Module 2

Workflow software automates many functions and tasks in a process. I work for a company by the name of JourneyTEAM. In this company we sell and customize Microsoft business solutions. We have many functioning workflows throughout our business. While working at this company I was able to create a website that contains multiple contact forms. One of our main sources of new client leads comes from these website forms. When these forms are submitted, three things happen. First, an email is sent to all the members of the sales team. Second, the fields from the forms are integrated into our marketing software. In this software is a database of all our new and existing customers with information pertaining to each one. The form fields on the contact pages of our website have a matching field in the marketing program. Now the individual who filled out the form is in our system and we can now see the resulting progress and relationship with the new customer. Third, the customer’s browser sends them to a verification page stating whether their form was successfully submitted or is in need of more information.

Without this workflow, valuable time and interaction with the customer would be lost. Not only is time saved by having a workflow that automatically feeds data into our programs and multiple emails, it is also saved by having a simple and efficient way of referring back to clients for the remaining extent of the partnership. Time that was spent entering data into our marketing software can now be spent communicating and collaborating with the new client and other existing clients. This workflow doesn’t only help by saving time it also ensures that customer information is not lost or held up in the mix of other coworker’s tasks.

Open source software is software developed by a community of programmers, testers, and simply users. The Programmer first creates a program and posts the code in the public domain for anybody to download and view. All though open source software is free it comes with a couple ethics of courtesy. To name one, when a user downloads the software and makes improvements, the upgrades may be posted for use, but the software must remain free. According to Friedman withholding code is considered gauche. Friedman goes on to explain the primary goal of the free software movement is to get as many people as possible writing, improving and distributing software for free.

Microsoft and other companies like Adobe that create commercial software have taken a blow from the open source community. Instead of buying five-hundred dollar software, people can now download free open source software that comes considerably close to replicating the same functions. This free software also serves as a kick start, as companies can then develop customized solutions for open source software that can streamline and make improvements which can then be sold for company profit. Many people ask why someone would spend all this time programming for no financial benefit, but when programming is something the creators love all the free coding is worth it, and half the time the software is created due to a programmers need.

When a company decides to outsource, they are contracting out labor and goods overseas. The main reasons companies turn to outsourcing is for cheaper labor and an increased 24/7 workforce. During the Y2K scare, skilled workers were required to fix the internal clocks that could only read six digits instead of eight. This task was so large that not only one nation could swallow the responsibility and work that was at hand. Outsourcing to India’s skilled technicians was the most reasonable answer to solve this dilemma. Earlier in the book, Friedman states the importance of outsourcing in the medicinal field. Doctors in the United States diagnose so many patients that they cannot spend their entire time looking at the resulting accumulated x-rays. This is where outsourcing comes to play. Digital images are sent to doctors in India who take a look at x-rays and send back their diagnosis. This was a brilliant idea. Even though waiting in a doctor’s office can be ridiculously long now results have a chance of returning in a timelier manner.