Assignment 2(MIS) Company Visit

We are task to visit some large local companies/organizations that can be found here in Davao or near to Davao in order for us to learn, and know something about business administration and business flow of information. I myself could say that this kind of activity could challenge me as a student and learn thing through reality. Yeah! This activity is very tiring especially if you have been rejected by the company you choose but at least this will help us especially when we talk about management (time management), that has been taught(always!) by our facilitator. With this, we learn how manage our time (even if we did not perfectly manage it), we learn how to become patient in many rejections we receive, and we learn to have determination. Finally, I found the local organization together with some of my classmates, which would help me comply the requirement and help me gather information. The company that warmly welcomes and accepts us to conduct an interview and visit their company is the RHINE MARKETING CORPORATION. First, I will post some information about this company…

RHINE MARKETING CORPORATION



ORIGIN

In 1947, the late Claude Marion Wilson Jr. after has retirement from the US Army, invested his savings and set up the Claude M. Wilson Trading Co., a company engaged in the imporation and selling of construction materials, essential items needed for the country's reconstruction after World War II. The small enterprise was later renamed Claude Wilson Corporation. The company started selling imported sewing machines, and business machines, principally the Italian Olivetti typewriter.

The Claude Wilson Corporation established its Cebu branch in 1957, at the center of Juan Luna and D. Jakosalem Streets, under the supervision of Mr. Juan Ross. Mr. Lou Da Costa was then General Manager of the Manila Head Office.

In less than a year, the company grew and Cebu branch moved to bigger offices of the old Osmella situated at the corner of D. Jakosalem and Magallanes Streets. Mr. Jose Antonio Martinez became the first branch manager, while another trusted Wilson executive, Mr. Senen Valero, took charge of company operations.

In the later 50's and early 60's, the Philippine economy began to flourish resulting in an increased demand for sewing machines and other home appliances. This gave the company through Claude Wilson's entrepreneurship, the impetus to diversify and expand its product lines.

In line with the government's call for the establishment of more factories, Mr. Wilson decided to manufacture instead of import sewing machines. This daring move was vigorously challenged by competitors who could import sewing machines more cheaply than to manufacture them.

In 1961, Claude Wilson Corporation became Philippine Sewing Machines Manufacturing Corporation (PSMMC). The company head office was in Manila with branches in Cebu and Dagupan, locations designed to meet demands in Luzon and the southern part of the country. Martinez was transfered back to head office in Manila and A.F. Martelino was appointed Cebu Branch Manager.

On May 26, 1964, PSMMC (now METERCOR) formed a marketing arm called Rhine Marketing Corporation principally to sell Rhine sewing machines. Paid-up capital was P50, 000.00.

In the 70's product lines were expanded to include other consumer durables which, like sewing machines, were also in short supply. Since the company's main thrust was to be installment sales, Wilson and his executives reasoned that a provincial head office would stand a better chance of succeeding. That nationale was that a small, cohesive community where people knew each other and have lived in the area for many years would result in safer, less risky sales on credit. Cebu was a natural choice. That policy was a wise one indeed and Rhine today continues to operate a nationwide network of branches from its home base in Cebu.
The following year there more branches opened in 1980. These are located in Makati, Mati, Gingoog, Valencia, San Jose, Calamba and San Fernando.

Rhine Marketing Corporation - Computer Division (RMC-CD) is a leading manufacturer of personal computers, and distributor of a complete line of peripherals and other computer-related services. Established in February 1992, when Rhine Marketing Corporation's interest has evolved from home appliance business to Information Technology (I.T.), we now enjoy a rapid growth and have achieved a good reputation immediately. We not only provide expertise to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our clients, but also offer solutions that set new standards for quality performance and value.

Reference: http://www.rhine.com.ph/about-us/rhine-marketing-corporation.html#about%20us

Based on the organization(s) that you visited, what do you think are the risks associated with business and IS/IT change?


…the company chooses one of their employees who is capable or has knowledge/skills that could help us gather information on their company that would reflect to our studies. One of their employees introduces himself to us. He is Mr. Crisologo Abella, MIS staff and a programmer of their branch. He is our interviewee of that company. After introducing each other I ask him a lot of questions that would help us gather information about the question above, together with my co-interviewer.
The branch of Rhine Marketing Corporation we visit is located at San Pedro St., Davao City.
These are some of the important questions that we asked or presented to him:
…How important IT/IS to your company? …What are the systems you have implemented to help the company, how do you call it? …Can you give us some details about the flow of information on this system? …How do you maintain or manage it? …are there any problems you have encounter on developing this system? …what are the risks on maintaining or managing the system? …I’m sure you’ve gone though updating your system? What are the problems or risks you’ve met on updating your system? …what are your techniques or way in order to solve these problems?



…Those are the questions we have presented and after every question, he answered it well. These are the information I have gathered from the interviewee (but I put it in my own words based on my own understanding)… He said that Information System is the most important thing on business because without it their will be no exact flow of information. In order to lessen the capacity of their work, they develop a system and they called it Rhine System. On this system, every data and information for their company such as supplies, payroll, inventory and etc., will be saved and retrieved for every moment they will needing it. He said that he is one of person who developed the software of the Rhine System such as programs, database, as well as managing or maintaining the system. He also rate to us how important is Information system; he rated it as 101%. He also taught us some of the flow of information of their companies. He also taught us what are the components or the thing flows to their system, such us the supplies  sales  inventory  payroll  etc. He said that being the head of the IS personnel and a head of their system maintenance, it cause a lot of work and problem. He said that maintaining IS/IT is as challenge because there are a lot of risks and problems you will encounter and need to solve immediately. He said that first problem you will encounter is from making or developing programs for your system. And as usual it starts from planning what kind of system capable for their company and also its limits. But, a lot of problems you will encounter are from maintaining the system, because it includes updating or changing some aspect of the system. He said that, as time goes by; many changes should be done because technology is also evolving. He also said that one of their main problems is the risk for their data security. Their system is not well secured that can be accessed by unauthorized person and probably cause system error and system change, and the flow of their information will be affected that will cause false information. Updating or changing a system is a lot of work because the whole flow of information will be interrupted that is why they will make an immediate solution for the problem. In order to solve those risks, you should be an expert for this job and well planned. He also said that they encounter a lot of error of their system that is why they have developed a backup system for data recovery. Those are the information he shared to us…