SODEVE

I received a call from Mr. Karthy today few days back. He was telling me that there is a new job opening for Coldfusion programmer. I politely declined the invitation and promised him that I will refer to him in case any friend of mine is looking for job as Coldfusion programmer.

From my very limited and narrow point of view, it seems there is a scarcity of Coldfusion programmers in Singapore. It seems that not many people are banking their option on Coldfusion. I guess everyone here are jumping bandwagon to become either .NET developer, or Java developer.

Although I can’t really say that Coldfusion is old technology since the underlaying technology is Java. But I can make a case where Coldfusion as a niche technology (at least here in Singapore ^_^). Do you think it’s OK to jump bandwagon?

I think it’s quite humane. Java and .NET combined, provide bigger number of jobs. So people would assume that .NET and Java are the safest bet to get employed. And it’s normal human behaviour to be afraid of uncertainty, and pursue something with more certain possibility.

On the other hand, looking at JobsDB.com, actually many positions are offered for RPG programmers, COBOL, and the offered salary is always above the mainstream programmer. In a discussion over lunch, a senior colleague advises me that the back-end processing of banking/financial industry is still using RPG on AS400. I argued that they are just contemplating between the costs and the benefits of upgrading to more modern system. I told him the story from my previous work place which uses COBOL on AS/400 for their purchasing system. During my tenure there, at one time, there was a team from head-quarter visiting the office, evaluating the infrastructure. When I queried the team leader, he said that starting on June next year (it means this year), all system will be replaced with .NET Smart Application. The application will connect all aspects of the company, purchasing, operation, finance, and human resource. All in one package. So it seems everyone sooner or later will move on to the new technology.

Now, my questions are, if you are working in those niche industry, will you stay and keep on receiving higher salary than the average .NET/Java programmers? Do you have any backup plan once your company decided to move on? I believe it would be interesting experience to share.

Hardono Arifanto :: May.15.2007 :: Business & Management :: 3 Comments »

I was absent from blogging for quite some time. The main reason would be my new job at NTUC Income. As of this month, I am working there as a Software Developer.

Let’s not dwell on my personal excuse (^_^)_v for not blogging. During the first day orientation in my new workplace, there was this session which the new staffs are lectured on the Cooperative values and principle. Initially, when I looked at the orientation schedule, I thought this session will be a session about working with colleagues, how to interact to other employees and Teamwork (thanks to my miserable English (T_T), I totally mistranslated Cooperative ). To my surprise, it was about the philosophical and historical lecture about NTUC Income. I was shocked and happy at the same time, knowing that my company is a Cooperative, or we Indonesians call it ‘Koperasi’.

While the lecturer was explaining the cooperative values and the history of NTUC Income, my mind wandered remembering my Elementary and Secondary school time, which was the time when I was introduced to the concept of Cooperatives as the Backbone of Indonesian Economy (’Koperasi sebagai Soko Guru pembangunan Ekonomi Indonesia’, CMMIW).

Although the concept of Cooperative is good and definitely suitable for Indonesia as most of its citizens are in the middle and lower class. I somehow become pessimistic with it. Mainly due to my own experience of the rise and fall of many Cooperatives in Indonesia. And partly due to the practice of corruption which is prominent in Indonesia.

As the Lecturer continued discussing about the cooperative values and history of NTUC Income, I feel like I was inhaling a fresh air, a very fresh one. The success story of NTUC Income, which was started in 1970 with a mere capital of SGD$1.2M and 14 part time staffs, growing and expanding, now become a huge enterprise with 1440 staffs, and asset of SGD$18 Billions, is an inspiration for me to believe again in the concept of Cooperative.

I have a really good feeling that I will love my new job dearly. Or as my Singaporean friend say ‘Die die must try to contribute …’

Hardono Arifanto :: May.05.2007 :: Business & Management :: 6 Comments »

Starting June 2007, sending unsolicited electronic message in Singapore will be charged as civil offence. The online document can be viewed here.

Summary of the Bill (please READ the online document for clarification, I might summarized it incorrectly):

1. It applies to commercial email, commercial SMS/MMS
2. It doesn’t apply to telemarketers
3. unsubscribe request is effective maximum 10 business days after the submission of the unsubscribe request
4. It applies if the SPAM committed in Singapore (sender/organization is physically reside in Singapore)
5. sending email to addresses obtained by harvesting email address in the internet is ILLEGAL
6. Buying email address list obtained by harvesting email address in the internet is also ILLEGAL
7. The damage is not to exceed SGD$25 per message, and not to exceed SGD$1 Million in total, unless the plaintiff able to show that the SPAM has caused damage more than SGD$1 Million

So in order not violating the SPAM law, the email/SMS/MMS should:

1. for email, the subject must started with “<ADV>”
2. Must have unsubscribe facility

Hopefully this article helps, If you are going to send any commercial (please refer to the document, the description is quite long) message, please make sure you are not violating the law.

PS: Hmm… although it sounds like I’m advocating the spammers, I’m not. I hate spammers.

Hardono Arifanto :: May.01.2007 :: Business & Management, News, Internet :: 1 Comment »

Copied from AsiaOne.com:

The city-state will spend up to 1.5 billion Singapore dollars (US$989 million; €727 million) on the system which is intended to standardize training, software and maintenance, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore said in a statement Thursday.

Personal computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard Co. and electronics maker NEC Corp. are leading two of the four groups expected to submit proposals for the project by its June 7 deadline, The Straits Times newspaper said. The contract will be awarded by Oct. 10, it said.

So where does that leaves the SME (Small and Medium Enterprises)? Does they have the chance to participate in the tender? Unfortunately, in order to participate in the tender, a company must have a certain amount of capital. So this is one the possible barrier for a company to participate in the tender.

So where are the tender? And what is the minimum capital required for a company to participate? Unfortunately I can’t list them here, too many of them. Check out Gebiz for the details.

Hardono Arifanto :: Apr.29.2007 :: Business & Management, News :: 4 Comments »

I will start working on this insurance company starting on 3rd of May. So here’s my take to familiarize myself with the insurance world.

Well, if you don’t have any insurance plan right now, the basic idea of which insurance to take:

1. If you are single, get the insurance that covers you more on the medical/hospital expenses
2. If you already have beneficiary (wife, children), get insurance with more on the permanent disability/death coverage

The question is, what if you get married, do you need to change your insurance plan? Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any insurance company that allows you to switch back and forth between plans. If you know one, please share it with us. Any thoughts ?

Hardono Arifanto :: Apr.29.2007 :: Business & Management :: No Comments »