Computer Science Department Alumni
Matt Ziegler
Release Engineer
McKesson Practice Partner
Seattle, WA
Web site:
http://www.practicepartner.com
Professional Profile: A native of New Plymouth, ID,
Matt was a 2007 graduate of the University of Idaho having the distinction of
receiving two degrees, one a B.S. in Computer Science and the other a B.S. in
Business Information Systems. "I first became interested in computers
when I was probably about four or five. My parents purchased an Apple SE II.
For some reason I was drawn to it and from then on I was hooked on figuring
out how it worked and fixing it when it broke." While in high school
Matt did some web programming and participated in a web design team that took
16th at the 2002 national conference for Business Professionals of America.
Learning Computer Science is not only about writing
code using the latest emerging technology. You need to understand the fundamental
principles and have a solid development process to work with.
Matt's family has a University of Idaho legacy. His father received
an agricultural engineering degree and his mother received an education degree.
Currently, his younger sister is pursuing a degree. Recognizing the unique college
environment that's been created in Moscow Matt says, "I really liked the campus
and the fact that the town was based so heavily around the college. It wasn't
like any other college that I visited, where the college seemed like an after
thought."
During his time at the University of Idaho, Matt was a member of the Alpha
Kappa Lambda fraternity and served as the fraternity's treasurer for two consecutive
years. He was active in Alpha Iota Mu, the MIS honors society, and participated
in UI Highlights, later rebranded as Vandal Solutions.
Matt's dedication to obtaining two degrees meant he had to satisfy the requirements
for both degrees. "Working towards a double major was a lot of extra work,
but I believe it was worth it in the end. It broadened my horizons. Each of
the degrees complimented the other and helped to put the other in perspective.
I wanted to work towards both degrees to be able to be an intermediary between
the technology and business fields. There's a lot of potential to leveraging
technology in a business setting."
With the two degrees behind him, Matt offered these observations about how
they complement one another. "The information systems degree helps to put the
computer science degree into perspective by keeping in mind there are limitations
to what you can do that may seem artificial when looking strictly at the engineering
problem. Just because something can be done doesn't necessarily mean it will
get done. It may cost too much or not fit into the business scheme."
Considering his computer science degree Matt had some additional thoughts.
"The computer science degree offered a different point of view on solving certain
business problems. Knowing approximately how long a project would take or cost,
can help sell it to upper management." Matt also appreciated receiving an education
that was built on basic principles. "We didn't necessarily focus on just
the emerging technologies, but we did get a solid base in fundamentals so that
in the future, new technologies and methods can be learned easily."
It's important to understand how to make software
function well in a real business environment.
Reflecting on his education and personal development while at the University
of Idaho, Matt says, "[it] gave me a great overview of how to merge the complex
and specialized world of software engineering with current business practices.
The senior design courses that I went through helped me understanding that software
is an invaluable tool if produced correctly. Software development is so much
more than just coding. We have to address the things that will make the
software function well within a business. Computer Science taught me not only
how to code but also how to recognize good software and how to implement it.
My Business Information Systems courses provided me with an understanding of
how to leverage the advantages that software provides in a real business environment."
After graduation Matt accepted a position with Practice Partner, a subsidiary
of McKesson. He's part of a team developing and supporting a suite of
applications for health care providers that assist in managing patient records,
scheduling patients and doctors, and billing. His current work activities lie
within the processes and methods for implementing end-to-end software development
that leverages both the skills of developers and the accuracy and speed of automated
tools. He is heavily involved with the software build systems and installation
systems. Matt's current job requires him to work with systems in which he had
no formal education, and yet he was able to get up to speed in his new job within
just a few weeks. "I not only understood the systems, but I started to use them.
This speaks volumes for the 'learning how to learn concept' that both
University of Idaho programs taught me."
"My days at work vary greatly depending on what has happened the day or night
before and what critical issues will be worked on throughout the day. The first
thing I do is respond to emails I've received. These range from asking
questions about our build system to questions specific to the development of
new installers. If the build failed the night before I make sure that a developer
is looking at the failure and trying to fix it. This is important since it can
hold up an entire QA team from testing. Once immediate issues are addressed
I have an entire wall, well its windows, in my office that is covered with a
list of projects and things to do."
The ability to communicate and adapt to change are
keys to future success.
Matt's background in Computer Science and Information Systems is already
paying off. "I think the number one critical skill I use on a daily basis
is being able to step back and see the entire process from build to installer
to customer, and trying to make sure that every change I make will not adversely
effect the overall process and cause more work down the road. Being able to
think critically about a situation and not skip over the little details that
are easy to miss, is another thing that's vital. Communication is also very
important. I work with about 15-20 developers, 10-12 quality assurance testers,
and 4 managers. Being able to express my ideas and make sure they are
understood is extremely important. The overall skill that has helped me the
most and will continue to help me in the future is the ability to learn and
to adapt to a changing environment."
March 2008
The views expressed on this page are those of the individual being
profiled and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University
of Idaho or the employer. References to specific organizations and companies
does not constitute endorsement of their products or services by the University
of Idaho.
Copyright © 2008 University of Idaho Board of Regents
