Women are Better HR Managers

Women HR managers now a days are more empathetic in order to promote unity, harmony, and oneness in the workplace. And these techniques are very helpful to bridge the gaps between management personnel and employees.

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vLearning : Is the future of online education a 3D virtual classroom?

The technology that powers massive multi-player games such as Second Life is becoming a platform for distance education courses. Some educators see taking cues from the video gaming world as a way to increase communication between students and instructors in online courses.

"Internet synchronicity is one of the most effective ways of learning."

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HR Technology : Unifying Your Enterprise

With a Global HR Portal, HR can enhance the adoption and value of a global solution. Employee self-service has well-proven benefits to businessin particular, better service to employees while cutting down on HRs workload.

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Future of Software Development Is Here. Are You Ready?

With Web 3.0, the exponential increase of Internet-enabled mobile devices, and adoption of cloud computing technologies, an increasing number of applications are being pushed on the Web. In the future, the Web will be considered the most important medium for any kind of communication, commerce, and context-driven collaboration and for use of any kind of automated services (the consumption part of IT services). Web 3.0, mobile technologies, and cloud computing will together evolve as complementary trends that support each other’s growth.

The future of IT will be cloud computing, or software applications delivered and consumed through Web browsers. The concept of packaged software is old now and will be replaced by applications accessible through the Web. The ubiquitous nature of the Internet has produced more informed users, and this factor acts as a driver for frequently changing demands for services, thereby laying the foundation for an uncertain long-term landscape for businesses.

The easy access to setup IT infrastructure through cloud stack and frequently changing demands for more services and products open up a lot of entrepreneurial opportunities. Because in the future we will see various mobile devices as the main access points for the Web, whether it is for commerce, communication, or context, many aspiring entrepreneurs will have to gain technical knowledge, too. The future is for tech entrepreneurs.

What does this imply for software development activities?

For one, the very nature of the way IT is delivered and consumed has undergone a drastic change thanks to cloud computing, which demands that developers be ready for swift and efficient software development activities. This scenario requires software developers to seriously consider the following:

Be agile

The most popular approach to software development, the waterfall approach, is becoming redundant. The future demand for IT consumption and the frequently changing features requirements will need developers to go for agile methodologies. Agile methodologies have evolved out of the need to deliver superior software quality and and have the ability to easily incorporate frequent changes in software requirements. They are sophisticated evolutions of software development processes and facilitate multifaceted software development. Agile methodologies have proven that organizations can achieve hyper-productivity in teams and deliver superior results.

Adopt hosted ALM and SDLC management tools

It will not help to shy away from hosted application services such as SaaS-based ALM and SDLC management tools just because of the perceived security threats of the cloud stack. Many ALM and SDLC management tools are evolving, weaving intelligence, automation and integration into the SDLC process to increase developer productivity and reduce the time to market.

Master more than one programming language

As the mobile culture and adoption of cloud computing expand, the concept of interoperability of applications will gain in importance. Developers will need to have the understanding of interoperability of applications and platforms and the knowledge of developing applications for different access points such as laptop PCs, smartphones, tablet PCs or all three. Because the Web will be the interface for consuming IT services for many users, it will be very important for developers to have a core understanding of working with Web technologies as well.

Master mobile technology

Use of Internet-enabled mobile devices will surpass the use of desktop and laptop PCs. Communication and commerce are all set to increase through increased use of mobile devices in the coming years. According to a report by Reportlinker, mobile commerce is expected to reach $10 billion by the end of 2013. Providing accessibility of applications via mobile browsers will become highly essential. Developers will need to have hands-on knowledge about working on mobile platforms such as Android, iOS, Blackberry OS, and Windows Mobile, as well as with mobile IDEs.

If as a developer and/or a wannabe entrepreneur, you are not ready with the above skills and knowledge, you may face tough times in the coming years.

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Women are Better HR Managers

Bangalore: One of the most fascinating questions of the corporate world, Are really women's better managers than men's...? The answers infact to some extent could be a yes! Women do have a hold upper hand as compared to men in this field.

Women HR managers now a days are more empathetic in order to promote unity, harmony, and oneness in the workplace. And these techniques are very helpful to bridge the gaps between management personnel and employees. Due to this many organizations are moving away from rigid hierarchies and accepting the democratic model that female HR managers have popularized. This has caused a drastic change in the way of thinking of the corporate world in the past few decades. And both the female and male must continue to work in the same criteria to ensure that the corporate environment truly fosters equality as illustrated by Gitanjali Hazarika.

We can take a few examples of womens who can't be doubted as they are the true leaders. Few names like Pratibha Patil, Indira Gandhi who has managed the country so well. Also we have Chanda Kocchar and Naina Lal Kidwai whose inspiring stories motivate us. Indra Nooyi, the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo ranked as the most powerful woman in business in 2009 and 2010 by Fortune magazine.

Well women's over the periods have proved many times that they are not only good at managing their home but they can also manage an organization very well. Hence proved, that the choice should be made based on the responsibility of management skills, situation, the kind of job, etc rather than sex.

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vLearning : Is the future of online education a 3D virtual classroom?

Imagine walking into a college classroom, it's your first class at this new campus, Psychology 101. You choose a desk, sit down next to a friendly looking student and ask them where they're from and a conversation begins. After a few minutes, your professor walks in to start the lecture and you both face her, ready to take notes. There's just one aspect of this classroom that's unusual - it's virtual. Your avatar, an animated character you have created, represents you on a computer screen, appearing within a computer-generated environment. You are talking to other students' avatars and interacting with the professor's avatar. The classroom is a graphic rendering of three-dimensional space in which your avatar can move and gesture, even speak. This is vLearning.

The technology that powers massive multi-player games such as Second Life is becoming a platform for distance education courses. Some educators see taking cues from the video gaming world as a way to increase communication between students and instructors in online courses. "As educators, we've realized the potential power of video games in education," said Leonard Annetta, North Carolina State University professor and co-author of V-Learning: Distance Education in the 21st Century Through 3D Virtual Learning Environments. "Internet synchronicity is one of the most effective ways of learning."

While the technology for Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) has existed in some form for 20 years, it has only recently gained acceptance in postsecondary institutions within the past four to five years. A 2009 study that appeared in the Journal of Further and Higher Education found that the increased interaction between classmates and instructors in virtual classrooms helped students become more involved in the coursework and made it easier for them to comprehend the material and ask for help. The study found this to be particularly true for students who have a difficult time engaging in face-to-face discussions, but who will ask questions freely and contribute to live debates in a virtual classroom. This engagement in class activities not only leads to greater comprehension, it gives students a sense of belonging in the class that contributes to a higher retention rate.

As administrators recognize the potential for MUVEs in education, more schools are beginning to incorporate these immersive 3D worlds, also called "vLearning" platforms, which engage students more fully in the learning process. A 2007 report by the National Center for Education Statistics found that 31 percent of postsecondary schools in the United States used simultaneous and real-time virtual learning platforms either moderately or to a large extent. This is particularly true in public, 4-year institutions, where virtual learning environments are utilized in 42 percent of schools nationwide.

vLearning Platforms

dministrators that wish to implement virtual learning environments in their institutions have the option to create their own vLearning platform, or to utilize an existing platform such as Second Life. However, because many of the virtual words available weren't created specifically for the education sector, they often lack important resources. To address some of these shortcomings, the Great Northern Way Campus in Vancouver, Canada built their own virtual learning environment called Great Northern World.

These customizable experiences include all of the structured classroom activities that students participate in while in the vLearning environment, whether it is a scavenger hunt that explores class concepts or a role-play activity that gives students a chance to practice learned skills in simulated real-world environments. "It is in these areas that customizing virtual environments have the most pedagogical power."

Learning in a Virtual World

In the online meeting space, instructors can give real-time lectures, moderate student discussions and give assignments - just as they would in a brick-and-mortar classroom. The flexibility provided by virtual learning environments makes it possible for instructors to create a plethora of class activities that may not be possible in an on-campus class. In this virtual space, interactive design students can work together to create 3D digital elements, psychology and sociology students can participate in role-play activities to enhance their communication and counseling skills, and planetary science students can work together in virtual space missions. The possibilities for such cyber-activities are virtually endless and are limited only the be instructor's imagination.

In many cases, there is a specific time and place that students attend class - but rather than walking across campus, they need only find an Internet connection where they can login. After class, students can visit the virtual classroom whenever they want to go over lecture notes, re-visit assignments or meet with an instructor for a tutoring session.

Real-World Application

In an April 2009 study titled Pedagogy, Education and Innovation in 3-D Virtual Worlds, researchers measured the effectiveness of using a 3D virtual classroom as part of a master's degree course in counseling. The study set out to determine whether the ability to participate in real-time activities would help develop students' communication skills- a critical component of counseling education that is lacking in traditional e-learning platforms. According to the study, "3D virtual environments such as Second Life offer counseling educators the opportunity to provide immersive simulated environments for their students to develop and practice their skills. By using Second Life, instructors are able to create learning activities which emulate learning experiences that students may have otherwise only had by means of face-to-face interaction."

Learning activities included the creation of virtual counseling facilities and avatars acting as mentally-ill patients that students could counsel virtually. The facility had three floors and numerous counseling rooms that were appropriately outfitted with couches, chairs and even decorative art on the walls.

Most of the students participating in the research study believed that the coursework was equal to that of a brick and mortar classroom, and many appreciated the real-time counseling exercises that allowed them to "treat" patients in a virtual classroom setting. Interestingly, many of the participating students did not feel that using the 3D environment dramatically improved their learning experience, yet one participating student stated that "the abilities to gesture, communicate, and to take on a character and simulating the clinical setting were very helpful and have great potential."

The Future of vLearning in Higher Education

As students become more and more technologically advanced and dependent on computers, Annetta predicts that vLearning will become a mainstream method of delivering postsecondary courses and earning degrees. In fact, he believes that those in the millennial generation will prefer vLearning environments to brick and mortar classrooms.

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Logitech's Solar Keyboard Folio for the iPad: Sun-powered typing

Where green meets convenience: Logitech's latest iPad accessory ditches the USB charger for solar energy.

Logitech's been on a roll with its well-made keyboard accessories for the iPad (the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is one of my favorites), but there's one big problem with all these accessories: they need their own USB charging cables.

Logitech's just-announced Solar Keyboard Folio adds a clever twist to the crowded iPad keyboard case market by introducing a solar charger. Better yet, the case doesn't look clunky.

The flexible folio-style case orients to two different angles: one for typing, and one for media viewing at an angle, which covers up all keys except for a row of media-oriented controls on the bottom. Magnets will automatically wake and sleep an iPad 2 or third-gen iPad, just like the Smart Cover and an increasing number of cases and

Logitech claims that, on a full charge, the Solar Keyboard Folio's Bluetooth keyboard will last an astonishing two years when typing 2 hours a day.

The Solar Keyboard Folio is currently available for preorder and costs $130. Based on the description it certainly sounds promising.

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HR Technology: Unifying Your Enterprise

With a Global HR Portal, HR can enhance the adoption and value of a global solution.

Employee self-service has well-proven benefits to businessin particular, better service to employees while cutting down on HRs workload. And the best way to deliver HR services is through an employee portal that gives workers single sign-on access to all services.

Many companies have an HR portal covering their operations in a single country, establishing a portal for a truly global organization presents a unique set of challenges. But for those employers that master the task of designing and deploying a global HR portal, the rewards for employees and the enterprise can be great.

1. Think Globally, Plan Carefully

Creating a successful portal starts with processes, not technology. Most portal software contains far more features than a customer needs. The question is how to merge technology and processes in order to meet business goals. When it comes to developing a global HR portal, there is a distinct difference between meeting the HR needs of a multinational firm and one that operates globally.

The notion of a global organization is one that has programs and activities that require some degree of consistency across the globe, says Joe Loya, a consultant with global HR firm Mercer HR in Norwalk, Conn. An organization that might operate locally in many countries is not global; global is those organizations where broad and consistent communications are valued.

These distinctions manifest in several ways: culture, language, content, services, regulations and support. And all of these factors need to be considered when developing a global portal. One of the most obvious is, of course, making sure the content on the portal is in the language that employees speak. Setting a language strategy for the portal (English only, some local language, etc.) is a critical success factor, but not the only one to be considered. Some decisions reflect more-subtle differences in how a global workforce operates.

You need to think globally but remember local culture and customs, says Fittinghoff. I have heard of instances where color choices and graphics accepted in one geography can be offending in another location.

In addition to design and content, cultural issues can affect work processes as well. According to Loya, people process information or socialize information somewhat differently depending on where they are in the world. Some deal very much by consensus, for example, in contrast to the command-and-control organizations that exist in other parts of the globe. In setting up a global portal, a company needs to ensure that the processes and content are relevant to the employees around the world, which may require setting up country-specific aspects within the global portal.

The definition or the perception of what is important to the individual and the organization will vary based on local programs, culture, language and so forth, says Loya. For example, in the compensation and benefits world, the notion of ownership and equity is very important to a large part of the U.S. market, and to a degree in parts of Europe. But in other parts of the world, equity is not a performance driver for the workforce. Whatever compensation philosophy the company selects must be reflected in its portal.

In addition, divergent regulatory and governmental structures affect not only what can be offered in a particular country, but also what employees need from an HR portal. Health care, for example, is a big issue for U.S. HR departments, but in many other areas it is provided by the government. Putting open enrollment features on a global portal wouldnt be appropriate for employees in countries that have a nationalized health care system.

In the United States, a lot of the focus and the cost of a global HR portal is around ensuring the employees make health care decisions, have the right information and modeling tools, and do the election every year, says Michael Rudnick, global portal and intranet practice leader for Washington, D.C.-based human capital consulting firm Watson Wyatt. Outside the United States, there is much more of a focus on manager self-service and performance management.

While a well-developed portal has a full array of services, in practice, services are rolled out gradually. Since health care is a major administrative responsibility for employers in the United States, arranging self-service in this area early can lighten HRs and managers workload.

Local regulations regarding taxes and privacy can also affect global portals. For example, the European Unions Data Privacy Directive restricts the types of data that can be collected and stored, and to whom they can be transmitted. A multinational company with some offices in Germany, for example, may have to store all the data on German employees on servers in Germany and block access to employees in other parts of the world.

There is also the challenge of providing 24/7 support for the equipment and users, since support staff will need to be available around the clock, not just during the business hours of a single country.

2. Learn from Big Blue

The 5 major content areas by IBM are :

1. Timely topics HR management feature stories, business-related articles and HR policy change information.
2. Find it fast Links to HR staff, HR phone lists and contact information, and manager forms.
3. Work with your employees Tools for reviewing/updating/changing employee work information, performance reviews, salary and compensation, promotions and transfers, awards, and individual development plans.
4. Act now! An alert mechanism for business deadlines or key HR actions.
5. Manager resources Checklists for hiring or transferring employees, links to key HR policies, job postings, expense reimbursement, travel, asset management, career development and learning.

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