Joy == Knowing what you want, next, getting what you want because you know you want it, and finally the realization that you got what you wanted because you knew what you wanted. :)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Google Streetview comes to Atlanta
Google streetview comes to Atlanta, well now the house where I lived during my last semester at Tech is featured on Google earth, it seems like that the Google streetview car went infront of our houses at some point of time !!
The link below shows the house which I talked about earlier in this post, on Google earth.
http://tinyurl.com/63tqhr
The link below shows the house which I talked about earlier in this post, on Google earth.
http://tinyurl.com/63tqhr
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Consulting
I am not the best consultants out there but I am learning since I have been one for just the past few months, and this post is to merely draw attention to some of the things which I have learnt as with my job till now,
Some observations.
1. There will always a gap between what the client wants and between what the developer thinks he has to deliver. Here is where the PM - Project Manager comes in. A PM's job is to be a bit of the client and a bit of the developer and a bit of ... well ... duuh a PM ! :-)) He has to be the one who realizes if a client's demands are ridiculous, and suggests the same to the client, in a much more polite manner ofcourse. In a similar manner, it is a PMs responsibility to convey to the developer that client's expectations are realistic. There can be many factors which can lead to a developer being non co-operative. Sometimes, a developer may realize that what the client wants is realistic and well within his reach, but, he may think that there is no real reason for the client to demand that feature / functionality. Therefore, it is the PMs duty to not just convey what a client wants, but more importantly, if the need maybe, *why* a client desires a particular functionality.
2. Sometimes a developer can have a really big ego and same goes for a client, and it is the PM's job to make sure that the job gets done, irrespective of the sizes of the egos of the people involved !
3. A consultant has to be a good listener. One important aspect of consulting is that pretty much every client is unique. Here uniqueness is defined in terms of: type of desired deliverables, cultural difference, organizational difference, legacy, type of business, type of technology preferred, nature of people involded, and last but not the least, the additional complications which are almost always there. More often than not, consultants are called in to take care of the uniquely special doo doo that a client is in. In such cases, previously existing solutions to problems do not exist by definition, and neither do industry wide best practices to solve such problems. Therefore, a consultant has to be willing enough to get close to the problem and realize it's unique nature.
More stuff will follow ! :-)
Some observations.
1. There will always a gap between what the client wants and between what the developer thinks he has to deliver. Here is where the PM - Project Manager comes in. A PM's job is to be a bit of the client and a bit of the developer and a bit of ... well ... duuh a PM ! :-)) He has to be the one who realizes if a client's demands are ridiculous, and suggests the same to the client, in a much more polite manner ofcourse. In a similar manner, it is a PMs responsibility to convey to the developer that client's expectations are realistic. There can be many factors which can lead to a developer being non co-operative. Sometimes, a developer may realize that what the client wants is realistic and well within his reach, but, he may think that there is no real reason for the client to demand that feature / functionality. Therefore, it is the PMs duty to not just convey what a client wants, but more importantly, if the need maybe, *why* a client desires a particular functionality.
2. Sometimes a developer can have a really big ego and same goes for a client, and it is the PM's job to make sure that the job gets done, irrespective of the sizes of the egos of the people involved !
3. A consultant has to be a good listener. One important aspect of consulting is that pretty much every client is unique. Here uniqueness is defined in terms of: type of desired deliverables, cultural difference, organizational difference, legacy, type of business, type of technology preferred, nature of people involded, and last but not the least, the additional complications which are almost always there. More often than not, consultants are called in to take care of the uniquely special doo doo that a client is in. In such cases, previously existing solutions to problems do not exist by definition, and neither do industry wide best practices to solve such problems. Therefore, a consultant has to be willing enough to get close to the problem and realize it's unique nature.
More stuff will follow ! :-)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Learning
What always fascinates me is the fact that no matter what happens, you can always get to learn more about things, articles and people, whom you think you know so well. A couple of examples, from different times.
I have owned a digital camera for nearly 3 years now, and I had read through the manual for it as soon as I can. Before coming to the US, I thought I was so content with my supposed knowledge of my camera, that I thought that it is too old and too familiar, and I shouldn't keep it with me. In hindsight, it was a good decision to get it. Anyways, nearly an year after I had bought the camera, I went to a place called Brasstown Bald, supposed to be the highest point in Georgia. Afternoon changed to evening pretty fast, and before we knew it was night already. Before that day I had tried to take many pictures in night, but somehow they never came out right. Then I saw Lakshmi Anna take a picture of all of us in night mode. I saw how he switched to a different mode, and made sure that the camera had a solid base so that it could remain stabilized. I checked out the night mode icon on his camera and found exactly the same icon on my camera. Then and there I took my first night mode picture, and it was beyond my expectations ! It was such a beautiful discovery ....
Another event happened today. In the past I have often been frustrated when I have had to press a separate button after I have taken a picture, rather than the auto review mode being on by default. Well, guess what, today after 3 years of me having this camera, I randomly bumped into a deep hidden setting which can switch the default auto review mode on ....
As they say, " When the student is ready, the teacher shall come " !
I have owned a digital camera for nearly 3 years now, and I had read through the manual for it as soon as I can. Before coming to the US, I thought I was so content with my supposed knowledge of my camera, that I thought that it is too old and too familiar, and I shouldn't keep it with me. In hindsight, it was a good decision to get it. Anyways, nearly an year after I had bought the camera, I went to a place called Brasstown Bald, supposed to be the highest point in Georgia. Afternoon changed to evening pretty fast, and before we knew it was night already. Before that day I had tried to take many pictures in night, but somehow they never came out right. Then I saw Lakshmi Anna take a picture of all of us in night mode. I saw how he switched to a different mode, and made sure that the camera had a solid base so that it could remain stabilized. I checked out the night mode icon on his camera and found exactly the same icon on my camera. Then and there I took my first night mode picture, and it was beyond my expectations ! It was such a beautiful discovery ....
Another event happened today. In the past I have often been frustrated when I have had to press a separate button after I have taken a picture, rather than the auto review mode being on by default. Well, guess what, today after 3 years of me having this camera, I randomly bumped into a deep hidden setting which can switch the default auto review mode on ....
As they say, " When the student is ready, the teacher shall come " !
Friday, May 9, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
OPT Update from OIE - Application process and FAQ
04/28 webmail
On April 8th, 2008, USCIS published a new rule regarding a 17 monthextension of Optional Practical Training for F-1 students. Certain studentswho are currently participating in their 12 months of post-completion OPTwill be allowed to file for an additional 17 months of OPT, taking their total allocation to 29 months.
To request an I-20 recommending the 17-Monthextension click here
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/optextension/
17 month OPT extension application instructions
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/Instructions%20for%2017%20month%20STEM%20extension.pdf
You can also check the 17 month OPT extension Frequently Asked Questionsthat includes information on application eligibility. 17-Month Extension FAQs.
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/OPT_17_month_extension%20FAQs.pdf
On April 8th, 2008, USCIS published a new rule regarding a 17 monthextension of Optional Practical Training for F-1 students. Certain studentswho are currently participating in their 12 months of post-completion OPTwill be allowed to file for an additional 17 months of OPT, taking their total allocation to 29 months.
To request an I-20 recommending the 17-Monthextension click here
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/optextension/
17 month OPT extension application instructions
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/Instructions%20for%2017%20month%20STEM%20extension.pdf
You can also check the 17 month OPT extension Frequently Asked Questionsthat includes information on application eligibility. 17-Month Extension FAQs.
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/OPT_17_month_extension%20FAQs.pdf
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