Walter Rodriguez

Investing in IT Security: How to Determine the Maximum Threshold

Investing in information technology IT security is a critical decision in the digital age. And, in most organizations, it is wise to allocate a significant amount of resources to IT infrastructure. However, it is difficult to determine how much to invest in IT as well as quantifying the maximum threshold where the rate of return of this investment is diminishing. The main research question in this paper is: how much and what financial resources should be allocated to IT security? This paper analyzes different practices and techniques used to determine the calculation for investments in IT security and analyzes and recommend some suitable methods for deciding how much should be invested in IT security.

Beyond Intelligent Agents: E-sensors for Supporting Supply Chain Collaboration and Preventing the Bullwhip Effect

This article presents a new concept for supporting electronic collaboration, operations, and relationships among trading partners in the value chain without hindering human autonomy. Although autonomous intelligent agents, or electronic robots (e-bots), can be used to inform this endeavor, the article advocates the development of e-sensors, i.e., software based units with capabilities beyond intelligent agent’s functionality. E-sensors are hardware-software capable of perceiving, reacting and learning from its interactive experience through the supply chain, rather than just searching for data and information through the network and reacting to it. E-sensors can help avoid the “bullwhip†effect. The article briefly reviews the related intelligent agent and supply chain literature and the technological gap between fields. It articulates a demand-driven, sense-and-response system for sustaining e-collaboration and e-business operations as well as monitoring products and processes. As a proof of concept, this research aimed a test solution at a single supply chain partner within one stage of the process.

Outsourcing Information and Computer Technology

For the last decade, there has been much scrutiny over the benefits and effects of outsourcing information and computer technology services. But the fast-paced, ever-changing world we live in will only continue to grow more and more reliant upon IT outsourcing for many reasons, such as cost savings, innovation, and potential global opportunities. Is there a possible downside for the practice of outsourcing? Is there a potential threat to the USA economy as well as the privacy and security of its citizens, when corporations make the decision to outsource their IT operations? Or is outsourcing relatively beneficial for everyone? This article discusses the pros and cons of IT outsourcing, with a major emphasis on the potential effects that outsourcing plays on the economy, privacy and security.

Task and error analysis balancing benefits over business of electronic medical records

Task and error analysis research was performed to identify: a) the process for healthcare organisations in managing healthcare for patients with mental illness or substance abuse; b) how the process can be enhanced and; c) if electronic medical records (EMRs) have a role in this process from a business and safety perspective. The research question is if EMRs have a role in enhancing the healthcare for patients with mental illness or substance abuse. A discussion on the business of EMRs is addressed to understand the balancing act between the safety and business aspects of an EMR.