hardware
Computer hardware consist of the tools to processing, data storage, input and output.
The input device likes keyboard, scanner, camera. The process device like processor, monitor. The output device likes monitor, printer, speaker.
• Computer software
Computer software includes both system software and application software. System software manages the resources and activities of the computer. Application software is to apply the specific task to an end user.
• Data management technology
This technology needs some data management software to organizes, manages, and process data to business purpose that concerned with inventory, customer, and vendors.
• Networking and telecommunications technology
Networking and telecommunications technology provides data, voice, and video connectivity to employees, customers, and suppliers.
• Technology services
When business need to make major system changes or implement an entirely new IT infrastructure, they typically turn to external consultants to help them with systems integration. System integration means ensuring that the new infrastructure works with the firm’s older, so-called legacy system and that the new elements of the infrastructure work with one another. Legacy systems are generally order transaction processing systems created for older computers that continue to be used to avoid the high cost of replacing or redesigning them.
And they must coordinated each other to give good result.

Types of computers
• Personal computers (PC)
This computer using for working alone or with a few other people in a small business.
• Workstation
This computer fits on a desktop but has more powerful mathematical and graphics-processing capabilities than a PC
• Server
Server computers are specifically optimized to support a computer network, enabling users to share files, software, peripheral devices (such as printers), or other network resources.
• Mainframe
A mainframe is a large-capacity, high-performance computer that can process large amounts of data very rapidly.
• Supercomputer
A supercomputer is a specially designed and more sophisticated computer that is used for tasks requiring extremely rapid and complex calculations with thousands of variables, millions of measurements, and thousand of equations.
• Grid computing
Grid computing involves connecting geographically remote computers into a single network to create a “virtual supercomputer” by combining the computational power of all computers on the grid.

The principal storage technologies are :
• Magnetic disks
• Optical disks
• Magnetic tape
• Storage networks

Contemporary hardware trends:
• The emerging mobile digital platforms
• Nanotechnology
• Cloud computing
• Autonomic computing
• Virtualization,
• Multicore processors

There are a number of software tools that businesses use to build Web sites and applications that run on the web, like :
• Java
• Ajax
Java and ajax used for building applications that run on the web.
• HTML
HTML is used for creating Web pages.

e-goverment

This time I raised about existing information system in a state university in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, precisely in the city of Banda Aceh. It is Syiah Kuala university. I am also currently studying there. In Unsyiah there is an information system called with UPT-PUKSI (Unit Pelaksana Teknis – Pusat Komputer dan Sistim Informasi).

UPT-PUKSI UNSYIAH formation history
In accordance with the demands of Syiah Kuala University Vision "To be an innovative university,independent and leading in the development of science, technology, humanities, sports and art, so as to produce quality graduates who uphold moral values and ethics", then the challenging is related to technology development, leader of Syiah Kuala University to establish an Implementation Unit Technical Computer Center (UPT. Puskom/Unit Pelaksana Teknis.Pusat Komputer) in 1984 entrusted with the authority to development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Kuala University in supporting the implementation of activities in the field education, research and community service or in other words, supporting the management and delivery of academic programs at the University.

Along with the development of information and communication technologies are increasingly fast these days, the existence of UPT. Puskom in Kuala University which is now called UPT. Puksi (UPT.Pusat Komputer dan Sistim Informasi), is claimed to be able to put himself at the forefront of technological development.Because of that university leaders welcome and fully support the preparation of the Portfolio PUSTIKOM (Pusat Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi), because with this portfolio has been drawn up, we can find a clear direction for the development of information technology in Unsyiah the future.

UPT-PUKSI UNSYIAH in collaboration with Nuffic, a state university in the Netherlands. On this occasion the university leaders expressed the highest appreciation to the Nuffic programs and its ICT team, which is more help and guide our staff. Puksi in terms of preparation of this portfolio, and thanks to the ranks of UPT. Puksi Unsyiah who has dared to give the foundation of ICT development in Unsyiah, at least until the period of 2011.

What services exist in UPT-PUKSI UNSYIAH
There are Unsyiah Website that supports to KRS online, UMB online registration, academic data, libraries, and scholarships informations.

About UPT-PUKSI SYIAH KUALA
Syiah Kuala University in terms of information and communication technologies have a high commitment. It begins with the establishment of Center UPT (Technical Executor Unit Computer Center) in 1984. Unit developed as needs and technological developments into UPT PUKSI (Center for Computer and Information System) in 1992. Unit in accordance with the statutes PUKSI Syiah Kuala chapter XII THE SUPPORTING Article 71 in 1992, is a supporting device implementing activities in education, research and community service, or in other words penggelolaan and implementation support academic programs.

Along with the development of the world psatnya Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the existence of UPT PUKSI in relation between universities, faculties, departments and work units in the implementation of higher education increasingly important. The implementation of academic activities such as research, electronic journals, Internet access services, internal services to the needs of the civitas academic literature include systems, processing, storage and reporting of student data, faculty and staff, and the role of Syiah Kuala University in current community service in dire need of quick service by using ICT. Development of ICT sector is one that demands to be made UPT PUKSI front guard in answering these challenges and problems.

Tasks:
• Collecting, processing, presenting, storing data and information, managing the ICT network and provide services for educational programs, research, and community services.

Function:
• Managing Management Information Systems and Information and Communication Technology.
• Managing administrative activities, technical, development, and services, regarding the management of Information Technology Systems and Communication.
• Provide services to all units at the university in terms of: data and academic information, personnel, finance, literature, and student assets.
• Managing ICT Network
• Doing business administration company

I am a student of Unsyiah greatly benefit from the presence of UPT-PUKSI this. Formerly when filling KRS(Kartu Rencana Study), we must come to campus administration directly, take a class schedule, then fill out forms KRS manually. Just imagine, an administration office must serve all students in the majors. Not to mention the case of errors, such as KRSnya lost and others human errors.

It was very different from now, when I started entering the new semester beginning. Students just open Unsyiah websites anywhere, anytime and fill out the KRS online. Can only from home, and also at night. It was not a waste of time, very effective and efficient. In fact, I heard from my friend, this network has expanded to the districts in Aceh province other. So a student who is on vacation in the village can still fill KRS online without having to go back to banda aceh first.

Not to mention with UMB registration online. Previously each incoming new school year, the directorate's office or the Bureau of students are always packed with students.
But now, new students only fill out forms online, and then get the exam number online also. The system is very beneficial, both for students, prospective students, and staff themselves.

My friends and I as students expect, this information system continues to grow and can support learning and good teaching.

how to book tickets online

• First, we open a flight’s website like air asia’ website in airasia.com
• Then in the left up side of the homepage, there are a form. Like in the picture bellow



This is the blank form that we must full fill



• And then we choose in the blank,the city where we are, and choose the destination that you want to go. But if you are in Banda Aceh(BTJ), air asia only flight to Kuala Lumpur (KUL).
• And you define the date of depart and the date of the return, if you want go back to your city.
• And if you with someone else or if you bring a child,you must full fill how many people will flight with you. And note! To book a ticket,you must under 18 years old.
• And then click the search button to see are there an available tickets or not.
• Unfortunately, the tickets that I want to book in October 30, and to return in November 6 are not available or the tickets sold out.
• And I search for the next day, and there are an available tickets. So the depart’ date is at October 31 and the return’s date is November 7 and the price is 522,000,00 IDR.
• And then we must full fill the form again,it’s about our personal information. Like the picture bellow



• And you can pick your seat also,



• And if you have complete full fill the form, then click continue.
• And the next page is



• There are an add cost to insurance. And you cost will be increase,like in this picture



• And you must confirm again to the tickets that you booked to few days later.

Review : Reading 10.2. Kodak, the Appraiser, and the Assessor : Lots of Back Scratching on Valuation

John Nicole was a real property appraiser who did appraisal work for Eastman Kodak, Inc. Kodak at the request of one of Kodak’s now-former employees, Mark Camarata, who served as Kodak’s director of state and local taxes while employed there. Charles Schwab was the former assessor for the town of Greece, New York, an area that included Kodak headquarters. Kodak is both the largest employer and the largest property owner in the town of Greece. Schwab made reductions completed by Nicolo and Camarata, saved Kodak $31,527,168 in property taxes over a fifteen-year period. But, Schwab did not make those reductions as a matter of assessor policy fond feelings for Kodak, or the goodness of his public servant heart. He made those reductions at the behest of the other two in exchange for payment.
The essence of the arrangement was that the appraiser agreed to split the tax savings fee with the assessor in exchange for the reduction and with the Kodak employee in exchange for hiring him. Camarata entered a guilty plea and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in their prosecution of the other two of the property tax triumvirate who have been charged with fifty-six counts of fraud, money laundering, and other federal crimes.
When Kodak learned of the schemes, it immediately entered into discussions with the town of Greece for the reappraisal of its properties. Kodak also filed suit against Camarata and others seeking reimbursement from them for the fees that were paid as part of the scheme.

Review of: case 11.2 The Baptist Foundation : Funds of the Faithful.

The Baptist Foundation of Arizona (BFA) was a real estate investment nonprofit that did quite well at its beginning stages. The BFA had a psychology going with its fund and with recruiting investors. Each year,at its annual convention, the BFA distributed its "Book of Reports", a financial compilation given to the convention attendees. However, the "Book of Reports" could be given to others as a means of recruiting new investors. And it is mean they lie the investor. The effect is Arizona economy ant its real estate market were sinking fast.
Because BFA's financial statements looked phenomenal, more investors joined. But by the time the Baptist Foundation of Arizona collapsed, about 11.000 investors would lose $ 590 million. Arthur Andersen, the auditor for BFA,identified "earnings management" as a significant problem at BFA. However, Andersen did not see the earnings management as enough of a problem to halt its certification of BFA's financial statements.

Review of: Reading 8.12 Adam Smith : An Excerpt from The Theory of Moral Sentiments

In common life,however,when we judge of any person's conduct,and of the sentiments blame another man that the excesses of love, of grief, of resentment, we not only consider the ruinous effects which they tend to produce, but the little occasion which was given for them.
Usually, one man is the measure by which he judges of the like in another. I judge of your sight by my sight, of your ear by my ear, of your reason by my reason,of your resentment by my resentment, of your love by my love. I neither have nor can have, any other way of judging about them.