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2010T1 The Green Reapers: LOMS

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Integration of business & technology in a sector context

Interacting with IRRI reinforced our concepts of leveraging our technological knowledge to create value for IRRI. We had to first avoid creating duplicate systems or similar systems already in place as the system would not experience its maximum potential. We then had to decide on creating a system which would actually benefit IRRI, instead of a silo system. Even though there were minimal costs involved, our team aimed to create practical value for IRRI, and specifically for the extension workers.


IT architecture, design and development skills

Working with professionals from a very different industry is challenging as most of the time, we communicate on different wave lengths. For example, our first contacts from IRRI had strong domain knowledge in the field of managing processes for a philanthropically oriented organization, while we were stronger in technology. Both parties had to converse on a level on which both understood each other. Once that was established, we then could advance towards understanding their needs and how our capabilities could resolve those needs.


Project management skills

Working under an incredibly tight time frame reinstated the importance of early planning and contingency planning. It is crucial that everyone plays a part to contribute what they can. As our client is a well established organization, we’ve learnt that it is imperative that we remember to scope our project around the IS480 structure. In the excitement of the moment, it is easy to get distracted, attempting to take on much more than time and resources permit.


Collaboration (or team) skills

Our team is dynamic, varying in terms of abilities and mind sets. It is vital to learn the traits of each member and work within around the characteristics of the team to manage inevitable conflicts and differences in work styles.


Change management skills for enterprise systems

Tapping on skills learnt on previous business process management courses, we were able to quickly pinpoint where improvements in a portion of IRRI’s operational processes could be made. Therefore recommending solutions to resolve them based on our proposed plans.


Skills for working across countries, cultures and borders

Interacting with multi-national stakeholders of different positions was especially insightful as it shows how difference in interests and objectives came though. The key is to apply cultural archetypes on what we feel would be the party’s main concern, and being sensitive to amend that approach any time. Generally, research prior to stakeholder meetings would cause meetings to be more productive.


Making use of skills and experience over the different modules in SMU

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We were able to draw from our experiences and skills from the respective modules that we have learned in our past years. This skills were put to good use to ensure and assist in the smooth sailing journey of our project.

As mentioned, the teams were divided based on the competencies of each member. We leveraged on the strengths and technical experience in each team. For the IVR team, Edwin and Weihan were a formidable pair as they have had much experience developing in a .Net platform, in which our IVR system is running on (C#). In addition, Weihan has had prior experience with AJAX, which was beneficial for the developing of the IVR configuration system.

Marcus and Lucas has been involved in web content management systems, and thus were able to seamlessly integrate the WCMS (WordPress) chosen together with the various aspects of the technologies developed (IVR and Data Analytics).

Lastly, Alvin has taken courses on project management (Global Software Project Management) and has experience in Data Analytics. Together with Fengnan, a Data Analytics guru (with experience in Geospatial Technology and Visual Analytics), they were able to devise a dynamic and fully customizable analytics platform. The technology developed would be pluggable and portable, and because of this IRRI would have no problems integrating this into their current systems.


Our team was a self managed team and has been extremely fluid and versatile. Other than being aware of their own domain, all team members understood the entire system architecture and flow of events, which was beneficial to the learning for all of us.

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