The Ever Wagging Tail - Optimism of a Dog

Life in a Bag

a man not knowing his destiny was trying to escape
seeing his days and nights drearily repeating

then in a sunny day of August
he met her under the midst of dried earth dust

her smile brings something he never had seen
the words that were flowing
together with the warmth of her gaze
along with the unexplainable pleasant scent

though he is wondering
his heart could not see anything anymore
roaring her name in every single beat
and his soul declines to turn

though so, his flesh must go and depart
with a bag filled with his mission and bond
something he never cease to regret

day after night he spent in emptiness
sun and moon and stars are his only companion
wind and mist and dust are his escorts
wishing he was somewhere else

too late

two people are walking side by side
stepping into their lives hand by hand
tried to brighten the darkest memory in their heart
with the glimmering smile and deepest compassion


they part yet one


they walk under the sun and the moon and the stars
they run into the roaring sea and stand in the pouring rain
to welcome the rainbow and greet the breeze they longed


they joked and laughed
they fought and cried
they sang and smiled


together,
they made themselves complete

and knowing,
that the darkest memory has lifted

When everything I see reminds me of you
Where every spark of smile evokes yours

Et tu, Bruté? (Even you, Brutus?)
- Julius Caesar

Each betrayal begins with trust.
- Phish

I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.
- E. M. Forster

Anything may be betrayed, anyone may be forgiven, but not those who lack the courage of their own greatness.
- Ayn Rand

We have to distrust each other. It is our only defence against betrayal.
- Tennessee Wellians

You should have died! Died rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you!
- J.K. Rowling

At the Rooftop

Staring at the red sun… breath through the breeze…

Is it an over of another year?
Where are we heading?

Forward?

Where am I heading?

My Apologetic

One must not linger in their uncertainty

For the best is yet to come
Though it may reluctantly surface

I am who I am
You are who you are

We are who we are

The Past

He gazes slowly to the realm he wishes not
opened his eyes to the past
and the paths he once walked

Though he fears he might not see good morrow
he drew his feet not!

o how much the waves of the sea are rushing to the shore...

as the darkest mist wanting for the warmest light of summer...
like a dried seed hunger to meet its first rain...

'Upik Abu yang Malang'

Baru sekali ini kepikiran soal resiko pekerjaan yang rasanya kok berat banget. selama ini sih yang gue sangka resiko pekerjaan cuma sebatas pulang malem, ga makan siang, sakit, ga ada apresiasi, dan sebagainya. Tapi ternyata masih ada yang lebih dari itu ya...

Sementara kita lagi bersusah payah berusaha gimana caranya supaya target penyelesaian project bisa terpenuhi, malah temen-temen sendiri dengan semena-mena menyelenggarakan pesta tanpa ngomong-ngomong dengan kita... wah, dianggapnya apaan kali ya kita nih...?

Dalam Sebuah Perjalanan

Hari ini aku baru saja mengadiri kick-off proyek implementasi aplikasi SAP HR di sebuah bank swasta di Contrapolis. Karena mencoba untuk membiasakan dan mengenang kembali masa-masa kerjaku di Kuningan, aku memutuskan untuk berputar-putar sejenak di sekitar kawasan kantor lamaku, ternyata tidak terlalu banyak yang berubah… hanya ada sebuah gedung baru… dan satu jalur khusus bus.

Setelah puas melihat-liat, akhirnya aku memutuskan untuk mencoba jalur khusus bus itu… Di tengah perjalanan tiba-tiba di sebuah pemberhentian, masuklah beberapa orang… how should I say it?

Mereka nampaknya memang berbeda di tengah para manusia pekerja … kami, para pekerja migran yang menghabiskan separuh hidup mereka dalam perjalanan antara ladang bekerjanya dengan tempat tinggalnya…

Mereka melangkah masuk … dan mereka tertawa lepas … kami, terdiam lelah… dan bosan…

Mereka memang hidup dan terpaksa hidup dalam kegegapan Contrapolis, sedangkan kami memilih sendiri untuk datang dan mencoba menyatu dalam kekelaman Contrapolis…

Mereka menjadi terasing di antara kami para tamunya….

Kami? Kami menjadi terasing di dalam diri kami sendiri…

Cikaracak ninggang batu, laun-laun jadi dekok
Tai cakcak ninggang huntu, laun-laun dilebok

Functional Specification

Functional specification (or better known as Functional Specs) is a bridge between functional team and technical team. Mostly the functional specs denote three main things: Input, Process, and Output. Sometimes, in many cases -- especially when the application is built from the scratch -- the functional specs might turned into a missing link that leads to a disastrous development, due to a lack of valuable information given.

Since a project might have a different style in approaching a problem domain, it might turn out that each team, or even within the team member itself have a different solution or approach.

Before we move to translating the approach into functional specs documents, it is much better that every member of the team -- both functional and technical -- seat together to discus the application in general.

The objective of this discussion is to get the general idea of what this application is all about, and then what is the best approach that we can use. In the discussion we will also see each other interests and requirements, what do their users expects? Will they be expecting the same with mine?

Break Down the Process

The result of a blueprint is a global picture of the system that we are going to build. From the global picture, we then break down into smaller units or systems, to better understand the system behave. After we had break down the process, we will now have the most comprehensive picture of the system, down to the simplest process that built up a function, or an action.

Categorize

After we have all the list of process, the next step would be categorizing the process. For example we can group processes based on the event (update, new employee, etc.), or based on the data-processing

Integration

Although all the process are defined and described, we still need to look carefully and correspond to the other module, what process that share the same functionality

For example: in an ESS application, when user is to apply a new born baby. The application could simply just make one without concerning any other user requirements.

However, if we look further, the request application "should" be integrated with request for leave, medical claim, child subsidy claim, scholarship, etc.

After we have found the best approach, then we move further to a detailed functionality and logic design. Where do functions met? What are passing through the applications?

For example, in here we will find what are the common functions that can be used for most application, and what are specific for certain process.

Business Process Modeling

Regardless the methodology that we are going to use, the first step that we must undergone in system development is to understand the system itself. The system must be analyzed to give a better look at what we are currently dealing with. To help in understanding it, we need some tools that describe the system into diagram – which says more than a thousand words.

After having been using SAP for five years, currently I haven’t been able to find the best way to describe and model the business process we are dealing with and constantly looking for the best tool for it.

For a case study here, we will use our old case during collage time (2000) on Polyclinic for Medical Consultation system. Patients will register themselves at the receptionist to get the queue number for the particular clinic they want to have a consultation with. Patient’s data will be sent to doctor’s computer, so the doctor will be able to the historical data online and updates the diagnosis on the spot.

The prescription will also be updated there as well and sent to pharmacy for the patient to get the medicines, and then eventually pay the bills at cashier.

First attempt, the Flow (2000)

This methodology comprises the adoptions of structural programming concept which emphasizes on the process. The modeling might take form of a data flow diagram, entity relationship diagram, or even the oldest: flowchart.

Organization Structure

Before we start to analyze anything further, we must fully understand the nature and behavior of the organizations that involved in the system and what is their interactions with the system.

Data Flow Diagram

It is an approach to describe the information flow between entities and, literally a translation of the information system itself, an input, process, and output; and the transformation of data into information.

Pro: This modeling starts from general point-of-view and drilled down to how much details we want. And this could give us a better and faster understanding on the system we are handling.

Con: No distinct information on how the process starts from. If we want it to be detailed enough – say down to the very modules that handle specific processes – the diagram would turn into immensely huge and difficult to read.

Entity Relationship Diagram

This diagram is derived from the DFD that we have described. We use this to help us in designing the database, into a more efficient

However, if we strictly follow the normalization rules, the impact would be forming a lot of new tables and in turn it will impact the performance since a lot the query process will be more complex.

Second attempt, Unified Modeling Language (2002)

It’s based from the object-oriented concept, and guessing from the name, it looks that this methodology comprise many concepts, so it is very hard to stay in focus to the problem itself. There are too many things to do in so little time since the Blueprint Phase is usually scheduled no longer than two or three months.

Object-oriented methodology integrates the data and process into a single unit. In here we must define the class – with its attributes and methods – and how they interact with each other.

Third attempt, EPC, Modeling for ERP (2005 - 2008)

Event-Driven Processing Chain is a tool to describe the process that triggered by an action or event.

Business Process Modeling Notation

But in the end, whatever tools that you are using, it may not matter. In the end the only that will matter most to the customers is how well you understand the problem domain and their issues, and what solutions you are about to offer to them. It is a mere tool to them. I’m just looking a perfection and satisfaction in my work.

And last but not the least, in on how to deliver this information, how you present the solutions, and how you describe the situation. It is how you communicate with them. Even if you have the best pearl on earth, but if you present them around the neck of a dog, they would probably reject it.

"All roads lead to Rome."

Sebidak Kuda

Sejatinya sebidak kuda tetaplah sebidak kuda. Meski semua kotak hitam dan putih telah terisi penuh, sebidak kuda malang itu tetaplah sebidak kuda!

Meski sebidak kuda itu harus menjalani hari-harinya sebagai sebidak benteng yang menjemukan, di dalam secuil nurani terakhirnya ia tetaplah sebidak kuda!

Hingga pada suatu malam gelap, ketika batas-batas antara kotak yang satu dan lainnya menjadi kabur. Dan di masa kotak hitam dan kotak putih menjadi sama.
Sang bidak malang termangu menatap kotak-kotak di depannya. Benar-benarkah kotak itu adalah kotak yang telah dipilihnya dahulu untuk menjadi kotak hidupnya?

Sebidak kuda malang itu bertanya kepada secuil nuraninya yang tersisa. Di mana ia bisa berharap segelontor kejujuran tertuang darinya.

Mungkn ia memanglah sebidak benteng yang menjemukan, bukannya sebidak kuda yang gesit dan lincah berlari ke sana kemari! Argh!

Mungkin ia harus berpindah ke papan di sebelahnya, atau di seberang sana, atau yang di dekatnya ia berdiri juga begitu menarik, kotak-kotanya tidak tampak begitu membosankan dan berbeda dengan biasanya…

Meski di papan ini banyak kuda-kuda yang membuatnya merasa bahagia, mugkin ia memang harus pindah menuju papan lain untuk membuktikan bahwa sejatinya ia tetaplah sebidak kuda…