Companies large and small are continuing to seek out new ways to maximize their technology investments to drive new business and lower costs. Over the last 18 months companies have executed numerous plans to reduce cost and maximize efficiency, and in many cases this led to an increased focus on technology. However, technology itself is not cheap either.
With an increase in the development (and use) of software to help save costs and increase productivity, the development cycle has been heating up at organizations coast to coast. But the multitude of platforms and environments organizations need to support are leading to new cost concerns. The fact is, testing software applications or products that support multiple active versions and/or multiple operating systems can be very expensive and time consuming activity.
Axis Technical Group has just published a new white paper on the subject, and it is available for download by clicking here. We would also like to hear from you about the money-saving efforts your organizations are using as we all continue to navigate this new global economy.
So many brains have spent so many brain cycles on this very single puzzle- the right project metric. In simpler terms a measurement method that determines if the project is on track through the life of the project. Each individual in the group of the ‘stake holders’ and a few outside it has keen interest in the value that this metric delivers. But what is the right metric? We can probably get a couple of hundred finalists and this can easily overwhelm an already burdened project manager. Leaving the right exact single solution to people from the world of academia we still need to find the right substitute as we await the golden answer.
Experience speaks that that there is one single metric which many high performing managers on the ground swear by and that is (thanks to Ron Jeffries) “Running Tested Features” or RTF. This is a simple common sense approach that tries to capture where the project is in terms of its ‘shipability’. Though using this metric in the polarized worlds of waterfalls, Agiles and others, can be a bit tricky, understanding the concept behind the metric often does the trick.
The focus on delivering “real software” is the gist. Right from the word go the team would need to focus on delivering the real features that the end users can actually use. As long as this number is steady in its growth it can be safely assumed that all is well with the project. Any “dead zone” would indicate trouble and would need immediate attention. The team will have to be consistent in the delivery throughout the project and not just at the end as with most of the projects.
India is home to a large and diverse population that has added to its vibrant character since ages. There are about 3,000 communities in India. So wide and complex is the mix of the Indian population that two-thirds of her communities are found in the geographical boundaries of each of her states. They are a mingling of the Caucasoid, the Negrito, the Proto-Austroloids, the Mongoloid and the Mediterranean races. The tribals constitute eight percent of the total population of India.
Based on their physical type and language, we can easily divide Indian people into four broad classes. First, a majority of high class Hindus, who live in North India and whose language is derived from Sanskrit. Secondly, those who live in that part of India that is south of the Vindhyas and whose languages – Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam – are entirely different from Sanskrit. These are known by the generic name of “Dravidians”. Thirdly, primitive tribes living in hills and jungles of India, who as mentioned above constitute eight percent of the total population in India. The Kols, Bhils and Mundas belong to this class. Fourthly, there are a people with strong Mongolian features inhabiting within India the slopes of the Himalayas and mountains of Assam. The Gorkhas, Bhutiyas and Khasis are striking examples of this.
To add all this, India is perhaps the only place in the world where twenty religious streams flow together. If that sounds clichéd, here is a surprising piece of information. About 500 communities of India say they follow two religions at the same time! India has a population of over 1 billion people, the majority of whom are Hindus.
The caste system in India is a social system where people are ranked into groups based on heredity within rigid systems of social stratification. The caste is a group whose members are restricted in their choice of occupation and degree of social participation. Marriage outside the caste is traditionally prohibited. Social status is determined by the caste of one’s birth.
The Indian term for caste is ‘jati’, which generally designates a group varying in size from a handful to many thousands. There are thousands of such jatis, and each has its distinctive rules and customs. Varna (meaning, “color”) refers to the ancient and somewhat ideal fourfold division of the Hindu society: (1) the Brahmans, the priestly and learned class; (2) the Kshatriyas, the warriors and rulers; (3) the Vaisyas, farmers and merchants; and (4) the Sudras, peasants and laborers. Below the category of Sudras were the untouchables, or Panchamas (meaning “fifth division”), who performed the most menial tasks. Although there has been much confusion between the two, jati and varna are different in origin as well as function. The various castes in any given region of India are hierarchically organized, with each caste corresponding roughly to one or the other of the Varna categories.
Reservations
The Indian government follows a policy positive discrimination towards the Backward Classes. In accordance to this policy, 15% of the government jobs and 15% of the students admitted to universities must be from Scheduled Castes. For the Scheduled Tribes there is a reservation of about 7.5%. There is also reservation for other backward classes. Along with the central government, the state governments of India too follow a policy of reservation. Different states have different figures of reservation based on the population constitution of each state.
In recent times this has led to tensions because the high caste communities feel discriminated against by the government. In many cases a large number of high caste members compete for a few places reserved for them. Sometimes some reserved positions remain unmanned because there were few candidates from the lower caste causing more tension between the castes. The caste identity has become a subject of political, social and legal interpretation.
* * *
Comments about the Axis Technical Group Blog? email us here.
The following is an excerpt from Axis Technical Group’s free report titled, “Outsourcing – Critical Factors for Success”. The entire report can be downloaded for free by clicking here.
The realities of today’s economy demand that companies large and small “do more with less”. This rallying cry is familiar to everyone in the business world, and in many cases, the recent stability in the marketplace is in large part because organizations have successfully found ways to make every dollar they spend truly count. However, technology executives are continuously faced with new challenges to ensure that their company’s critical systems can keep up with the objectives of the business.
Dramatic shifts in revenue streams over the last couple of years have forced management to cut costs by becoming more efficient and productive. Huge demands have been placed on Information Technology departments and vendors to provide solutions that streamline process and demonstrate extreme cost effectiveness. Whatever the solution is for a particular or industry, the demand to reduce cost through automation is extremely high on the to-do list of most organizational leaders in every industry. Given the financial impact on a business by failing at this, the urgency to accomplish key technology objectives as quickly as possible places additional pressure on what is usually already an understaffed IT department.
These challenges combined with shrinking IT budgets, are leaving technology leaders with very few options. Generally, their choices boil down to just two: use fewer resources, or do more with the current resources they have. One way many IT leaders have found they can get more done within their current budget constraints is to outsource a portion of their work to a near shore or offshore IT partner. Outsourcing vendors provide a wide range of services from custom software development and maintenance of existing enterprise applications to Business Analysis, software Quality Assurance, and Documentation, all the while being sensitive to organizational budgets.
Recently, a bill was introduced to the US Senate that proposes a new type of visa for immigrants who create start up companies and as such, create jobs. (Click to read more about the bill). While a similar bill had previously been introduced in the House of Representatives as part of an immigration reform bill, this new bill, brought to the Senate by Democrat John Kerry and Republican Richard Lugar has already stirred a contentious debate.
On one side of the carpet, anti-immigration supporters are loudly protesting such a bill saying it is taking away opportunities for Americans, while many supporters of the Bill feel that if such immigrants start businesses that create American jobs and help the economy, then they should be welcome with open arms.
The Visa issue as a whole has been and continues to be a very important topic for the IT Industry in particular, as it is a key component (or at least a key topic of discussion) for every company’s IT strategy.
What side of the debate are you on? Axis Technical wants to hear from you, so please post your comments below and help be a part of a valuable discussion on the subject.
The Gold Level Partner status ensures the close working relationship between Axis and Microsoft, and stands as a testament to the outstanding work and expertise of the Axis in Motion strategic consulting team. The certifications represent the expertise and high level of competence in Axis’ service offerings, and, it doesn’t hurt our sales efforts in talking with clients either.
Out with the old, and in with the new. If you have visited the Axis Technical Group website before, then you must have noticed a change with the recent launch of our new corporate homepage www.axistechnical.com .
Axis’ new home on the web offers better focus on our service offerings and provides a springboard to future client functionality. Utilizing the latest in Microsoft .Net 3.5 technologies including ASP.net and AJAX, and featuring a fresh interface, the site is designed to give Axis customers, employees, prospective candidates and partners, easier access to company news and information. The site launch is the first phase in a lengthier initiative to introduce technological innovations that will offer additional service and value to our customers.
“Our new website is more representative of the reasons Axis stands out in our industry, and fortifies our strength as a company – customer service to both our clients and our candidates,” explains Michael Valdes, Axis Technical Group President. The website will grow to include newly integrated portals for customers, job seekers and employees in addition to information about Axis Technical Group Inc’s global offices in India and Mexico.
Comments about the Axis Technical Group Blog? email us here.
California just wasn’t big enough to contain Axis Technical Group and with an official announcement coming soon, Axis is proud to announce here on our blog, the opening of our new office in Denver, Colorado. Denver operations began with a soft opening earlier this summer, and the new office is just the first step in Axis’ expansion in the Midwest region to provide closer proximity for servicing new and existing clients.
With its headquarters in Anaheim, California and divisions around the world, Axis has built a nationwide roster of clientele on its strengths in Strategic Consulting, Customer Software Development and Staffing Solutions. The Denver office joins Axis facilities in California, Mexico and India and further solidifies our ability to offer numerous options to our clients for delivery of service.
“With a third of our business based in Midwest areas such as Minnesota, Texas and Kansas City, it was only natural for us to want to be closer to our clients,” says Michael Valdes, President of Axis. “There’s no substitute for ‘in-your-face’ customer service which has really helped distinguish ourselves from other consulting firms over the years. “
We have not yet decided where expansion will take us next, but have our eye on several different regions. Look out world – here comes Axis!
Comments about the Axis Technical Group Blog? email us here.
