Exim, Kirsten Marie

Bus IT 3, MTH 2:30-4:00

January 19, 2015

Saving Lives through Systems Development and Integration

1. All computers use a common binary base language. That being true, why is it so
difficult to get computer systems to easily communicate with each other?
Programming computers to combine and organize data and synchronizing these data
from one computer to another are two different tasks. The process of coding a huge pile of
information that is readily available to end users alone requires so much work, let alone
interconnecting these computers so that any information in the server computer is also
available to the network computers. The difficulty in the communication among computers
lies primarily in the diversity of the IT systems employed for data gathering and analysis so
that information network initiative can provide the right information across the country.
2. In systems development, prototyping is used to build a model of a proposed system.
How have you used prototyping in your personal life to build something?
Prototyping is the process of building a model that demonstrates the features of a
proposed product, service, or system. Personally, Ive applied prototyping mostly in cooking.
Prototyping involves four steps. First is to identify the basic requirements. In cooking,
prototyping starts in determining the ingredients to be used. Second step is to develop the
initial prototype which is the actual cooking process which involves the slicing, combining
and heating the ingredients together. The third step in the prototyping process is the user
review. When all ingredients are combined, tasting the food is important before presenting
the final prototype. It is where I determine if the food needs additional salt, pepper, or other
seasoning. The final step is the revision and enhancement of the prototype. It is the step
where the food is added with seasoning according to the result of the review of the user.
3. Outsourcing going to another country/ company for systems development is a big
business. Why would CDC not want to pursue outsourcing?
As much as there are advantages on outsourcing, it also offers disadvantages that
sometimes could alter the very nature and purpose of why CDC is built on the first place. A
disadvantage of outsourcing is it reduces the technical know-how of the pioneering
programmers for future use. Since outsourcing requires another company, whether onshore,
nearshore or offshore, the pioneering builders of CDC might not be updated of the
modifications done to the programme and thus, would have problems on dealing with the
programme in the future, especially on minor repairs and updates. Another disadvantage is
a reduction on the degree of control. This is actually the spilled effect of lack of technical
knowledge as mentioned on the first disadvantage. The incapacity of the original

programmers on the technical know-how of an updated CDC will lead to lesser control on
the program. A third disadvantage is the increase in vulnerability of strategic information.
The entry of a third party to the program exposes it to more people getting their hands on
the software and thus increases the chance that the information is now vulnerable to
alterations or duplications. The last disadvantage is the increase on dependency on other
organizations. There is a tendency that CDC might need the assistance of a third company
to work well and understand the system better.