Getting Software Developed for Your BusinessWritten by David J Berube
At some point, your business is going to need to have some software development. Maybe your business is small, but existing software doesn't fit your needs. Maybe your company is larger, with significant technology resources already, but you need an outside perspective. Whatever reason, it can be difficult to choose an software developer, especially if you aren't a technical person. I've heard stories about selecting developers from all sorts of people. Quite a few have told me heard horror stories about how they wound up with large bills and little or nothing to show for it. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be hard to choose an software developer; I've developed four questions you need to ask when you're choosing a developer. 1: Are they a contract programmer or a software developer? A professional software developer isn't in business of writing code; rather, he's in business of solving problems, and code just happens to be one of way that he (or she) does it. Conversely, a contract programmer will want you to spell out exactly what kind of program you want him to write. He doesn't solve problems; he just writes code way he's told, and hopes it will fix problem at hand. With a real software developer, you wind up with a solution that leaves everyone happy. The market is full of contract programmers masquerading as software developers. Be careful. 2: Are they focused on technology or benefits? Some software developers can get wrapped up in their technology; it's not uncommon to see developers who specializes in "AS/400 mainframes" or "embedded systems", for example. A real software developer, though, focuses on benefiting his client, using whatever technology is necessary, rather than on what technology he's familar with. You want to hire someone that's skilled at solving problems, and that will use technology that's best suited to your business, whatever it may be. You shouldn't have to pick a developer based on what technology he's familar with; he should be able to take care of almost any technological problem, either by doing work himself or outsourcing to someone in his network of contacts.
| | What Has The New Year Got For You ?Written by Arthur Cooper
What Has The New Year Got For You ?Do you make new years resolutions? If you do … do you stick to them? At work – and for your life in general – it is a good thing from time to time to take stock of where you are and of what you have achieved, and of where you want to go and what you want to achieve in future. And when better to do it that at start of a new year? It’s a good time to look back over past year to analyse what you have done. Did you complete all that you set out to do? At work, did you get promotion? Did you increase your earnings? Did you complete your project successfully? For your personal development, did you learn new skills? Did you gain in confidence? At home, are you and your family more content? Are you happier in your private life? Whatever you wanted to achieve over last year, take time to consider whether or not you have succeeded. If you unable to answer question then chances are that you never had any measurable aims or goals in first place. So your first lesson learnt this year is to set goals for next year. For one thing is sure. If you don’t set yourself goals you will never find that drive and force needed to keep yourself moving forward when going gets tough. If you were clear about your goals, but still did not attain them, then put some thought into what went wrong. Don’t despair, but learn from your mistakes and shortcomings. Were you lacking a vital skill? If so, then make it a primary aim this year to acquire that skill. Did you lack courage to strike out in a new direction, a new and better job for example? Reanalyse your abilities, your skills and knowledge, and if you are convinced you could have done it then go for it next time without hesitation. Study past and learn from it.
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