need to be observant...sometimes

Assuming you were tapped by the university president to evaluate the new enrollement system implemented this semester, enumerate your observations/comments and suggest possible areas and ways where improvements can be made. Your observations/suggestions should be properly validated with facts and literatures... (You may start with the diagrams posted in the strategic locations of the university)... (3000words)

I am such an observant person. I should start with the diagrams posted all over the school premises. To be honest, the first time I have seen that tarpaulin demonstrating the enrollment process, I did compare it to my own illustration when we have our assignments in one of my subjects the previous semester. It was awful because I really feel upset because for me it was good compared to what I have done. Then by this time, I came to realize that was it really that good? Maybe it will be much nicer if the university will use my work and perhaps it would be the start of my career. Char. How boastful I am. Well, I must be the one to appreciate my work, right?

On the other hand, when I saw it again these past days, I am already in a doubt. Being straightforward won’t kill me. Other than being frank I also need to see the other side of it. On the safe side, yes it was good since it was made and planned by the teachers. If you know how to read and appreciate pictures then you can reach till the last step.

I was thinking that compared to other universities, when you want to enroll in our school, you need to waste at least three days before officially enrolled. Why is it? Is it because the university has lots of enrollees to cater? Or we have lack of staffs to attend the needs of the enrollees? Or perhaps, the process itself is the problem and we don’t just realize it?

Enrollment Steps:
This is the old enrollment steps for old students:
1. Signing of clearance and other miscellaneous fees
2. Validate scholarship for scholars
3. Advising of subjects
4. Encoding of subjects
5. Students accounts for scholars
6. Cashier for payments of tuition fees for non scholars
7. Registrar
8. Library for library card validation

This is the old enrollment steps for new students: (based on my experience)
1. Pay miscellaneous and other fees
2. Filling up students record at the UGTO
3. Apply for a scholarship at the Office Student Services for those students who have scholarship grants
4. Enroll in ROTC or CWTS
5. Go to your college adviser for advising of subjects
6. Encoding of subjects for you to have Certification of Registration
7. Verify student accounts at the bookkeeper for scholars
8. Pay tuition fee at the cashier for non scholars
9. Registrar for the submission of all the necessary documents for the students to be officially enrolled
10. Apply for a library card
11. Picture taking for school id

This is an image of the new enrollment steps:






When you will compare it, there is no difference. We are still following the same steps. The only thing that matter is that the enrollment system we are using is new. For old students, during enrollment time, students need to pay local fees first before any other transactions specifically headlight and other local council fees. Student’s clearance which is processed prior the scheduled enrollment is a must. In case that said clearance is not completely signed then she/he will not be entertained by the assigned class adviser. The students are obliged to bring all the receipts and the student’s clearance during advising as a requirement. During this period, the adviser will give a form commonly known as PRF for the student to write the subject he/she is advised to enroll for the semester.

When the student is already advised as to what subject he/she will enroll, encoding of the advised subjects will be the next step. In every college there are assigned offices or encoders who will handle this task. Sometimes this is where the students are stuck due to number of students per one encoder. After this, the student now have the COR or Certificate of Registration which consist of the said amount the student will pay.
If the student is a scholar, she needs to go to the bookkeeper window for the approval of their scholarship and for records purposes also. Otherwise, if you are just an ordinary student (katong scholar sa parents) you need to fall in a long line. This is where the student will pay his/her tuition fee. You also need to prepare coins because the cashier sometimes doesn’t provide coins. Partial payments are also accepted.

After paying the tuition fee, we need to go to the registrar’s office. There are assigned windows every college or department. The enrollee needs to present her receipts (headlight, local council fees and tuition fee) and also the student’s clearance before you will be officially enrolled.

When you are already officially enrolled, you need to go to the university library for the library card validation.

Nothing changes when it comes to the steps we need to follow because it is still the same. Even though the school has already constructed additional windows in the registrar it is still not enough to make the enrollment process faster. Students still experiences to line up in a long line and experience also the thing we called “singit-singit”.

Enrollment Procedure:
The first time the new system was applied to our enrollment last summer it was better though because there are only plenty of students enrolling. But in the start of this school year where in there were many enrollees, the new system was not doing so well. First factor is that the faculty and staffs still has to adjust to it thus making the enrollment process slow. Second, not only the staffs had to adjust but the new enrollees as well. But I strongly believe that students and staffs will soon be used in this system. Perhaps this is the first stepping stone to finding ways in improving our university. This institution has to stick not only with the high academic standards but also with the many method, system or structuring in order for the school to produce a smooth sailing system in all department.

Last semester, enrolment procedure in different colleges is different. Because there are only a small number of students in Institute of Computing, student doesn’t have to wait for their names to be called at the registrar’s office. But for the other colleges, they have to wait for them to be called. The problem with this kind of method is the students don’t have any idea when their names will be called.
I asked some of my friends who belongs in the college of education. According to them, the enrollment this school year is much better compared to the last one. Since there is a priority numbers given to each students. With this, you have already the idea if it is already your turn.

For IC students who are already used to directly going to the registrar’s office, the new scheme is making them feel embarrass.

I also have some observation with regards to the enrollment flow and that huge tarpaulin.
• With regards to the distribution of the certificate of registration, compared to the old system, there are four copies of COR, for the cashiers copy, registrars copy and for the students copy. But with the new system, there are just two copies given. In my own point of view, this kind of scenario makes the process time consuming. Since we have to wait for another extra time to wait for another copy. But I am happy with the paper they are using.

• On the other side, the new printer in IC department is a big help since it prints faster than the old one and it is not noisy.

• I also want to comment about the information printed in the COR. Instead of making it fourth year it is indeed third year. It hurts because I tried very hard in order for me to reach this year but suddenly in the COR I was still third year. I want this problem to be given an urgent solution for the reason that it affects the feeling of the students.

• About the tarpaulin, do we need to have that? According to my friends, it will be much better if they will just ask some friends than wasting time reading that tarp. It is easier for me to understand the old sheet they are using. Those enrollment process written in a simple coupon bond.

• The presentation of the diagram is not that so good also. As an IC student, I am more knowledgeable with regard to the diagrams given that it is taught in one of our subjects. Like what Kate said, the variance of the size of the arrows because there are different meanings to every shape and symbol or size.

• To give some credit about the good things, the chairs in the cashier, registrar and book keeper are the best things or help that the university have produce for students.

Since the university has always lots of enrollees every start of school year, I think it would be the center of attention for the school administration to create or build a new enrollment process that would solve the problem of “a three days enrollment”.

Nevertheless, if I were tapped by the university president to evaluate the new enrollment system implemented this semester I won’t hesitate to suggest to update not just the enrollement system but also the enrollment process. The administration is not aware about this problem, I think because if they do, they have already conducted some solutions. I will let them know and realize at the same time the sentiment of the students with regards to the enrollment procedure.

• Additional staffs or windows would be a big help especially in the cashier and book keepers office. Two windows over thousands of students are impossible to make a rapid process during enrollment.

• Additional staff in OSS that will entertain scholars upon validation and renewal of scholarship. In my years of existence in the university, this school year is the worst line of students I have encountered.

Forgive me if I am too much observant. A solution starts when there are mistakes and before you discover errors, it started by being observant. Being a student is not a lame excuse to keep on listening and watching and not doing anything because it is also our right to let them see what they haven’t seen. Let the higher administration hear the voice of the students because it takes two to tango.
I hope that this will serve as a stepping stone to improvements. Like what I have posted in the last assignment, I also believe that soon enough this university will develop far more better structure to make not just the enrollment process faster but with other systems or method that will contribute to the welfare of the school and to produce excellent and quality graduates always in the future. I just hope that with the university’s decision to make slight changes and development as well would lead to something that will function better.

a comparison..hahahha

I am getting crazy.

I am getting crazy.

It’s getting harder each day. I have so many unfinished assignments. I still have to think of a better research idea to think that I also need to imagine 3000 words. hmmm….I am still not used to it maybe because my mind is still at rest.

I realize that I have so many things in life way back those times which I spend foolishly away. Every person inside the family circle is already disappointed. They expect a lot from me. Instead of giving me strength they are doing the other way around.

Still, I’m thankful because I am still alive…

in the decision to tapped in-house resources...

The decision of the university to appoint two of our teachers to develop a new enrollment system for the incoming school year made the whole thing peculiar. We were not able to perceive or forethought the schools possible plan to make changes in our enrollment system. We were not prepared yet to adapt to it but still what can students do about it but to adjust to the new condition, to the new environment which the school had in store for us.

Until now, I cannot still think of what are the reasons why the university decided to tap in-house resources. Maybe the institution are just making use or taking advantage of the available resources they have. But I believe that it was one of the right choices the university had ever made. Having both of them in developing the new enrollment system is already an accomplishment. Why? Because they are not just skilled but they are one good system developers. They have the ability to do something well since they are not just accustomed but they also have skills which they usually gained through training and experience. I am pretty sure that these two exceptional persons are perfect and they best fit the qualification the university was looking for to develop such system we have right now.

The university has made the right decision in choosing both of them because the higher personnel of our school knew they have the potential even though it would mean losing them in our class. They could have chose to continue teaching and imparting their knowledge to us and we could have gained many lessons from them but still they accepted the offer of the university to become developers of our school system.

Way back those time when we are still using the old system, there are plenty of complaints about the students’ big payment every month just for that system. It is much better when we used our own resources than wasting a lot of money paying for the old enrollment system. Since we are a school of high standards and people and the society are expecting good, organized and better system from this institution and we are also keeping important records of the students, it is better that we just tapped in-house resources and considering the fact that we are not that moneyed, I think it is a good decision. Another reason is that the university has lots of faculty and staff like the two teachers they assigned in developing the new enrollment system. It is an advantage for the school to have those teachers to become system developers than hire another applicant from other institutions or from the outside association. Aside from that, those teachers are already considered as an expert in the field of creating system. They are brilliant enough to provide the needs of the school.

Is the shortage of budget the real reason why the university decides to tap in-house resources to develop the enrollment system? Is that actually the reason? In my five years of stay in the university I can tell based on what I have seen that we don’t have enough resources with regards to facilities but when we are talking about manpower, and then perhaps we are abundant. If we have skilled and knowledgeable personnel or staffs inside the campus, then I think the school should take advantage with them. It is already a plus for the campus to have these teachers. Their skills might be a big help or maybe a great contribution in finding ways and means to improve whatever the school needed to develop. And I think that is the reason why they decided to hire Mr. Michael Angelo Cagape and Mrs. Tamaracher Mercado.

But on the students’ side, the only thing that brought difficulty to them which they consider also to be a not-so-good choice is because they have to change to a different teacher in the middle of the semester which makes us depressed because we have to adjust again. I partly agree with what Kristine has posted that we could have learned a lot from them if they were not pulled out from our classes to develop that system. But I don’t have any issue with regards to the instructors they have as a replacement. They are both exceptional teachers and good enough to replace what Mr. Cagape and Mrs. Mercado had started.
Because of the hard hitting decision which the university has made, students do not have any choice but to adjust and to cope up with the change. The students have to shift to another instructor which was not really that easy. It was at first unusual to us. The shifting of one instructor to another became a slight burden to us. It is because the kind of instruction we were used to was suddenly replaced. That situation creates a big difference in our daily routine and also on the other teacher which also needs to amend with the schedules. The new ways rapidly replaced the old.

The first time the new system was applied to our enrollment last summer it was better though. But in the start of this school year where in there were many enrollees, the new system was not doing so well. First factor is that the faculty and staffs still has to adjust to it thus making the enrollment process slow. Second, not only the staffs had to adjust but the new enrollees as well. But I strongly believe that students and staffs will soon be used in this system. Perhaps this is the first stepping stone to finding ways in improving our university. This institution has to stick not only with the high academic standards but also with the many method, system or structuring in order for the school to produce a smooth sailing system in all department.

I also believe that soon enough this university will develop far more better structure to make not just the enrollment process faster but with other systems or method that will contribute to the welfare of the school and to produce excellent and quality graduates always in the future. I just hope that with the university’s decision to make slight changes and development as well would lead to something that will function better.

nothing stops me from shining..

OJT PICs..

with..

boss mark = a walking santa claus on a hot summer..
mam malou = Nth Generations operations manager..the cute one..hehehe
sir clloyd = technical director and the one who brightens my day on a cold night..
the developers, programmers, and our team leaders and officemates..

be ready..

In a personal experience, it already follows that when you enter college you also go through wild imaginings. I have been into many sleepless nights. But regardless the facts that I am undergoing a little bit soul searching at this moment, projects are becoming much more manageable since I realize things that need to be realized.
Days seemed to pass unnoticeable. I still sleep late at night and woke up early in the morning. But I can’t find any reason to complain. And as exhausted as I am, I still have no regrets. It still amazes me because despite all of these I am still more willing to do the work.

be inspired guyzz....

I have been good in making intuition. Past weeks where one of the days I don’t want to remember. It makes me feel more exhausted knowing the fact that end of the semester is fast approaching and I can still not see a little progress in our requirements. But this day is different, I smell hope. Well, I see some light; it’s the light that reminds me that God is giving me path to walk now. Things are slowly going to the right track. I know time will come that the sufferings will soon be rewarded.



Seeing some groups losing their hope makes us more enthusiastic in finishing what we have started. Funny are the things that keep us strong. We never let ourselves feel we are tired because the more we accept the thought the more exhausted will become. Yes, as eager as we are we always tell ourselves that we can do even more (despite of deadlines). And for this, we find each other that we can make it and that’s there is no limits to what we can accomplish. For God never get tired of guiding us and sir RSG never get tired of reminding us that we can do better than what we expected.

Yesterday, after series of interviews we realize that when you have the will to make it, it keeps you going. Now, our group is now on the road of making these things happen. As long as the desire is there, we can do it. We never get tired and we never will. Mahuman ra lagi ni..Salig lng ta kang BRO…


I just want to be an inspiration to my other colleagues. Be inspired guys…

prototyping....

Prototyping allows the users to try out a working model of a system before the actual system is complete. Explain how prototyping can be counterproductive if it creates task interference during training.


A prototype typically simulates only a few aspects of the features of the final program, and may be completely different from the final implementation. The usual purpose of prototyping is to allow the users of the system to evaluate developers’ proposals for the design of the final product by essentially trying them out, rather than having to understand and assess the design based on descriptions. It can also be used by end users to describe and prove requirements that developers have not considered, so controlling the prototype can be a key factor in the commercial relationship between providers and their clients.

Prototyping can be a big help since when it is made software and implementer can obtain feedback from the user early in the project. It allows the software engineer some insight into the accuracy of initial project estimates and whether the deadlines and milestones proposed can be successfully met and if it matches the software specification.

Prototyping can improve the quality of requirements and specifications provided to developers. Because changes cost exponentially more to implement as they are detected later in development. Because the early determination of what the user really wants can result in faster and less expensive software.

But despite the fact that prototyping improves and increases user involvement it can somehow produce problems or difficulties instead of helping to achieve a goal especially when it creates task obstruction during training. It can create insufficient analysis since focusing on a limited prototype can distract developers from properly analyzing the complete project. This can lead to overlooking better solutions, preparation of incomplete specifications or the conversion of limited prototypes into poorly engineered final projects that are hard to maintain.

A key property to prototyping is the fact that it is supposed to be done quickly. If the developers lose sight of this fact, they very well may try to develop a prototype that is too complex. User can become stuck in debates over details of the prototype, holding up the development team and delaying the final project.

who is responsible if the component fails?

If one person has written a component but others have revised it, who is responsible if the component fails? What are the legal and ethical implications of reusing someone else’s component?

Some scenarios these days are copying others work with or without the authors’ knowhow. But sometimes it leads to failure of a component for the fact that incorrect revision takes place. First issue of incorrect revising is not getting the real idea of the original author. But who’s to be blame when such things happen? Is it in the side of the original author or the one who revised it? Sometimes we revised work in order for us to correct, update and improve the original text but usually we lack analysis and better perception of the point of the original component.

When we revised someone else’s component, we come to different conclusions and update previous estimate in order to make it more accurate or even realistic. But the fact that nothing ends up perfectly makes me apprehend that both of the two (less from the original author and more from the one who revised) are legally responsible for whatever failures occur. Considering the time when the component hasn’t revised yet, we don’t know if it is correctly written and can lead to more errors when revision takes place.

But unauthorized revising of someone else’s component has legal and ethical implications. They say that when a things has been done and done well, take it and copy it without hesitation. As people in a new generation we prefer to believe that improving someone’s work is much easier to do than doing it from scratch. However, revision of others component without the absence of making it perfectly done guarantees the originality of a thought.

Which of the following questions might be asked at the preliminary design review? At the critical design review?

You have been hired by a computer consulting firm to develop an income tax calculation package for an accounting firm. You have designed a system according to the customer’s requirements and presented your design at a design review. Which of the following questions might be asked at the preliminary design review? At the critical design review? At both? Explain your answers.

a) What computer will it run on?
b) What will the input screens look like?
c) What reports will be produced?
d) How many concurrent users will there be?
e) Will you use a multiuser operating system?
f) What are the details of the depreciation algorithm?


Under the design review procedures, some firms provide a preliminary and critical design review. In the preliminary design review, the possible questions that might be asked are those factors that need to be considered first in preparation for something of greater size and importance. This includes the physical environment in which locations, equipment functions and environmental restrictions are considered. Other than these are the interface or what will the input screens look alike. Will the input comes from one or more other systems? Is the output going to one or more other systems? Is there described way in which the data must be formatted and is there a prescribed medium that the data must be used?

In the both preliminary and critical design review, user and human factors such as who will use the system and will there be several types of user are also questions that need to be measured. Functionality, resources, security and quality assurance might also be asked. This will help in determining the several mode of operation and when will be the system be changed and enhanced. Skill level of every type of user and what training is required for each type of user are just few questions found in both preliminary and critical review. When you have designed a system you also need to know if how difficult would it be for a user to misuse the system and how easy will it be for the user to understand and use the system. Details of the depreciation algorithm will be asked in either critical or preliminary design review.
Designing a system according to the customer’s requirements are not enough, you need to consider some factors that will ensure the quality of the system.

How can we demonstrate the reliability of a system that is required never to fail?

Non-functional requirements describe the restriction of the system between systems that limits our choice for constructing a solution to the problem. In systems engineering, non-functional requirements are requirements that specify criteria that can be used to judge the operation of a system rather than specific behaviors. This defines how a system is supposed to be. But how can we demonstrate that these requirements are testable? How can we exhibit the reliability of a system that is required never to fail?

With computers becoming a highly factor nowadays, there is a decisive need to ensure that systems continue to function even when a component fails. The reliability of a system is the probability of failure-free software operation for a specified period of time in a particular environment. Identifying non-functional requirements are also an important factor affecting system reliability. Measurement in software is still in its infancy. No good quantitative methods have been developed to represent software reliability without excessive limitations. Various approaches can be used to improve the reliability of software.

With the advent of the computer age, computers, as well as the software running on them, are playing a vital role in our daily lives. We may not have noticed, but with a continuously lowering cost and improved control, processors and software controlled systems offer compact design, flexible handling, rich features and competitive cost. People used to believe that software never breaks. Without being proven to be wrong, optimistic people would think that once after the software can run correctly, it will be correct forever. A series of tragedies and chaos caused by software proves this to be wrong. These events will always have their place in history.

Software can make decisions, but can just as unreliable as human beings. Fixing problems may not necessarily make the software more reliable. On the contrary, new serious problems may arise. Once perfectly working software may also break if the running environment changes. This makes us wondering whether software is reliable at all, whether we should use software in safety-critical embedded applications.