Where do you choose to live?

2010-01-23T15:53:00.000-08:00

2009-12-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! This is Josh Mickelsen and he is a thug. Real talk. I'm headed to Kiwi land for a while but i'll be back!

2009-10-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

My Niece!! Well sort of... This is Chloe Walton.. my best friends 3 week old baby... she's the bomb. (I wanted to say that instead of adorable or cute cause everyone says that... and it's true.. she is the bomb.)

2009-10-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

I went home to Flagstaff, AZ this weekend!! This was a hike me and my Dad went on called the Weatherford Trail... the aspens are changing and look amazing...

recently inspired...

2009-10-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

So i've recently been inspired. To keep this blog updated...Not necessarily because I think people would be intrigued or even enjoy reading anything I have to say.. but just for myself. To remember, to realize, to recognize, and respect life. Life is good. And the taking advantage of that goodness should be a top priority.

This is a goofy picture of me but I think it fits my mood generally... Oh and I've just enjoyed an amazing General Conference...Watch it.

DATA LOSS PREVENTION

2009-02-10T09:45:00.001-08:00

DATA LOSS PREVENTION

According to the Computer Industry Almanac, 10 percent of the 700 million computers in use around the globe crash every single day. That is a lot of lost data. Unless each user has backed up their files then most, if not all of the info will be lost.

A recent study by Imation, Corp. showed that 22 percent of computer owners never back up their data. That means that over 1.5 million computer owners are losing data on a daily basis. Learning how to utilize a safe, easy backup for your computer files is essential.

Last semester, I had an experience that led me to getting my own backup as I had never before thought I would need it. Two days before finals were due my knee unfortunately grazed my structurally weak flash drive and snapped it in half. I felt as sad as I did when I found out I had to write this assignment. (really sad) Luckily, I had understanding professors that gave me some extra time to re-complete my projects. I'm confident though, that not everyone has been so lucky. In order to avoid losing precious data, as a result of the almost inevitable computer crash my recommendation would be to find a reliable source for backup.

Better Installation methods than a DVD?

2009-01-08T09:42:00.000-08:00

After reading about Windows Deployment services I began to see that there are many faster, more efficient alternatives to installing software on several computers.

Rather than individually installing an operating system for an upgrade perhaps, it is possible to remotely install the software on each box simultaneously through one computer. Windows deployment services uses (RIS) remote Installation services, and operates in a (PXE) preboot execution environment, meaning that the computer is accessed remotely and then already had the software PXE-enabled.

Windows Deployment services also has the ability to capture the information in a "package" and then deploy it remotely in an image-based installation package. A newly added feature called 'multi-casting' allows a new client to join in once a deployment has already started. As the client joins in along with the others, the windows deployment server can send any information that new client may be missing. Cool huh?

(Ch. 2 Windows Servers, Palmer. Windows Deployment Services, Wikipedia)

Final!!!

2008-12-08T13:11:00.001-08:00

file:///Users/leeroydowell/Desktop/FINAL%20STUDY%20SHEET.doc

FINAL!!!

2008-12-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

2008-03-10T16:18:00.001-07:00

Ben & Jerry's makes amazing ice cream. Bigelow Teas probably makes great tea. (I wouldn't really know because I don't drink tea.) How do these companies continue year after year to produce excellent products for their consumers? Business Intelligence is the answer. Lets look at some different aspects of collecting BI within these two companies.

1. If you were to design Ben & jerry's data warehouse what dimensions of information would you include? Well to name a few...

Employees
Distribution
Marketing
Merchandising (such as changing the cherry garcia label so people don't think they deserve more cherries)
Sales
Production
Service

2. What sort of tables or files of information would Ben & Jerry's need in its database?

Flavors of Ice Cream
Suppliers
Branches (stores)
employees
trucks

3. How was part of the success of BusinessObjects related to the closeness of its look and feel to excel? Simple. It brought its past of unusually user-unfriendliness and introduced it to an interface that everyone already knows and loves: Microsoft Excel. In this way time or money wasn't lost attempting to teach users how to navigate a new program.

4. How could Bigelow Teas open up its business intelligence information to its suppliers and resellers?

When BI is used effectively it helps to some degree.
Bigelow Teas would in turn reap the benefits of the success underneath.
Info such as $ from the top, stuff like that.

5. When talking about business decision making Neil Hastie says its: "a lot of by-guess and by-golly and by-golly, a lot of by-gut, and a whole lot of paper reports." This doesn't look so hot for BI. How can this quote be turned into something positive? Ok while it may be true that it takes a lot of guess work it also takes the right combination of information, the right timing, right tools, and everything coming together at the same time. Seems impossible? Well its not.

To Outsource or Not to Outsource

2008-02-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

Many Companies are now considering outsourcing as one of there options for competing in the business world today. Among those are Sears, Roebuck & Co. and financial services company Huntington National Bank. Lets look at how the CIO's of both companies have dealt with the decision to outsource parts of their own company.

1. Here are a few of the reasons Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Huntington National Bank respectively have approached their outsourcing decisions:

Outsourcing, no matter what it is, has an effect upon employees. Whether people are losing jobs to outsourcing or getting an opportunity for growth there is good and bad.
Money is usually an issue when it comes to outsourcing. Companies can save some much needed revenue by outsourcing and using that money elsewhere.

2. Why did Sears, Roebuck & Co. choose not to insource it IT development?

By outsourcing the IT development department in Sears they were able to
first, use the remaining staff for developing new retail systems,
two, they avoided having to hire a bunch of technical specialists, and
three, save money and reach their company goal of having a stable infrastructure.

3. Why did Huntington National Bank choose not to outsource its IT development?

Huntington had already been outsourcing their deposit and loan systems.
Because the CIO knew about the consequences of outsourcing he also understood that creating outsourcing agreements are loss leaders to start with the revenue coming in later in the year.

4. Here are some of the factors that may have "forced" Sears to outsource:

5. Here are some of the factors that may have "forced" Huntington National Bank to insource:

Costumer Relationship Management

2008-01-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

Customer Relationship Management or CRM, is a very effective tool in predicting and helping customers especially in the banking industry. Lets look at some examples to see how CRM can help you in certain situations:

Lets suppose that you are a family with your spouse and two children. You have a home mortgage, two car loans, you're building up a retirement account, and you're putting away money for the college education of both your children, all with the same bank. How would a CRM use it's information if:

You and your spouse decide to have a another child.

The bank would most likely set up another account with which you could put away funds for the third child's education.

You lose your job.

With a home mortgage and two car loans the bank might decided to offer you another loan to tide you over till you land another job. Perhaps lowering your payment for your retirement account.

One of your parents is stricken with a severe and long term illness, and has no medical insurance, leaving you to pay the bill.

You consistently incur transaction fees for using an ATM not in your bank's ATM network.

Although i don't know what the bank would do... this defianately seems like an invasion of privacy to me.

Your identity is stolen.

You decide to build an addition on your home.

Movie Rental Industry

2008-01-16T22:11:00.000-08:00

1. Is buyer power low or high?

High! Especially when it comes to going out and actually renting a movie there are several options to choose from for the buyers.

2. Is supplier power low or high?

This seems low when considering outdoor rental stores, but high when considering online renting stores such as Net Flix. This supplier power is going down however as blockbuster and possibly amazon are coming to compete.

3. Which substitue products and services are seen as threats?

One of the biggest threats that I see towards movie reantal stores is that of Redbox. The convenience of location, and price of rental is hard to beat. As for threats to the online rental world, the more places you can choose from the more buyer power goes up and the supplier power goes down. As for threats to the online world i definately see I-Tunes taking a large chunk out of the other companies a it attracts so many people with its prices and convenience.

4. Barriers?

As for barriers with online movie renting having the IT knowledge comes up as number one in my mind. If a new startup service wants to compete with one of the more popular companies it needs to find a way to be more convenient and perhaps quicker than its competitors.

5. What is the level of rivalry?

Currently the level of rivalry doesn't seem too high however as technology continues to advance i see this going way up.

1. Net Flix

2. Block Buster

3. Hollywood Video

4. Red Box

5. I-Tunes

Currently this seems like a safe Industry to enter as long as you possess the techie knowledge to compete with the big guns out there already. Perhaps producing a way to get the movies to consumers faster and cheaper will provide that edge needed.

Career in IT Article

2008-01-14T15:24:00.000-08:00

Well i found this article to be very informative and helpful. It definately helped me to see all of the careers that are out there and how much IT is necessary to get there.

Business Specialization:

Management

Job Title:

Business Development Manager (this is the job that i found to be most appealing for lack of having more specific jobs)

Classes offered at your school:

Management Information Systems

Windows Networking

IT skills you need to acquire:

Database Management and Integration

Speadsheets

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Locations you would Consider:

Arizona

East coast

Really anywhere i could get a good job

Companies you would consider:

Citi

JPmorgan

Jobs on MOnster.com:

Job title:

Manager/Strategic manager

Location:

New York, New York

Salary:

Not listed

Hello

2008-01-10T07:57:00.000-08:00

Well here i am in the Blogging world. It's so great