Web 2.0--I finally don't feel like an idiot (sort of)

Discussions referencing Web 3.0 have been driving me crazy. I don't know what this is--how can I? I didn't even know there was a Web 1.0 or 2.0. What does that mean? I remember connecting via ethernet and when only a few people had email addresses. I recognize that things have progressed since 1994. The idea of technology as generational or having newer versions--this is not a new concept for me. And yet, I have never understood where Web 1.0 ended and 2.0 began. And now we are on 3.0!
Rather than educate myself on the topic (who has time to educate themselves on anything not directly related to what you're currently working on anyway?), I chose the path of nodding my head knowingly and/or diverting the topic of conversation to something cute or infuriating my kids did (works almost every time). But now, thanks to this class, I know what Web 2.0 is. Makes sense. 1.0 = connecting computers, making technology more efficient for computers. 2.0 = connecting people, making technology more efficient for people. Got it.

So now, what is 3.0? I'll have to look into that. In my free time that is. Step 1: get some free time.

9/17/09--Did you know?

Abby

I liked the "Did you know" trivia today--it made the class rather interesting, and I learned some trivia that I can try to stump my husband with (which is hard to do because he knows a lot of weird stuff).

I learned more about computer technology, something that tends to elude me. An analogy for the computer was used that referred to the operating system as the guts of the body and the middleware software as the plumbing in the house. The individual analogies made sense, but I think it would make more sense if the same analogy was used for each part (just the human body or just a house).

During the "Next 5 in 5" section of class, one of the up-and-coming technologies was the idea of being able to have a 'crystal ball'-like view of one's health--being able to get a DNA mark-up for just $200 that allows you to know what to expect for your future health. I definitely have a difficult time with this. One of my daughters has an undiagnosed genetic syndrome, according to her geneticist. From the moment she was born, Abby has seen many doctors in numerous specialties because they are oh-so-careful to make sure they don't miss anything with her health since they don't know what she has. If her geneticist was able to identify what Abby has, there would be less ambiguity and her health care costs would be reduced (and we'd have more time) because we wouldn't have to have every test known to man done on her "just in case". I'm not sure if all of the tests are necessary--most of them are done to rule things out. But even the ones that I think aren't necessary we usually have them do, because I don't want them to miss anything either. I would be ecstatic if this 'crystal ball' came to be, I can see the benefits to it. But having experienced the wait (several times) to hear the results of a chromosome study only to find out that they are inconclusive, it's hard to imagine this coming to light in only a few years.

9/15/09--Outsourcing in North Dakota

I've never thought of North Dakota as a mecca of outsourcing. The idea of global being "not mine" is a new way of looking at outsourcing for me. I actually hadn't put much thought into outsourcing prior to the class assignment. To me, outsourcing meant having part of the work of an organization outsourced to India or China. The idea of it being a source of competitive advantage had never occurred to me.

I still have a hard time thinking of global meaning just "not me". If the work is still being done in the U.S., it doesn't seem 'global' to me. The term global has an international connotation for me. But it's something to think about.

Class #2--9/10/09

Class was all about whether or not you are valuable in an organization. We covered competencies that a person needs to have in order to have a meaningful, valuable interaction between two parties that are working together. I think this benefits the class in that it gets us thinking about what each of us brings to the table and what areas to work on in order to be successful in our careers.

For much of the class, I had a difficult time understanding how this topic relates to a class on information technology. After a little thought, however, I realize that it comes down to the ultimate "motto" of the class that it is the integration of business and technology that drives innovation.

One of the most important parts of business is understanding what everyone brings to the table. What are my competencies? What are the competencies of my co-workers? What are the competencies of my business? How can all of these things be brought together to provide the most value to my business, my customers' businesses, and my partners' businesses. Understanding these things and cultivating the right personal competencies can help me to be successful in business. I'm assuming that future classes will help me to understand the technology side of things as well, so that I can ultimately put the two together to drive innovation.

September 8, 2009 Class

What did I learn today? If nothing else, I now have burned in my brain that it is "the integration of business and technology that drives innovation".

Honestly, prior to this first class, I had no idea what the purpose of this course was and this is what clarified it for me. It also served to pique my interest. So there it is, my interest is piqued.

I think it is interesting to start the class with the question "what makes me special?" It seems like such an innocent question, but it can be difficult to answer. On a personal level, I feel special because I am the mother of two wonderful 19 month old girls and I have managed to be pregnant with them, give birth, and raise them all while in school getting my MBA. I feel special because I am balancing a lot and I think I am doing it successfully. But I have help from my husband, our parents, our siblings, and our friends. So am I really special when I'm not doing it 100% by myself?

On a professional level, this question can be even more difficult to answer. What I think makes me special might be a common attribute in the places I wish to work. And I find it difficult to sell myself when I believe that I am at the beginning of my career and still have much to learn, particularly because I am a career-switcher. What makes me special in one industry might not be useful in another. So I'm glad we started with that question. It's gotten me thinking about how I can add value once I graduate--a good thing to be thinking about now that it is recruiting season.