Chris Bunk.com

Horizontal Integration in Knowledge Management can be defined as the distribution of knowledge across diverse business units. A lesson learned captured by the manufacturing group then used by someone in technical support to help solve a problem would be an example of Horizontal Integration. A corporation’s most valuable assets are its workforce and information assets. Horizontal Integration improves the value of both assets by better educating the workforce and improving the usage (i.e. value) of information.

Vertically integrated knowledge management systems, also sometimes referred to a stove piped systems, collect and disseminate information to a specific business unit up and down the chain of command. An example of vertical integration would be a system used by only the sales group that collects information about sales leads and disseminates that information to individuals throughout the chain of command.

The majority of information systems today are more vertically integrated then horizontally integrated. Reasons for this include political, technical, and financial reasons such as:

• Maintaining tighter control of who can view information.
• The system is funded by a specific business unit that does not want to spend the additional resources to disseminate information to different groups.
• Older software typically did not have the ability to easily share data with other systems without significant custom programming.
• Fear of "dirty laundry" being scene by other business sectors.

As with any KM system Technology alone will get you no where. A good approach to improve horizontal integration is to first develop scenarios or use cases detailing ways in which information can effectively be utilized between sectors. These scenarios can be used to develop requirements and also make the case to management on why improvements to the infrastructure need to be made. The rest of the development lifecycle should utilize a traditional Systems Engineering Approach however now you have new technologies in your toolbox you can leverage to implement your solution more effectively.

Posted by BunkAsInBed at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have moved again a few blocks away from my old address. My new address is
803 18th ST
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Posted by BunkAsInBed at 05:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I tried this recipe out during a recent visit back home to Connecticut. It was not that difficult, made a nice presentation, and was very tastey. This recipe was taken from www.whatscookingamerica.net

1 small fresh ripe pineapple, with leaves attached
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 mushrooms, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 sweet red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut in 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 sweet orange or yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut in 1/2-inch cubes
8 to 10 raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 tablespoons butter
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 tablespoons rum or brandy

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Using a sharp knife, cut pineapple in half lengthways from top to bottom, leaving leafy crown on each half. Leaving a 1/2-inch-thick shell, remove the core and flesh; discard core and cut half of pineapple flesh into 1/2-inch chunks (reserve remaining pineapple for another use); set aside. NOTE: Be careful not to puncture the shell of the pineapple because it will be used for serving the finished dish. Turn the empty pineapple skins upside down on a tray to drain.

Place the pineapple shells with fronds still attached on a rimmed baking sheet. Wrap pineapple tops in aluminum foil to prevent browning. Warm in the oven until ready to serve. When ready to use, Remove from oven and place on individual serving plates.

In a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat, sauté shrimp in butter for approximately 4 to 5 minutes or until shrimp have turned pink and opaque in center (cut to test). Remove from pan with a slotted spoon or spatula to a plate; set aside.

Add onion, mushrooms, and bell peppers to hot butter; sauté approximately 5 minutes or until vegetables are slightly soft. Add pineapple, shrimp, and black pepper, stirring until just warm. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, divided the pineapple mixture among the hot pineapple shells. Sprinkle lightly with shredded coconut.

In a small saucepan, heat the rum just until bubbles begin to form around the edges. Can also be heated in a microwave oven by heating 30 to 45 seconds in a microwave-proof dish at 100 percent power.

To serve, ignite warm rum with a long match. NOTE: Always ignite the fumes and not the liquid itself. Never lean over the dish or pan as your light the fumes. Using a ladle, pour flaming rum over each pineapple boat.

For additional information on how to flambé, click here.

Makes 2 servings.

Posted by BunkAsInBed at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As a someone new to surfing it is important to find decent conditions to go out in. Going out into waves that wall out and dump you every time is a good way to turn off a beginner to the sport. In Los Angeles the sites I have found the most useful to find the best conditions are:

• Swell Magnet - This is my favorite site for getting good, up to date, reliable local surf reports. They simply have people go out every morning (sometimes evening) and tell you what the conditions are first hand. They also post some good pics.
• Surfline - This is probably the biggest worldwide surf site. They have lots of extras like graphics and charts that are useful but require a subscription to their site. Their forecast and webcams are free.
• PacificWaveRider.com - This isn't my favorite site but has some good surfing pics on it.
• Wavewatch.com - This site has the best graphical way to understand the different swells coming at you. It may lack first hand forecasts but is still a site you need to check out when figuring out where to go.
• WetSand.com - This site has a pretty good overall SoCal Surf Forecast with some decent graphics for swell.
• www.oceanweather.com/ - This is a pretty good winter link. You can see the storms coming from Alaska and where the energy is going to hit.
• WannaSurf.com - This site is good to see all the different breaks in So Cal and see what they all about. I used this site to initially learn about the local scene and go back to it when there is a road trip planned to a new far off spot.

Posted by BunkAsInBed at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)