[www.keralites.net] 5 Tips for Building a Work Breakdown Structure

 

 

 

 

Author: Tom Mochal

 

A work breakdown structure (WBS) is the best way to understand the detailed work of a project when you have to build a schedule from scratch. It lets you break the project down into the major phases, deliverables, and work components that will be built by the project. You can then break down these work components into the activities that are required to build them. The WBS is not the same as the final schedule (which requires sequencing, resources, estimated effort, estimated duration, etc.). Here are five tips to keep in mind when building your WBS.

 

1: Create a WBS dictionary for large projects
Normally, you wouldn't need a WBS dictionary. But if your WBS has hundreds (or thousands) of detailed activities, there may just be too much to keep track of by hand. In this case, it might make sense to place all the important information in a WBS dictionary. The dictionary helps keep track of all of the summary and detailed activities, including a short description, the WBS numeric identifier (1.1, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, etc.), and the estimated effort. If you enter your WBS dictionary into a specialized tool, the tool can also help to keep track of changes to the WBS as well.

2: Use the summary activities as milestones
Your WBS should contain both detailed and summary activities. (A summary activity is one that is broken down further; a detailed activity is one that is not broken down further.) Although a schedule usually includes only detailed activities, it makes sense to include the summary activities as milestones (i.e., markers signifying that a deliverable or set of deliverables is complete). A summary activity can be used as a milestone since it would indicate that all of the underlying detailed work has been completed.

3: Break activities into two or more detailed activities
I've seen teams that break one activity in the WBS into only one activity at the next level. In my opinion, this doesn't make sense because then the detailed activity represents the same work as the prior summary activity. This doesn't buy you anything.

4: Make the final detailed activities action oriented
The detailed activities on your WBS (the ones that are not broken down further) are ultimately moved to your schedule. For that reason, it's easier if the detailed activities in your WBS are action oriented — just as activities in your schedule would be. For example, instead of describing a detailed WBS activity as "meeting," you should state it as "schedule a weekly meeting." Instead of having a WBS detailed activity for "Testing Plan," you should state it instead as "Create Testing Plan." In this way, the detailed activities can be moved to the schedule with a minimum of wording changes.

5: Don't place requirements on the WBS
If you place a deliverable on your WBS, you can break this deliverable down into the activities that are required to create it. You don't break a deliverable down into the requirements that describe it. Requirements do not belong on a WBS. Only deliverables and activities belong on the WBS.

 

Junaid Tahir 
www.DailyTenMinutes.com

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Posted by: Junaid Tahir <mjunaidtahir@gmail.com>

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[www.keralites.net] 8 Points to Remember for Job Interview

 

I've interviewed thousands of people for jobs ranging from entry-level to executive. Easily three-fourths of the candidates made basic interviewing mistakes.

Did I still hire some of them? Absolutely... but never count on your qualifications and experience to outweigh a bad interview.

Here are eight practical ways to shine:

1. Be likable. Obvious? And critical. Making a great first impression and establishing a real connection is everything. Smile, make eye contact, be enthusiastic, sit forward in your chair, use the interviewer's name.... Be yourself, but be the best version of yourself you possibly can. We all want to work with people we like and who like us. Use that basic fact to your advantage. Few candidates do.
2. Never start the interview by saying you want the job. Why? Because you don't know yet. False commitment is, well, false. Instead...
3. Ask questions about what really matters to you. (Here are five questions great job candidates ask.) Focus on making sure the job is a good fit: Who you will work with, who you will report in to, the scope of responsibilities, etc. Interviews should always be two-way, and interviewers respond positively to people as eager as they are to find the right fit. Plus there's really no other way to know you want the job. And don't be afraid to ask several questions. As long as you don't take completely take over, the interviewer will enjoy and remember a nice change of pace.
4. Set a hook. A sad truth of interviewing is that later we often don't remember a tremendous amount about you -- especially if we've interviewed a number of candidates for the same position. Later we might refer to you as, "The guy with the alligator briefcase," or, "The lady who did a Tough Mudder," or, "The guy who grew up in Panama." Sometimes you may be identified by hooks, so use that to your advantage. Your hook could be clothing (within reason), or an outside interest, or an unusual fact about your upbringing or career. Hooks make you memorable and create an anchor for interviewers to remember you by -- and being memorable is everything.
5. Know what you can offer immediately. Researching the company is a given; go a step farther and find a way you can hit the ground running or contribute to a critical area. If you have a specific technical skill, show how it can be leveraged immediately. But don't say, for example, "I would love to be in charge of revamping your social media marketing." One, that's fairly presumptuous, and two, someone may already be in charge. Instead, share details regarding your skills and say you would love to work with that team. If there is no team, great -- you may be put in charge. If there is a team you haven't stepped on any toes or come across as pushy. Just think about what makes you special and show the benefits to the company. The interviewer will be smart enough to recognize how the project you bring can be used.
6. Don't create negative sound bites. Interviewers will only remember a few sound bites, especially negative ones. If you've never been in charge of training, don't say, "I've never been in charge of training." Say, "I did not fill that specific role, but I have trained dozens of new hires and created several training guides." Basically, never say, "I can't," or "I haven't," or "I don't." Share applicable experience and find the positives in what you have done. No matter what the subject, be positive: Even your worst mistake can be your best learning experience.
7. Ask for the job based on facts. By the end of the interview you should have a good sense of whether you want the job. If you need more information, say so. Otherwise use your sales skills and ask for the job. (Don't worry; we like when you ask.) Focus on specific aspects of the job: Explain you work best with teams, or thrive in unsupervised roles, or get energized by frequent travel.... Ask for the job and use facts to prove you want it -- and deserve it.
8. Reinforce a connection with your follow-up. Email follow-ups are fine; handwritten notes are better; following up based on something you learned during the interview is best: An email including additional information you were asked to provide, or a link to a subject you discussed (whether business or personal.) The better the interview -- and more closely you listened -- the easier it will be to think of ways you can make following up seem natural and unforced. And make sure you say thanks -- never underestimate the power of gratitude.

Source: Inc

Junaid Tahir 
www.DailyTenMinutes.com

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Posted by: Junaid Tahir <mjunaidtahir@gmail.com>

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[www.keralites.net] Amazing story of an IITian ( Manu Prakash, IIT Kanpur ) who invented a $1 microscope!

 

Amazing story of an IITian ( Manu Prakash,  IIT Kanpur  )  who invented a $1 microscope! :- remarkable invention: a diagnostic microscope that costs less than a dollar and which can be printed and folded from a single sheet of paper, like in origami.

Announced earlier this year, Foldscope has grabbed the attention of the scientific community around the world. Prakash was the recipient of a $100,000-grant from the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation while it was being developed.

 

Prakash, who did his masters and doctorate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology after his computer science engineering degree from IIT.

 

Fortunately, Prakash has given a TED talk where he explains how the Foldscope works, and it looks quite incredible - it can actually be folded out from a single sheet of paper, needs no external power, fits into your pocket, and can survive being dropped from a multi-storey building or being stamped on vigorously, as the researcher with a mop of unruly curls seems delighted to demonstrate. 

 

The current version of the Foldscope gives you a 2000x magnification with a sub-micron resolution. A bacteria is around one micron, so if you just want to see whether the bacteria is present or not, the instruments are good enough, he explains. Field trials are being run for diagnosing different diseases in various locations, such as malaria in Ghana. 

 

Most diagnostic field trials take a long time but once the validation is done, distribution and use will be scaled up, he says. PrakashLab is also in talks with an organisation in south India. 

Full article in the link below

http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-special-amazing-story-of-an-iitian-who-invented-a-1-microscope/20140712.htm#1

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Posted by: Ravi Narasimhan <ravi.narasimhan.in@gmail.com>

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[www.keralites.net] Khuda Ki Azmatein Kya Hai

 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Assalam Alaikum Wa Rahmath Ullahi Wa Barkatahu 

Khuda Ki Azmatein Kya Hai
Muhammad Mustafa (S.A.W) Jaane
Maqam E Mustafa Kya Hai
Muhammad (S.A.W) Ka Khuda Jaane
Sada Karna Mere Bas Me Thi
Meine Toh Sadaa Kardia

 

Woh Kya Denge Main Kya Loungi
Saqi Jaane Gada Jaane
Kaha Jibraeil Ne
Sijara Taalak Meri Rasaai Thi
Hain Kitni Manzilein Aage
Nabi Jaane Khuda Jaane
Madine Ki Haazri Ki

 

Maangte Rehna Dua Dosto
Asar Hoga Nahi Hoga
Nabi Jaane Dua Jaane
Humein Toh Surquru Hona Hai
Aaqa Ki Nigahoun Mein
Zamane Ka Hai Kya Ruby
Bhala Jaane Bura Jaane


 

 

Come out of your dreams Morning has broken 

click enjoy morning song 

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Posted by: Murli dhar Gupta <mdguptabpl@gmail.com>

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