Ryan Franklin tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin/315 2009-05-06T18:39:46Z Movable Type 3.2 Just got done with a leadership class. Am I a leader now? tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.4188 2009-05-06T18:32:57Z 2009-05-06T18:39:46Z After spending a semester in trying to find our definition of leadership and management most of uses have very different definitions in both areas. Which one is right and which one is wrong? There is no right answer in to... Ryan Franklin After spending a semester in trying to find our definition of leadership and management most of uses have very different definitions in both areas. Which one is right and which one is wrong? There is no right answer in to this question our definitions are derived from what we see is a leader/manager and our life experiences.

]]> In our class it was interesting to read and hear about how people observe what a leader is. Does finishing this class mean that we are all leaders? No, we all have been educated to understand how a leader/manager would interact with different individuals as well as what tools that they might use in succeeding at their goals. I’m not saying that CICS is not full of leaders and managers; there are a lot of individuals that fill these positions but in different ways and different situations. I would recommend to anyone that thinks that they are a leader then you should take this class. I learned a lot about how people precede things differently and how they react to certain situations. I had the best classes when talking about what people think a leader is and hearing them defend their definition. I also enjoyed the development of the definition as the year went on. But taking one class on leadership is not going to make you a great leader.

What I think that makes a leader

Leadership is something that you have to practice every day. Put yourself in many different settings; such as groups of individuals makes you comfortable in any group. Find some situations that are difficult and see what you can learn from your troubles so that you know that you can handle situations that don’t work. This is how leadership should be practiced as for the class I learned about myself and my definition and broadened my horizon of the tools that a leader can use to reach his goal. I would say that this was great class to take part in. Not to mention the books that we read in class. The leader’s Companion is a great book for a leader. If you are a leader then you need to get a copy of Wren

]]> Strategic Information tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.4177 2009-05-01T12:58:25Z 2009-05-01T13:10:17Z What is it Strategic use of information is a new term but the concept has been around for many centuries. A few questions in regards to strategic use of information would be; what is it? Who uses it? Why do... Ryan Franklin What is it
Strategic use of information is a new term but the concept has been around for many centuries. A few questions in regards to strategic use of information would be; what is it? Who uses it? Why do they use it? How do they use it? These are the questions that I will evaluate throughout my research on this topic.
What is Strategic use of Information? To me the first time that I heard this term all that I could think of was how information is used to overcome an enemy. I associated this term with war and how sides use information that they have obtained to overcome the enemy. I never gave it much thought in the business world. After researching and finding out what strategic use of information is I can see how this has been useful over the years to help business succeed. My definition of Strategic use of information is when an individual or group come across some information that would be helpful to move themselves or themselves forward and ahead of the pack. This can be done by making alliances and/or removing competition. “Strategic management is the art of the future. It’s not a task undertaken while waiting for the future to arrive; it’s the way to unfold the future to reach your goals” (Gillette p. 1).

]]> Looking at Strategic use of Information you will find that over the years it has had different names and characteristics. In the times now it is referred to as Strategic Information Systems (SIS). According to John Ward, there are three distinct, albeit overlapping, ears of information systems (Pant & Hsu p.2). The chart below shows what it was called and how they are characterized.


Era Name Characteristic
60’s Data Processing (DP) Standalone computers, remote from users, cost reduction function
70’s & 80’s Management Information Systems (MIS) Distribution process, interconnected, regulated by management services, supporting the business, user driven.
80s & 90s Strategic Information Systems (SIS) Networked, integrated systems, available and supportive to
users, relate to business strategy, enable the business -business driven
The three era model of IS Pant & Hsu

Who uses it
Does everyone use SIS? I say that they do in some form or shape. On an individual level people use SIS in many forms such as coupons so that they know where to shop and get the most for there money. Another example is the internet; provides individuals with information about products that they want to buy and they use this information to their advantage to get the best product.
Looking at who uses SIS on a company level is all the business that succeeds is using SIS. Large corporations and small corporations are finding and using information about their company as well as the competition to better themselves. An instance that I have encountered in my life about SIS is collecting flyers from local restaurants and returning them to my boss. He would look over these flyers and change prices to compete with other restaurants in the area. I know that this is a small scale situation when comparing it to a company the size of IBM but the philosophy behind it is the same.

Do leaders use it
I think that leaders use SIS to better themselves in situations as well as move forward towards their goal. “Most senior executives are now well aware of the critical role information technology plays in enhancing organizational competitiveness in the 1990s. Some argue that the role and qualifications of the leader of the information systems function should be radically changed to ensure that opportunities to use IT in this manner are identified and exploited” (Applegate & Elam p. 469). What this says to me is that the leaders know what they have to do to obtain the information and how to work with the information to succeed as a company. If a leader is aware of SIS and knows how to use it to their advantage then the company will have a better chance for success.
Do managers use it
I feel that managers do need to know SIS to help move a company forward rather than for themselves like a leader would. According to my definitions of managers are working to move the company forward as where leaders are working to move not only the company forward but themselves to a future goal. Managers need to understand how to find and utilize information that will help the growth and succession of a company. Managers will not always be the decision makers regarding the information but they need to know how to analysis of the information and how to obtain it.

Where can you find this information
How is this information used and when is it classified as SIS. “An IT application is strategic if it changes a firm’s product or the way a firm competes in its industry. Definitions are notions that strategic IT applications are being used to gain competitive advantage over rivals, and/or preventing rivals from gaining an advantage.” (King & Teo p. 71-72) What this is saying is if information is useful and changes something in the company for the better than this is SI. That is a very opinionated definition. What do they call IT applications that are not successful in changing the firm; is it called poor strategic information?

What are the facilitators and inhibitors of SIS. The facilitators are, “the ability of an organization to exploit information resources. Decision to use the information resources for strategic purpose” (King & Teo p. 72). The inhibitors for SIS are “detriments to the organization ability to exploit information resources. Factors that negatively influence an organization’s decision to use information resources applications for strategic purposes” (King & Teo p. 72). What factors help companies succeed in the bushiness world? King and Teo have come up with 10 factors that have helped with success.
1. Alignment with business planning
2. Communication between IS and management
3. Consideration of IS role
4. Competitive pressure
5. Internal needs
6. Customer needs
7. Strength in IT
8. Extensive computer facilities
9. Management vision and support
10. Consultants’ recommendation
These are the ten factors that have helped companies succeed. If each of these areas are utilized to their full potential then a company will succeed in its market.

Examples of how it is used
SIS is used in many ways to move a company forward. But what does it improve in a business? IT has changed the competitive game for almost all organizations, regardless the industry they operate in (Buhalis p. 1). Looking at a survey that was completed by Buhalis; it shows the latest annual survey of Manufacturing Attitudes Survey.


This table shows what kind of impact the IT has had on management and business opportunities. This is just an example of how SIS can affect your business on multiple levels.
The next example shows how an alignment with another company can push you farther in the business world. Has the internet had an affect on the business market? Yes it has a perfect example is the airline companies and hotels working together to make a more competitive price to get customers to purchase their services. The table below shows what companies in this market have alliances. This table is from 1998 and some airlines have merged with each other but this still gives an idea of how companies that work together they can offer a more competitive price.

Table from Strategic use of information technologies in the tourism industry Buhalis

Conclusion
SIS is a very complex idea that has been around for centuries. Armies have used this technique to conquer enemies and in these times companies are working together and gaining information to succeed and conquer the competition. I find this tactic useful in the business world as well as in an individual’s world. Managers and leaders need to understand SIS and how it works and how to obtain this information. The saying “the strong will survive” is truly visible in this strategy.

Worked Cited

Applegate, L & Elam, J. (1992) New information system leaders: A changing role in a changing world. MIS quarterly. Retrieved April 16, 2009. From http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=159372
Buhyalis, D. (1998) Strategic use of information technologies in the tourism industry. Surrey Scholarship online retrieved on April 16, 2009. From http://www.imamu.edu.sa/Scientific_selections/abstracts/Abstract%20%20IT%20%203/Strategic%20use%20of%20information%20technologies%20in%20the%20tourism%20industry.pdf

Gillette, J. (2006) Strategy development for the information economy: A practical guide to coordinated action through time. Annual review of communications Vol. 59 International Engineering Consortium.

King, W & Teo, T. (1994) Facilitators and inhibitors for the strategic use of information technology. Elsevier Science retrieved on April 16, 2009 from http://www.bschool.nus.edu.sg/staff/bizteosh/KingTeoIM1994Facilitators.pdf

]]> 3G tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.4164 2009-04-22T16:29:58Z 2009-04-22T16:30:43Z Third generation technology (3G) is a network that offers users a wide range of more advanced services. Some services include voice telephony, video calls, and broadband wireless data. These services are all given in a mobile environment. According to AT&T... Ryan Franklin Third generation technology (3G) is a network that offers users a wide range of more advanced services. Some services include voice telephony, video calls, and broadband wireless data. These services are all given in a mobile environment. According to AT&T a typical download speed for 3G technology would be at a peak of 1.7 mbps and an upload peak of 1.2 mbps. 3G uses a method that is used for data transmission and increases the capabilities of delivery speed; this is called high speed packet access (HSPA). The data transmission capabilities for this feature are a download speed of 14.4 Mbps and an upload speed of 5.8 Mbps. This technology has been pursed by a group called the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Currently 3G technology is not available in all locations around the world. Some cellular companies provide maps of where coverage is provided such as AT&T has done on there website with this link http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.jsp.

]]> I have been an iPhone owner since January 2008, before 3G technology was implemented. When the iPhone 3G came out I was in line to buy it. I was living at home near Chicago where AT&T covers 3G technology. When I first used the phone I took my old iPhone and my 3G iPhone and tested them to see which was faster. I was impressed with how quickly the 3G was at downloading a website. The main complaint that I have with 3G is that coverage is not offered everywhere. It is a done by demand. Since Muncie is not a metropolis that Indianapolis is there is no 3G coverage offered. Currently I am not using 3G due to the lack of availability. When I am visiting a city that does offer 3G, I enjoy the speed of checking/sending e-mails, browsing the internet and the map application on my iPhone. I think 3G is a great advancement in mobile technology and can’t wait to see what 4G will bring
Annotated Bibliography
AT&T (2008) Cities Supporting AT&T 3G/Mobile Broadband. Retrieved March 23, 2009 from http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.jsp#IN
This explained what areas that AT&T covered with 3G technology.
Goodman, D. (2000) The Wireless Internet: Promises and Challenges. Retrieved March 23, 2009 from http://eeweb.poly.edu/dgoodman/computermag.pdf
This article talks about wireless communication and what and how 3G has added to the current technology. Also talks about problems with 3G technology.
Kim, Y., Jeong, B, Chung, J, Hwang, C., Ryu, J., Kim, K., & Kim, Y. (2003) Beyond 3G: Vision, Requirements, and Enabling Technologies retrieved March 23, 2009 from http://www.cs.bilkent.edu.tr/~korpe/courses/cs515/readinglist/papers/beyond-3G.pdf
This article talks about what 3G is currently at and what they are looking for in the future and how to improve it.

]]> Competitive Intelligence tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.4163 2009-04-21T16:31:02Z 2009-04-22T16:29:48Z Competitive Intelligence is a business term that has been utilized as a strategic way to move yourself or your company forward in the business world. Is there a way that a leader can use competitive intelligence to help them or... Ryan Franklin Competitive Intelligence is a business term that has been utilized as a strategic way to move yourself or your company forward in the business world. Is there a way that a leader can use competitive intelligence to help them or there company move forward in the future? What is competitive intelligence and how is it used in the business world.
When Competitive Intelligence is being viewed and defined the two words are combined to create a business type strategy. To find a strong meaning of this term, breaking down the two words and looking at them in there own context would be more beneficial to understanding them. According to Merriam-Webster competitive is defined as relating to or characterized by. The oxford English dictionary looks at the word competitive and defines it as organized on the bases of competition. These are not bad definitions but not a good way to describe the competitive in competitive intelligence.
I view competitive as a way to over come an opponent in a likely situation; a way to become a victor in a highly strategic situation. I know that my definition of competitive is a bias opinion that is based on a background of competitive sports. I have a competitive nature and with a competition there has to be a winner.

]]> The word Intelligence has been around since the 14th century and was from Middle English. Merriam-Webster defines it as the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations. Oxford English Dictionary defines it as an action or fact of mentally apprehending something; understanding, knowledge, cognizance, comprehension. I respect these definitions and how they help understand competitive intelligence.
The term competitive Intelligence when putting the two definitions together can be viewed as an act or fact of mentally apprehending something that is based on a competition. I don’t see how that is useful in the current business world. I will give my definition of competitive intelligence and how it relates to the business world. Competitive Intelligence is an act of understanding your opponent or competition may it be internal or external; it is the ultimate act of advancement in a company or overcoming a situation. I like to view competitive intelligence as a way that a company works to get an edge on its rivals. Since I have a strong sports background my example of getting an edge on a competitor would be when two football teams are playing each other they will watch tapes of the opposing team to see how they run plays and what plays will be called. This will allow the team to be prepared for what they have to do to stop the opposing team. This is how I view competitive intelligence in the business world.
All competitive intelligence is viewed differently from company to company, individual to individual. I see it as understanding your opponent where as some might view it as an understanding of the market such as Motorola as described in the proven strategies in competitive intelligence (Prescott & Miller p. 118). What Motorola did was to focus on the customer and go out and obtain data about there customer unlike what I was describing it as gaining information about your competitor. Another way to view competitive intelligence is by understanding you company and making the changes to it that will help it advance. In proven strategies in competitive intelligence it states that Proctor and Gamble where working on changes in there company to make it better for the future (Prescott & Miller p. 28-31).
Is there a right or wrong way to look at competitive intelligence? I say no there is more than one way to fry an egg so why can’t there be different perspectives and understandings and practices of competitive intelligence. What an individual needs to remember is what there goals are in the situation and pick the right strategy that will give them a leg up in the field. In my life right now I do need to know competitive intelligence, I am working on getting a job. I need to know what I can about myself and information about that company. It’s not possible to know what other individuals might be applying for that same job. I will not be able to “study the tapes” see what that individual brings to the table and how I can one up him. I have a different view of competitive intelligence when dealing with school. I know what every person brings to the table and I try and get ahead of some students by out performing them on a test or winning on a project. I have two different views of competitive intelligence in my life at the same time but you need to know what your surroundings are and your goal in that situation.
Does a leader need to know about competitive intelligence? I say that a leader does need to know about competitive intelligence at every level. I would say that most leaders do know about competitive intelligence even if they never heard that term. Competitive Intelligence has been used during war for centuries by the use of spies. They would try and get information about what weapons they had, number of soldiers, and what there plans of attack are. I know that times have changed and competitive intelligence is used in a legal and practical method with companies in these current times.
As for leaders I feel that competitive intelligence is in them if they are born leaders. Since leaders competitiveness and intelligent are both characteristics of a leader then they should have an understanding of how to succeed and make others around them succeed in any part of their live. Since a good leader needs to have a strong understanding of what is going on around them in the company and out of the company competitive intelligence is a perfect match for a leader. I know this is broad but the area that they would need some help is when it comes to global intelligence or another area that they are not comfortable in.
In my personal life if I was in a leader role I would like to know what is going on around me and with my company and market. I would also like to find a way to make my department better than any other department so that I would stand out in the company. That is how I would like to see competitive intelligence work for me in a leadership role.
Some interesting research that I found was on how well companies think they are doing on using competitive. “The purpose of our study was to measure the current state of competitive intelligence activities from the perspective of competitive intelligence CEOs and CEOs. The project team mailed questionnaires to competitive intelligence CEOs and CEOs drawn from 550 firms in the U.S. The return sample consisted of fifty five CEOs and eighty two competitive intelligence CEOs. A total of hundred and four respondents came from competitive intelligence-active firms, whereas thirty three respondents reported no competitive intelligence activity at their companies. The significantly lower response rate from executives with firms not active in competitive intelligence was understandable, given that this survey’s topic would likely be of less interest to them. The higher response rate from executives with competitive intelligence-active firms was similarly anticompetitive intelligence pated. Mean company size was $9.25 billion in annual sales. Fifty-two percent reported less than 10% of their annual sales come from abroad; another 20% reported foreign sales comprise between 11% and 30% of their totals(Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel p.112).” Figure 1 shows you how well CEO’s of this survey think that there firm is using competitive intelligence (Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel p.114). This is a little information on CEO’s in the business world and shows it they think that they are using competitive intelligence. I know that this is an opinion based survey so that the facts are not that reliable but it is interesting to see how people if they are using competitive intelligence. According to Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel their study found that “replied and the positive response rate, the results of the study suggest that considerable interest in competitive intelligence exists among CEOs and CIOs. The respondents indicated that competitive intelligence can have both offensive and defensive uses. They believe that even though competitive intelligence gathering requires the use of public and private sources of information, the benefits are worth the time and resources expended. Most competitive intelligence efforts were split between using an ad-hoc, special project approach and regular, ongoing activities. The main responsibility for most firms’ competitive intelligence efforts rested with a business function executive or planner. The effectiveness of current competitive intelligence efforts was rated as being “good to fair,” which suggests a need for improvement. Almost all the CEOs reported some competitive intelligence activity in their organizations. Further, 75% of them anticipated some increase in those activities. They view competitive intelligence activity as an important information source for identifying
business threats and opportunities. They see competitive intelligence as being useful in developing, implementing, and revising business strategies (Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel p.115).”
When I first heard competitive intelligence I had no idea what it was or what it meant or even referred to. After doing research on this topic I understand that it is a vast and complex process to understand and perform. There are so many different views and understanding of this term that an individual would have to come up with his own definition and that would depend on how they are currently living and dealing with competitive intelligence in there daily lives. I do not deal with the global market in my life I am dealing with a more internal structure inside Ball State University to stand out and been heard and seen. So to me that is my competitive intelligence. But I know that when I leave Ball State I will open a new door and I will have to learn a new strategy of competitive intelligence.
 
Worked Cited
Galvin, R. (1997) Competitive Intelligence at Motorola. Prescott, J & Miller, S. (Eds.) Proven Strategies in Competitive Intelligence (p. 116-122) John Wiley & sons co Canada

Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2009) “Competitive, Intelligence.” Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Competitive%20Intelligence%20

Oxford English Dictionary (2009) “Competitive, Intelligence.” Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://dictionary.oed.com/entrance.dtl
Pepper, J. (1999) Competitive Intelligence at Proctor & Gamble. Prescott, J & Miller, S. (Eds.) Proven Strategies in Competitive Intelligence (p. 23-27) John Wiley & sons co Canada

Vedder, R., Vanecek, M., Guynes, C. & Cappel, J. (1999) CEO and CIO Perspectives on Competitive Intelligence Computer of the ACM. Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/320000/310982/p108-vedder.pdf?key1=310982&key2=4610847321&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=26747886&CFTOKEN=76955723


]]> Wireless Security tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.4128 2009-03-26T16:32:14Z 2009-03-26T16:34:31Z Wireless technology has been able to provide users with mobility over the years. This advancement in technology causes problems for network designers to have a safe and secure network. With all the threats in regards to wireless technology two different... Ryan Franklin Wireless technology has been able to provide users with mobility over the years. This advancement in technology causes problems for network designers to have a safe and secure network. With all the threats in regards to wireless technology two different protocols have been put into practice they are Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).

]]> WEP is a form of security that was created by a group of volunteers from IEEE. The main focus of this security was to prevent hackers from gaining confidential information. This method used a 40 bit WEP key and a 24 bit random number. This method had many flaws including WEP key recovery and no access point authentication.

WPA is an 802.11i standard that focused on WEP’s flaws with security. The main focus on the security was authentication. This was composed of three elements supplicant, authentication server, and authenticator. Dealing with data encryption WPA used Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP).

Opinion

Wireless security is an issue that I am fortunate not to have any experiences with. I am well aware of the possible issues that can occur with such threats and improper security. WPA is the leading wireless protocol and has taken over WEP. Technology has come along way; the need for a better security protocol is needed to better protect data. WPA was a great atrabute to wireless security but the need to continue to find a better solution is important. The strength and limits of WPA is still unknown but it still has the potential for hackers to break in the TKIP. Security is an important issue in these times and will only increase in the years to come. With all the information that is being stored on computers and networks a lot of business and personal information could be at risk.

Annotated Bibliography

Maxim, M. & Pollino, D. (2002). Wireless security. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from http://cnscenter.future.co.kr/resource/rsc-center/vendor-wp/RSA/wireless02.pdf
This mentions all the possible threats that could affect wireless technology, and these threats can obtain information.
Wi-Fi Alliance (2003). Wi-Fi protected access: strong, standards-based, interoperable security for today’s wi-fi networks. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from http://54g.org/pdf/Whitepaper_Wi-Fi_Security4-29-03.pdf
This journal gives a detailed background of how WPA began and why it was introduced. Also shows how 802.11i protocol works to provide better security for users.
Wong, S. (2003). The evolution of wireless security in 802.11 networks: wep, wpa, and 802.11 standards. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from http://www.sans.org/reading_room/whitepapers/wireless/the_evolution_of_wireless_security_in_802_11_networks_wep_wpa_and_802_11_standards_1109?show=1109.php&cat=wireless
This mentioned the development of WEP and WPA and the benefits and weakness of each. Also stated the 802.11 standards for wireless security.

]]> Competitive Intelligence tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.4127 2009-03-26T16:28:22Z 2009-05-06T18:03:23Z Competitive Intelligence is a business term that has been utilized as a strategic way to move yourself or your company forward in the business world. Is there a way that a leader can use competitive intelligence to help them or... Ryan Franklin Competitive Intelligence is a business term that has been utilized as a strategic way to move yourself or your company forward in the business world. Is there a way that a leader can use competitive intelligence to help them or there company move forward in the future? What is competitive intelligence and how is it used in the business world.

]]> When Competitive Intelligence is being viewed and defined the two words are combined to create a business type strategy. To find a strong meaning of this term, breaking down the two words and looking at them in there own context would be more beneficial to understanding them. According to Merriam-Webster competitive is defined as relating to or characterized by. The oxford English dictionary looks at the word competitive and defines it as organized on the bases of competition. These are not bad definitions but not a good way to describe the competitive in competitive intelligence.

I view competitive as a way to over come an opponent in a likely situation; a way to become a victor in a highly strategic situation. I know that my definition of competitive is a bias opinion that is based on a background of competitive sports. I have a competitive nature and with a competition there has to be a winner.
The word Intelligence has been around since the 14th century and was from Middle English. Merriam-Webster defines it as the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations. Oxford English Dictionary defines it as an action or fact of mentally apprehending something; understanding, knowledge, cognizance, comprehension. I respect these definitions and how they help understand competitive intelligence.
The term competitive Intelligence when putting the two definitions together can be viewed as an act or fact of mentally apprehending something that is based on a competition. I don’t see how that is useful in the current business world. I will give my definition of competitive intelligence and how it relates to the business world. Competitive Intelligence is an act of understanding your opponent or competition may it be internal or external; it is the ultimate act of advancement in a company or overcoming a situation. I like to view competitive intelligence as a way that a company works to get an edge on its rivals. Since I have a strong sports background my example of getting an edge on a competitor would be when two football teams are playing each other they will watch tapes of the opposing team to see how they run plays and what plays will be called. This will allow the team to be prepared for what they have to do to stop the opposing team. This is how I view competitive intelligence in the business world.

All competitive intelligence is viewed differently from company to company, individual to individual. I see it as understanding your opponent where as some might view it as an understanding of the market such as Motorola as described in the proven strategies in competitive intelligence (Prescott & Miller p. 118). What Motorola did was to focus on the customer and go out and obtain data about there customer unlike what I was describing it as gaining information about your competitor. Another way to view competitive intelligence is by understanding you company and making the changes to it that will help it advance. In proven strategies in competitive intelligence it states that Proctor and Gamble where working on changes in there company to make it better for the future (Prescott & Miller p. 28-31).

Is there a right or wrong way to look at competitive intelligence? I say no, there is more than one way to fry an egg so why can’t there be different perspectives and understandings and practices of competitive intelligence. What an individual needs to remember is what there goals are in the situation and pick the right strategy that will give them a leg up in the field. In my life right now I do need to know competitive intelligence, I am working on getting a job. I need to know what I can about myself and information about that company. It’s not possible to know what other individuals might be applying for that same job. I will not be able to “study the tapes” see what that individual brings to the table and how I can one up him. I have a different view of competitive intelligence when dealing with school. I know what every person brings to the table and I try and get ahead of some students by out performing them on a test or winning on a project. I have two different views of competitive intelligence in my life at the same time but you need to know what your surroundings are and your goal in that situation.

Does a leader need to know about competitive intelligence? I say that a leader does need to know about competitive intelligence at every level. I would say that most leaders do know about competitive intelligence even if they never heard that term. Competitive Intelligence has been used during war for centuries by the use of spies. They would try and get information about what weapons they had, number of soldiers, and what there plans of attack are. I know that times have changed and competitive intelligence is used in a legal and practical method with companies in these current times.

As for leaders I feel that competitive intelligence is in them if they are born leaders. Since leaders competitiveness and intelligent are both characteristics of a leader then they should have an understanding of how to succeed and make others around them succeed in any part of their live. Since a good leader needs to have a strong understanding of what is going on around them in the company and out of the company competitive intelligence is a perfect match for a leader. I know this is broad but the area that they would need some help is when it comes to global intelligence or another area that they are not comfortable in.

In my personal life if I was in a leader role I would like to know what is going on around me and with my company and market. I would also like to find a way to make my department better than any other department so that I would stand out in the company. That is how I would like to see competitive intelligence work for me in a leadership role.
Some interesting research that I found was on how well companies think they are doing on using competitive. “The purpose of our study was to measure the current state of competitive intelligence activities from the perspective of competitive intelligence CEOs and CEOs. The project team mailed questionnaires to competitive intelligence CEOs and CEOs drawn from 550 firms in the U.S. The return sample consisted of fifty five CEOs and eighty two competitive intelligence CEOs. A total of hundred and four respondents came from competitive intelligence-active firms, whereas thirty three respondents reported no competitive intelligence activity at their companies. The significantly lower response rate from executives with firms not active in competitive intelligence was understandable, given that this survey’s topic would likely be of less interest to them. The higher response rate from executives with competitive intelligence-active firms was similarly anticompetitive intelligence pated. Mean company size was $9.25 billion in annual sales. Fifty-two percent reported less than 10% of their annual sales come from abroad; another 20% reported foreign sales comprise between 11% and 30% of their totals(Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel p.112).” Figure 4 shows you how well CEO’s of this survey think that there firm is using competitive intelligence (Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel p.114). This is a little information on CEO’s in the business world and shows it they think that they are using competitive intelligence. I know that this is an opinion based survey so that the facts are not that reliable but it is interesting to see how people if they are using competitive intelligence. According to Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel their study found that “replied and the positive response rate, the results of the study suggest that considerable interest in competitive intelligence exists among CEOs and CIOs. The respondents indicated that competitive intelligence can have both offensive and defensive uses. They believe that even though competitive intelligence gathering requires the use of public and private sources of information, the benefits are worth the time and resources expended. Most competitive intelligence efforts were split between using an ad-hoc, special project approach and regular, ongoing activities. The main responsibility for most firms’ competitive intelligence efforts rested with a business function executive or planner. The effectiveness of current competitive intelligence efforts was rated as being “good to fair,” which suggests a need for improvement. Almost all the CEOs reported some competitive intelligence activity in their organizations. Further, 75% of them anticipated some increase in those activities. They view competitive intelligence activity as an important information source for identifying business threats and opportunities. They see competitive intelligence as being useful in developing, implementing, and revising business strategies (Vedder, Vanecek, Guynes, & Cappel p.115).”

When I first heard competitive intelligence I had no idea what it was or what it meant or even referred to. After doing research on this topic I understand that it is a vast and complex process to understand and perform. There are so many different views and understanding of this term that an individual would have to come up with his own definition and that would depend on how they are currently living and dealing with competitive intelligence in there daily lives. I do not deal with the global market in my life I am dealing with a more internal structure inside Ball State University to stand out and been heard and seen. So to me that is my competitive intelligence. But I know that when I leave Ball State I will open a new door and I will have to learn a new strategy of competitive intelligence.
 
Worked Cited
Galvin, R. (1997) Competitive Intelligence at Motorola. Prescott, J & Miller, S. (Eds.) Proven Strategies in Competitive Intelligence (p. 116-122) John Wiley & sons co Canada

Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2009) “Competitive, Intelligence.” Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Competitive%20Intelligence%20
Oxford English Dictionary (2009) “Competitive, Intelligence.” Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://dictionary.oed.com/entrance.dtl

Pepper, J. (1999) Competitive Intelligence at Proctor & Gamble. Prescott, J & Miller, S. (Eds.) Proven Strategies in Competitive Intelligence (p. 23-27) John Wiley & sons co Canada

Vedder, R., Vanecek, M., Guynes, C. & Cappel, J. (1999) CEO and CIO Perspectives on Competitive Intelligence Computer of the ACM. Retrieved March 19, 2009 from http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/320000/310982/p108-vedder.pdf?key1=310982&key2=4610847321&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=26747886&CFTOKEN=76955723


]]> Leadership? tag:www.cicsworld.org,2009:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.4073 2009-02-06T15:04:09Z 2009-05-06T17:55:03Z Leadership what is it? Who needs it? Where does it come from? These are the questions that are asked when the topic of leadership comes up. These seem like easy questions to answer when you are talking among yourself, but... Ryan Franklin Leadership what is it? Who needs it? Where does it come from? These are the questions that are asked when the topic of leadership comes up. These seem like easy questions to answer when you are talking among yourself, but when start a graduate level discussion one question can turn into a two hour long discussion. I will explain how I view these questions with the experiences I have had in my life.

]]> What is leadership? I explain leadership as a set of skills and characterizes that an individual has. These characteristics are:
• Control
• Knowledge
• Persistent
• Passion
• Risk-taker
• Listener
• Learner
• Strong-minded
• Communicator
These are the characteristics that I find to be present in what I view as a leader. Many of these characteristics can have a negative meaning behind them in current times. Control, risk-takers, strong-minded these can be a negative idea in some cultures and in some businesses. Some of my favorite leaders showed these characteristics. Walt Disney was a risk-taker and strong-minded. He knew what he wanted to create and did not let anything stand in his way. When banks would not let him create Disneyland did not just stop and move on with his life. He found someone that would invest with him and created the best theme park in the world.

Who needs leadership? I see that everyone needs leadership in there life. From when we are children to living in our 70s we will always need some form of leadership. I see great leaders with a well balanced knowledge of situations and circumstances. It is not possible to know how everything works in the world. There should not be just one leader for everything but multiple leaders in multiple areas. For example, a Lieutenant controls a platoon; in that platoon there are four squads that a controlled by a staff sergeant, a captain commands a company which can have four platoons. This system works well since every leader is in control of one section and also has a leader above them. I find it hard to believe the world without leadership. There would be some form of leadership it is the natural way of life to gain control. Leadership is seen in every from of life.

Where does leadership come from? Is it learned or are you born with it. I truly feel that an individual is born a natural leader. The education that you get can only improve your skills but there are some skills that are not able to be taught. Some of these skills are:
• Creativity
• Passion
• Persistence
• Strong-minded
Schools are trying to create leaders and teach them the way to become a leader. I find this impossible to do. You can expose individuals to leadership roles but if they do not have the intuition to lead it will not be easy for that individual or the group. One area that I feel that schools are hurting leadership is in creativity. When we are young and in grade school we are looking to explore and show what we can draw. But when a teacher tells us to draw a flower and we don’t draw the flower she wanted we get marked wrong. Over time creativity is pushed away and viewed as bad since you are not doing well in school. If you draw the way the teacher wants you to then you will succeed in school. This is an issue I have when people say that it is possible to teach leadership when you where younger they taught you how to follow everyone else.

This is how I view these questions right not on February 6, 2009. After more discourse on leadership I will change my opinion on some of these questions. I am always open to discussing these questions and learning how others view answer these questions.


Refernces

Military organization. retrived February 6, 2009 from http://www.army.mil/info/organization/

]]> Primitive Technology & Necessary Skills tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3948 2008-12-11T13:46:47Z 2008-12-11T13:50:44Z CICS student, “primitive technology who needs it, everything we are going to be using is new why do we have to learn this stuff”. Not the case with real life situations. Doing all these RFP's in CICS have given us... Ryan Franklin CICS student, “primitive technology who needs it, everything we are going to be using is new why do we have to learn this stuff”. Not the case with real life situations. Doing all these RFP's in CICS have given us a great experience on how to create a response to an RFP, but what about the equipment people always want to install. Cisco has all these new devices and that is all that CICS students are exposed to with the exception of the lab equipment. But taking the RFP one step farther, how are you going to migrate the new equipment with the old equipment? This is a challenge I learned about just a few weeks while working at my Graduate Assistantship in Networking Services Computing Services at Ball State University.

]]> A few weeks ago I was out on a job site with Jon Wiley. We where working on updating the Ball State network. We had to replace a switch, that was older and showing signs of failure. While we where going about this operation Jon noticed that he did not have a cross cable. Instead of going back to our office he went ahead and made his own cross cable right on the spot. I found this to be interesting, it happened so fast I had no idea what just happened so I was a little lost.

The other day at work Brandon Dollar and I where sitting in our office when Jon walked up and explained to us how to make a cross cable from a straight cable. He then had us each make a cross cable and test it. The operation was simple but was informative. I was able to create a cross cable using an old cable (yes, we are going green). The reason for needing a cross cable is when we need to migrate ports from one switch to another. We need to have access to the old switch and send the information to the new switch. This decreases downtime which is important because we do a lot of repairs like this during the day.

Later that day Jon gave me a homework assignment. Jon says to me, “Ryan, I want you to go look up what MDIX is and tell me in the morning.” I went back to my office later that day and looked up what MDIX was. It turns out that MDIX is the ability of a switch to automatically take a straight cable and convert it into a cross cable. It has the ability to switch the cable not physically but has the ability to do this internally. I gave him this brief report and I realized that making a cross cable is becoming primitive with the new technology that is available. This is as skill that will be lost by many professionals in this field.

Knowing how to make a cross cable is important in the field and in the classroom. I am currently in 620 for the next week, and I did the CCNA information and we covered cables and how they are set up. But after sitting down and making a cable then I really learned what the order is. Learning how to create a cross cable on the spot is just one example of what we learn in our GA’s. Having MDIX is great and would make life a lot simpler but some jobs are not that easy. After working on Ball State’s Network I have seen that not all of our equipment is new and cutting edge. So you do need to know how to handle and troubleshoot older equipment, and I fell that this perception is lost right now in CICS and students think they are going to be working with the latest and greatest technology. I am fortunate to learn these tips that Jon has shown us to better us for the field.

]]> New Theory of Communication tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3826 2008-12-08T14:00:51Z 2008-12-08T14:08:27Z References Bruneau, T. J. (2008). How Americans use silence and silences to communicate. China Media Research, 4(2). Retrieved October 23, 2008, from Communication and Mass Media Complete database. Littlejohn, S.W. &Karen, F.A. (2008). Theories of Human Communication. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. Peters, T. (1987). Thriving on chaos: Handbook for a management revolution. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, INC. Underwood, M. (2008, April 4). The Shannon-Weaver Model. Retrieved October 27, 2008, from Communications studies, cultural studies, media studies infobase: http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/introductory/sw.html Ryan Franklin Silence
Communication is a method of transferring a, message from a subject tp a receiver and have a common understanding. There are many scholarly definitions of communication. For my scholarly definition I have taken Frank Dances’s “critical conceptual differentiation” to form a definition. Frank Dance made the “critical conceptual differentiation” it is made up of level of observation, intentionality, and judgment (Littlejohn 2008 p.3). I viewed the Shannon-Weaver model of communication and used the “critical conceptual differentiation” to add more detail to the Shannon-Weaver model

]]> Shannon-Weaver model
Shannon-Weaver model is a communication model is used to describe how messages move from a source to a receiver. The model begins with an informative source which produces a message. It then travels to an encoder which finds a common language to transmit the message. Noise represents anything that will interfere with the understanding of the message. If the message has no interference it moves to the decoder and is translated in a language the receiver can understand (Underwood, 2008).

Three areas of Communication
When looking at the Shannon-Weaver model noticed that the source and receiver areas could be more detailed. Since we are working on human communication I decided to add three areas of communication verbal, nonverbal, and silence communication. What is shown is that these types of communication can be used to form a combination of two or all three forms of communication.

Verbal Communication
Verbal Communication can be sent in a written or spoken form. Written form of a message is created by symbols, syntax, and grammatical elements. Written messages can express emotion depending on selection of grammatical punctuation. A spoken message is created by the properties of the voice. Some properties are tone, volume, and pitch are used to construct a message.

Nonverbal Communication
Body language and body position are used to communicate with no verbal or written communication. Body language involves movements such as hand gestures and any other movements. Body position has to do with the physical posture fo the source or receiver.

Silence Communication
According to Thomas Bruneau (2008), “Silence is meant a global refrain from speaking, a motion toward stillness, isolation, and a lack of communication contact with us” (p.78). Silence is overlooked in communication since most individuals dislike silence. This gives silence a negative term that often gets filled by noise (speech). There are positive aspects to silence.

Some positive aspects in speech can be listening to the source and think about the message before sending a message of your own. Tom Peters (1987) says “to listen, per se, is the single best “tool” for empowering large numbers of others (p.436). When a leader or manager listens to employees they can understand better and get assistance to correct the problem. Another positive of silence is if an individual does not agree with the source the receiver can be silent instead of adding to an argument. Brett Pettit explained, “at times when you are silent, the louder you speak” (personal communication, October 20, 2008). When asked to elaborate he explained the source knew you didn’t agree with what was said by your silence but others noticed the restraint on your opinion.

Filling a moment of silence with speech can be negative on you. Jordan Hornbaker stated, “speaking fills silence, when silence is needed” (personal communication, October 20, 2008). When a source is talking about a topic the receiver is not familiar with silence in the conversation will be present. When silence occurs the receiver can get uncomfortable and fill the silence with speech. What this does is show how little the receiver knows about the topic. Silence communication can be positive or negative to an individual but needs to be present in human communication.

Shannon-Weaver Model 2008
The source has an equal part such as verbal and nonverbal. Silence is smaller portion due to the smaller use of it. In both the source and receiver overlapping of two or more methods of communication can still occur. This model shows what type of communication can be used to form a message.

Conclusion
Verbal and nonverbal communication has been taught at a more repetitive rate then silence communication. Silence communication is overlooked in the ways of communication silence communication is an important form of communication that can show education and respect for others as well as ourselves. Showing how human communication is formed in the Shannon-Weaver model; works on using Frank Dance’s (2008) “critical conceptual differentiation” to distinguish communication in the future (p.3).

]]> Leonardo Da Vinci tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3825 2008-12-08T13:05:52Z 2008-12-08T13:15:35Z websites Jim Pickrell http://www.leonardo.net/gallery.html#start Ben Waggoner http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/vinci.html Ryan Franklin Leonardo Da Vinci was a man of many skills and traits. He was born in 1452. In his portfolio of careers he was an Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer, and scientist. This was just a few professions that he fulfilled in his life. When Leonardo Da Vinci was growing up the European Renaissance was occuring all around him. Leonardo Di Vinci was the Renaissance man. He explored more areas than ever before. In his work he presented many inventions including a drawing of a flying machine. He was a man ahead of his times and helped move the world forward.

]]> When Leonardo Di Vinci was growing up he was said to have a love for nature and a great artistic ability. Over his life he focused on painting and went to school to better his ability. In this time he traveled to Florence to learn from the great artists of this time. Later in life he moved to Milan, it is here that he begins to show his creativity and genius ability. In 1484 a plague attacks the city of Milan and this makes Da Vinci think about the architecture and layout of the town. He was still painting at this time a beginning to make a name for himself.

During 1483 and 1500 Da Vinci worked mostly on his painting and sculpting. He did do some theological thinking but was still focused on capturing art. Some of his famous art works are The Last Supper which was completed in 1498 and The Mona Lisa which was completed around 1519. These art works are some of the most famous pieces of art to this date. These painting are still among the most famous creations of art of all time.

When Da Vinci moved back to France this is when he started focusing on theological thinking and his inventions. He was so far ahead of his time. Da Vinci has drawings of solar power, helicopters, tanks, and many modern inventions. Anatomy was an area that Da Vinci was able to explore and with his gifted drawing abilities was able to provide the world with the Vitruvian Man.

Leonardo is the perfect example of what a true Renaissance Man is. His ability to paint, sculpt, invent, and help the world advance has put him in a league of his own. There have been few people that can match what Leonardo Da Vinci has done in his life, the other famous human being that would come close to Da Vinci and that would be Benjamin Franklin. Both of these men will be remembered through out time for what they have given to the world.

]]> Silent Communication tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3817 2008-12-08T03:57:51Z 2008-12-08T03:59:59Z This is a follow up on Addison Del Rio's Blog on Silent Communication... Ryan Franklin This is a follow up on Addison Del Rio's Blog on Silent Communication

]]> In regards to Addison Del Rio’s posting about silent communication I found this to be very interesting. I am from the same area and my mother talked to me about this technology but she was to scared to try it. I think that this technology would be great in a college campus. Since students are always in a hurry this would cut down on the time they spend in lines.
I understand why some individuals would be nervous to use this technology. This is a very new idea to have set up in a grocery store. I have noticed that individuals that are not around technology a lot are slower to adapt and do like the traditional way of doing things.
With all this technology that is coming available baby boomers are in an interesting position right now. They have been around for most of the technology advancements. I t would be difficult to understand what all is going on in the world. I am located in the middle of this advancement and I am still a little lost at times on what my phone can computer can do.
The fingerprint will be great for the future and will take sometime to get everyone on board. Deploying this system in Munster was a great idea since it is filled with a large mix of age and technology background.
I would like to thank Addison Del Rio for writing about this topic since it has been interesting to see and can’t wait to go home and visit this store to see how this technology works.

]]> Web 2.0 tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3816 2008-12-08T02:54:36Z 2008-12-08T02:59:32Z Web 2.0 is a web-based platform for interaction. It has changed the way we look at the web and what the web has to offer us in our everyday uses. Web 2.0 has helped businesses with communication and collaboration. It... Ryan Franklin Web 2.0 is a web-based platform for interaction. It has changed the way we look at the web and what the web has to offer us in our everyday uses. Web 2.0 has helped businesses with communication and collaboration. It has even helped with just keeping in touch with friends and family.

]]>
Web 2.0 has made the use of the Internet better and more productive. It has moved businesses and communities to peer-to-peer. Not just one company but many businesses and individuals in the technology world have created web 2.0.

What makes web 2.0 so interactive in today’s world is done by a list of tools. Wikis, Instant messaging, message boards, and the list goes on. These tools are used to get real-time feedback from customers on areas that they need to improve on and also positives. With this real-time feedback businesses can better there product, services, or realign their goals. Message boards can be used for multiple reasons. As shown on CNN’s website they have a blogging area where anyone can add their input on the topic they are discussing or even add a topic they want to discuss. This gets individuals interested in the news and lets readers get a different perspective. This was very interesting to read some of the discussions when the presidential debates were occurring. There were a lot of arguments present and it was interesting to read what people stood for and how they viewed each candidate.
An interesting aspect about the presidential race was how Sen. Obama used the Internet as a platform to get votes and communicate with voters. This is another way that Web 2.0 has shown how important it is in this time of our lives.

Instant messaging is used by businesses and personal users for a fast and direct communication and is a cheap way to communicate. This has been used a lot by CICS students. When we are working on a project and a group member is not there, you can ask them a question and you would get feedback quicker than e-mail.

Web 2.0 is a collaboration of technology working together to increase productivity and communication for all sorts’ aspects of an individual’s life. These are a few ways that web 2.0 has changed how we use and view the Internet today. Web 2.0 is just the start of more to come. There is already talk about Web 3.0 let’s wait and see what that has to offer.

]]> Accenture Challenge tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3809 2008-12-07T22:50:34Z 2008-12-07T23:02:21Z Accenture Challenge has been part of the CICS expereince for years now. The students in CICS are given an RFP on monday afternoon, then have a meeting with Accenture to discuss questions on Thursday afternoon and then are let lose... Ryan Franklin Accenture Challenge has been part of the CICS expereince for years now. The students in CICS are given an RFP on monday afternoon, then have a meeting with Accenture to discuss questions on Thursday afternoon and then are let lose to come up with a paper and a presentation by Friday morning at 8am. It is a challenge and a great learning opportunity.

]]> As you have probably heard Accenture Challenge has come and gone. During this challenge you where pushed physically and mentally. This was a great challenge for CICS students. Before coming to this master’s program every alumni that I talked to the first think they mentioned was, “Oh the Accenture Challenge”. I know understand what they are talking about.

During this challenge we where to put together a paper and a presentation. These were in the response to the RFP that we received Monday afternoon. Tuesday was the first day that as a group we meet and we were ready to go and get this thing going. As we moved to Friday morning at 3am it was a different story. Instead of getting the best paper and presentation I was viewing it, as we have to have something to turn-in in about 5 hours.
We finished up at 7:50am as the last paper came out of the copy machine. Then it was a fast walk to the presentation area. As we walked in we turned in the paper and lucky for us we where the first group to go. We walked into the room presented and that was our day. We had survived the Accenture Challenge and now can look onwards to completing this semester. This was a great challenge and was able to see the ability that I have physically and mentally. I feel that we have taken a large stride in the CICS program and that is an initiation you must pass before finishing CICS.

I would like to thank Accenture for giving us this challenge and for all that they do for CICS.

]]> Technology gift for Christmas tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3808 2008-12-07T22:41:35Z 2008-12-07T22:49:25Z With Christmas right around the corner gifts are becoming important. Over the years I have seen gifts move to a more technology area. This might have to deal with how aware I am about this technology field, but it is... Ryan Franklin With Christmas right around the corner gifts are becoming important. Over the years I have seen gifts move to a more technology area. This might have to deal with how aware I am about this technology field, but it is still an increase in the market. It is fun to see what all the interesting gifts are available this year. I found a gift that would be perfect for my mother this Christmas year.

]]> Technology has been around for years but is becoming more and more user friendly. This has opened a market of less technology savvy individuals. For this Christmas I have decided to get my parents a gift that is in the technology field.

My mother is not the most technical individual. She has come along way she now has an I phone, a laptop, and loves to take pictures on her digital camera. When I was trying to think what to get my mother for Christmas an idea came to my head when I was looking on CNN’s top 10 Christmas gifts in technology. I noticed a digital camera memory card that links up with your wireless network and automatically sends the pictures that are on your camera into your computer. I thought Wow this is a great gift. This would be great for my mother. What I really liked about this gift is this should stop the phone calls that I get from my mother asking me how to download the pictures from her camera into her computer, or my favorite question of all, Where are my pictures at?

What this memory card would do for her would make downloading and locating her pictures easier and will benefit me as well. This product is made by eye-fi. I think that this product is a great idea and a great use of technology. This goes to show how technology has moved forward over the years and is not giving the ability to make an upgrade to a digital camera without having to buy a new $500 camera.

I would have never thought I would give my mother a gift like this. I know that I will have to be at home to first set up this memory card with the network but after that she will be able to handle this gift. Plus this is a much better gift than an electrical appliance like a blender.

]]> Bloons the dark side of the Internet tag:www.cicsworld.org,2008:/blogs/rmfranklin//315.3807 2008-12-06T22:36:24Z 2008-12-08T13:43:43Z http://www.ninjakiwi.com/Games/Tower-Defense/Bloons-Tower-Defense-3.htmlTechnology has been seen to make an individuals productivity increase. But then it does not always work out that way. I am talking about the Internet and what it all has to offer. The Internet provides us with incredible access... Ryan Franklin http://www.ninjakiwi.com/Games/Tower-Defense/Bloons-Tower-Defense-3.htmlTechnology has been seen to make an individuals productivity increase. But then it does not always work out that way. I am talking about the Internet and what it all has to offer. The Internet provides us with incredible access to what ever we might need. This has been able to cut down on research time and also allows individuals to communicate at a faster rate. But yes there is a dark side to the Internet that does take up our time with nonsense. I am talking about a computer game called Bloons Tower Defense 3.

]]> Bloons Tower Defense 3, yes it is spelled Bloons not Balloons.

This is a computer game that was introduced to me by Addison Del Rio a fellow CICS graduate student. After completing the Accenture challenge Friday evening came around. As a group of us where sitting in the living room Addison announces that she found this new game. She went on and on about how great and wonderful this game was. So taking Addison’s advice I started to play. I was a great game.

The object of this game is to place monkeys around a maze and try to pop these balloons before they reach our tower. I know that it does sound juvenile but you have to come up with a strategy of where to place your defenses. As you move on in the levels they get harder and more challenging.

I started to play and then I got addicted to the game. I was sitting in the living room Friday night with 2 of my roommates and we where all sitting behind our laptops playing this game. For hours we played. I have noticed that it has taken me away form some of my duties that I wanted to get completed this weekend. This is a perfect example of how the Internet can decrease productivity. I am happy that Addison brought this game to my attention after Accenture. I will have to limit my time on that fun computer game.

]]>