Great news folks!
Samsara Art crossed the 500 paintings mark last week. On the web content is king and our best wishes go out to them. We hope that they become India's premier site for contemporary Indian art.
Samsara Art is also conduction an Art Exhibition called An Arrangement Of Colours. This is not only an online exhibition but also on being displayed at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Bandra. We wish them a grand success.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Web Development Trends
- Virtual Applicances - Ever since VMWare releasd its player and server for free, there's been a groundswell of virtual appliances being built. These applications have the entire software stack including the operating system bundled as a VMWare virtual machine. Rather than worry about the complexities of building an installer to conform to an endless list of customer user environments. These virtual machines are pre-optimized disk images of an actually tested envrionment. Installation costs take out a huge chunk of the overall cost of deploying software, take this to zero and you are in good shape to contain your dwindling software margins.
- Virtual Ofice Spaces - With all the Web 2.0 application emerging, add to the mix the more powerful tools available for distributed development and you have a platform that makes it increasingly unnecessary to even maintain an office. Consider for now that talent and resources are spread out all over the world. To remain competitive, one needs to effectively leverage distributed teams. The tools to that are dirt cheap and do expect more people to be spending their work week in their local Starbucks and Kinkos.
- Multimodal Portals/Widgets - So now that we aren't even in the offices, and walking around the park instead, I can't really tell what kind of device I'll be lugging around at any given moment. So when I need to jot down an important thought, work out an urgent task, schedule a new appointment, enjoy some media, I would like that piece of information available to any device that I happened to be carrying. Expect to see more Apps that make it easy to embed themselves in more kinds of portals. Expect to see portals that reside in multi kinds of devices.
- Portable Social Networks - Social networks are really big, MySpace is an example of one that those humongous entities that is bordering on scaring. But let's be real, as these people grow up, the context where they live their lives becomes more varied. It's simply inevitable that one has social networks that are separate from each other. In addition, one interface can't fit all, the structured interfaces of linkedin don't play too well in the chaotic environment of MySpace. These networks are going to be extremely valuable over time, expect a lot of tools devoted to making your social network more portable.
- Participatory Media - Blogging, Flickr and now YouTube. More and more people are sharing their media, from text, to photos and now video. Expect more kinds of media being shared, and expect more mashups/mixins. Expect to see Web 2.0 applications to support this demand. In addition, expect more content originating from your own social circle.
- Voice Enhanced Apps - If you've been in a conversation with a TellMe voice
application you would appreciate how much this field has progressed in the last decade. Let's get real, not everyone can 'text' without looking at their keypad. In fact, a lot of these background widgets that reside on your phone are making driving extremely dangerous. With American spending more and more time on the road, expect more people to use voice as the medium of interaction. There's a good reason why podcasts like ITConversations are so popular. I couldn't figure out why, that's simply because I have a 5 minute commute to work. But for the rest of the world, well reality is, they've got their hand on the wheel and eyes on the road most of the time. - Information Diet Programs - So now that we are bombarded with information and media from all sources and all our social networks, what then will keep us from becoming overloaded? We need applications to better manage how we respond to the constant barrage of information demanding our attention. Although we can always choose to shut it all off, however I suspect we can't. Like any bad habit, we'll need an effective 'diet program' to help manage our intake.
- Peer to Peer Monitoring Systems - As we become dependent on portals, widgets and mashups, essentially distributed applications with multiple owners, something needs to ensure that they all are working together in harmony. The current management and monitoring systems of today are inadequate for the task, too complex to setup and inflexible to maintain. What is needed are more dynamic monitoring systems that can slice through networks.
- Lightweight Non-Ruby Web Frameworks - People want their applications yesterday. Therefore developers need to take the shortest path to a solution. Yes, we all want to become quick, however we want to avoid being dirty. So new web frameworks, taking their queue from Rails, will emerge to provide solutions. See, not everyone can get a gig programming in Ruby. So these frameworks will eschew traditional standard frameworks and focus more on what works and what works quickly (see: rife, trails, grails and trimpath ) at the sametime preserving existing technoloical investment.
- Guilt Reduction Apps - Finally, despite all these attention consuming applications, there is always something that we continue put away for a later day. Procastinating endlessly, in the hope that we have more time in the future to focus on it. Well, over time the guilt builds up, and over time it becomes unbearable. Unlike background applications that are used constantly, these apps are use once applications. Applications that once your done, absolves you of the guilt of not doing it.
Software Development, ECommerce, Web Design
LHC - Tel. and Meeting Etiquettes + CBO Chart
Photograph of telephone card glued to the phone. Read while you speak
detailing the telephone conversation rules needed for service delivery.
P.A.F.T - Danglers hanging on the doors.Understand how to conduct a meeting. Make your client to help you to help him.
detailing the telephone conversation rules needed for service delivery.
P.A.F.T - Danglers hanging on the doors.Understand how to conduct a meeting. Make your client to help you to help him.
Pirates of CBO Chart
A chart to evaluate all the CBO members using stars and crosses. Who is the angel and who is the devil?
Sunday, August 12, 2007
How to become indispensable at the office
Read the original article from Rediff >
Suman Chhabria-Addepalli
August 08, 2007
One of the most difficult statements to digest but one that's very true (specially when it comes to work) is: "Nobody's indispensable!"
In today's competitive environment, where HR costs translate into one of the major expenses of a company, one must leave home with this thought somewhere at the top of mind, if not on our laptop's welcome note!
However, most companies find a way to hold onto their best or key players. So, without referring to situations as serious as downsizing, anyone drawing a salary need remember that his/her existence in an organisation is under scrutiny during every appraisal.
Right from the office peon who is made to multitask to the head honcho, everyone needs develop personal strategic plans to ensure that their bosses cannot afford to lose them. Here are some tips on how to do just that:
Become the chosen one
A winner is one who develops "fast-start" actions to make himself/ herself the favourite one in the eyes of the management right from day one. The good old analyising of one's strengths, weaknesses and how they can add value to the organisation sets the foundation of a long-term relationship.
"Can Do" what others won't
Employees who can get things done are highly prized in an organisation. "Can do" people rarely turn down a new assignment and always give their best despite possible initial rejections. They believe that new challenges improve their cross functional capabilities.
Communication
All employers want employees with good communication skills -- starting with 'willingness' and ability to listen. Business communication should be accurate and brief. No long winding sentences where short ones would work. Also, perhaps the most damaging error in communication skills is losing your cool or whining. However justified your complaints are, cool down and peacefully express yourself if you want to be heard at all.
It's not personal
This may seem a difficult proposition in a place where you spend most of your waking hours, but you just have to learn the art of being objective at work. In a growing organisation there are bound to be differences of opinion. The ability to stay focused on issues and remain impersonal helps you to stick to the work objective.
Says Vaishali Achrekar, marketing manager at one of the leading FMCG companies in Mumbai, "I always thought that my efficiency justified my anger at those who wouldn't deliver. It would naturally become personal when I lost my cool with my team. Finally, my appraisals revealed that my team was petrified of me. It was an eye-opener that without a team, my efficiency was of no use to anyone."
Be caring
Think of the favourite senior in your office and it is easy to point out that he/ she is someone who genuinely cares about people and so can get anyone to deliver.
Helping sincere colleagues from other departments too during bad days, and being empathic towards one's team is always recognised. Also, such people command leadership and fierce loyalty from their teams/ colleagues. Organisations would definitely not question such leadership.
Be proactive
Take responsibility for your career advancement. In a forever "right-sizing" workplace, don't expect anyone else to hold your hand and take you to heights you wish for yourself. In times of transition, individuals must be proactive and make themselves useful in related departments.
Puja Masand, wealth manager with ABN Amro Bank, started her career in banking as a junior level customer service officer. Her career graph has soared to unbelievable heights over seven years, with every team she worked with labeling her indispensable.
"Being in a service role I was good with people, and went that extra mile to solve any customer problem that reached my desk. Gradually, I won confidence of our top-notch clients and helped the bank achieve their sales targets for many new products," shares Puja. "I overshot sales targets for my team month after month, along with my other duties. It was a consistent performance, and I made sure targets didn't slip after a good month's performance. That's when my boss realised that I am capable of moving to a more pivotal role of wealth management."
Puja is now working on complete penetration of the banks existing customer base and customising products and services for high net worth individuals. She unfailingly manages to win a trip abroad every quarter as incentive on beating huge sales targets.
No chalta hai attitude
Employers don't like people who restrict their job profile. Take ownership of all your responsibilities by seeing your department as a profit centre (even if your productivity doesn't easily translate into numbers) and yourself as an integral driver of that profit.
Give your best to the company
Remember, it is positive attitude and experience that hold weight above skills, between two equally qualified employees.
Prashant Panday, CEO, Radio Mirchi, selects three defined traits that make an employee valuable, in a high-growth competitive media environment. "Employees with a good (positive, helpful) attitude, energy (passion for their job) and an ability to successfully work in teams, definitely clinch the attention of top management," he says.
Health/ fitness
Health is key to reliability. Frequent absences or poor performance related to neglected health puts one on the short list when it is time to downsize.
Appearance
Having said that, all companies generally have an acceptable dressing requirement. Most media companies don't enforce dress codes, but even the most fun-loving organisation will not take an employee dressed like a hippie seriously. The perception of whether or not you belong has more to do with appearance than you might think.
Loyalty
This is a rare commodity in times of frequent job jumping and three-month stints. Loyalty can be demonstrated through refusal to gossip, delivering high performance and sticking with a company through its highs and lows. You can also project loyalty by carrying out instructions as best you can, by disagreeing civilly and when you have been overruled, doing the job the way the boss wants you to.
Says Ankush Agarwal, founder and CEO of Mint International (a human resource consulting, resourcing and training organisation), "Today, while recruiting CEOs, middle and junior management levels, organisations are reference checking for high levels of integrity. They seek people with high energy who take pride in their work and have the capacity to make themselves feel like part of the bigger picture."
"Even during our corporate training sessions, we stress on qualities such as humility and work ethics, along with ownership for one's work, which goes a long way in forging a relationship between employer and employee."
Avoid bad blood
It is not easy for huge organisations to appreciate everyone all the time. This naturally leads to some dissatisfaction, which can be dealt with a talk with your immediate senior. However, if an employee chooses to proclaim and believe that he/ she is the only undervalued, overworked, underpaid professional, his/ her whining may boomerang to make the HR department feel that the office might be a happier place without them.
Suman Chhabria-Addepalli
August 08, 2007
One of the most difficult statements to digest but one that's very true (specially when it comes to work) is: "Nobody's indispensable!"
In today's competitive environment, where HR costs translate into one of the major expenses of a company, one must leave home with this thought somewhere at the top of mind, if not on our laptop's welcome note!
However, most companies find a way to hold onto their best or key players. So, without referring to situations as serious as downsizing, anyone drawing a salary need remember that his/her existence in an organisation is under scrutiny during every appraisal.
Right from the office peon who is made to multitask to the head honcho, everyone needs develop personal strategic plans to ensure that their bosses cannot afford to lose them. Here are some tips on how to do just that:
Become the chosen one
A winner is one who develops "fast-start" actions to make himself/ herself the favourite one in the eyes of the management right from day one. The good old analyising of one's strengths, weaknesses and how they can add value to the organisation sets the foundation of a long-term relationship.
"Can Do" what others won't
Employees who can get things done are highly prized in an organisation. "Can do" people rarely turn down a new assignment and always give their best despite possible initial rejections. They believe that new challenges improve their cross functional capabilities.
Communication
All employers want employees with good communication skills -- starting with 'willingness' and ability to listen. Business communication should be accurate and brief. No long winding sentences where short ones would work. Also, perhaps the most damaging error in communication skills is losing your cool or whining. However justified your complaints are, cool down and peacefully express yourself if you want to be heard at all.
It's not personal
This may seem a difficult proposition in a place where you spend most of your waking hours, but you just have to learn the art of being objective at work. In a growing organisation there are bound to be differences of opinion. The ability to stay focused on issues and remain impersonal helps you to stick to the work objective.
Says Vaishali Achrekar, marketing manager at one of the leading FMCG companies in Mumbai, "I always thought that my efficiency justified my anger at those who wouldn't deliver. It would naturally become personal when I lost my cool with my team. Finally, my appraisals revealed that my team was petrified of me. It was an eye-opener that without a team, my efficiency was of no use to anyone."
Be caring
Think of the favourite senior in your office and it is easy to point out that he/ she is someone who genuinely cares about people and so can get anyone to deliver.
Helping sincere colleagues from other departments too during bad days, and being empathic towards one's team is always recognised. Also, such people command leadership and fierce loyalty from their teams/ colleagues. Organisations would definitely not question such leadership.
Be proactive
Take responsibility for your career advancement. In a forever "right-sizing" workplace, don't expect anyone else to hold your hand and take you to heights you wish for yourself. In times of transition, individuals must be proactive and make themselves useful in related departments.
Puja Masand, wealth manager with ABN Amro Bank, started her career in banking as a junior level customer service officer. Her career graph has soared to unbelievable heights over seven years, with every team she worked with labeling her indispensable.
"Being in a service role I was good with people, and went that extra mile to solve any customer problem that reached my desk. Gradually, I won confidence of our top-notch clients and helped the bank achieve their sales targets for many new products," shares Puja. "I overshot sales targets for my team month after month, along with my other duties. It was a consistent performance, and I made sure targets didn't slip after a good month's performance. That's when my boss realised that I am capable of moving to a more pivotal role of wealth management."
Puja is now working on complete penetration of the banks existing customer base and customising products and services for high net worth individuals. She unfailingly manages to win a trip abroad every quarter as incentive on beating huge sales targets.
No chalta hai attitude
Employers don't like people who restrict their job profile. Take ownership of all your responsibilities by seeing your department as a profit centre (even if your productivity doesn't easily translate into numbers) and yourself as an integral driver of that profit.
Give your best to the company
Remember, it is positive attitude and experience that hold weight above skills, between two equally qualified employees.
Prashant Panday, CEO, Radio Mirchi, selects three defined traits that make an employee valuable, in a high-growth competitive media environment. "Employees with a good (positive, helpful) attitude, energy (passion for their job) and an ability to successfully work in teams, definitely clinch the attention of top management," he says.
Health/ fitness
Health is key to reliability. Frequent absences or poor performance related to neglected health puts one on the short list when it is time to downsize.
Appearance
Having said that, all companies generally have an acceptable dressing requirement. Most media companies don't enforce dress codes, but even the most fun-loving organisation will not take an employee dressed like a hippie seriously. The perception of whether or not you belong has more to do with appearance than you might think.
Loyalty
This is a rare commodity in times of frequent job jumping and three-month stints. Loyalty can be demonstrated through refusal to gossip, delivering high performance and sticking with a company through its highs and lows. You can also project loyalty by carrying out instructions as best you can, by disagreeing civilly and when you have been overruled, doing the job the way the boss wants you to.
Says Ankush Agarwal, founder and CEO of Mint International (a human resource consulting, resourcing and training organisation), "Today, while recruiting CEOs, middle and junior management levels, organisations are reference checking for high levels of integrity. They seek people with high energy who take pride in their work and have the capacity to make themselves feel like part of the bigger picture."
"Even during our corporate training sessions, we stress on qualities such as humility and work ethics, along with ownership for one's work, which goes a long way in forging a relationship between employer and employee."
Avoid bad blood
It is not easy for huge organisations to appreciate everyone all the time. This naturally leads to some dissatisfaction, which can be dealt with a talk with your immediate senior. However, if an employee chooses to proclaim and believe that he/ she is the only undervalued, overworked, underpaid professional, his/ her whining may boomerang to make the HR department feel that the office might be a happier place without them.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
LHC - Launch
Dear All,
CBO is proud to announce the launch of LIGHTHOUSE CLUB on Saurday 4th August,07 at CBO Mumbai office.
Your support and guidance is required to make it more meaningful.
Regards,
Jagruti
CBO is proud to announce the launch of LIGHTHOUSE CLUB on Saurday 4th August,07 at CBO Mumbai office.
Your support and guidance is required to make it more meaningful.
Regards,
Jagruti
A blog is born
Hello all!!
This is the official blog for CBO - Cyberbackoffice. The black theme has been intentionally chosen as part of the Eco Responsive Initiative based on the ideas put forward by the Black Google concept.
Watch this space for more updates from CBO.
This is the official blog for CBO - Cyberbackoffice. The black theme has been intentionally chosen as part of the Eco Responsive Initiative based on the ideas put forward by the Black Google concept.
Watch this space for more updates from CBO.
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