Friday, December 26, 2008

My Dreams in 2009

In dreams begins responsibility" - choice, evidence, and changeMy general wish / desire / dream

a) Let the planet be more green – less carbon foot print

b) Let there be no hatred among the fellow beings

c) Let every one have enough peace of mind

d) Let this economic slow down be over very fast

e) May every child get enough time to play

f) May every youth get a job of desire

g) Let every elderly generation get lot of attention and affection from the loved ones

i) May happiness fills in every women in this earth

j) Let nature don’t get angry

k) Let Indian cricket team be number one in the world

My New Year's Resolutions for 2009:

I resolve to stay unresolved;

I promise to not be too promising;

I swear to not stop swearing;

I will focus on feeling unfocused;

I agree to be disagreeable;

I give my word to have words with people;

I maintain that I am high maintenance;

I declare that I will make declarations;

I will opt to keep my options open;

I will have exact change for when madness takes its toll.

People who know me will affirm that I was doing this stuff already -- so it should be easy to keep doing it. :-)Cheers

Friday, November 21, 2008

Recession tips, how to keep sailing forward in this economic slow down

We all know the whole world is under the turmoil of slow down, liquidity crunch, work force sizing down, and pink slips.
Economy of the country depends on the economic situation of the individuals.
This topic is to share your valuable experience to face the see through this testing time.
Let me start with some tips, that I personally follow – believe me a penny saved now is like saving 100 bucks…
Look for stability don’t try to hop companiesDon’t’ do risky investments..Don’t’ buy expensive and unnecessary items ( don’t’ buy for just buying)Keep track of your credit card billsDon’t visit malls, pubs and cine complex (indirectly you will be spending more)Try to pool car to go to officePlan your travel in advance ( can get discounts in air lines)Keep track of your bank statementsLook in to housing loan statementsHang around holidays in park or at house
Be contended in what you have, don’t’ take any kind of loan, especially personal loan
Try to write how much you are spending every day ( if is 10 bucks, then also you write)But don’t’ forget to smile ……

Saturday, June 14, 2008

SAP fundas

Sr. No.
Website
What to expect!
1
www.erpgenie.com
Here we can check all ERP Software. Regarding SAP, we get lots of TIPS & TRICKS, ABAP tables, Forums, Question & Answer and important Tools with latest Articles and News. What you have to do, just enroll yourself and enjoy the benefits of this site. Also check out for latest Books, Training CD’s.
2
www.sap-img.com
Here we get different types of questions in all Modules, download ABAP eBooks & find books. This site is helpful topics such as ABAP, BAPI, ALV programming, SAPscripts, SmartForms, CATT, LSMW, DMS and other IMG stuff like MM, LE, SD, PP, APO, WF, HU, PM, PS, QM, HR, FI, CO, BW and BC.
3
www.sapsuperusers.com
In this website, we access and submit Training Materials, Documents etc. and also network through different forums. It has direct Links to SAP Website, like SAP Help and SDN Network.
4
www.sapfans.com
You can have a chat on hot topics and exchange ideas with other SAP fans working on SAP R/3 products. You can also acces articles, FAQ's, Tips and Tricks in all Modules.
5
www.thespot4sap.com
You can access through various topics such as SAP Forums, Online SAP Training, SAP Articles, SAP Jobs, SAP Tutorials, SAP Books, SAP Links, etc….
6
www.planetsap.com
By using this site you can get the SAP Details such as Events, News, Training, World Wide Sites, SAP Labs, SAP Magazine, SAP Screen Saver, What is hot in SAP and many more topics.
7
www.sapdevelopment.co.uk/links/linkshome.htm
This is a site where we get information about SAP and related tools like Netweaver. You can also access forums, links of other SAP sites, Books, SAP Learning, Country specific issue and ABAP Developments.
8
http://searchsap.techtarget.com/
Its a dedicated Search tool on SAP, where we get all SAP relevant Information, like News, Knowledge Exchange, Careers and many other topics.
9
http://sap.ittoolbox.com/
Here you can Browse by SAP topics like APO, BI, Business Strategy / Planning, FI, Logistics and many more. Also you can subscribe for SAP-Daily-Briefing, SAP-Jobs, SAP-White Papers. There is ABAP coding for different types of Report CODE section.
10
http://www.sappro.com/
In this site you can get SAP Journals. This Site contains a listing of useful documents and SAP Notes in Downloads Section. Also there is section of all SAP related Conferences and Events. But very few things are FREE here.
11
http://www.sap.info/
This is official Website of SAP, where you can get all information related to SAP.
12
http://www.sap-press.com/
This is the official publisher of technical and strategic books for the SAP community. On this site, you will find a wide range of titles to help you master SAP technology and complete key SAP projects more efficiently.
13
https://www.sdn.sap.com
This is the SAP official website for SAP Developer Network, here you can register with company mail ID and enjoy the benefits of this Network. It is highly recommended to Register yourself.
14
http://www.sapscene.com/
This website presents SAP configuration tips and explanations. There are articles (whitepapers) and guidelines on topics. You can get the latest SAP news and views. In SAP R/3 Configuation section you can get relevent definition with screenshots. But This is not intended to be a discussion or question/answer forum.
15
http://www.sappoint.com/
This is a Website, where you can get PDF, PPT and SIM files on various topics in Learning section. It has also Chat facility to interact with SAP professional.
16
http://www.sapdomain.com/
This site is basically dedicated for ABAP. Here you can prepare yourself for certification exam, but for this you have to be a paid member.
17
http://www.saptips.com/
Here you can register yourself to get SAP tips, Training, SAP Library documents.
18
http://www.sap-basis-abap.com/
This site has good collection of ABAP-BASIS but also it captures the functional Modules.
19
http://projects.bre.co.uk/sap2005/
This site is listed with SAP approved Software in PDF format. (List updated 24 January 2007).
20
http://sapconfig.com/
This is a dedicated site for SAP-HR. You can find here documents related to HR.
21
http://www.sapsecure.com/
It’s a Purely SAP Security site, but you can also access some Tips & Tricks section.
22
http://www.sapfriends.com/
It’s a global community of professionals and expert users of SAP products and related technologies gathered for the purpose of sharing their knowledge and professional experiences.
23
http://www.esri.com/partners/alliances/sap/index.html
It’s ESRI oficial Website. ESRI works closely with SAP on joint development projects to provide GIS functionality to SAP solutions including spatial analysis and visualization.
24
http://www.basisconsultant.com/
This is a dedicated site for BASIS, where you can get Forums, Handbooks, Downloads and many other.
25
http://www.sapdevelopment.co.uk/
It’s a ABAP development site with variety of standard reports from almost all modules and many other technical details.
26
http://www.sap.info/INT/int/
SAP INFO is the SAP magazine and is available in English and German in printed and online editions.
27
http://www.adobe.com/enterprise/partners/sap.html
Extend the reach of SAP solutions with Interactive Forms based on Adobe software.
28
http://www.sapprofessionals.org/
Here you can find ABAP Code, SAP Notes, OSS Notes, Important Tables and many more.
29
http://www.topxml.com/sap/default.asp
Here you can get the information about SAP and XML integration and many other related topics.
30
http://www.expand.com/Industries/Case-Studies/Case-app.aspx?CaseID=a5a97bb2-df23-4842-a455-1c94040e0191
You can find SAP Case study of different Industries.
31
https://websmp204.sap-ag.de/~sapidp/011000358700003517532005E
Would you like to go for SAP certification, go through this "SAP Consultant Certification Policy".
32
www.duet.com
www.duet.com - Duet related info
33
www.saponwin.com
www.saponwin.com - Info on hardware certfications by SAP

this is compiled by Rama Sharma Leader in Satyam SAP Practices

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Career Planning in Software Testing

About Software Quality Control / Testing
Software Quality control is the process of testing the application’s output according to the defined inputs and comparing them with the expected results.
The quality control team helps to improve the quality by testing and confirming that all the
requirements are fulfilled in the delivered application.
Testing should be done in each phase in the life cycle for any application, testing the
requirements, testing the design, testing the code, testing the functionality and finally testing the
user acceptance.
The Quality control or verification is the checking or testing of items, for conformance and
consistency with the defined specification. While Quality assurance or validation is the process of
checking that what has been specified is what is actually wanted.
About Career Planning
Career planning is the process which includes choosing an occupation, getting a job, growing in
your job, possible changing careers and eventually retiring.
As a start figuring out who you are will guide you to a better career decision.
Self assessment help figuring out who you are which is the process of gathering information
about your self including skills, interests, likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses.
The knowledge you gain from the personal interests, attitude and values reports (self
assessment) will help you:
􀂾 Take control of your decisions, your life direction.
􀂾 Appreciation of the others.
􀂾 Gain flexibility of being able to see life from different view points.
􀂾 Increase your satisfaction and fulfillment in life.
􀂾 Aiding in setting your career goal.
Other assistances to set your career goal are by listing some of the following:
􀂃 What you hope to accomplish
􀂃 Aspects of activities you like and dislike
􀂃 Skills you have developed through education, jobs, hobbies, volunteer work, clubs and
employee organizations.
􀂃 Training you had that can be applied to future jobs
􀂃 Personal time and effort you are willing to commit to preparing for career advancement
􀂃 Supporting courses that are needed
Finally the career planning process can be simplified with an assessment of your own “SWOT”:
S : Strengths W : Weaknesses O : Opportunities T : Threats
Inside Quality Control
Within your Quality Control career years, you will gain or improve a lot of skills & techniques.
Whatever skills you have born or grow within you, you can learn other skills. Some of the
important skills are:
1. Customer Service communication
Learn to deal with all kind of external customers regardless their technical knowledge. Self control
against their needs rejects or complaints. Ability to drive technical requirements out of customer
needs and desires.
2. Team communication
Learn how to deal within the same team member, member of other teams or leaders.
Communicating such things as to provide clear picture of any change happened and sharing the
change information with other team members.
3. Technical writing
Ability to effectively present information, write speeches and articles for publication that conform
to prescribed style and format. Learning guidelines of how to write a clear, simple and direct
writing to all kind of recipients technical or non technical.
4. Time management
The purpose is not to learn to effectively use the official and personal time. Everyone has 24
hours a day. Some can do more things than others within the same time available.
5. Technical knowledge
Even with a non IT background you can learn and start your quality control career path.
Essential things to grow faster in your QC career:
• Testing methodologies.
• Testing types.
• Technical knowledge about the application you are working on (web-based,
banking…security).
• Standards, methodologies applicable on the application you are working on.
• Creating test plans.
• Develop system document, system architecture.
• Ability to create and read design drawing.
Milestones within Software Quality Testing
Understanding the Testing Process
Communication Technical Writing
Understanding Quality Process
Test Project
Needs Project Management Leadership
Beyond this are the levels of Project Leads, Managers etc.
• Familiarity with software programming.
• Software life cycle.
• Testing and developing tools.
• Database and SQL basics.

6. Leadership
As a leader you should have:
• Diplomatic skills to deal with the team which will create a better working environment that
will:
􀂙 Improve employee creativity.
􀂙 Increase their responsibility.
􀂙 Comfort employee to give their opinions and discuss them.
• Good judgment for hiring employee and keeping skilled people
• Ability to focus in all system process and details
• Ability to prioritize the working plan
• Control to run meetings and keep attendances focused as cross-functional meetings
• Influencing and persuading skills to drive changes to team member
7. Judgment skills
Used when testing and with defect tracking. Also used by a leader as for assessing high risk
areas of an application, time planning, cost effectiveness and production efficiency.
8. Other personal improvement
In addition to the above skills you can develop:
• Flexibility, openness, ready to give and accept feedback.
• Courage to take decision when there is a critical situation with no time for discussion
• Problem solving, mathematic and statistical skills
• Intellectual stimulation and logical/ lateral thinking methods

Before Joining your first Job

Congrats! For getting selected to a reputed MNC! , by this time you might have accepted the offer! You have got JOB, feeling really great! Now it is time to look forward to meet the challenges at work place. Some one told “getting a job is easy, but surveying and budding in job is really difficult”. If you think you were the best in your class / college and you got a campus selection, colleagues around would have been best in their respective colleges.

You've spent approximately the last seventeen years sitting in a classroom absorbing bits of knowledge. Every now and then you were tested to see how well you remembered that information. Occasionally, you had to write assignments; sometimes quite an extensive one. You were given the task back in September. The paper wasn't due until December!
Suddenly you are out of the safe haven of the classroom, where you were tested on schedule, and deadlines were months away. You are thrust into the harsh reality of your first job. Deadlines are “tomorrow, at the latest.” There are no formal exams, but don't ever forget -- you are being tested; everyday. The results come, not in report cards, but in performance reviews.

Always remember to do your best; you are being watched. Why is your employer watching you? You may think it's a money thing. That is, of course, true; but it isn't the only reason. Your performance in the classroom impacted you alone, not your college, or even your professor. In contrast, your performance at work impacts the organization as a whole, your bosses, and even your co-workers. You are one spoke in the wheel that makes the organization run. If that spoke is broken, your employer will just go out and replace it.

Most of the corporate have huge learning investments, and you will receive comprehensive learning interventions on your initial days, at least for couple of months. This should help you in the transition from College to Cubical and of course you will get orientation on the required skills for your first project. Remember for any corporate their Training and Development unit is always a cost center; they have to make you billable as early as possible. The only expectation here will be how fast you learn and acquire the necessary skills. Every now and then your effectiveness in learning is measured using different tools and techniques. You are paid for learning! So learning is your responsibility. Never ever expect a college/school kind of teaching at corporate, most of the cases it is virtual / self learning with little hand holding with simulated project/ case studies. You have to adapt the learning style very fast. Now days corporate have stringent measures on learning effectiveness and most of them have a well defined exit policy.

Some Tips to Help You Succeed
· You will receive many information book lets /hand book /CD’s about company its policy & procedures. Take enough time to read these carefully, if any ambiguity persist contact right person.
· You will be getting access (user id , password, id card with security access etc.. ) to internal information sites like HR , Pay Role , Finance etc.. of your company, find out what information is available where. Find out your email address, be aware of Information security polices before you start sending and receiving mails.
· Find out how to address your boss, seniors and colleagues (sir/madam, first name etc..). You can very well ask them if they are comfortable with your way of addressing.
· Always arrive at work on time, if not a little early. Stick to your lunch hour/ break timings ... and if you are particularly busy, eat at your desk or come back early.
· Dress appropriately. If a dress code is given, follow it religiously other wise look around you to see how others are dressed; especially those who are further along on your career path.
· LISTEN--LISTEN--LISTEN...and OBSERVE. The best piece of advice I received from an employer was to listen and observe before jumping in to suggest changes.
· Stay away from office gossip. That is not to say don't pay attention to what you hear through the grapevine. That can be helpful. However don't contribute to it.
· Mind your manners. Don't forget what you learned as a child. “Please and thank you” should still be the magic words. Always knock before you enter. Although barging into your friend's dorm room may have been okay with him, barging into your reporting managers’ office is not okay. Have a descent behavior at cafeteria and other common areas. Respect others space.
· Most corporate have strict non smoking policies. Don’t’ give any one a chance to say please …
· Answer the telephone politely, even if the call is internal.
· Find a mentor. Look for someone on your career path who is willing to take you under her wing. Your own manager may not be a good idea, but someone else under his supervision may work well.
· Don't pretend to know things you don't. However, do your homework. Learn what you need to know.
· Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you are assigned a project and are not sure how it should be completed, ask. It's better to ask before the project is due, than to have it delayed because it was done incorrectly.
· Always stick to deadlines. Bosses usually want projects completed on time. If there is any flexibility, they will let you know.
· Create a good impression , normally first impression is created by “ the way you look, the way you smell and the way you speak “
· Finally, pay close attention to corporate culture. Learn how things work within your company. Are relationships formal or friendly? Does everyone arrive early and stay late? Are lunch hours short or non-existent? Please forgive me for this cliche, but when in Rome...
All the best for an exciting and successful career! Let the mantra be “Grow and grow with ….”

Sunday, May 11, 2008

US - slowing down ?>%@#$%@#$%YES or No????


Hi ,
I was away to US for 3 weeks, did visit SC, PA , Chicago, Pittsburgh.
Most of the hyper markets, malls were empty, I was told spendthrifts are rare scenes.
People are loosing jobs; pay checks are not enough to take care the house hold expenditure. Debtors are in real trouble, are not able to pay house loans, vehicle loans, personal loans etc.. no body is venturing or taking any risks ,people are advised to go slow and pay back all the debts.
Is this sign of slow down? Who is really concerned? Where is the money?
These are perplexing question , but one thing is sure being in IT services company it is going to pinch out F&B.
Tips for IT folks :
Look for stability don’t try to hop companies
Don’t’ do risky investment
Don’t’ by expensive and unnecessary items
Keep track of your credit card bills
Don’t visit malls and cine complex (indirectly you will be spending more)
Try to pool car to go to office
Plan your travel in advance ( can get discounts in air lines)
Keep track of your bank statements
Look in to housing loan statements
Hang around holidays in park or at house

But don’t’ forget to smile ……




Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Changing Learning/ training practices at IT companies

Now it is time of C2C campus to customer .
Satyam is going to reach campuses and inculcate values in Human Capital from the day 1 after the offer letter is severed – a pre joining learning interventions – Campus Link is initiated through selected vendors, where Associates can benefited , by the time they join the corporate a major transition shift is expected in technological skills.
Business in IT service market is in a new paradigm shift, clients are outsourcing critical technical consulting and business critical to companies like Satyam, TCS , Infy etc..
Thus old body-shopping business model is stagnant, these are the days of fixed bid projects, conducting services to customers customer..
Every organization the bottom line is derived from front line, in any project the major tasks will done by Entry Level software engineers, so expectations from a fresh engineering graduates are tremendous , more emphasis are given to skills to take up roles.
So concentrate of adding skills to your resume , start creating profile , should be able to learn self ..
It is time Self Learners !!!

Looking for Self learners …

Monday, February 4, 2008

The End of Land


Other day I was in Kanyakumari .. The End of the Land, a new blue ocean begins !! , is it a real end ? no! is it a real beginning ? no! in life we sometimes think we have done it ,completed it ! did we really !!! , are we starting a new beginning every day !!