Stories by Melba-Jean M. Valdez

Non-IT Staff Find Their Way Into MIS

The fast turnover in information technology (IT) manpower has led some managers to pluck non-IT people from other departments and place them in the world of management information systems. The results have been surprisingly positive, as non-IT workers, usually from finance and accounting, seem quick to grasp the skills needed for IT work.

Investors Respond to Philippines Cyberparks Plan

The Philippines is going full bore on its policy to encourage cyberparks, and bundling these with a broad package of incentives aimed at making the country an attractive location for regional e-services.

Philippines Plans E-Procurement by Year's End

The Philippines' Department of Budget and Management (DBM) aims to launch its Internet-based procurement system by the end of the year, in a bid to simplify the purchasing of supplies by various government agencies.

NEDA Exec Says IT21 Moving Ahead

The National Information Technology Plan for the 21st Century, otherwise known as IT21, is slowly but surely being realized, a key government official said last month.

Ayala to Build Cyberpark in Cebu

The Ayala Group plans to invest more than 1 billion pesos (US$27.4 million) to transform the Civic and Trade Center on the central Philippine island of Cebu into an IT park called Asiatown.

Internet, E-Commerce Key in 2000, Firms Say

Internet and electronic commerce technologies will be the most wanted solutions among companies this year as they launch new services. Local vendors, on the other hand, seem well poised to meet these requirements, according to companies interviewed by Computerworld.

Knowledge Management to Bring Fundamental Changes

A company's culture will be the biggest motivator and the biggest roadblock to effective implementation of knowledge management. This was the view offered by Doug Hauger, director for Enterprise Technical Marketing at Microsoft Corp., when he met with Computerworld Philippines recently to talk about knowledge management.

E-commerce Can Reduce Customer Risks: Andersen

Electronic commerce can reduce risks that customers normally face during face-to-face transactions. This was the view brought forward by Ajit Kambil, an associate partner and senior research fellow at the Andersen Consulting Institute for Strategic Change. Kambil's findings were published in Andersen's Outlook Point of View.

Stratasoft Dials into Philippine Market

Stratasoft Inc., a developer of call center solutions, has entered the Asian market, the Philippines being its entry point, with its PC-based call center management solutions. The company's products will be distributed by Telenova Systems Inc.

A-Bone touted as Asian e-commerce platform

The A-Bone, an Internet backbone network that directly links the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, is seen by its backer as becoming the platform for electronic commerce in Asia.

Java Card to replace conventional smartcards

The Java card is envisioned to replace conventional smartcards because it can be used for multiple applications such as mass transit, telecommunications, health, mobile, banking, and retail, an electronic banking conference in Manilla heard last week.