Joseph KK Ho's work diary

The following info is on Business Systems Analysis workshop starting in August, 2013 Relevant info Reference Systems analysis and IT-enabled changes Key words (approved): SDLC (e.g. systems planning and selection; systems implementation) Tangible benefits in project evaluation Activity Diagram RAD (with Time boxing and SWAT team ) Software tests (e.g. integration testing, unit testing, system testing) IS project roles (e.g. business analyst, project manager, change management analyst) Gantt chart Agile manifesto Choosing off-the-shelf software vendor Business requirement vs user requirement Extreme programming methodology (including diagram); parallel development-based methodology including diagram) Soft Systems Methodology ( rich picture , CATWOE analysis and root definition)

The following videos (4 parts) are on managerial intellectual learning on sytems thinking for Finance Managers : Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Related blog article

This centre I have come across has developed a system of dissertation supervision, which on paper is rational; the result is terrible. The main features of the dissertation supervision system: a. Ask teachers to produce a number of dissertation proposals and make presentation to students so that they can choose a proposal (and a dissertation supervisor) b. Use project control, including milestones, to control supervision process; making sure that supervisors will only get paid on reaching specific milestones. c. Delegate most admin. works to supervisors, e.g. making appointments to meet students d. Treat students as customers; and customers are kings. e. Offer generous pay to supervisors, if they can achieve milestones. f. Arrange lunch meetings with students so that potential supervisors can meet potential students. The problem is: a. Supervisors get a lot of admin tasks to do; the supervision task becomes boring. b. Students act like spoilt children; they do not respec...

A student sent me a email asking my advice on how to respond to the University's letter charging the student for plagiarism in assignment report. I took a look at the turnitin report which showed the sources of plagiarised content and the related similarity indexes. So, I said: a. Do not deny the charge as the evidence is concrete; just admit that you have committed the offence. d. As the seriousness of the offence is still not high, judging from the figure of the similarity index, I propose that the student makes a plea to the university to offer another chance to do the assignment again. [It is possible that the re-do report mark will be capped at the passing mark] c. State clearly that you will not not committed the offence again and feel sorry for what has happended. Since the education centre usually request students to do plagiarism checking before assignment submission, I do no know what happens to the control procedures. Also, the student has sent a email to her dire...

An episode: Rught after a 20-min dissertation report presentation to me, who acted as a second report marker", the student walked up to me and said, "Sir, I need 76 marks from you in order to get a First Hon.; the other subjects of mine are all above 70s; my disseration supervisor also knows about it, and he also gave me 75 marks for my final year dissertation..." I looked up at the student and said: "IC. Your report is not innovative; like many other students, you just stick to this service quality gap model; you made lots of recommendations in your report without further research design & findings to support your views. So, I just gave you 56 marks here... Anyway, you should not request me for a specific target mark right after your dissertation report presentation, and then to change your report from 56 marks (a grade of 'good') to a 76 (a grade of 'excellent') is 'very difficult'.... Should I from now on also give other students ...

A centre requests me to produce a 2-hour video as a CPD programme for Finance Managers. I explained that it was not a simple task. Nevertheless, I propose a programme structure for the video as follows: The shooting of video is in 2 parts (4 sessions of 30 min each) Video title: Managerial intellectual learning of systems thinking for Finance Managers in the digital era Part 1 (1 hour): The essence managerial intellectual learning of systems thinking Session 1.1: Why Finance managers need to improve managerial intellectual learning capability (30 min) Session 1.2: Why Finance managers need to learn systems thinking (30 min) Part 2 (1 hour): How to improve improve managerial intellectual learning for Finance Managers Session 2.1.: On the managerial intellectual learning process model in the digital era (30 min) Session 2.2: How to improve managerial intellectual learning and the role of e-coaching (30 min) The whole shooting will be done at the educational centre. I need...

Strategic Management Accounting Students should pay attention to the reading lists of the 2013 SMA workshop: Session 0 Management and cost accounting fundamentals Regaining lost relevance Readings Chapters 1, 2 and 10 in the recommended text and articles. Dekker, H (2003) Value chain analysis in inter-firm relationships – a field study”. Management Accounting Research, Vol.14, p.1-23) Session 1 Strategic Management and Accounting Information Readings Read chapter 22 in the recommended text and assigned articles. Guilding, C., Cravens, K. S. and Tayles, M., (2000), 'An international comparison of strategic management accounting practices', Management Accounting Research, 11, no.1: 113-135 Roslender, R. and Hart, S.J. (2003). In search of strategic management accounting: Theoretical and field study perspectives. Management Accounting Research. 14, 255-279. Session 2 ABC/M, Customer Profitability and Target Costing Readings Chapters 11 and 12 in the reco...

Caring -> scaring; e.g. a scaring university, instead of a caring university Brainstorm -> blamestorming; e.g. a blamestorming session to find someone to blame, instead of finding solutions.