“Tech Assimilation and Warehousing of Talent” byGregory V. Boulware
The other day, I received a call from a state representative regarding the information posted on my web site. I was questioned about its content. The woman on the telephone was totally non-communicative, arrogant, and oblivious to the answers given in response to her questions.
Having been formally unemployed for more than a year, the last thing that I wanted was to jeopardize my UC bennies. The content of my web site(s) are not only meant to profoundly convey information to visitors, but to display my particular skills and talents. The woman wasn’t having any. The more she spoke, with defiance, the more it became obvious that she was not an IT Person. Her telephone cadence ended with her assuring me of forthcoming follow-up contact from an investigator.
The site content not only speaks for itself, but it is very clear that it does not generate revenue for my personal gain. Albeit, revenue generation of family, friends, and acquaintances is the sole benefit to the business and activities pertaining to those particular individuals. The posted data is primarily intended to aid people in educational, current and past events, and employment connections. The site also aids my job search and exposure to perspective employers. The intent is to make an impression.
Computer Science Students of color are highly underrepresented in the IT Workforce.
People of color with degrees are the least represented group prepared for IT jobs in the information technology industry. The implication displays serious dissention for higher education as well as with the IT industry. The limited number of IT workers is not only limited to people of color. The attraction and retainment by employers of a particular group represents a major deficit to the information technology workforce. Underrepresented groups, i.e., African Americans, Latino Americans, Women, and Older workers would profoundly benefit the expansion of information technology workforce needs. The 1998 report by Herman D. Hughes, a professor at Michigan State University said, “Studies have shown that if those underrepresented groups were fully participants in the IT workforce, there would be no IT workforce shortage.
“New Legislation, White House policy, and a Cyber Security Czar should help the situation. The lack of centralized leadership has hindered information sharing on vulnerabilities and uncertainty about government security policy remains to be done in opening up data silos”, according to Mr. J. Nicholas Hoover of TechWeb.com.
Federal agencies reported that various intelligence agencies had pieces of information about the U.S. attackers of September 9, 2001. This non-communication faux pas aided to gaps in information sharing among these pertinent agencies. Mr. Hoover also said that no agency had all the pieces needed for a complete information package. However, “there has been progress since then, from multi agency information sharing agreements with the adoption of wikis and blogs.” Albeit, rifts and gaps remain, terrorism information sharing has become a government wide approach to data sharing. “Information sharing mandates and training programs have been implemented by fewer than half of the affected agencies,” says Hoover. The Markle Foundation finds “old habits die hard!” All agencies are required to disclose details of their stimulus spending as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This includes all states involved and the jobs that have been created. Consistency is sought by the Treasury Department with regard to its financial reports with government wide treasury accounts. Improvement within the White House Office of Management and Budget is expected to create cohesive financial management systems in its improvement efforts, according to Hoovers’ report.
The question is why is it that redundant non-interoperable systems remain normal within government agencies? Hoover states, “Many agencies insist on maintaining their independence and those that want to open up face technical obstacles in sharing information.” He cites the Department of Defense as a case in point. Military branches resist utilizing Defense Information Services Agency (DISA) or the Defense Business Transformation Agency (BTA).
Siloed Information has proven to be the DOD’s biggest challenge while slowing in the modernization of the departments business systems as recorded by the Government Accountability Office. More than 3,000 disparate financial systems are replaced and/or connected to 12 ERP systems (Short for enterprise resource planning, a business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. As the ERP methodology has become more popular, software applications have emerged to help business managers implement ERP in business activities such as inventory control, order tracking, customer service, finance and human resources.) with a spending allowance of one billion dollars annually. Countless interfaces require the connectivity of reconciliation errors within these governmental systems.
“It is clear, the future of information technology is inextricably tied to how well underrepresented students are prepared,” says Bob Reed, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at Cingular Wireless Systems, as reported by Mr. Fred Green Jr., NNPA Technology writer. “The path to success begins long before a potential employee completes a job application.”
This reporter’s collegiate study has spanned more than 10 years. Attending Philadelphia Community College, starting in the fall of 1996 with Management and Technical Studies and Berean Institute College of Business Administration and Computer Science in Philadelphia PA, Accredited By: The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, etc. The later institution is an “HBCU”(Historic Black Colleges and Universities).
A challenge was given to three HBCU Campuses. The three historic colleges were Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA; North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C.; and Florida University in Tallahassee. The business students of the three campuses were charged with the development, implementation, and marketing plan to reach their campus peers and faculty membership. Cingular Wireless Systems made this challenge, says Mr. Green. The rewards are scholarships, grants, and company products. Cingular’s challenge provides an opportunity for the business students to present their abilities to show capable balance and theory with teamwork concepts as well as individual creativity. (The challenge results are to be announced at a later date).
Employers are constantly seeking new skills, training, and learning. Why is it so difficult for IT and BI (Information Technology and Business Intelligence) students to acquire the sought after jobs and career paths that they seek? (Especially within the government agencies!) Why are entry-level positions of employment riddled with red tape when it’s obvious that applicants have the skills and abilities to perform IT tasks and responsibilities?
An IT Labor Shortage? Please!
IT skilled laborers tend to not have their skills on idle format. They, (we), need to keep up with the information trends and changes. We are constantly encouraged to continue educational pursuits even while the costs have risen to unreachable heights for the average person. We are encouraged to build and maintain on-line profiles and resumes’ that will attract employer viewings. We are encouraged to display our skills and talents on the Internet, only to have them scrutinized, ridiculed, disrespected, misread, and misunderstood. Our competition is not of our country and yet we are constantly encouraged while being discouraged from attaining the goals of our government – “The American Dream!” The competition constantly nurtures it’s home grown (and not home grown – but – returned home) trained and competent talents that places their IT productions to greater heights! That particular talent (in most cases) does not endure the pressures of financial stress, not to mention medicals, with the knowledge that the nurtured talent is intending to serve the government to which it calls home…motherland: for at least one to two years. The competition looks back at us and smiles. The competition grows with the changing technology trends and changes while we sit and scream “IT Workforce Shortage!” The competition goes home with the trophy and we are sixth and seventh place in the world competition IT and BI platform(s). Take a look at the Beta Max, VCR, Home Computer(s), Electronics, etc. Is it not time for us to ride high in the saddle, to be first, to lead? We did it with the Presidency, didn’t we? So why can’t we find a way to fill the “IT Workforce Shortage” and utilize all of our talent…throughout the Land of the Free…the Home of the Brave? Inclusion is the only way to complete and utter freedom and release from our technological binds. We do not have to settle for runner-up, either!
Are employers viewing your web site, profile(s)? Are they drawing the wrong conclusions? Is the employed contractor/vendor adept to the current challenges of the IT World and it’s technologies? Is the investigator capable of understanding simple IT Language and its meanings and symbols? Or is it once again “Big Brother” announcing who’s really in control?
What’s on your web site?
Til next time.
Acknowledgement(s):The Final CallFred Green Jr., NNPA's Technology Writer, Technical Training Specialist for a National Communication Company.J. Nicholas Hoover, TechWeb Article - Government IT, "Data Silos, pg. 35-36, Information Week June 1, 2009.
Most agencies struggle with getting through the IT Acquisition Process and fail over 80% of the time, costing the tax payer over $15Billion per year. These failures can be attributed to multiple root causes including;
- Antiguated Architecture & Acquisition Processes designed prior to the E-Commerce revolution, which disenfranchise both the user and the small innovative companies
- Organizational Conflicts of Interest within the support contractors supporting the architecture and acquisition process.
- Lack of congressional support for those few honest brokers who are overwelmed by the FFRDCs and Federal System Integrators special interests.
- Lack of incentives or performance metrics that would help motivate govt Program Managers to change their focus from compliance to capability delivery. When a program fails in todays world, the PM gets more funds and the program is re-baselined.
Worse, the integrators are experiencing record profits while the govt experience record program failures. The good news is that some of our most patriotic leaders who have challenged the status quo are making progress, including efforts within the OSD BTA, AF CIO, and DIA. As the US Govt Info Technology Budget approaches $100Billion per year, we have a great opporunity to restart the US innovation engine if the barriers to entry can be overcome.
Congratulation MR The PRESIDENT from the mediterranean community i never had a chance to feel the joy of democracy in my life like i did felt it yesturday at grand park knowing that i'am not a US citizen and i did not have a chance to vote and be part of history but i felt like hundreds of thousands from all over the world that you are our saviour from the world's corruption lords and our president and made us proud of just being there and feeling the power of "YES WE CAN "
CONGRATULATION FROM ALL MY HEART
now it make sence to say :
"that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"
and" this nation" means THE WORLD
Chances are if you're reading this page, you know that Ohio is crucial to this election. If we defeat John McCain in Ohio, it is almost totally impossible for him to become president.
The Campaign for Change is looking for interns--young, educated people dedicated to committing much of their time and energy for the next two months to making sure Ohio turns blue for Barack. Click HERE to become part of the army of change-makers.
Watch this inspirational video about the difference young people can make in this election, and then see the details about the opportunities available below:
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Please tell me America isn’t this gullible. Why does John McCain feel that he can elect a woman as his VP and somehow level the playing field with Obama and Biden? I tell you this is dirty politics at its best and it tells you that John McCain thinks the average American is stupid...
Electing Sarah is like picking your little brother to play on your team because your mother told you to, or else! It’s like getting stuck with that fat kid with no athletic ability because there’s no one else left to choose from. If the republicans think that this somehow appeals to the female voters or the Hilary supporters; I have one thing to say.
They should be ashamed of themselves. This is a slap in the American face. Hilary not only proved through her career but also over the past months that she deserved to be in the race, deserved the 18 million votes, deserved to be a part of history. Let's not blemish this landmark in history with an Average Jo-Ann, just to make a point. Hilary has set the bar and let me tell you it's pretty darn high. Who ever takes the glory of being the first woman anything, should be well worth the hype.
America please don’t be fooled and fall for these ridiculous tricks of a suffering political group. Sarah Palin isn’t someone that will compliment as a counter balance to John McCain. This is just another crony of the republican system just thrown into a skirt, (I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t have a slew of pant suits).
I think a smart move would be for Barack to announce Hilary as his number three, and then brush the McCain camp under his red carpet where they belong.
Even though it may not look like it or feel like it, you are making progress.
Continue working towards progress instead of perfection.
Nothing or no no one is perfect.
Just keep taking steps.
Keep making those phone calls.
Continue following your plan.
Remain focused on your goal.
Do what you have to do right now to get to the next level.
Complete every task.
Keep every promise and commitment.
Don't look back.
Let no one weaken your walk of faith and determination.
Remain teachable.
Place yourself in a blessing position by associating with people on-the-grow.
Talk with teachers.
Walk with winners.
Climb with champions.
Study successful people.
Something great is about to happen for you!
Start giving thanks right now before you can even see the outward manisfestation of your prayers and desires.
Everything you do from this day forward will take you further away or closer to your potential for successful living.
-by Dr. Jewel Diamond Taylor, Motivational Speaker & Author
http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2005/9/28/115543/198
Go to the above site. Use the information there to create talking points. People, we CAN win the war of words against McCain. We just need to flood the media with the TRUTH.
The truth is that it will take YEARS to get oil out of the Gulf of Mexico. By that time, we could have created a million new jobs at home -- by investing in solar, wind, and other renewable energy products.
Enjoy.
- Sammy
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What will happen then? Who knows. It might be fun, though.
"LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) - A computer coding error led Moody's Investors Service to assign incorrect triple-A ratings to a complex debt product that came to mark the peak of the credit boom, the Financial Times said on Wednesday. (see http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/05/21/2008-05-21T075644Z_01_L21551923_RTRIDST_0_MOODYS-CPDOS.html for more, or just Google for Moody's software error).
An interesting back-story for us is the legislative drive, from 1990 through the present, to eliminate the liability of information-industry (software publishers, developers, and other information publishers) for defects in their products. That work culminated in the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) which was adopted in Virginia and Marylan, rejected in all other American states, but largely imported into most states by judicial rulings (a fine example of "judicial activism"--imposing rules on a state even after the legislature has rejected them).
The drafting of UCITA was officially nonpartisan, but my strong impression as a very active participant in the drafting process from 1994 through 2000 (when the project completed) was that the prime movers were Republican. Certainly, the policies of UCITA fit with Republican approaches and not with Obama's or the Democratic Party's generally--protection of large companies by eliminating accountability, expanding large publishers' intellectual property rights, and expanding the enforceability of clickwrap contract clauses to bar researchers from investigating products and reporting results (security flaws, data errors, operational defects, etc.).
...then, I must insist that you watch all 3 parts of this video taped November 14, 2007 appearance and interview of Barack Obama in front of Google employees in Mountain View, CA, relevant to today in this moment.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1335549280?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=790
You will need about an hour, but it will inform you critically, not only on questions of IT, but especially on questions of what Barack Obama will do for America as our President. Critically, I must insist.
And please feel compelled to share the videos with those you know who think that they haven't heard Obama say enough about what he would actually do to improve our country, that a vote for Obama is just the same old choice between the lesser of two evils.
This is simply NOT the case. People should know. People should be made aware. It is a critical moment in history.
(*The videos were part of a larger Technology page at: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/#open-internet)
