Harvard Business School (HBS)

Harvard Business School Case Study is one of our requirement as UTM student. In this 4 years, we have at least 8 case studies to go as Doctor Zaidi said, that means we have one study case in one semester. In this sem, we study about Symbian, Google & Apple in the mobile space and we need to present it. We have 7 people in a group and the presentation take 3 hours. Due to so many people and lack of time, each person just take a few minutes to present their ideas. During the presentation, we are given ten question but then is each group one question. And we are given 30 min to discuss about our question. 

Here are the 10 questions during HBS.

1.Strategies taken by Symbian, Google, Apple in striving to lead the mobile industry.

2.Lessons learned from Harvard Business School Case Study

3.New entry company such as Google & Apple become threat to Symbian company. How?

4.Discuss the key players in mobile phone industries and how they influence each other.

5.As the future IT professional, how this case study change your view about your career?

6.What innovations can be introduce in improving mobile phone industries in terms of community uses and work?

7.Discuss the Symbian's situation based on Porter's 5 Forces model. What are your recommendation?

8.Analyse  Symbian's situation using SWOT analysis technique. What is your opinion about company situation.

9.Discuss on key Symbian Executives(exhibit 3).What is your opinion about them? Give suggestions.

10.Discuss on the mobile market share based on the statistics given.

My group get the question 3. Here is some points that our group present. The threat are : 

Microsoft

--Improved phone reliability and performance

-- Build alliances with wireless network operators and phone manufacturers

-- Large network of third party PC developers potential in building apps

-- Motorola left Symbian (2005) to work with Microsoft

Palm

-- Intuitive user interface, reliable synch with PC’s, long battery life, modest cost.

RIMM

--  Always-on mobile e-mail devices

-- Offered Blackberry e-mail services to non-Blackberry devices

 Apple

-- Apple had substantial power over network operators

-- Each phone had to be registered with Apple

-- The iPhone support “multitouch” interactions and motion sensor

-- Offer third-party apps to iPhone users

Google

-- Offer a giving away software and services instead of charge the advertising fees

-- Encouraged development of third-party apps

-- Provide affordable wireless internet access

Database Administrator

What they do:
Organize and manage data, install software,update software, and troubleshoot when problems arise.The Database Administrator is also know as DBAs

What's future of this career:
As businesses accumulate more and more data, DBAs are in demand everywhere. If you are looking for a stable career, which gives you decent salary, database administration is the way to go, This job gives you the satisfaction of solving problems and seeing how your work benefits your firm.

What's Challenge :
For any business , data is the most important component and DBA is the custodian for the data. So when any issues to access the data occurs , DBA is being called,even during night time.Also  the technology  related with databases  changes rapidly.So  DBAs typically need to master new features every six to nine months.

Requirements:
In Database career certification isn't mandatory -- classes alone may be enough --. But certifications related with Databases  can help you to get  job.  We recommend certifying in  Oracle , DB2 ,SQL Server database management systems.

How to prepare Yourself:
We recommend you to take the DBA training from expert DBAs with enough industry experience. Of course , there are lot of information is available via books and internet. But none of these cannot be a substitute for an experienced trainer.

IT Training for a Career as a Database Administrator

How to Create Simple Database

If you want to create a simple database, don't think you have to be a programmer. Anyone can create a database. Databases are useful for organizing, updating and managing massive amounts of information. Learning database management systems can save you time no matter how you choose to use your database. These steps can help you get started:

Step One: Figure out why you need the database.
Before you start building your database, you need to figure out its purpose. You need to take into account the different categories that you'll need to organize your information. Determine how many categories you'll need and how this information will be cross-referenced.

Step Two: Select your software.
You can choose from many different computer database software programs, but if you're new to databases, many of them will be beyond what you need. Microsoft Access is a good starter program, but there are many others. Check on your computer because you may have a basic database program installed already.

Step Three: Determine your fields.
You can save a lot of time in the beginning by sketching out which fields you'll need. For example, if you're making a database for a holiday mailing list, you'll need fields for first and last name, street address and zip code. The more complex your database, the more spaces you'll need.

Step Four: Create a table for each portion of your database.
Creating tables allows you to store the appropriate facts. If your form needs an area for the address, you'll need to link the address to a person by creating a table for the first and last name of the person. Do the same for the rest of the fields that you need to complete your database.

Step Five: Group your fields into tables.
Each field gets its own unique information. For example, the first names go with the first names, and the last go with the last. You don't want any repeating information throughout the database. Make sure that you can express the fields in their own unique ways.

Step Six: Enter the data into your database.
After you've established the fields and the tables, you can begin entering the important information. Enter information in all of the fields, and you'll be able to search it later or easily change the information as needed.

That's  all. ^^

Why is a database application useful?

A database program is the best way to manage your client record keeping and caseload. Beyond standardizing the way you collect data, organizing it, and retrieving it; a database can help you mine you data for stats and trends.
In this posting, I will discuss the various types of databases and some benefits and limitations particular to each.

Paper Record Keeping: You recognize the value of collecting info about your clients in forms and in notes. That is a good first step. Unfortunately there are significant limitations to what you are able to do with this data. Any kind of analysis must be done manually. If you want to computerize the information, someone has to enter it in, which is time consuming, duplicative, and costly.

The “do-it-yourself” database using Word or Excel: Storing your records on a computer is better than on paper. Keeping documents in word processing files, however, will limit your ability to organize, retrieve, analyze, and control your information. An Excel ‘list’ is better than using Word, but you are limited to a table view and constrained by the size, amount, and complexity of the data you can collect.

The desktop computer database: A database program such as MS Access is more powerful than a list you make in a word processing document, or even using a spreadsheet like Excel. You can set up forms, use tables, run queries, and generate reports. Desktop computer databases are also fairly inexpensive. Access (or a similar product) gives you almost unlimited customizability. The limitations with programs like Access are that they are hard to secure should multiple people need to use the same database. You would need someone who is an expert in Access to customize the program for you, maintain it properly, and you would need to give your staff lots of training. There is a strong possibility that you or your staff may accidentally crash your database. This can be disruptive and costly.

Profesional Databases: The best way to go is to use a professional specialized database application that is customized to handle record keeping and case management. The problem with many of these are that they are VERY expensive. You can shop around for quotes and compare. Fortunately, the CPSAP has developed a special database just for access workers. It is called “Web Enabled Student Tracking” or WEST. I will discuss WEST, which I had a hand in developing, in more depth in future blog postings.

Generally, the more powerful the database, the more options you have when it comes to collecting data, working with data, and security. A database application will enable you to store information in an organized way, find information easily by filtering and linking, analyze data, manage large amounts of information, share information with others, and allow multiple people to update data while maintaining database integrity (not messing up your files). Powerful programs can add layers of security to a database. These include password protection and access level controls, that allow specific users to modify or read only parts of the database you give them permission to work with. A professionally managed database will also have good archiving and backup.

Why are Databases Important?

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a database is used for storing your work and is a easy way to store information

A database is crucial for storing information, providing information to multiple users, easy access to data, fast information recall, and increased efficiency particularly for business owners.

1. Storing Information
A database is a type of file system that stores information. This is its most basic function. Instead of relying on traditional methods of storing information in physical file folders and cabinets, a database provides digital storage of information.

2. Providing Information To Multiple Users
Big advances in database technology allows multiple users to access and update information. This information will then be instantly viewable by all users. Not only does this enhance communication within a company, but it also ensures an informed and positive approach to customer service.

3. Easy Access To Data
A database manager provides easy access to information. Because the information is centralized, the user has no need to look to other applications or sources. All is provided through a singular database system, and the information in the database can be repurposed and fed into a company Web site or blog.

4. Fast Information Recall
Due in part to a series of complex algebraic algorithms that work together to recall information easily, querying a database should produce a quick result. When compared to locating the information manually, users find this quick recall an attractive feature of databases.



databases are used to store information from mediacal to personal.

you can use a database for

• recording results of a survey
• teaching
• bookings

A database is used in banks as they have to store and update the info on clients activity in every few minutes. Also telephone company uses database on their costumer care centers.

Examples of Databases:

• YouTube
• Google
• Yahoo
• Address book

WHY LEARNING HOW TO USE A DATABASE IS GOOD FOR YOUR CAREER

Computer skills in the workplace are crucial for a large proportion of modern roles. When applying for a job, nearly all office workers should be able to confidently say that they are competent with word processing or spreadsheet software.
For databases, however, the skill gap widens rapidly. Often, businesses employ external expertise to develop databases for their companies, which can be expensive and leads to isolated pockets of skills. The expert may come in and develop the database, with only a limited transition to the core personnel, which means that, thereafter, they are potentially able to extract data from the database but cannot really maintain the database properly.
Database skills are crucial in nearly every business environment. Modern stock control systems are built around databases of varying complexity. Personnel records generally are stored in secure databases. Any digital repository of information or data is probably stored in a database. Databases are common across nearly every sector of business.
What that means is that individuals with good database skills are very much in demand. Employers are often required to pay a premium for contracted database resources. In-house personnel with good database skills can demand good salaries. The reality is that, with applied thinking and some planning, it is not difficult to master database skills.
From the outside looking in, databases appear complicated and convoluted; indeed, in some ways, many are. However, the principle of how databases work is actually a simple one, and one that can be applied regardless of the platform or nature of the database. Developing core database skills is therefore important, as it will allow you to apply the skills to any business, using any kind of database software.
Realistically, specialism is largely inevitable. There are too many database software packages to become an expert in all of them, so once the basics are mastered, it is likely that you will specialize in a particular type. That can be driven by your career plan, by market demand or a combination of the two.
Ideally, developing database skills should form part of your existing role or could be sponsored by your existing employer. External training quality can be very strong but also can be expensive to fund on your own.
That aside, any investment in development and training is likely to pay off in the medium to long term as the availability and income from database-related roles is consistently good for well-trained individuals.