Understanding the Estimation of Activity Duration in Project Management

Pursuing project managers must understand how to perform various tasks to get a project started, and estimation of activity duration is one among them.

It isn't always a seamless activity to estimate project duration, as doing so requires a project manager's knowledge of a few theories, along with applying a few top techniques and practices.

Estimating activity duration is a daunting procedure that takes time for a long-term project. Ideally, it would be best to involve your core team in the estimation process.

It would help if you involved them, who will work on the project to attain the goal, the project management team, and all identified stakeholders to make a consensus on the target dates, and delivery schedules.

Estimating activity duration can be transformed as work progresses and as new activities of the projects are identified. Firstly, you can evaluate your project depending on the network diagram and can be further changed based on project changes done during the execution, controlling, and monitoring of the process.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), there are some project management practices, techniques, and tools to estimate the activity duration, and they are as follows:

Parametric Estimating

Parametric Estimating is more precise and is based on a statistical calculation of historical data and other variables. For instance, in the design stage of a construction project, you may already have the activity duration, i.e., cutting 1,000 stones will take 8 hours.

If your project is similar to one executed before, it's worth your while to determine existing activity duration estimates and previous data from the past project.

Heuristic Estimating

Heuristic Estimating is called Rule of Thumb, where you can roughly guess that the whole design stage can take 45% off your entire project time. This is a fruitful method for knowing factors where you can place an imaginary figure depending on the experience.

Analogous Estimating

Analogous Estimating is a vital technique that offers you the whole duration estimation. Depending on similar projects, you can attain a ballpark view of the entire duration estimation.

You can also get this data from the Project Management Office or other project managers and use this template for your existing project. Though this estimation practice isn't so precise in nature; however, it's less expensive and less time-consuming than other techniques.

You can often leverage Analogous Estimating when you don't have enough time to undergo a proper estimation and have a timeline. This can be a part of the project, so you don't need to estimate the whole project.

You can estimate the activity duration for a single stage if the phase requirement is identical to the last processed project.

Three-point Estimating

Three-point estimating depends on considering several choices such as resource assignments, uncertainty, and the associated risk like the best and worst scenario-based. This estimating technique originated from PERT, and through PERT, we estimate three kinds of estimation:

1. Most Likely (M)
2. Optimistic (O)
3. Pessimistic (P)

Most Likely is based on the resources assigned, Optimistic is based on the best scenario-based analysis, and Pessimistic is based on the worst scenario-based analysis. Once you have these three durations, you can leverage some valuable formulas to derive the expected duration, i.e.,

TE = (O + 4M + P) ÷ 6

Where, TE = expected time

In this way, you can understand the significance of PERT in estimating the duration of the project.

Reserve Analysis

This is a type of contingency reserve, where after fixing a schedule for each activity level based on the activity features, you can create reserve timing by adding a few percent to the derived program of each activity. It can be modified as work progresses, minimizing or maximizing depending on the scenario.

Final Call

Estimating project activity duration can help you manage the project that comes in on time and within budget. Understand from the lessons your company has already dissolved to save yourself time when doing duration estimates.

To learn more about successful project management, look to iCert Global's online PMP certification training course.

10 Most Widely Used Project Management Apps Compared

Today, we will discuss a project management application and how it can benefit a company. Moreover, we will look at the top 10 widely used project management apps.

Businesses work on diverse projects at the same time. They form teams of employees and assign them to experts who take the responsibility of ensuring the successful completion of the project. This brings numerous tasks to be completed well-organized and within their assigned timelines.

A project planning application aids in managing projects in one integrated platform to ensure the progress visibility of each project.

All facts are equally significant when executing a project, whether budget management, ensuring the teammates' collaboration, or managing the involved resources. For example, designating a task to members, reviewing the work assigned a status, keeping track of deadlines, ensuring the ease of communication, and allowing the leaders to ensure that the tasks are completed on time.

What are the Best Features of Project Management Apps?

The project management app is focused on enhancing the productivity and efficiency of the team members, thus enhancing the overall quality of the project.

Before selecting the management app for your company, here are 5 features an ideal app must offer:

1. Let team leaders discuss the app's platform and direct messages privately and collectively to the teammates.
2. Capable of sending a notification to the members over SMS/email, so they don't have to log in to the app to check the updates.
3. Must facilitate document storage in a core database that should be accessible by all the members. Moreover, the documents can be password protected to ensure document privacy.
4. A mobile app must be offered so that team members working remotely can access the project management system seamlessly and comfortably.
5. Visualizations help in viewing the progress of multiple projects running at the same time. To show the deadlines, visualizations in the form of Gantt Charts are superior.

Top 10 Project Management Apps

The workflow enhances as the project management apps offer a common platform for all the teammates to collaborate over, thus, ensuring teamwork, increasing productivity, and ensuring the success of each project.

With this, let's see the top 10 widely used project management apps:

1. JIRA

This is the most used app by several companies that work on the Agile SDLC principle. The teams can develop Kanban boards, personalize scrum boards, and leverage real-time reporting facilities. Moreover, JIRA can quickly resolve if a bug is tracked down.

2. Zoho Projects

This free management app comes with all the typical features of any other software app. It enables Gantt charts to merge with other platforms, an entire built-in tracking system, and lets basic reporting abilities. In addition, Zoho Projects is cloud-based and works excellent for mid-scale organizations.

3. ASANA

This is one of the top-notch project management apps available. It enables the use of conversations and dashboards. In addition, the TEAM PAGES can be leveraged to share messages with the whole team.

There is also a smart box that displays the relevant notification to each team member. Further, ASANA can seamlessly collaborate with other data sources such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Github, and more.

4. Wrike

It is a cloud-based, free project management app that can easily be collaborated with Excel, Google Apps, and other software. Users can create, view, and edit documents directly from the email ID. Wrike is available for smaller teams and supports the best use of Google project management tools.

5. Trello App

It is a popular visualization tool that aids teams in project management by providing multiple means for optimization. This app follows the Kanban system, a popular technique leveraged in lean management. With the Trello app, you can seamlessly organize all your projects on boards with data broken into categories like:

• Who is doing what?
• The progress of the specific project
• What is being worked on?
• Timelines and time spend on each project at each phase

The Trello app stands out because it provides free services in addition to paid ones. Moreover, the app is mobile-friendly, making it easy to work and update your project data.

6. Basecamp

It is a popular project management app that provides several collaboration facilities. People can put their comments in an assigned area meant only for discussion. Updates can be sent through emails. However, it isn't possible to add timelines for each activity in the Basecamp app.

7. Microsoft Project Management Software

It is one of the top-class project management apps and has been in the field for around three decades in several forms. MS Project is widely leveraged for complex projects, enabling robust reporting potentials, and can be used to develop built-in and personalized reports - extracted to a PowerPoint slide. However, this app is mainly used by trained experts who know how to extract the best from the MS Project software.

8. Nifty

It is a collaborative platform to plan your project, team & stakeholder communication, and automation of project-progress reporting. This app does a fantastic job merging multiple tools to encompass the whole project cycle.

The projects can be managed via Kanban-style tasks linked with targets. Another top feature is the Project Overview, which offers a birds-eye view of all the project progressions. Moreover, the team chat widget lets communication while working in any pocket of the Nifty app.

9. Hive

This app offers a productivity tool that will allow the teams to manage projects in the best way for them. Hive app supports multiple project layouts such as Calendar, Gantt chart, Kanban board, or table. A feature of Hive is that you can easily collaborate with your team by sending messages to groups/individuals.

This tool offers the potential to plan and schedule your team's time for existing and upcoming projects. Moreover, Hive offers several other features such as time tracking, automated workflow, and action cards.

It also has the feature of sharing files, which you can directly upload to a project, message, or task.

10. Freshservice

It is a complete project management app that offers greater collaboration, where you can align your IT to business targets. It offers several features to manage IT projects from scratch, such as:

• Offering task management to organize projects to tasks and nested sub-tasks
• Can set multiple SLA policies to create task timelines
• You can bounce ideas off each other via collaboration, sharing context across teams, and brainstorming ideas.

Conclusion

With several options available, choosing the best project management app for your company becomes daunting. The software available more or less has similar aspects, but the way these features are packed makes the difference. Several elements, such as team size, aspects of the task management software, etc., should be considered when finalizing one management app.

Having the right project management app is crucial in achieving overall project success. Hence, before going for any app, you should look for the aspects that you think will be valuable for your business and make the right choice.

An Ultimate Guide to Interactive Vs. Push Vs. Pull Communication in Project Management

The terms interactive, push, and pull communication have been used in project management for many years. Unfortunately, they are often used interchangeably, thus making it confusing for us to use the correct method in our everyday work. We need to understand them well because they can help us improve our overall communication strategy, and they can assist us in maximizing the potential of our projects. Let's understand these three communications:

Interactive Communication

Interactive communication is the most common type of communication. It involves two parties exchanging information back and forth, such as an email or a phone call. This type of communication is mainly used in project management to request updates from team members, provide feedback, and receive updates.

When to use interactive communication?

Interactive communication is best suited when you want to exchange information or ideas between people already working together on a project or task.

You can use it to brainstorm ideas, solve problems, make decisions, give feedback and encourage creativity.

However, suppose you need to share information between teams that don't yet trust each other (or don't know each other well). In that case, interactive methods might not be ideal because they might cause confusion or misunderstanding.

Push Communication

Push communication is a specific type of interactive communication where the sender sends information to everyone on the team at once. This can be done through an email blast or an announcement in a group chat room.

The purpose of this type of communication is to provide important information that everyone needs to know right now. Push communications are generally sent at the end of each day or when something significant happens during the day (such as a major change in schedule).

They're also used when there's a need for urgency or immediacy, such as when there's an emergency or critical issue that needs immediate attention from all team members.

When to use push communication?

Push communication is best suited for sending urgent or essential information to everyone at once. This is the best option when you need to send an email or make a phone call. For example, if you want everyone on your team to know about a schedule change, you can use push communication.

Examples of push communication:

Slack Messages: Slack messages are sent by default to all members of the channel they are sent in. If you want it sent privately, send it with direct news instead.

Email: Emails can be marked as high priority (which will get them through spam filters) or urgent (which will result in them being read immediately).

Phone Calls: Phone calls can be placed on hold and transferred instantly so multiple people can hear them simultaneously.

Pull Communication

Pull communication involves one person sending out an invitation or announcement, such as when they need help completing tasks or want feedback on something they've done. Managers typically use this to get employees' input on project proposals or presentations before they are finalized.

When to use pull communication?

Pull communication works best when you're managing many people or projects. It's an efficient way of ensuring everyone is on track without wasting their time with unnecessary questions.

You might want to use pull communication:

• When you have a lot of people working on a project who don't report directly to you.
• When you need regular updates from your team.
• When someone has been given an assignment that requires them to work independently.

Takeaway Point

Interactive communication is the most efficient form of communication.

Communication is a crucial part of project management. It's hard to succeed without it.

Project managers use many different types of communication, such as emails, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings. But which kind of communication is the most efficient?

Interactive communication is the most efficient form of communication in project management. It allows you to engage with your audience directly through instant feedback and questions.

It's not just about what you say; it's about how you say it. The best way to interact with your audience is through a tool like Slack or Skype that allows for real-time collaboration and quick responses from other team members.

The advantages of interactive communication are endless:

• You can engage with your audience at any time or place
• You don't need to wait until someone's available to answer your question — they'll be able to respond immediately through the tool itself (or by email if necessary). This means you'll get an answer immediately instead of having to wait around all day for someone to get back to you.
• You can share documents easily using tools like Google Drive and Dropbox, which makes working together much more Spartan than sending attachments back and forth through email.

Conclusion

We hope we've been able to clarify some things for you in regards to push, pull, and interactive communication. One thing that remains constant, however: no matter which type of communication your team uses, as long as your team members stay on the same page and follow through with their agreed-upon responsibilities, you'll be able to run a successful project. The most important thing? Make sure everyone on your team is committed to the project's success! Good luck! And thanks for reading.

What is Risk Assessment in Project Management?

Risk is an inevitable factor when it comes to project management. And the last thing any project wants to face is risks. However, projects are created to take advantage of opportunities and resources, and with these come uncertainty, risk, and challenges. 

Therefore, risk management becomes a vital aspect of all project success. The project risk management plan addresses the procedure behind risk management, and its assessment meeting lets the project team determine, categorize, prioritize, and alleviate these risks ahead of time.

However, in any project, risk assessment is not a project manager's sole responsibility. Therefore, managers must conduct a special meeting to bring in the ideas of the whole team or, at a minimum, the following:

• Project managers act as the chairperson and enable the risk assessment meetings.
• The project manager must dedicate the roles of recorder and timekeeper to the project team members.
• Key stakeholders may bring value in determining project risks and alleviation & avoidance master plans.
• Subject matter professionals are specialists in certain project activities; however, they aren't formally assigned to the project but add value.
• The project sponsor may participate based on the project scope and size.

Phases of Risk Assessment in Project Management

In several projects, risks are determined and evaluated randomly. This is often malignant to a project's success, as unexpected risks arise that must be dealt with on an emergency basis instead of being prepared for and defended against in an estimated fashion.

Potential risks must be determined, categorized, measured, and documented. Rather than looking at the risks randomly, finding threats and grouping them into categories is much more efficient.

Below are the five phases of risk assessment during project management:

1. Identification of Risks

Before diving into risk assessment, the project manager will have fulfilled a list of risks from prior project experiences. These will be reviewed during the start of the project as a method of identifying a few common risks.

This will also offer a meaningful insight to the teammates to predict potential risks. While there are several techniques to identify risks, the Crawford Slip practice is one of the most common and effective methods.

Each risk found and discussed should be stated in a complete sentence that states the risk cause and the impact that the risk has on the project.

2. Categorizing and Grouping of Duplicates

Categorizing risks is a path to systematically identifying risks and offers a foundation of awareness, understanding, and action. Each project has its structure and difference.

Categorization makes it seamless to determine duplicate risks and prompts for identifying additional risks. The most common and efficient technique is to post the sticky notes on a large board where the manager has posted categories.

The participants then put their risks beneath the relevant category on the board. As they find the same risks, they stick the duplicates on top of each other. The manager then discusses the risks under each section with the participants. Once all the risks are identified, categorizing should be documented for stakeholder approval.

3. Qualifying Risks

Significant questions to assess any risk in projects are:

• What is a risk? How can I recognize the risk if it becomes a reality?
• What is the probability of the risk happening? Is it High, Medium, or Low?
• How serious a threat does it show to the project - high, medium, or low?
• What are the signs that project managers must look for?

A risk assessed as highly likely to occur and having a high effect on the project will require closer attention than a low risk in terms of both impact and probability.

4. Determining Risk Response

For the risks which have been determined with a higher risk score, the users will identify the signs or causes and find responses. Responses include:

• Adding the risk to the project plan and scheduling it.
• Adding funding to the project to alleviate any possible rise in expenses.
• Adding resources to the project to lessen any likely scarcity of dedicated resources.
• Creating an action course to eliminate or avoid risks.

5. Risk Documentation

The project manager will enter all the risks, responses, and probability-effect scores and maintain a document to explain them. The high-scoring risks will be added to the project management plan, and the document will be included as an appendix to the management plan.

Moreover, these high score risks will be added to the schedule to track the risk at the right time. Though these risks are added to the schedule, it isn't necessarily modified. This method offers visibility and awareness to the individuals of all high-scoring risks throughout the project lifecycle.

Top 16 Qualities of a Good Manager and a Leader

What are the qualities of a good manager? A leader, for that matter? How about someone who both manages and leads? You don't often find a single person who excels in both, but it happens. So if you work and want to develop skills in either of these two areas, this article is for you.

Vision

A good manager and leader have a vision for the future of their business or the world. They see where they want to go and understand what it will take to get there. They also have a clear idea of how they will get there. This is important because it allows them to make decisions based on facts, not wishful thinking.

Vision doesn't mean that you have to be able to predict precisely what will happen in the future; it just means that you know where you're going and why. For example, knowing where your company should go next is essential when deciding what technology to use or how much money to spend on marketing.

Positive

A good manager can identify and understand the needs of the people they manage. They should also be able to motivate employees to seek out opportunities to improve their skills and performance. A good manager will also help you find ways to work together as a team, be flexible, and deal with problems when they arise.

A good leader has all these qualities but doesn't just tell people what to do; instead, they inspire them by making them feel like they have the best interests.

Leadership

A good manager is a leader. A great manager is an exceptional leader. A great leader can inspire others and help them to reach their full potential while at the same time encouraging them to work together in a positive environment.

Leadership is about being able to motivate people and get them excited about achieving something significant. A good manager will be able to help you manage your time effectively and make sure that you have the resources available for you to achieve your goals.

Confidence

Confidence is a quality that most people desire in their managers and leaders, and it's one of the top qualities of a good manager. Confidence comes from knowing what you're doing, having experience, and having the ability to do it well. Great managers know they have the skills to lead, and they use those skills to help their team succeed.

When you're confident about your decision-making abilities and leadership skills, it makes things easier for others on the team. They know that if they ask for help or advice, they will get it without hesitation or fear of being judged as incompetent or weak.

Communication

Communication is critical in any workplace. A good manager or leader can help employees feel respected and understood while providing feedback and guidance.

Communication should be open and honest, with a positive tone. If you are communicating with your team members, try to avoid using words such as "must," "have," or "have to." Instead, use positive words like "I would like" or "I think."

Honesty

Being a good manager and a leader means being honest with your employees and your team. This doesn't come naturally to everyone, but it is an essential quality for a great leader. Honesty is one of the most critical skills as a manager.

Honesty also means being honest with yourself. It would help if you didn't deceive yourself when deciding how to lead your team or manage their performance. If you constantly lie to yourself about whether or not something is working out or if there are other options available, then you're doomed from the start because nobody will ever believe anything you say!

Open-mindedness

A good manager needs to be able to listen, think and learn. He needs to be open-minded to be receptive to new ideas and ways of doing things. The best managers are open-minded enough to accept new ideas from their employees. They also should be able to see the strengths in their employees and recognize their weaknesses, so they can work together to improve on those weaknesses.

Sense of humor

A sense of humor is an essential quality in a manager. People need to be able to laugh at themselves and their mistakes and also laugh at others' jokes. This is a great way to build co-workers' trust, morale, and camaraderie.

When you're having fun with your team, they're probably having fun too. This can lead to a more productive work environment and a better team overall.

Team player

A good manager and leader put the needs of their team above her own needs. They are always thinking of ways to improve their team and know how to get the best out of their team members.

A good manager and leader is also someone with strong leadership skills, which means they can make decisions confidently and handle conflict well.

Creativity

Creativity is one of the most essential and exciting qualities of a good manager and leader. A great manager and leader not only knows how to manage but also knows how to inspire other people to do their best work. In addition, a creative manager can develop new ideas for improving processes and procedures or making the workplace more attractive for employees. This can improve productivity, morale, and employee satisfaction.

 Decision-making ability

The ability to make decisions is an essential quality for a manager. A good decision-maker understands what needs to be done, when, and how it should be done. As a result, the best manager can make the right decisions for the organization and its people.

A good leader also has an excellent decision-making ability. They can see the big picture and how all parts of the organization fit together to reach a common goal. This ability enables leaders to understand problems from different angles and develop solutions that will benefit everyone involved in the organization.

Willingness to learn new things, adaptability to change, and flexibility.

Great managers are willing to learn new things, adapt to change, and be flexible.

They have the ability and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. They are not afraid of failure or doing things differently than what has been done before. Leaders can see past their ego and focus on what is best for the company or team they lead.

Optimism for the future

Optimism is a good quality to have as a manager and leader. Seeing the glass half full and being optimistic about your team and the future will help you get the best out of them.

One of the biggest problems with managers is that they can be negative about everything, which can cause them to lose their employees' faith. This can lead to poor performance, disengagement, and ultimately dismissal.

Do not underestimate the power of optimism in your life and your business.

Commitment to the organization and its staff members

The best managers and leaders can be committed to their organization and its staff members. But, to be successful, they must be able to inspire others through their words, actions, and deeds.

Good managers and leaders are committed to the organization's goals, mission, vision, and values. In addition, they take pride in their work, which is evident in how they present themselves in front of others.

A good manager and leader delegate assignments for growth and development

A good manager and leader is a good listener and understands the need of employees to grow professionally. In addition, good managers and leaders are transparent with their employees and keep them informed about their role in the organization.

A good manager and leader have integrity which means they follow ethical conduct in/her work environment. They do not compromise with any unethical behavior in/her organization or workplace. A good manager and leader always try to keep things on track by following the rules of the organization that they work for.

A good manager and a leader reward and recognize accomplishments

A good manager and a leader treat all employees equally regardless of their position or level in the company. A good leader knows their team members well enough to recognize who is doing well and who needs help improving on something.

A good manager knows how to delegate tasks effectively and efficiently because he understands his employee's strengths and weaknesses, while a suitable leader delegates tasks based on their ability to do them correctly without having to be coached every step.

Conclusion

To be an effective manager and leader, you must have unique qualities that separate you from the rest. You're responsible for leading a group of people. As such, your leadership skills will dictate whether or not you can effectively do your job. So, what are some key characteristics that make a good manager and leader? As with most things, knowing yourself and understanding your strengths and weaknesses is essential. Move through each of these characteristics, then decide which ones would make you a better manager and leader, given who you already are in today's business world.

Top 10 Machine Learning Algorithms You Need to Know in 2022

In a world where the definition of manual is transforming to automation, the Machine Learning (ML) algorithm makes the word 'Impossible' a reality. Technology can help computers play chess, perform surgeries, and even become more personal and innovative.

Living in a period of constant technological progress, computing has evolved drastically over the years; hence, we can predict what's to come shortly.

A primary aspect of this upgrade is how computing tools and methods have been democratized. Over the last five years, data scientists have built trailblazing data-crunching machines by optimally functioning advanced techniques. The results have been phenomenal.

If you're one of the data scientists or ML aspirants, then you should get a catch of Machine Learning algorithms.

In this article, we'll discuss the top 10 Machine Learning Algorithms you need to know in 2022, so let's get started.

Top 10 Machine Learning Algorithms

1. Linear Regression

This process establishes the relationship between dependent and independent variables by fitting them to a line. This line is called the regression line and is represented using an equation:

Y= a *X + b

Where,

Y = Dependent Variable

a = Slope

X = Independent variable

b = Intercept

The coefficients a & b are derived by minimizing the sum of the squared difference of distance between data points and regression line.

2. Logistic Regression

This process estimates the discrete values from an independent variable set. It helps predict the probability of an event by fitting data to a logit function, called logit regression.

The methods that can help enhance the logistic regression include interaction terms, a non-linear model, eradicating features, and regularizing techniques.

3. Decision Tree

This is one of the widely popular and used algorithms of Machine learning. It's a supervised learning algorithm that is used for classifying problems. It works with the classification of both continuous and categorical dependent variables.

In the Decision Tree algorithm, we split the population into two/more homogeneous sets based on the relevant attributes.  

4. Support Vector Machine (SVM)

This process is used to classify algorithms in which you plot raw data as points in an n-dimensional space. The value of each attribute is then tied to a specific coordinate, making it seamless to classify the data.

Lines known as classifiers can be leveraged to plot the data and plot them on a graph.

5. Naïve Bayes

This classifier assumes that the presence of a specific feature in a class is unrelated to the presence of any other attribute. Even if these features are related, a Naive Bayes algorithm would consider all of these factors independently when calculating the probability of a specific outcome.

Moreover, this algorithm is easy to develop and is helpful for colossal datasets. A simple Naive Bayesian model is known to outperform highly sophisticated classification techniques.

6. K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN)

KNN is a more widely leveraged algorithm to solve classification problems; however, this technique can also be applied to regression problems. This simple algorithm stores all available cases and classifies new cases by taking a majority vote of its k-neighbors.

The case is then given to the class with the most similarity. Finally, a distance function executes this measurement.

Though the KNN has some perks; however, you must be exceptionally considerate on selecting KNN as they're computationally expensive, its variables must be normalized (else higher range variables can bias the model), and the data requires pre-processing.

7. K-Means

K-Means is an unsupervised learning algorithm that solves clustering problems. Datasets are classified into a certain number of clusters so that all the data points within a cluster are hetero and homogeneous from other cluster data.

Let's see how K-Means form clusters.

• The K-Means algorithm picks the 'k' number of points known as centroid for each cluster.
• Each data point forms a cluster with the nearest centroids (K clusters)
• Now, it creates new centroids based on the existing cluster members.
• The nearest distance for each data point is estimated with the new centroids. This process continues until the centroids don't change.

8. Random Forest Algorithm

A collective of decision trees is known as a Random Forest, which is leveraged to classify a new object based on its attributes, where each tree is classified, and the tree votes for that class. The forest selects the classification having the most votes.

How are these trees planted and grown?

• If the number of cases is 'N' in the training set, the sample of N cases is taken randomly. This sample will be the training set for tree growing.
• Suppose there are 'M' input variables, a number m << M is specified such that at each node, 'm' variables are chosen randomly from the 'M,' and the best split on this 'm' is leveraged to split the node. The value of 'm' is held constant during this process.
• Each tree is grown to the most substantial extent possible, and there's no pruning.

9. Dimensionality Reduction

In the modern world, a massive amount of data is being analyzed and stored by govt agencies, research organizations, and corporates. If you're a data scientist, you know that this raw data contains several pieces of information, and the quest is to determine relevant patterns and variables.

To determine essential details, Dimensionality Reduction such as Factor Analysis, Random Forest, Decision Tree, and Missing Value Ration can be helpful.

10. Gradient Boosting & AdaBoosting

These boosting algorithms are leveraged when colossal data loads have to be handled to create predictions with top-notch accuracy. Boosting is an ensemble learning algorithm that merges the predictive power of many base estimators to enhance robustness.

These algorithms work top-class in data science competitions such as CrowdAnalytix, Kaggle, and AV Hackathon. These are the most preferred ML algorithms today and can be leveraged along with R Codes and Python to achieve precise results.

Concluding Thoughts

If you want to develop a career in ML, start now. The field is sky-rocketing, and the sooner you understand the scope of ML techniques, the better you'll be able to offer solutions to challenging workplace issues.

However, if you're looking forward to becoming one, enroll in our ML certification training course to learn new software trends, emerging techniques, customizing considerations, and core competencies needed by a Machine Learning expert.

By opting for iCert Global's certification training course, we ensure that you ace the role of a Machine Learning professional in any organization.

Project scope management and its importance in 2022

Project scope management has always been one of the most challenging tasks for project managers, and it's getting even more difficult. Today, more and more businesses are asking for better project scope management tools due to the continuous growth of software projects.

Project scope management is one of the essential tasks in an entire project plan. A team must manage all critical aspects of the project and ensure it is completed successfully.

The term project scope management has been getting much attention lately. This is new, but it's becoming popular in architecture and construction. However, many questions about it have been raised by people unaware of its importance or how it works. People may ask some honest answers about this method for planning projects, but for now, let's start looking at what that means and how to use it.

What is project scope management?

Project scope management is the systematic process of defining project objectives, assigning responsibilities, and making decisions to ensure that a project stays within the defined boundaries.

Project scope management is an essential aspect of project management because it defines the boundaries of a project and ensures that the team members stay within those boundaries throughout their work. In this way, it helps to ensure that budget, time, and other resources are used appropriately and effectively.

It provides a framework for managing projects by defining what needs to be done and setting realistic expectations about how long it will take. It also identifies risks associated with the project. Finally, it makes sure that these risks are adequately managed so as not to affect other aspects of the project's execution.

How do you define the scope of a project?

The scope is the range of activity within which a project team is responsible for working. All projects have content, but not all projects have an area that is clearly defined to all stakeholders.

The project manager and sponsor define the scope in response to stakeholder input, such as user requirements, organizational goals, project constraints, and risk factors.

From the beginning of a project, it should be clear to all involved stakeholders to work together toward delivering a successful solution using agreed-upon processes and methods.

Why is scope management critical?

Scope management is about managing the work scope, which is the amount of work that needs to be done and by when.

Scope management is essential because it allows you to deliver the right product on time and within budget. Without scope management, you could end up having a product that doesn't meet your requirements or doesn't meet your customers' expectations.

Project scope management process

Planning scope management

Planning scope management is a process that enables the project manager to have a clear view of the overall project, including its objectives and end-states. The planning scope management process is the process whereby a project scope is developed and managed. Planning scope management includes:

• Defining and documenting the goals, objectives, and constraints of the project.
• Estimating key performance indicators (KPIs) for each phase of the project.
• We are defining the boundaries of each phase of the project.
• It identifies risks associated with each phase of the project.

Collecting requirements

Collecting requirements is the second step of the project scope management process. The requirements are collected from all stakeholders, including customers, end-users, and your staff. The requirements should be documented in a clear, concise, and unambiguous format. The requirements document should include:

• Project objectives
• Scope statement
• Billing information for each procedure
• Technical design specification (TDS)

Defining the scope

When it comes to managing the scope of your project, there are many different ways to go about it.

One way is to define what you want in detail and then ensure that the person doing the work defines their scope based on that. This is a widespread practice and one which works very well for projects with tight deadlines and limited budgets.

However, in more complex situations, this can be not easy because there might be more than one person working on a project, and they may not all agree on how things should be done. In these situations, it's usually better to let them work out their scopes and then provide feedback after the fact.

This ensures that everyone understands what needs to be done and when it needs to happen, which can help avoid confusion later on down the line.

Making a project breakdown structure

A project breakdown structure (PBS) is a model that describes all the components of a project, including their dependencies and relationships.

The purpose of a PBS is to show clearly how each part of a project fits together and relates to other factors. The PBS can be used as a reference when trying to figure out where something belongs in your project or if you need to revise your plan. A good PBS should have the following characteristics:

• It should be easy to understand. It shouldn't contain too many details and focus on the key issues.
• It should be clear how each component fits together with other features and with the overall goal of your project.
• It should be easy for people working on your team to understand what's happening in different parts of your project — mainly because people often don't know much about technology or business concepts at first!

Validating scope

The most critical part of project scope management is validating the scope. It's not enough to know what you're supposed to do; you need to ensure you can do it. The process should involve several steps:

Define the scope. This is the most crucial step since it helps you define what your project is supposed to accomplish. You should determine the content as clearly as possible so that everyone involved understands exactly what needs to be done and how long it will take.

Identify dependencies. Many factors can affect your ability to deliver on time or under budget. Still, one of the biggest is having too much work or too little time. For example, suppose your company has an aggressive sales goal for this quarter. In that case, it's going to be difficult for anyone on your team if they have only two weeks' worth of work left before being unable to meet their goals – but if they have nine months' worth of work left, then they could easily fit everything in those extra three weeks and still hit their goals.

Identify risks and constraints. Risk management is about identifying potential problems before they occur so that you can prevent them from happening by taking action now rather than later. This can include identifying.

Controlling scope

By controlling scope, you ensure that the project is on track and within budget. You can do this by developing a detailed plan with accurate estimates of all costs associated with the project. The client and stakeholders should approve this plan before you begin work.

 For example, suppose you are working on a new website for your company. In that case, you will need to determine what features will be included in the final product (such as additional pages or functionality).

Once you have determined what features are needed, you can create a list of tasks that will be completed during the next development phase. By controlling the scope at this point, you ensure everything is done correctly and on time.

Another way to control scope is by creating multiple product versions before launch. This allows you to test different features and see which ones work best before launching them publicly.

Why is project scope management important in 2022 and beyond?

For 2022 and beyond, Project scope management is critical because it helps ensure that the project objective is met. In other words, it provides that the project will not be over budget or take longer than expected. It also ensures that the project will be completed on time and with as few resources as possible.

Another reason is that it helps avoid costly rework later in the project. For example, if there are changes to the scope of a project, it often means that work will have to start again from scratch. This can be very costly for businesses and organizations because it takes time to build up the skills needed for a new project. This lost time can't be used on something else productive.

 Scope management is essential when many stakeholders are involved in a project, such as when evaluating an environmental impact study or building an oil refinery plant. Stakeholders want to know what needs to be done to participate in decision-making processes and make informed decisions about how their projects should go forward with minimal risk of negative consequences.

Conclusion

Like its big brother, PDM (Project Data Management), Project Scope Management has many benefits for both organizations and project managers. A full 20% percent of global project management budgets would be allocated to scope management, and why not? The scope of any project is arguably the most important thing that any project manager has to deal with; it makes sense.

Top 30 Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers 2022

The project manager profession traces back to the early 19th century but wasn't popular or recognized as a distinct job career until the late 20th century. However, in the modern job market, it is one of the most renowned and reputed careers offering handsome remuneration.

But understanding it's not an easy task, where you'll have to compete with others worldwide. In this top 30 project manager interview questions and answers 2022 article, we will help you prepare for your interview and excel in it.

Q1. According to you, what is Project Management?

Project management helps in performing numerous methods, techniques, knowledge, skills, and experience to attain the goals of a unique project. However, the final deliverables and a definite deadline are critical factors differentiating project management from standard management. Therefore, a project manager must always follow the project management rule - 6P (Proper Planning Prevents Poor Project Performance).

Q2. How do you define an ideal project?

This is one of the most important interview questions of the project management, to know what type of project you would take up. By answering this question, you open up new opportunities to manage projects that help you ace. Ensure that your answer includes multiple points, such as whether you're interested in working alone or as a team, the kind of timelines you prefer, and whether you're keen on creative projects.

Q3. How to prioritize tasks in a project?

Task prioritization is crucial and especially when a project is challenging. It helps to ensure the successful and timely completion of the project. Follow the below-given points to state your task prioritization in the project:

• List responsibilities and tasks
• Differentiate between significant and urgent
• Assess the value of each task
• Order the tasks by measured efforts
• Stay flexible
• Known when to say 'No'

Q4. Give an example of a failed experience. Mention if you had any such experience?

Failure and success are part of the project management career. Therefore, it's not ideal to answer NO to this question. Hence think of a scenario in your previous projects where you have experienced failure. In addition, this interview question focuses on checking your experience in risk management as well. So, ensure you include how you handled the risk issue.

Q5. What are the knowledge domains? State its relevancy in a project.

Knowledge domains are the central technical subject matter that is essential for the efficient management of a project. Knowledge domains are the main technical subject matter that is essential for the efficient management of a project:

• Project Integration Management
• Project Scope Management
• Project Schedule Management
• Project Cost Management
• Project Quality Management
• Project Resource Management
• Project Communications Management
• Project Risk Management
• Project Procurement Management
• Project Stakeholder Management

Q6. What are processes and process groups in a project management system?

This question aims to grasp your domain expertise. In a project management framework, processes mean a defined way of doing tasks to complete projects successfully. On the other hand, process groups are the process collection executed on the different project phases - Initiation, Initiation, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Control, and Closing.

Q7. How will you a tackle a difficult stakeholders involved in your project?

Since stakeholders hold a top authority and are the central part of a project; hence, having their consent is of utmost importance. However, sometimes they can be adamant to tackle; in such cases, project managers should:

• Accept the authority without fights
• Eradicate the negative emotions
• Understand their problems
• Seek for advice and listen to them
• Be honest and tactful with your decisions
• Encourage them and strive to build a connection
• Enhance your communication

Q8. Imagine your project has gone off the rails, so, what will be steps you would consider to get back on the track?

Once you realize that the project is going as per the planned time, scope, goal, or budget, the following top priority is to get on the right track. The project manager should be proficient in taking vital steps to resolve the inconsistency between planned and actual progress. Your answer to this question may include re-adjusting resource management, determining the exact cause of off-tracking, putting in extra effort, and more.

Q9. How will you start you job as a new project manager?

When you start your job as a project manager first few things that you need to take care are:

• Listen, observe and learn
• Understand your client's demand and requirements
• Know your team and their personalities
• Take the opportunity to learn new skills
• Help around the working environment
• Strive to excel the tools your organization possess

Q10. Explain your strategy to deal with internal conflicts among the team members?

Here, the recruiter is trying to understand your mediation skills and how unbiased you are during conflict resolution. You can state why it is vital to listen to both the parties and understand their viewpoints. Your answer should also include how you convince either party to reach a conclusion that works best for the project and delivers a win-win scenario. Moreover, it would help if you communicate how you ensure both parties aren't benefitting from the other's loss.

Q11. What is RAID in project management?

RAID stands for Risks, Actions, Issues, and Decisions, which is a crucial tool for any project manager – used to track these factors in an organized way. Therefore, while answering this question, you should also include the definitions of Risks, Actions, Issues, and Decisions.

Q12. Mention the techniques you might leverage to define a project scope?

This question aims to understand your expertise in the concerned area. Here, you can explain various concepts involved in defining a project scope like Product Breakdown, System Analysis, Alternatives Analysis, Requirement Analysis, Value Engineering, System Engineering, and Value Analysis.

Q13. Name some tools leveraged to enhance process activities?

• Comparing and Baselining a Process
• Flow-charting
• Value-Stream Mapping
• Cause and Effect Analysis
• Hypothesis Testing

Q14. Explain the team forming process you follow in managing a project?

A project manager should know about the different phases a team goes through during a project; therefore, this is one of the most common questions seen in exams and project management interviews. For example, for the formation of a team, there are five development phases - Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. While answering this question, you should explain each of these stages accurately.

Q15. Which project management technique do you prefer in your projects?

As a single technique can't be applied to all sorts of project. Hence the selection of project management technique must be based on:

• Strategic targets and core organizational values
• Key project business drivers
• Project constraints if any
• Project stakeholders
• Risk that may happen
• Complexity level of the project
• Estimated size and expense of the project

Q16. What do you mean by the triple constraint triangle of project management?

Any project has hazards and restrictions that must be tackled to have a successful project completion. Project managers must know that time, budget, and scope are the three crucial restrictions, sometimes called the project management triangle. This is yet another technical question wherein the recruiter assesses your expertise and how you leverage it in your daily task. Hence, ensure that you explain the definition and how you would leverage it.

Q17. Explain how will you avoid gold plating?

• To prevent gold plating, the top management should stay away from anything above the needs and scope baseline.
• An independent inspector can swiftly recognize gold plating by verifying the deliverables to the project's scope baseline.

Q18. When would you escalate an issue?

Consider escalating an issue if:

• The issue may cause a budget overrun or project delay.
• You have tried to reach an agreement and establish a common point with everyone worried
• You have previously strived and failed to solve the issue with numerous techniques
• You or other team members are forced to take on a massive amount of addition work because of the issue.

Q19. Mention some risks that you as a project manager might encounter in a project?

• Cost Risk
• Schedule Risk
• Performance Risk
• Resource Risk
• Market Risk
• Legal Risk
• Strategic Risk
• Operational Risk
• External Risk

Q20. Explain Ishikawa diagram

Ishikawa, also called the Fishbone diagram, is a tool leveraged for root cause analysis of a particular issue. The added benefit is the explicit depiction and effectiveness in studying complex problems with hidden elements. As a result, project managers can go beyond the manifestations and treat the root problems.

Q21. How to calculate the three-point estimating method?

The three-point estimate can be calculated in two ways:

(a) Triangular Distribution E = (P+M+O)/3 Beta

(b) PERT Distribution E = (P+4M+O)/6

Where, P = Pessimist, O = Optimist & M = Most likely

Q22. Explain the Pareto principle analysis?

Pareto principle, otherwise known as the 80/20 principle, means that 20% of the people produce 80% of the results. This method helps prioritize activities based on their importance rather than their urgency.

Q23. What are the motivation theories and formal methods to keep a team motivated?

A project manager must always keep encouraging their entire team. The following motivation theories are beneficial for project success:

• McClelland's Hypothesis
• Vroom's Prediction Theory
• Theory of Hertzberg
• McGregor's Hypothesis
• Maslow's Theory of Motivation

Q24. What's your leadership style?

There are numerous ways to lead, each with its pros and cons. Regarding project management, it's impossible to avoid bringing up a leadership manner. A project manager may have to select how they lead depending on the project, from top-down to servant leadership. Examine their understanding of leadership methods and apply them to project management.

Q25. What is Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)?

The WBS is leveraged to determine a project's core work activities and the various sub-activities that might be needed to complete the tasks. With a top-down/bottom-up method, WBD's structure follows a hierarchical pattern, with core tasks split into subcategories housed under each parent.

Q26. How do you ensure you & your team deliver or exceed customer expectations?

The recruiter wants to see in detail how you can succeed as a project manager. After all, meeting or exceeding customer demands regarding delivery is your ultimate target. Therefore, it's significant not to be hazy and give a generalized answer; you will want to provide accurate instances and details of your process.

Q27. How do you control a project change?

Some levels of change are inevitable, but as a project manager, it's vital to adapt to those changes rapidly. Explain to your recruiter how you continue to maintain your team on track whenever any project changes randomly show up.

Q28. How do you monitor and review the delegated responsibilities?

As a project manager, it's essential to stay on top of your teammates' tasks and responsibilities daily. Discuss how you do this with specific instances, whether by scheduling brief meetings or using project management software.

Q29. What is stakeholder analysis and Power-Interest Grip leveraged for?

Stakeholder analysis involves assembling a list of all capable stakeholders who will be involved in some manner with the project. In addition, a power-interest grid helps categorize stakeholders based on their significance and influence. These two methods help create all-important stakeholder engagement strategies for diverse groups by outlining the stakeholder's position.

Q30. State few instances of proactive decision-making in your past projects and your life.

It's always crucial to take the initiative as a project manager, and your recruiter wants to see just how you do so. Think of certain project instances that included much proactive decision-making, but don't forget to add cases that took place outside the workplace.

This brings us to the end of today's article. We hope it helped in adding up to your knowledge. If you found these interview question articles helpful and relevant, check out the PMP training course by iCert Global, a PMI-approved training institute with services offered worldwide.

Got a question? Please mention it in the comment box below, and we'll get back to you.

Happy learning!

Tips and tricks for PMP exam

The Project Management Professional exam is a very popular certification, and for a good reason! It's a great way to prove your project management skills to employers and get to know other professionals in the field. This post will guide you through several tips and tricks before taking your PMP exam.

Know the format of the exam and what to expect.

The format of the exam is essential. It would help if you avoided surprises by ensuring you know the information to be covered on the exam, how it will be administered, and how long it will last. Most importantly, you must ensure that you are prepared for the exam format to test your strengths.

Different exams are their "elements" in common - no matter the subject. If you know what to expect and the format, you'll be better prepared to take on the challenge and put your best foot forward. It also helps to take a deep breath and remember that test-taking skills can be acquired through practice, so keep at it!

Become familiar with the PMBOK, Sixth Edition.

PMI has released the "Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Sixth Edition" (PMBOK Guide) along with a companion website. This new publication and accompanying resource site have been created to support project management professionals at all experience levels seeking a common understanding of project management concepts and terminology, best practices, processes, and knowledge areas.

While this new edition is very similar in appearance to the previous edition, there are significant changes made in the PMBOK Guide that you need to be aware of when using this new edition.

Don't trivialize the practice exams.

Test yourself. You're going to be nervous when you take the actual exam, so at least take a few practice tests to prepare yourself for what is likely to be your most significant area of weakness. Focus on time management and eliminating additional answers, and remember that all of the questions on the real test will be multiple choice. After that, formulate a solution for every question on your practice exams, even if it's just "I don't know" or jotting down the correct answer for later review. If you keep these things in mind, you can focus on keeping calm and answering the questions on your test. Practice makes perfect!

Take a mock exam under exam conditions.

To simulate exam conditions, identify 2 or 3 questions you did not answer in the study session. Then, go back to your lecture notes and review the material until you can answer these questions correctly. The goal of these review sessions is to build your confidence so that you do not feel panicked when you sit down for an exam and see a question slightly different from any others you have seen during your study.

It's important to be testing your knowledge every week. This will allow you to spot gaps in your knowledge that can be filled by more studying or from additional resources. If there was only one thing you could change about your exam-taking experience that would dramatically improve your score, this could be it.

Do not cram.

It might seem counterintuitive that cramming is not a good idea, but it is. Cramming will not prepare you for the test. It's ineffective, and in the long run, it doesn't teach you anything.

 Instead of trying to learn everything at once, lean on your course notes as a study guide. Go over each chapter as much as possible. Then, a few days before the test, look up summaries and outlines for the material you will be covering, particularly things that you still struggle with. In essence: use your head for something other than housing beer.

Lastly, remember that the only way to retain the information in a textbook and increase your learning is by actually reading it. That's right, you've heard me. I said "read," not "skim." Skimming might make you wise, but it won't help you learn the material. Instead, make sure, wherever possible, to consolidate your notes as you go along, ideally in your own words. This will make recalling information easier in study sessions later on!

Connect with Project Managers and become a member of PMI

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is an organization for professional project managers. Becoming a member of PMI before taking the exam will give you many benefits. First, PMI offers lower test fees for folks who are members of their organization.

Second, being in touch with other project managers can help you network and find growth opportunities professionally.

Third, group study has many benefits that help you prepare for the exam.

If you're unsure about how to approach a specific question on the test, another person in your group might be able to explain it to you in terms that make more sense. Finally, studying with others can encourage you to stay focused on your preparation plan and meet your study goals more quickly than if you were learning alone.

Conclusion

Taking the PMP exam is an enormous task, and you must be prepared. The more knowledge we have on various topics, the better we can handle unexpected situations during the exam. It takes time and effort, but if you want to pass the exam and get the certification, it's worth spending some time preparing.

Remember that the exam is a challenge, but you can surely pass. If all things are prepared, the chances of getting PMI accreditation are higher. Good luck, guys!

Can Upskilling Make Employees Bid Goodbye to Recession?

A recession is a profound economic downturn amid which trade and industrial business are minimized, generally determined by a fall in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in two successive quarters.

It's no doubt that because of the Russia-Ukraine war, escalating energy prices, increasing bank lending rates, pandemic aftereffects right around the corner, and the inflation rate rising at a sky-rocketed speed, all point toward global recession.

The US holds the title of the world's largest economy - reached record levels of expansion last year. However, as the country enters a deflation, the effect will vibrate globally, alarming to send the development rate into reverse almost two years after the world economy reduced by 4.3% due to the Covid-19.

In an open letter, a former president of Federal Reserve Bank, Bill Dudley, has sent a clear warning that the recession was now virtually inexorable. This resonated with an ex-member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee - David Blanchflower said that each piece of proof pinpoints a recession is near.

Though a recession isn't a deadly threat or not as damaging as depression, people's lives are significantly impacted as they require to reinforce their sash and spend a minimum. This affects ventures, mainly small-scale, as users curtail on non-essentials, resulting in individual jobs on the brink.

The World on the Verge of Recession

The Economist reports that the US upturn, European's energy predicament, and China's Omicron boutade are intimidating the world economy with a deflation following economic inflation in some industry verticals as both the UK and other world economies did indicate signs of recent recovery.

As expenses increase, ventures typically raise the supply rate of their products or significantly cut the company staff, leading to the unemployment rate.

Investors and economists are on the same page. According to a Bloomberg poll, 15% expect the recession to begin in 2022, 48% in 2023, 21% in 2024, and 16% in the following years.

Jobs at High Risk Amid a Recession

While the financial perspective for numerous organizations across the industry verticals seems exposed, thus putting pressure on jobs and employee retentions, there're several jobs at a high risk of reduction amid a recession.

According to professionals, mentioned-below are 10 significant jobs that have the highest probability of facing eradication threats or streamlining during a recession:

• Real estate
• Legal assistants
• Automation-based tasks
• Restaurant employees
• Arts and entertainment
• Retail employees
• Tourism
• Leisure industry
• Mining, oil, and gas employees
• Human resources

During the 2008 recession, the US alone faced over 10% unemployment, and 2020 brought a bewildering loss of around 35Mn jobs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021, the unemployment percent rose to 14.7%.

Jobs at Low Risk Amid a Recession

Whenever the word 'Recession' buzzes in the headlines, there is a concern about job security. Though no job is safeguarded, there are few career fields that professionals feel might not be heavily affected amid a recession period, and here are they:

• IT professionals
• Grocery store workers
• Delivery and courier employees
• School & college professors
• Medical professionals
• Auto mechanics
• Pharmacists & technicians
• Senior care providers
• Accountants

Although no job can be labeled as 100% recession-proof; however, those mentioned above have proven to be more secure than others in prior recessions.

If you're concerned about losing your job, be proactive and take the appropriate steps to shift into one of these professions that are recession-free. However, making a career shift isn't a cakewalk as deciding that you want it to happen.

It is vital to put the significant steps in a position to set yourself up for success, which often needs taking courses that helps in upskilling.

Protect Your Job from Recession; Start Upskilling

Investing in your career development through ongoing upskilling has proven to be the best method to maintain your employment worth in a recession.

The senior editor for Indeed's career guide - Lauren Frazer, said, no matter where you're on your career journey, be it employed, unemployed, dismissed, or a new graduate, upskilling is an excellent approach to stay significant in the working environment.

Adding new proficiencies or reinforcing existing skills adds value to your marketability and makes you more recession-proof.

Protecting your job or learning to land a safe job means obtaining a host of soft and hard skills. Unfortunately, when people think of upskilling, they usually think of hard skills. However, they must also consider soft skills, as they can be implied in any scenario and are transferable from one job to the next.

No matter what your career is, upskilling can be a frightening consideration, but most often, education is invaluable as it's an investment in your future career.

Google Cloud Vs. AWS Vs. Azure: Which one to choose?

Over the years, cloud platforms have become one of the most famous methods to interact with the cloud and build applications. Today, you have several cloud platforms to select from, but Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure are globally renowned as the top three cloud providers.

However, the question remains - which cloud computing is the best?

If you can choose just one, you would like to know more about these three before choosing one. Therefore, we have gathered a few points to differentiate these three cloud services, helping you select the best.

Google Cloud Vs. AWS Vs. Azure

1. Security and Privacy

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) - An amazon.com subsidiary offers an on-demand Cloud Computing platform to people, organizations, and governments on a paid-subscription basis. It is the oldest and enterprise-ready supplier due to its simplicity in delivering top-notch privacy measures and security to the users. Moreover, AWS does a great job defaulting to secure options to ensure greater privacy. For instance, when introducing an EC2, it auto-defaults the networking access to off.
• Azure - Outperforms Google Cloud in security terms because of its cloud defender aspect. It's an AI-powered tool that can aid you in finding errors in the cloud configurations, enhance your security posture, and safeguard your multi-cloud and hybrid environments from new cyber dangers. For example, if you introduce a primary instance of a virtual machine, all the ports are open by default.
• Google Cloud - one of the most secure platforms that offer security factors like encryption and Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP).

2. Fundamental Features

• Google Cloud - includes advanced data analytics and development tools. Apart from this, you can leverage its cloud SDK for interacting with Cloud APIs.
• AWS - has a 5-year head start and is more feature-rich, providing around 200 services compared to the other two.
• Azure - Having over 100 services, Azure's strength relies on its global reach and availability. Other than that, several tools to seamlessly manage the Azure cloud system. If you leverage Azure, you can move data between your sites without leaving the network, resulting in minimized latency, lower prices, and higher security.

3. Compute Engines

• Google Cloud - Google's scalable virtualization network hosts Virtual Machines (VMs) in Google's data centers. This can start up swiftly, having a lot of storage space, and can be personalized according to client requirements.
• AWS – A primary compute offering of AWS is its customizable ECS instances. We can change storage, connect more models, adjust regions, and more. If you've no earlier experience in computing or are worried about high billing costs, start with Amazon Lightsail - a cheap, dependable virtual private server with serverless computing. An added advantage is to pay only for the computing capacity leveraged.
• Azure - Compute solution of Azure relies on VMs, with tools such as Resource Manager and Cloud Services to aid with cloud app deployment and Azure Autoscaling.

4. Availability Zones

• Google Cloud - available in 20 regions globally and 3 more to come.
• AWS - 66 availability zones with 12 more following.
• Azure - available in 54 regions and 140 countries globally.

5. Major Clients

• Google Cloud - Bloomberg, HSBC, Dominos, PayPal and 20th Century Fox.
• AWS - Zynga, Netflix, Samsung, Unilever, MI, Airbnb, and BMW
• Azure - Honeywell, Johnson Controls, HP, Polycom, Apple, and Fujifilm.

6. Pricing

• Google Cloud - smallest instances containing 2 virtual CPUs and 8GB RAM is obtained at 25% cheaper rate (us $52/month). In case of larger instance (3.75TB RAM and 160vCPUs), you get for US $5.32/hour.
• AWS - The cost of basic instances (2 vCPUs and 8GB RAM) is over $69/month and larger instances (3.84TB RAM and 128 vCPUs) is $3.97/hour.
• Azure - For small instances (8GB RAM and 2 vCPUs) the cost is over $70/month and that of larger instances (128 vCPUs and 3.89TB RAM) is $6.79/hour.

7. Hybrid & Multi Cloud Choices

• Google Cloud - Looker, Cloud Run for Anthos, Anthos, Cloud Build, Operation, and Traffic Director.
• AWS - Wavelength, Snowball, Local Zones, Amazon EKS Anywhere, VMware Cloud on AWS, Outposts, Snowcone.
• Azure - Centinel, Arc, Blob Storage, Active Directory, Stack, Backup and Security Center.

Which One to Choose?

Considering everything, we conclude that AWS is easier to learn if you have no earlier cloud expertise. AWS continues to set the standard for stability and potential in broad strokes.

It remains the undisputed market leader in quality, security, and features. However, you will have to pay a premium compared to the rest, which is why Microsoft Azure is suggested as the second-top option if you are in a tight expense spot.

How Extended Reality (XR) Enhance the Visual Learning Process?

Is there a role for Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in the visual learning process? From a particular perspective, when we leverage modern technology, we learn new and different things, from how to chance on an electronic originator.

You might be an IT, education manager, or both and are interested in finding modern VR and AR technologies that can speed up learning in any sector. And it's just to say that numerous teaching methods are based on presenting learners with facts. 

Students who can retain facts seamlessly are successful, while those who struggle to process massive information at once can become disengaged. This applies to all sorts of students - school environment, workplace training program, or a lifelong education.

Some people are visual learners, which means the potential to see a process rather than read or hear about it. This is where AR and VR add value to the education process.

As technological change advances in the education sector, the Extended Reality (XR), the next big thing in the EdTech sector, creates immersive worlds where students can visualize concepts and interactively learn new information and skills.

Educators worldwide are beginning to realize the surplus benefits of leveraging XR technology in education, and a study predicts the worldwide AR/VR market in learning to reach $22.7Bn by 2027.

In this article, we will see five main reasons to be optimistic about the revolutionization of future education by XR technology.

5 Ways XR Could Transform Visual Learning Process

1. Creating an Immersive Classroom Experience

Adopting XR tech in education can significantly transform how we teach and learn. What sounds more captivating - learning from a book or putting on a VR headset to visualize concepts?

The second choice rings a bell, doesn't it?

Most students are visual learners, so they get more out of XR technology than traditional spoon-feeding knowledge techniques. Moreover, studies show retention rates are more significant for students who learn through immersive sessions.

2. Redefining Hands-on Learning

Observational learning is an engaged learning procedure in which students learn through experimenting and reflecting on the experience. However, several schools don't have the budget to build labs or afford modern lab devices.

Moreover, amid the pandemic, institutions are shifting to online education, which lacks practical aspects. Merging XR technology in learning provides a realistic, practical learning procedure.

AR/VR presents a secure setting for learners to practice high-risk experiments. Thus, students can experiment with critical tasks such as medical operations, machinery training, and more.

A secure virtual setting ensures students can commit mistakes and learn from those without the concern of real-life scenarios.

3. Enhancing Learning Outcomes

Adopting XR technology in schools needs drastic funding, which has people concerned about the effectiveness of XR in education. However, XR is not just a hot buzzword in the industry that will fade away when given the time. Reports and experiments back up the claim that VR can transform the way we learn and teach.

In recent research, Google Daydream Labs taught two groups to operate an espresso machine, one with YouTube videos and another with VR tech. The outcomes from the experiment displayed that VR learners understood quicker and made few mistakes.

Stanford University and Technical University Demarked revealed that merging XR tech-enhanced memory retention rates by 76 percent compared to routine learning procedures.

This shows that XR has the power to become the new norm in education.           

4. Social and Collaborative Learning

Whether earning a career choice, growing your network, or enhancing customer experience, knowing how to interact is the main factor. Unfortunately, in traditional or online learning, students often don't get the opportunity to interact with individuals from different parts of the world.

However, XR takes social collaboration to the next level, as learners can interact with others through virtual conferences, VR avatars, and more, leading to increased diversity and enabling them to join virtual events.

5. Long-term Learning Experience

Education doesn't have a limit, so your learning won't cease after college graduation. XR tech can aid individuals of all ages to keep learning and expanding their knowledge - learning a new language, other soft skills, or practicing public speaking.

Today, XR is also offering benefits to corporate training. With the technology, workforces can practice risky tasks in an AR/VR setting. Whether school, college, or corporate training, XR tech can make learning fun, engaging, and interactive.

There are several perks to adopting XR tech into the learning process. Leveraging XR is a promising method for delivering an innovative, engaging learning experience. Given the current state of rapid tech developments, XR will become more accessible and budget-oriented.

Why Leadership a Necessity in Today's Digital Era?

The world as we witness today has seen a drastic transformation towards the digital era. The companies have highlighted more on digital shift to keep pace with the change all around.

Digital transformation can be disorienting and can cause panic. However, successful luminaries realize that 'Digital' isn't so much a thing to get hold of within an industry or a company; instead, an era needs an ever-evolving mindset and intentional investment in the suitable potential.

Famous business leaders such as Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates have accepted the digital shift and adapted to it quickly with their top-notch leadership skills, making them stand out as leaders.

With the advent of technology, these leaders have upgraded their skills that go hand-in-hand with the relevant transformation. Enhanced skills have enabled the belief of doing things by the influential luminaries of today.

What exactly are these digital era leadership skills that set the leaders apart from the rest?

Leadership skills are required to interact, encourage, and persuade individuals to align with a goal or vision. As leaders look for long-term, they must create conditions that enable digital maturity, attract the best talent, and bring out the best in the talent pool they captivate.

Before diving into the skills that make you a standout leader, let's look at the characteristics of a good leader.

The Characteristic of a Good Leader

1. Dedication to the Organizational Mission

Being dedicated to the goal and purpose of a company takes a lot of effort and strong commitment, and it's this dedication that will make you different from others.

They introduce effective communication and an exuberant willingness in everyone that improve organizational and personal development. Proficient luminaries develop this readiness through trust and understanding of the member's perspective of the company.

2. The Wish to Lead

It's a known fact that leaders always pave the path for their followers, and they wish to lead is a leadership characteristic of utmost importance. Without the readiness to lead, it becomes strenuous to become a luminary of your team or company.

Without the desire, you won't be able to pitch in the effort to attain the skills for the modern digital era to encourage others and complete the tasks.

3. Integrity

A successful leader always has the characteristic of integrity. Integrity is defined as being true to their word, being authentic, and having behavioral power you might want to see in your workforce.

Leaders with integrity traits are sincere, maintain consistency in their work, and accept responsibility for their errors.

The Leadership Skills You Require in Digital Reign

Now that we have discusses the three main characteristics of a leader, let's see leadership skills that will aid you in becoming a great leader:

1. Possessing Creative Edge

Creativity has no boundaries and offers everyone several choices to explore things. But, when it comes to the creative leader, they're those who think out of the box, has emotional intelligence, and develop possibilities that fit right in with the enormous technological phase change.

As a leader, getting creative at work empowers your workforce to be more open regarding ideas and thoughts upfront. This leader characteristic offers more credible odds to your company to merge well with the transformations.

2. Proficiency in Technology

As our world keeps transforming swiftly, technology has taken over everything - enhancing every sector of business. Technically proficient leaders see the big picture that technology can play in a company.

It's one of the vital skills a leader must have that help them gain knowledge on organization strength, the products/services, and the potential to solve technical problems.

Technological proficiency will also help you display yourself as a leader for the future who is well-equipped with ideas with problem-solving expertise.

3. Learning & Re-learning

With the pace at which our world is transforming, adaptability remains the best deal for leaders in the current business situation. Digital disruption has been rising, and flexible leaders understand the significance of being relevant in the game and keeping their career curve steady.

Leaders must understand the new work process tactic and behaviors to learn business and workflows in the modern digital era. In the same way, it's essential that you go back to the fundamentals, re-learn and start new with fresh tactics and techniques that have given the digital change.

This will offer you a new perspective on the current transformations and aid you in dealing with the phase shift.

4. Agility

Agility means the ability of a person to think and understand rapidly. In today's swift-paced corporate and evolving digital environment, it has become crucial for anyone to adapt quickly. However, this is only possible if leaders are open to changes and have an agile mind.

The sound and clear mind of a leader can work well across cultures and encourage employees. Hence leadership agility offers you the skill to make wise and effective decisions in swiftly changing tech lives.

5. Collaborative

Individual contributors and talent can turn out to be crucial across any company. However, when there is a team play, it becomes daunting for your competitors to take you down. But this sense of collaboration comes into action only from your leadership trait. 

It's central to employ a team that works cohesively, creating an environment where collaboration is present. You, as a leader, have to do more than tell employees what they require to operate.

It's no piece of cake to develop any skill overnight. Patience, communication, hard work, and perseverance are the essentials here. Just give yourself some time to process the shifts going around you.

Learn from it, explore and welcome the infinite potential you will achieve as a leader. You can create opportunities for your workforce with these flourishing skills and prepare them for their future development.

Incorporating Technology into Teaching and Learning Methods

Technology is changing education, transforming how, when, and where students learn and encouraging them at every phase of their career journey. Technology equips candidates on the path to customizing education by offering them authorization of how they learn, making education significant to their digital lives, and preparing them for the future.

With tech and access to materials beyond the four walls of the classroom, candidates are inspired to become critical thinkers, developers, problem-solvers, and collaborators.

Education providers are constantly attempting to customize learning for students, and incorporating technology into the learning system, helps them reach new stages with access to real-time student data, content, apps, and more.

Technology can aid educators in developing blended learning spaces and use digital services and tools for formative assessments, bringing novel approaches to learning and teaching to classrooms.

This article will discuss how technology can be helpful to students, challenges faced by technology in education, why it's significant to integrate technology in the classroom, and more.

How Technology can be Helpful to Students?

There is a common myth that merging technology in the classroom can be a financial debt for school districts; however, students don't require their laptops or tablets to succeed with the tech. 

Using technology during the whole class can adopt student engagement for visual and auditory learners. Here are different ways how technology can help students:

• PowerPoint Presentation enables educators to embed high-resolution diagrams, videos, pictures, and sound files to enhance the text and verbal lecture content.
• Smartphones and clickers are a fast way to survey learners during class. This is great for instant polling, which can rapidly assess learners' understanding and help educators adjust pace and content.
• Online collaboration tools like Google Apps let learners and educators share documents online, edit them and project them on a screen, thus, giving students a collaborative platform to brainstorm ideas and document work using images and text.
• Course management tools like Canvas let educators organize all the materials students require for the class, such as assignments, online quizzes, syllabi, and more, offering valuable grading tools and creating spaces for discussion, document sharing, and video/audio commentary.

Challenges Faced by Tech in Education

According to a survey report, 92% of educators understand the effect of educational tech, and 59% of middle-school students highlighted that digital educational tool had assisted them with test and grade scores.

According to the World Economic Forum, digital tools have become popular, that the educational tech market is projected to grow by over $342Bn by 2025. But educational technology has its challenges, especially regarding execution and leverage. 

For instance, despite the increasing demand for AI, AR, and other emerging technology, less than 10% of schools report having these techs in their classrooms. 

Additional concerns include educators' effectiveness in using the tech, excessive screen time, and worries about tech equity. Amid the global pandemic rise, educators were required to create and weigh in on online educational content, particularly to empower students to consider a topic from different viewpoints. The immediate actions executed amid this crisis didn't offer sufficient time.

Accessibility is an added concern; for instance, not every school has materials to offer their students with laptops or internet connectivity that can be unreliable in homes.

While some learners flourish in online education settings, others lag for different reasons, including support resources. For instance, learners who already had a hard time in an in-person environment may struggle even more in the digital learning platform as they may have relied on resources they no longer possessed in their homes.

Though most learners demonstrated confidence in leveraging online education when they have resources; however, online education might pose challenges for educators, particularly in places where it hasn't been a norm.

Benefits of Educational Technology

Educators want to enhance student performance, and technology can assist them in achieving the goal. To alleviate the risks, admins should help educators attain the competencies required to improve student learning via technology.

Besides, technology in the classroom must make educators' teaching life easier without adding additional time to their routine. Technology offers learners easy access to data, accelerated learning, and fun choices to practice what they learn - enabling learners to explore novel subjects and deepen their understanding of challenging concepts.

Luminaries and admins should take stock of where their faculty are based on their understanding of online environments. Then, from lessons learned during the disruptive time, they can execute solutions now for the future.

For instance, admins could offer educators a week or more to carefully ponder how to teach courses not previously online. Moreover, flexibility during these striving times is of significant importance in exploring solutions.

Let's see some points on how significant technology is in education and its benefits to learners and educators.

• Increased communication and collaboration
• Customized learning choices
• Curiosity driven by engaging content
• Enhanced educator productivity and efficiency

Why It’s Significant to Incorporate Technology in Classroom?

Educators often succeed when they present the choice to leverage technology in the learning environment. However, when technology is leveraged for educational instruction, there are several benefits and impacts, and some may debate that not all of the effects are positive.

Having an infinite flow of entertainment and information available at any given time could be a distraction; however, if technology is incorporated into the classroom with routines in place that are monitored or assessed, the advantage of leveraging tech outweighs the demerits.

Here are the three main reasons why technology incorporation into education is essential:

• Keeping active engagement of students
• Assisting students with various learning styles
• Preparing students with life skills

Educators unfamiliar with specific technology used in education may not have been exposed to the tools as they prepared for their future or as part of their professional growth.

They look forward to transforming and attaining the skills to merge technology in education and can take advantage of learning choices to advance their competencies.

For people looking to help change the education system through technology, iCert Global provides several professional certifications online to prepare candidates with relevant tools to become luminaries.

To learn more on iCert Global and professional certification offered, visit our website:

https://www.icertglobal.com/

What is Node.js: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

With several technologies on board, Node.js has its win and defects. However, there is no denying that it is widely leveraged by a few top-notch players worldwide, from Netflix and LinkedIn to Uber, to build swift, top-notch quality applications.

Node.js is an entirely accessible open-sources that brings several benefits to the table, making it a good choice over other server-side platforms such as PHP and Java. And popular techs leveraged by big brands are always something to focus on when making a career decision.

If you are new to Node.js or are just speeding up on the core concepts, this blog will introduce this platform's basics.

What is Node.js?

It is a cross-platform, open-source JavaScript runtime environment and library to run web applications outside an end-user browser. It's built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine, which analyzes and performs the JavaScript code. In addition, the Node leverages an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, making it lightweight and rapid. This model is one of the main reasons why Node has become so popular.

Why Use Node.js?

• Been built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine, Node.js is swift for code execution.
• Node.js significantly minimizes the processing time when uploading audio/video files. The applications never buffer data and simply output the data in chunks.
• Node.js is highly scalable, which create limited threads to tackle requests
• Node Package Manager (NPM) has more than 50K bundles, so whatever the functionality needed for an application, it can be seamlessly imported from NPM.

Advantages of Learning Node.js?

If you're interested in front/back-end programming, you should think about learning Node.js. Here are five reasons why one must learn Node.js:

1. Job Market Demand

The demand for full-stack developers is high, and we see more job opportunities needing Node experts. Adding Node.js to your resume is a great way to expand your career choices as a stack developer. Moreover, your remuneration is excellent, i.e., an average Node.js developer receives $100K annually.

2. Easy to Understand and Learn

As said, Node.js is written in JavaScript. JavaScript is one of the most sought-after programming languages, and every developer is familiar with it. Hence, understanding and learning Node needs less time and effort, even for a Jr JavaScript programmer.

3. Active Community

Node.js is a very active and electrifying comprised of developers who continuously contribute to its enhancement. This makes learning seamless as you can access several solutions at any development phase.

4. Full Stack js

The increase in full-stack web development can be certified to Node. This web development is when the same creators work on all program aspects such as database admin, front/back-end development, and more.

Before Node, these developers had to learn multiple languages; however, with Node, you only require to know JavaScript to write both front- and back-end web apps.

5. Freedom to Build Apps

While Ruby on Rails is a framework that imposes rules and regulations to create software in a certain way, Node.js provides more freedom to do things our way.

A fresh install of Node only offers you a bare minimum, letting you build everything from scratch and customize every last detail with fewer restrictions.

Products that Used Node.js

1. Walmart

According to Forbes, this is the globe's most prominent organization by revenue, with $59Bn in 2020. The organization chose Node.js because of:

• Efficient handling of simultaneous requests
• Asynchronous I/O

2. NASA

NASA is responsible for the civilian space program and aerospace and aeronautics research. This agency chose to leverage Node.js for the following:

• Ability to tackle data-intensive activities
• Minimized access times
• Potential to maintain the server 24/7

3. Medium

Developed by Evan Williams, Medium is a popular online publishing platform that leverages Node.js for the following reasons:

• Easy server maintenance
• Data-driven applications
• Capability to run A/B tests

4. PayPal

It's a US-based organization operating worldwide as an online payment forum supporting online transactions. The reason why PayPal chose Node.js are:

• Fewer code lines
• Potential to tackle massive amounts of data
• Significantly rapid build times

How to Learn Node.js?

If you thinking learning Node.js might be your next motive to advance the career, here are few things how to get started with the Node.js:

• Learn JavaScript
• Understand why it’s called Node, so you'll understand better how it works.
• The main aspect of Node is non-blocking; hence you've to understand how I/O operations in Node are executed asynchronously, with code lines adhering to a non-blocking pattern.
• Understand the concept of the event loop
• Learn the global variables
• Understand how to leverage the libraries that comes with Node
• Learn to write codes for Node
• Write a web application on Node, without leveraging any framework

Materials to Learn Node.js

The points mentioned above are only to get you started. When understanding or learning Node, you must program 90% of the time and require more knowledge than we have listed to achieve that. 

However, there are numerous valuable materials you can leverage to educate yourself on Node.js and dedicate more time to programming, including:

• Node is open source, and so are many materials, including Visionmedia, a tremendous open-source E-book for learning Node.
• Blogs can help in learning Node.js and staying current with changes.
• Node courses vary based on the proficiency level you have and the approach to learning.
• Several coding boot camps can teach you Node.js as part of a MEAN Stack.
• Diving into documentation may be hectic, especially when you're new to Node; therefore, find videos to learn that might be a better place to start.
• You can also find free online tutorials to learn Node.js.

For a newcomer who wants to get started in the tech sector, learning Node.js and getting significant certifications can be an effective method to launch your career. Use your time and effort to begin your journey, and soon you'll be an expert in this profitable runtime environment.

The Project 10-year Growth for Software Engineers in the US

In a connected world dominated by the internet, software engineering is one of the most sought-after careers in the US. A software engineer is a broad term related to computer software development, design, and maintenance.

The software makes the world run in the modern era. iTunes, Word, Netflix, Spotify, and other apps that add value for people through the computer's hardware are software engineers' assets.

If you are a software enthusiast, you can expect opportunities across the US to flourish your career. As you learn technical skills and gain expertise, new doors will open. You will have the choice to continue working with code or use the knowledge of the software development lifecycle to lead teams.

By learning the basic principles of software development and coding, professionals can offer themselves a robust foundation to add value to any organization.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of software developers, quality assurance (QA) analysts, and testers is projected to grow 22% from 2020-to 2030, more rapidly than the average for all occupations.

Several students are choosing software engineering for career development to keep up with the increasing demand. With over 4.3Mn software engineers in the US, people are judged on various aspects that directly impact the salary package they might get. 

What organizations are up against, however, is a small talent pool. So the engineering skillset is required in various industry verticals that organizations are willing to pay handsome remuneration for professionals with the potential to build projects, solve problems, and work with others. 

According to Ncube, there are considerably more jobs in engineering and computing than there are college graduates to fill the position. This is why training providers like us exist to help you reskill. 

Not only is it a perfect career start to land on some of the world's top-notch organizations, but demand will only increase. In addition, the skills and specializations you hold after gaining the certification help you decide which job is ideal.

The higher the skills and specialization, the more chances of fetching you a better pay scale in any industry is more. In the software engineering sector, skills greatly enhance your income.

Why Software Engineer a Demand in Modern Job Market?

With a significant portion of our work, personal and otherwise, occurring on devices, every sector requires individuals to bring their solutions, products, and services to the digital world.

For instance, in 2022, the e-Commerce sector is on track to top $1 Trillion in sales, growing significantly year by year and projected to double soon. Moreover, retail organizations have learned the significance of seamless and streamlined online shopping, especially during Black swan events like the Covid-19 outburst while stores remained shut.

But still, some global consumers prefer in-person shopping to be online because of convenience.

However, as online venture trends continue to play a role in routine B2B workflows, it's predicted that the site sale will reach over $1.77Tr this year, a 12% increase from 2021.

Consider other sectors such as:

• In Healthcare - a continued enhancement of telehealth
• In Entertainment – you can livestream or join others via virtual reality (VR)
• In Automobile – you can buy and sell cars online

Every sector has or will develop a requirement for digital solutions, which is why the talent pools need to continue growing.

With new products and services comes an increased risk of cyber breaches. While this is a different skill set, engineers with the knowledge of putting security measures in place will see more opportunities unfolding.

The Projected Growth of Software Engineers in 10 Years

As said, the projected growth over the next decade for software engineers is significantly higher than other professional paths, with the BLS survey highlighting an increase of around 22%. Hence, we will likely see the percentage growth over time.

Another good estimation to remember about the engineers is the average annual income. The latest data shows that even an entry-level software engineer has an average salary of over $87,000. Remember, these figures vary according to the area you live in, the organization you work for, and the skills you exhibit.

As the junior software engineers and developers are so pivotal to an organization's continued success, they're paying handsome remuneration for anyone who can develop web pages, mobile applications, and other software parts.

Moreover, technology has always been and will remain at the forefront of remote working. For example, the work of a software engineer doesn't need to be in-person, and most syncs can virtually occur. While this idea varies according to companies, these engineers regularly praise the sector for highlighting the remote-friendly nature of the role.

Top Recruiters for Software Engineer in the US

The tech giants situated in the US are some of the top-notches in their fields. Therefore, recruiting the best professionals is key to being one of the best organizations.

To secure skillset's services, these organizations provide high income and several benefits. Some of the top recruiters that offer the best salary for software engineers in the US are:

• Meta
• Netflix
• Microsoft
• Google
• NVIDIA
• Amazon
• Apple

10 Core Project Management Skills You Must Master in 2022

Some people have little idea of what being a project manager is. Most of them think they are dictators who shout out orders at everyone between solitaire games, which hardly seems.

Project management is the most challenging and in-demand career in the modern business environment. The consistent rise in the project manager salaries worldwide shows their demand in the job market.

These professionals are generally responsible for overseeing the complete project from start to end and performing crucial tasks that can make the project successful.

Apart from the typical prerequisites of considerable technical skills, project professionals are expected to have a combination of project management skills, soft skills, and competencies.

There are times when department heads or functional managers perform the tasks of project professionals without getting the title. However, suppose you are someone new to the project management world and wish to know the concept of an accidental manager being handled the responsibilities of one. In that case, you'll have to master the following set of skills:

1. Planning & Strategic Thinking

Planning and strategic thinking are the critical skills for any project professional. But unfortunately, the concept of these professionals without strategies and planning doesn't exist.

Managers' everyday activities, such as task prioritizing and organizing, progress tracking, and making good decisions based on the scenario, need a particular level of project planning.

Therefore, with proper plans and strategy, project managers can ensure that the projects remain safe from unnecessary project delays and budget shortfalls.

2. Task Management

Along with project scheduling, task management is the backbone of the project. You can plan as much as you desire; however if your project tasks are not organized accurately, the probability of your project failing or getting delayed is high.

As a project professional, you must know which tasks to perform simultaneously and which rely on each other. Identifying these minor details and coming up with an effective system is what differentiates you from the crowd.

3. Critical Thinking

This is a vital skill needed for project managers as it helps them stay put even if things slip out of mind or go out of hand. It's exceptionally crucial to have a structured method to make relevant decisions. This objective decision-making path ensures that external pressures won't impact your project.

Moreover, critical thinking also makes you a one-of-the-kind manager. Even after rigorous planning, bewildering events can occur, and project professionals must save as much as possible to stay on track and deliver the project efficiently.

4. Leadership

Leadership is perhaps the most critical project management skill any enthusiast must possess. The managers can adopt several kinds of leadership to lead and encourage the team. Effective luminary knows the right time to assign tasks to the team members and take control.

As a project professional, you must understand that there is an oceanic difference between leading and managing. Management is following specific set procedures and project management techniques and ensuring others jump on the bandwagon.

On the other hand, leadership needs emotional intelligence and project management skills, and project professionals must encourage and inspire their teams.

5. Team Management

The most significant part of project management is that managers have to stay organized at work and manage skillsets. You must efficiently leverage the available resources, and your team is the best resource you got. Team management skills are a path toward a good leader, and how you tackle this responsibility can have a drastic effect on the project.

Project teams usually include workforces from different fields who hardly communicate or interact with each other. Therefore, gathering all these professionals on the same page and assigning tasks according to their expertise is not a piece of cake.

6. Negotiation

All project stakeholders have different objectives/demands, and as a project professional, it's your responsibility to negotiate suitable terms for everyone. To create a win-win scenario, you will have to understand when to compromise and when to take no for an answer.

The task needs you to constantly develop scenarios where you get what you want by making a few compromises to convince the stakeholders - that they get something out of the agreement.

You will have to stay neutral with your organization's management to:

• manage your own team
• tackle other stakeholders
• attain needed resources
• negotiate attainable project deadlines.

7. Using the Right Tools

Project management is not a child's play; it needs a combination of project management skills and suitable tools. As a project manager, you should recognize and evaluate the right tools for your project requirements to make your job seamless and streamlined.

8. Effective Communication

This skill goes hand-in-hand with leadership. No matter how good your idea/vision is or how much you want to inspire your teammates, it will go in vain if you can't get your points clear.

Moreover, a significant part of a project professional's time is dedicated to dealing with stakeholders and external parties such as contractors and vendors. All of these activities need a professional expert in project communication to deliver the idea to the team.

Hence, these managers must work on improving their communication skills.

9. Scheduling and Time Management

Time management is something project, and non-project managers have been doing for a very long period. Even the most straightforward job needs effective time management; thus, it's evident that your project also requires the same.

Fortunately, project managers in these modern years leverage numerous tools to tackle the time management task. Several project management applications come with scheduling and time tracking aspects.

With the tools, project managers can perform tasks such as:

• Sending of reminders
• Tasks prioritizing
• Visualizing of project
• Project progress tracking

10. Risk Mitigation

No matter how simple are the projects you're dealing with every day; the risk is an unavoidable factor. Several things can go wrong, and a task that seemed easy might cause massive issues for you down the project delivery road.

As a project professional, you minimize the possibilities of project risks while having an effective strategy in case something wrong happens. Expert project managers can determine potential errors/risks before they happen and develop a risk management plan.

Being responsible for a project indicates that you have many responsibilities to handle at once, and at some point, you may experience stress. However, staying in the right frame of mind and improving the fundamental skills can make the obstacle a little easier to perform.

Highest Paying Career Options for 2022

Choosing a career path is essential, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. The best-paid jobs keep up with digitalization, and this is easier than ever to research online. In addition, students need to learn more than just doctors, lawyers, and engineers; many professions available today offer high salaries and job satisfaction.

This blog post has compiled a list of seven high-demand and well-paying career options expected to thrive in 2022. We'll give you an overview of what each career entails and some insight into the latest trends, skills requirements, certification criteria, and training options available. Once you decide which career path to follow, ensure you gain knowledge about the skills needed to succeed in these roles. Let's have a look:

Full Stack Developer: A full-stack developer works on the application's front-end (client-side) and backend (server-side). According to recent statistics, there is a 20% growth in demand for full-stack developers. It is considered one of the highest-paying jobs in India, with an average salary of around INR 8 lakh per annum. To become a full-stack developer, you need to acquire several skills, including:

1. HTML and CSS
2. Database Management Systems.
3. Backend Programming Languages
4. JavaScript
5. Web Architecture
6. Frameworks

Data Scientist: Data scientists are focused on collecting, processing, and analyzing data to help companies make better business decisions. The role is among the top 20 fastest-growing occupations with a projected growth rate of 31% by the next ten years. It's both a lucrative career option and a way to impact society positively. The average salary is 7 to 10 lakhs per year, depending on experience level, education level, skill set, and geographic location. To become a data scientist, you'll need to develop the following skills:

1. Mathematical Skills
2. Programming Languages
3. Data Visualization Techniques
4. Machine Learning

DevOps Engineer: A DevOps engineer is a hybrid position that combines development, IT operations, and project management skills to improve the deployment of applications. A DevOps engineer's job is to help the team of developers, and other IT professionals create a digital pipeline for managing the coding, deployment, and other processes. Popular job portals have witnessed a 75% increase in DevOps-related jobs in recent years. To become a DevOps engineer, you need to possess these skills:

1. Project management skills
2. Programming Knowledge
3. Automation Tools
4. Understanding of CI/CD Pipelines
5. Networking & Security
6. Software Configuration & Deployment

Blockchain Engineer: Blockchain engineers build, test, and administer blockchain technology for enterprise solutions. This job is in high demand, and salaries are 50-100% higher than those of comparable developers. To become a blockchain engineer, you need to be strong in skills like cryptography, data structures, algorithms, computer networking, and distributed applications. Blockchain technology is here to stay, so getting a job in this domain is the best thing for your career. It is the future fuel with a median salary of around INR 8 lakh per annum in India.

Digital Marketing Specialist: Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing fields of study today. By 2025, it's expected to grow by about 60 million jobs. This growth is partly due to the constant evolution and changes in digital marketing strategies. There will be a shortage of about 230,000 digital marketing professionals; however, this is also because the field has become so popular that there are more career opportunities than ever for qualified candidates.

Technical Writer: A technical writer is a professional who transforms complex or difficult content into clear and concise content that everyone can easily read. Job opportunities for technical writers are expected to grow by 12% by the next decade. It is an exciting career option for career growth, job satisfaction, and financial gains. To become a technical writer, you must have excellent communication and writing skills. Further, you must possess exceptional research and exploration skills to perform extensive research and create clear and concise documentation.

Artificial Intelligence Engineer: Artificial Intelligence Engineer is a job title given to IT professionals who apply their skills and knowledge of machine learning and deep learning concepts to develop advanced AI models. Becoming an AI engineer requires programming, mathematics, and Natural Language Processing, among other skills. The projections are that by 2022, AI will create 2.4 million jobs worldwide. In India, it's expected that the average salary for this career will be INR 857,000 per annum.

Conclusion

So, if you're looking for a career that will be both lucrative, enjoyable, and fulfilling, consider turning to one of the above fields. Success takes creativity, intelligence, hard work, and a zest for life. The pay is at least commensurate with the effort you put in, and as we have seen here and in countless other studies, over time, careers will be pretty rewarding. If nothing else, I hope this study has helped to clarify which career options will be the highest paying by 2022.

Top 12 Essential Characteristic of Cloud Computing

Continuous business growth and expansion demand massive computational power and a data storage framework. As Cloud Computing gains popularity in the modern world, companies leverage the technique that helps the firms expand and safely transfer data from physical locations to the cloud that can be accessed anywhere and anytime.

There are numerous aspects of Cloud Computing that make it one of the swift developing sectors. First, the flexibility offered by the Cloud services in the form of its evolving set of methods and tools has hastened its deployment in a wide range of industry verticals.

This article will walk you through the top 12 essential features of Cloud Computing, but before that, let's get familiar with the term Cloud Computing.

What is Cloud Computing?

It is defined as allocating computing resources such as software, applications, databases, storage, networking capabilities, and more through the internet by Cloud Service Providers (CSP) to their users.

Thus, people no longer require to depend on their software/hardware resources and can access programs, data, and services hosted on remote servers from any location.

CSP charges their end-users monthly or per the usage policy-oriented with the Cloud facility. As you only pay for the Cloud services you leverage, you can deduce the operational expenses and enhance the infrastructure efficiency.

12 Essential Cloud Computing Characteristics

1. Easy Maintenance

It is one of the most crucial aspects of Cloud Computing, controlled by the CSP, and users are never involved in any maintenance-based services. These services are well-planned so that the downtime remains significantly low. Further, the Cloud undergoes routine updates that aid in capability optimization.

2. Measured & Reporting Service

Cloud frameworks allow the meter to track, manage, and optimize Cloud resource leverage. We can portray this characteristic as a measured service. The metering capability is placed at a certain level of applicable service abstraction. Hence, this aspect enables transparency for the users and service providers.

3. On-demand Self-service

This is a primary feature of Cloud Computing that allows the end-users to continuously monitor the server uptime, capabilities, and allotted network storage. Moreover, this on-demand self-service feature also enables the client to likewise control the computing capabilities according to their requirements.

4. Flexibility

The clients benefit from the flexibility provided by the CSP when they host data in the assigned Cloud. This ensures that the client can do away from typical hosting methods wherein they have to switch the service providers more often.

5. Remote Working

Cloud Computing promotes the characteristic of remote working, where clients can function, work, or deliver services from any location. Hence, users can access organizational data even on their smart devices, thus, enabling them to connect swiftly.

6. Wide Network Access

Cloud Computing is attained through a typical computing approach, and this aspect help advances heterogeneous thick and thin client platforms. Examples of such media include smartphones, assigned workstations, laptops, and tablets. Moreover, proficiency is delivered across various networks. Therefore, Cloud Computing helps break obstacles and boundaries as they work across myriad geographies.

7. Economical & Security

Economical feature of Cloud Computing aids in minimizing the IT expenses of the companies. Here, the client needs to pay the administration for the space they have utilized, and no additional payments are charged. Therefore, the administration is economical, and more often, some spaces are given for free.

When it comes to security, Cloud services create a stored data copy to prevent data loss. If a server misses out on the data, the copy version is restored from the other server. This characteristic comes in handy when many users work on a particular file, and it suddenly gets corrupted.

8. Automation

IT teams and developers modify Cloud services through automation. When a Cloud system is in place, it ensures less interaction with humans. The configurations are installed to ensure the maintenance and monitoring of Cloud Computing, and such arrangements are mostly automated. Hence, automation in Cloud Computing facilitates the swift expansion of its services.

9. Service Excellence

Cloud Computing ensures that people receive the highest service level possible. The advantages highlighted in Service Legal Agreements must have constant availability and comprehensive resources, capacity, and performance. Any compromise on these services leads to the loss of clients and popularity.

10. Multi-tenancy

Multi-Tenancy is one of the top features of Cloud Computing - a software architecture that allows a single program instance to offer numerous user groups. Several Cloud provider customers share the same computing resources; however, each customer's data is entirely separated and maintained safely.

11. Flexible Payment Structure

Cloud Computing provides a comfortable payment structure that plays a vital role in companies' cost-cutting. Due to the additional functionality, Cloud Computing selections come at different prices. Users find the payment choice to be streamlined and simple to leverage, and it enables them to save time when making regular payments.

12. Resilience

Resilience in Cloud Computing indicates the potential of the service to recover from any disruption swiftly. A Cloud's resilience is estimated by how rapidly its databases, servers, and network framework restarts and recover from any damage. The CSP also creates plans that enhance disaster management, attained by maintaining backup Cloud nodes.

Why Use Cloud Computing?

The following are the reasons why one must leverage Cloud Computing:

• Deliver scalable business solutions
• Minimize expenses in terms of procuring new hardware/software
• Provide security and make easy access to Computing resources
• Helps to increase the capacity to adapt to the increasing business demands of huge companies
• Help enterprise clients to assess apps and services seamlessly.
• It is reliable as they provide backup and affordable methods for data recovery.

Beginners Guide for Ethical Hacking

Are you a beginner who is thinking of going into the hacking field? If that's the case, this article is just for you. This article will focus on getting into ethical hacking.

Ethical hacking uses various techniques and tools to test a computer network, system, and security measures against hacking attacks. It can be considered an advanced type of penetration testing but with the motive to generate an ethical hacking report that helps organizations improve security standards.

What is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking is testing your security systems by simulating a malicious attack. This allows organizations to identify & resolve vulnerabilities before the bad guys exploit them.

Ethical hackers are people who hack without trying to break into systems but instead use the same tools to find vulnerabilities. Their job is to test the security of an organization's network and computer systems, ultimately preventing any data theft or loss. Ethical hackers also perform a variety of tasks linked to general cyber security.

What Is Penetration testing?

Penetration testing investigates a computer system or network to determine how well it is secured against attacks. The idea is to simulate an attack to identify weaknesses and devise ways to defend them.

Although you may see 'ethical hacker' and 'penetration tester' used interchangeably, there are some differences depending on where you look.

Penetration Testing vs. Ethical Hacking

There are many similarities between penetration testing and ethical hacking. Both involve using the latest software and tools to identify the flaws in the applications, services, and operating systems.

But there is a difference between these two terms that you should know about. 

Penetration testing is a planned, deliberate attempt to break into computer systems to improve security measures. On the other hand, ethical hacking is performed by professionals who take care to avoid harming any systems or data. 

Despite all these differences, penetration testing and ethical hacking have become the same in most people's minds, so much so that some use them interchangeably.

Why is Ethical Hacking Important?

Ethical hacking is essential because there are people who will exploit technology and information resources to take advantage of others. Technology is used to benefit the world but can be used to cause great harm. Therefore, users should know the risks associated with their favorite technologies and how to help mitigate them for the best results.

It's important to note that ethical hacking is entirely different from criminal or malicious hacking. Ethical hacking is a way for businesses and individuals to test their cybersecurity systems and strengthen them against real-life attacks.

The best way for cybercriminals to launch a successful attack is to find system vulnerabilities; security protocols must be as strong as possible.

Suppose a business can eliminate vulnerabilities before an attack occurs. In that case, they significantly decrease the chance that data will ever get compromised.

Types of Ethical Hacking

Wireless network hacking: Wireless hacking uses technology to gain unauthorized access to a wireless network. It often involves an attack on the authentication process or the collection of passwords from computers connected to the network.

Web server hacking: Web servers run OS, applications, and back-end databases. Ethical hackers test these components for weaknesses and make recommendations for fixes.

Web application hacking: Web applications are programs that run on computers connected to the Internet or an intranet and are sometimes browser-based. Although convenient and popular, these applications can be vulnerable to scripting attacks, and ethical hackers test such weaknesses.

Social engineering: While other data access methods focus on using computers and networks, social engineering targets individuals directly. This often means manipulating people into handing over sensitive data or providing access without suspecting ill intent.

System hacking: Accessing a secure network is different; however, system hacking involves obtaining access to individual computers on the web using various methods. Ethical hackers will try to get this information while also suggesting appropriate countermeasures.

Ethical Hacking Jobs

Data security analyst: A security analyst usually works for a company and focuses on protecting its IT system. They may create firewalls, install antivirus software, and encrypt data so a hacker can't access it.

Penetration testers: They perform authorized tests on computers and networks to find weaknesses. Penetration testers often specialize in one particular type of system.

Network administrator: This role involves maintaining computer networks and solving any problems. In addition, they install and configure networks and identify and solve any issues that arise within systems.

Computer crime investigator: This job focuses on the aftermath of data breaches, such as investigating various criminal activities to figure out what happened and why.

Conclusion

Ethical hackers are cybersecurity experts and are highly sought after by corporations. Suppose you're interested in a career in cybersecurity and want to learn more about ethical hacking. In that case, we hope this blog has given you some ideas for where to start.

Top 7 Ethical Hacking Application for 2022

Though some of you may argue that the world has started positively seeing ethical hackers over the past few years; however, the term still has a negative feeling. They consider the activity illegal, mainly because of the illustration of hackers as either cyberbullies or criminals in popular media.

Ethical hacking is simply a technique performed by larger companies, mainly the tech industry, to safeguard their data. It's something they serve to keep their company and resources safe and sound.

Ethical hackers are nothing but computer security experts who know how to identify vulnerabilities in a target system and make the most of them. They also have deep networking expertise and can easily permeate the system and refine their data.

This article will see the best hacking software leveraged by ethical hackers. While it's impossible to discuss all the tools available in one stretch; therefore, we'll take you through some of the most popular ones.

Top 7 Applications for Ethical Hacking

1. Nessus

Nessus is the globe's most recognized vulnerability scanner developed by Tenable. This application helps professionals detect unpatched services, vulnerable passwords, misconfiguration, and other liable systems. A free tool Nessus is suggested for non-enterprise leverage. An ethical hacker can see critical bugs in any target system.

2. Netsparker

The benefit of Netsparker is that it offers us the potential to mimic a hacker's specific actions. You can leverage this tool to find web API threats like SQL injection or cross-site scripting. Without manual verification, this tool can determine genuine vulnerabilities one after the other; hence your headache of disguising the vulnerabilities as a false positive is gone. Netsparker is also easy to access and is available as both an online service and Windows software.

3. Aircrack-Ng

The benefit that Aircrack-Ng brings to the table is that it provides ethical hackers with a range of tools leveraged for monitoring and evaluating a network. If they find a vulnerable network, they check, monitor, attack, and crack it. This Wi-Fi hacking tool spares no platform and supports 2Free BSD, Solaris, Windows, OpenBSD, Linux, NetBSD, and OS X.

4. Nmap

Network Mapper (Nmap) is a hacking software leveraged for port scanning. No ethical hacker can work without this tool due to its robust scanning and searching potential. The data collected using Nmap is essential for ethical hackers in determining how to strike the target system. This tool enables the professionals to identify services and hosts on the network, developing a network map. Leveraging Nmap can probe computer networks and detect OS. First, the tool was only available for Linux; however, now it's a cross-platform tool and operates on Windows and Mac.

5. Burp Suite

It is a Java-based system that deals with Web Penetration Testing. Burp Suite is an industry-standard suite of tools that information security (InfoSec) leverage. For ethical hackers, this tool enables them to identify vulnerabilities in their target system and confirm if any attack vectors impact web applications. In addition, Burp Suite has the best web application crawler that maps functionality and content efficiently. It also tackles shifts in state, app logins, and volatile content.

6. Acunetix

Between cross-site scripting (XSS attack) and SQL Injection (SQLi), which according to you, is more threatening? The latter sends damaging SQL statements back to the victim user and trade-offs the database server safety behind the app. On the other hand, the former attacks interaction between app and users if it's vulnerable. Acunetix is a protector in both situations - a fully automated software with the potential of identifying and reporting over 5,000 security threats, including variants of XSS and SQLi. Moreover, it supports JavaScript and HTML5 and sequences vulnerabilities according to risk level.

7. Metasploit

It is an open-source penetration testing system written in Ruby. Metasploit confirms security vulnerabilities and develops codes. This code lets any ethical hacker break into their plan to determine security issues and choose which to address first. Individuals who are new to ethical hacking leverage Metasploit to sharpen their skills.

Are these Hacking Software Legal to Use?

The answer is YES; you can use these hacking tools legally; however, under the following conditions:

• Written permission from the organization:

If you've to express written permission from the company, it's legal for you to leverage the hacking tools. This means that the organization probably recruited you as an ethical hacker and is aware of what you're doing. If not, then you are a cybercriminal engaging in criminal activity.

• You are a White Hat hacker:

What separates ethical hackers from criminals is that the former leverage their skills and the software tools to determine security vulnerabilities and threats in computer networks and systems. As a result, you can't exploit any company's security flaws for personal gain.

Now that you got a peek into the ethical hacker field and its different tools, we hope you are more evident on whether to consider making ethical hacking your career. If you're looking to develop a career in this field, check out iCert Global’s  Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) training program.

Top 10 Programming Languages an Ethical Hacker Needs to Know

A beginner's common question is: What programming language should I learn? There are dozens of programming languages, so choosing the right one to know can be daunting. However, the ability to code is a crucial skill that every IT professional should possess. One of the many reasons why you must be able to code is so that you can test your network's security and identify vulnerabilities. In the article Top 10 Programming Languages, an Ethical Hacker Needs to Know.

Python

Python is famously known as the defacto programming language for hacking. It is a dynamic, general-purpose programming language used for different purposes, such as testing the integrity of corporate servers and writing automation scripts. One of Python's main features is its simplicity in syntax. Also, it has a lot of ready-made modules that are readily available to you. Finally, it has a vast community, which helps you if you get stuck because you ask and get your problem solved pretty quickly. So, if you are a novice hacker just getting started with hacking, consider using Python as your first programming language!

C

C, the mother of all programming languages, is a popular choice for hackers. This is because the operating systems we use today run on a foundation of C language. Windows and Linux are just two examples of this, and the Unix kernel also runs in C. Although it's a lower-level language than most others, it still has many advantages—it can easily manipulate and access hardware components like RAM. This makes it an excellent choice for writing exploits that can be used to attack a system at its lowest level. You should also note that reverse engineering is made more accessible by using C programming. Hackers use this ability to understand how software or applications work at their most basic level.

C++

If you want to crack corporate software or reverse engineer applications, you should invest your time in learning C++. The language gives you low-level access to system resources and analyzes machine code. With C++, you can bypass activation schemes embedded in these applications. If you are into exploiting desktop applications and reverse engineering them, C++ would be of great advantage to you.

Java

Java is a programming language that runs on many different devices and platforms. It is designed to have a low implementation dependency, which means it can be installed on many other operating systems. Suppose you want to get into Java programming. In that case, you should know that it can be used to reverse engineer software written in other languages like C++.

JavaScript

Understanding JavaScript is necessary for hackers because it opens up many opportunities. JavaScript is a language used chiefly for front-end work, but Node.js changed that. JavaScript can be used for back-end development, and PHP even has stiff competition. This means more avenues of attack for you as a hacker and more places where you can find vulnerabilities.

PHP

PHP is a programming language that websites use to run HTML and scripts. PHP is dynamic, which means it can be used for various purposes. For example, WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) today, and it runs on PHP. Therefore, if you have a deep understanding of PHP, you can protect or compromise WordPress websites.

SQL

It's essential to learn SQL because it's used for managing data in a database management system and stream processing in a data stream management system. Knowing excellent SQL skills will simplify your work, as you'll know exactly how to deploy scripts or tools. However, don't think that just because SQL is a programming language for hacking, it doesn't act as the doorkeeper that grants access to the database.

Ruby

Ruby is one of the best programming languages for hacking multi-purpose corporate systems. It is a web-focused language synthetically similar to Python. It has been used for exploitation for a long time now. With Ruby, you can easily automate programs, and it also offers superior flexibility while writing exploits.

Bash

Bash is a default command shell for Unix and all Linux distributions. It is used to perform various tasks on a target system, including navigating through directories and managing files. In addition, this programming language is beneficial for performing network intrusions. One of how you can use it is by writing a Python code that wraps the Bash script. Once this Python code has been run on a victim's computer, it executes the Bash script automatically.

Perl

Perl is a family of two high-level, interpreted, and dynamic programming languages. It was designed primarily for text editing but is often used to create web-based applications. Perl has an extensive corporate following because it is easy to learn yet powerful enough to handle complex applications. Additionally, Perl is open source and free to download, ideal for companies with small budgets who need robust software solutions.

Conclusion

The best programming language for you depends on your options and preferences. Overall, it would help if you looked for that which is familiar, easy to use, and simple to get started with.

A hacker is a person who can gain access to a system by exploiting its security vulnerabilities. Today we all need to be updated and know about the potential of being hacked. We have made this article to help you learn the simple & easy programming language that you can use to hack or crack any system or website with just basic knowledge about programming.

I hope you find this article to give you a little more insight into which language is best for your task and let you get going on learning something new. I'm sure it will help you better choose the suitable programming languages to learn.

Top 6 Product Manager Skills to Enhance Your Resume in 2022

Product Managers (PM) need to constantly glorify their product management skills to stay competitive when searching for a job or striving to gain a promotion within the company.

A successful PM will always be inquisitive in learning tech advancements and agile methodologies to help them be better peers, managers, and workforce. Product management jobs come in several forms, i.e., each organization defines roles differently, depending on its offers, product strategy, and clients.

The bigger the organization and the more product it has, the more product managers are needed.

Top 10 Product Manager Skills

The top skills needed for a PM to help an organization in being productive at work are as follows:

1. Customer Service and Conducting Market Research

A PM who excels at what they do continually look past their product to a bigger image. They must closely watch what their existing customers need and search for methods to develop into new effective target segments. To stay ahead of their competitors, PMs must also closely pay attention to their opponents.

Most of these potentials are gained through experience. However, even new PMs can take steps to prepare. First and foremost, you have to get familiar with the sector: what is your market segment, the main pain points, and who are your main counterparts?

To discover more about the target audience, you should find out where they spend more together on the internet.

2. Understanding Web Development

While PMs aren't required to program/code, process expertise is essential. Knowing the concepts of product management is one thing, but being a top-notch PM needs you to be concerned about the workspace you work in.

It can also aid you in networking, communicating, and empathizing with your technical peers for better creation of deadlines and strategy. Product managers benefit from SQL as they learn from the software analytics and what customers require by observing their activities on websites/shops and analyzing complex datasets while creating new products.

3. Expertise in Microsoft Excel

Product managers must have the potential to examine large datasets, as Microsoft Excel is a widely leveraged spreadsheet program, and PMs should be familiar with it.

Although leveraging Excel appears to be a simple task, understanding how to use it might be troublesome efficiently. As a result, PMs may require to enroll in a training course.

Product managers also leverage Excel for other activities like creating charts/graphs and data predictions to ensure that the product management goals are met.

4. Critical & Analytical Thinking

This is relevant for every product manager - the need to assess data to offer meaningful workforce insights. This enables them to ensure that the products are of top quality for both the organization and its customers.

A product manager's routine tasks include strategic planning and decision-making. Making smart choices is challenging without the ability to think critically and analyze alternatives. To make a prompt choice, PMs must be able to get through the planning core.

5. Leadership and Skill to Take Initiatives

Leadership potentials are essential in any management job for empowering and inspiring your team. However, this ability must act in coordination with an effort to shift products into development and attain deadlines for PMs at all levels.

Moreover, product managers often supervise cross-functional teams that include members of product, marketing, development, engineering, sales, and various other departments. Leadership is crucial for placing everyone on the same page and working towards a common goal.

6. Expertise in Agile Practices

Agile project management is a flexible and swift method that entails more than just creating an app efficiently. It also requires task completion within a set time and budget while making the product simple and organized.

Agile has evolved over the years, gaining more popularity, so PMs must understand this technique. Knowing Agile can aid the professionals in attaining a job and make them more appealing to future recruiters. To improve your expertise in Agile, enroll in some of the best Agile training courses and learn it more efficiently.

All About Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

The Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) certification is for those who have shown expertise in business analysis and project management to a certain degree. Obtaining this certification will help you demonstrate your knowledge of business analysis and your ability to lead projects and work with stakeholders to define their needs. This certification will prove valuable if you work with complex projects or in a leadership position.

What is CBAP?

The CBAP designation is an advanced certification for business analysis professionals with extensive experience. These credential recipients are the most senior members of the business analysis community.

Is it worth Getting CBAP?

Yes, it is worth taking the CBAP for anyone who works as a business analyst. This certification will make you stand out from other business analysts and open opportunities for you within your company.

Benefits of CBAP

Here are some of the benefits of earning a CBAP certification:

• It allows you to distinguish yourself from other job applicants by demonstrating your commitment to the field of business analysis.
• CBAP-certified business analysis professionals command significantly higher salaries than their non-certified counterparts.
• More rewarding jobs in organizations.
• Understanding the principles and practices of business analysis is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in a business career.

How much can you make with a CBAP certification?

According to the IIBA’s (International Institute of Business Analysis) 2021 Global State of Business Analysis Report, the average business analyst with a certification in business analysis earns $97,150. The report also states that business analysts who hold this certification make 26% more than those who do not.

Who Can Become Certified?

CBAP certification is intended for experienced business analysts who have already demonstrated their expertise through the requirements and practices exams. The CBAP is the most advanced level certification offered by IIBA.

Prerequisite for CBAP

• You need to have worked at least 7,500 hours as a business analyst in the last 10 years.
• To meet the requirements of this experience, you must complete at least 900 hours in 4 of the 6 BABOK guide knowledge areas. In addition, you must also complete at least 3,600 hours of coursework required by the program.
• Complete at least 35 hours of professional development within the last 4 years.
• Please provide two references, at least one of which is from someone you have worked directly with.

Cost Involved in CBAP

What is the cost of the IIBA CBAP certification? The IIBA CBAP certification cost and CBAP exam fee is as follows:

• The CBAP exam application fee is:

Member – $ 145

Non-Member – $ 145

• The CBAP exam fee is:

Member – $ 350

Non-Member – $ 505

How long does it take to prepare for the CBAP exam?

The business Analyst Mentor recommends that you study for 100 hours. Still, taking classes can help you save time if you spend 4-5 hours a week researching and can complete your certificate in 6 months.

Some of us are more confident than others in learning and applying new concepts. Those who study the most tend to be more detail-oriented and conservative when using ideas in real-world problems.

Some of us feel confident about a concept after seeing it only once. In contrast, others need to know an idea several times before they understand it well enough to apply it to an exam scenario.

CBAP Syllabus

The CBAP exam is weighted in the following knowledge areas:

What Is the Passing Score for the CBAP Exam?

IIBA does not provide scores or scoring percentages for any certification exams. This is quite common practice among professional certifying bodies such as IIBA.

Candidates are provided with performance indicators to help them evaluate their preparation for an exam retake or their plans to improve job performance. These indicators are intended to support candidates in their efforts, not compare them with other candidates.

Final Thoughts

Today's business environment requires more than certification; it requires leadership. The Certified Associate in Business and Project Management (CABP) is the most competitive advantage any professional working with projects and programs can achieve to advance their career, regardless of their field.

This certification will enhance your program management expertise and work with best practices that improve business results. At the same time, you earn PDUs required for professional certification. Choose CBAP and choose to be of the leaders of tomorrow!

Machine Learning (ML) Vs. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Automation evolves from customers' demands and expectations. As a result, companies worldwide continually strive to innovate their ideas to maintain demand standards. 

The failure to accommodate or be indifferent to your client's requirements will make your competitors the boss. And one fine day, customers' attitude towards you becomes questionable - a high-risk gamble you have stepped into.

In today's world, where almost all manual tasks are automated, the term 'manual' is transforming. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are among the most sensational buzzwords, as companies are leveraging these innovative approaches to create intelligent applications.

Though these terms influence business conversations worldwide, many have difficulty differentiating them, mainly when ML and AI are interchangeably used.

In this article, we will see the difference between an ML and AI technology.

What is AI & ML?

a. Machine Learning (ML)

The concept of Machine Learning has been around for ages; however, the automation idea of complex mathematical calculations to big data has only been around for a few years - with more popularity these days.

ML is a branch of AI that brings out the power of data in different ways. This technology aids computer systems to learn and enhance from experience by creating computer programs that automatically access data and perform activities through predictions.

When Machine Learning models are exposed to novel data, these applications learn, transform, grow, and develop by themselves.

To make it simple, Machine Learning involves computers' finding meaningful information without being told where to look. Instead, they use algorithms that learn from experience in an iterative approach.

Image recognition is the most significant and widespread example of ML in the real world - identifying an object as a digital image based on the pixel intensity in black and white or color pictures.

b. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In 1950s, Minsky and McCarthy described the AI as any task performed by a machine that was previously considered to need human intelligence.

However, the modern definition for tech trend is the ability of a digital computer to execute tasks that are associated with skillsets. It is often applied to the developing system projects invested with the intellectual method characteristics of humans like the potential to reason, identify insights, or learn from prior experience.

According to a PWC article, AI is predicted to contribute $15.7Tr to the global economy by 2035, and the countries that benefit the most from the AI boom are China and the US - accounting for nearly 70 percent of the worldwide impact.

Some of the proven dominances of AI are:

• Personal assistants - Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant
• Image and speech recognition
• Ride-sharing apps - Uber, Ola, Lyft and more
• Navigation apps - Google Maps, Apple Maps.

Different Types of ML and AI

a. ML

• Supervised Learning: Here, labelled data is used for training the data. The input goes through the ML algorithm and is leveraged to train the model. Once it’s done, we can feed unknown data into the trained ML model and obtain a new desired response.
• Unsupervised Learning: In this type of ML, the training data is unlabelled and unknown. This data is used in the algorithm for training the model. The trained model searches for a pattern and generates the desired outcome. In this case, it is similar to the Enigma machine trying to break code without human intervention.
• Reinforcement Learning: The ML algorithm identifies data through a trial-and-error process in reinforcement learning and then decides what action yields higher benefits. 3 significant components of this ML type are - the agent, the environment, and the actions. This type of ML occurs when the decision-maker chooses activities that increase the expected profit over a given period

b. AI

• Reactive Machines: It’s solely reactive, without developing memories or creating judgments based on prior experiences. These devices are designed to execute specific duties. Programmable coffeemakers and washing machines, for example, are built to fulfil certain tasks but lack memory, i.e., they can’t perform according to previous experience.
• Mind-Body Theory: These AI computers can socialize and understand human emotions and a cognitive understanding of people based on their surroundings, facial traits, and other factors. Such powers have yet to be developed in machines. This sort of AI is the subject of a lot of research.
• Limited Memory: This type of AI makes decisions based on previous experiences and present data. These machines have limited memory and integrated a memory-running application; they cannot generate new concepts. Modifications in these machines demand re-programming.
• Self-Awareness: This is a type of AI where machines will be equipped with technologies to be self-aware of their surroundings. This phase is also a continuation of the Mind-body Theory phase, in which devices will be aware of themselves for a reason. This will elevate the machine's intellect to an entirely different level.

Why ML and AI Popular?

a. ML

The main objective of Machine Learning technology is to help companies improve their overall productivity, decision-making process and workflow.

Let’s look at why ML is popular:

1. Business Transformation

Machine Learning has been transforming businesses with its potential to offer valuable insights. The insurance and finance sectors use the technology to determine meaningful patterns within big data sets, prevent fraud, and provide personalized plans to various customers.

When considering the healthcare industry, fitness and wearable sensors powered by Machine Learning technology allow users to take charge of their health, accordingly reducing the pressure of healthcare experts.

This technology is also leveraged in the oil and gas industry to identify new energy sources, analysis of ground minerals, system failure predictions, etc.

This futuristic trend highlights how it plays a vital role in business transformation, and excelling in the adequate skills will keep you on the path where opportunities are boundless.

2. Prompt Analysis and Assessment

Since businesses revolve around a surplus count of data moving in and out of an organization, employees find it tedious to deal with it daily. Thanks to the evolution of ML, the algorithms can aid the workforce in conducting prompt analysis and strategical assessments.

When an employee creates a business model by browsing through many data sources, they get to see essential variables. Similarly, ML can assist you in understanding customer feedback, interaction, and behaviour, thus resulting in seamless customer acquisition and digital marketing strategies.

3. Instantaneous Predictions

A feature that fascinates the ML practitioners is the rapid processing of insightful data from myriad sources - making instantaneous predictions that can be valuable for organizations.

ML offer meaningful data on various customers' buying and spending patterns, which allows businesses to devise procedures that can reduce loss and maximize profits.

It also helps determine the backlogs of marketing campaigns and customer acquisition policies. With these data, employees can adjust their business procedures and enhance overall customer satisfaction.

An additional benefit of the ML is the churn analysis - identifying those customer segments that are likely to leave the business brand.

b. AI

AI-related devices are gaining much attention not just from youngsters but middle-to-old-age people.

Let’s see why AI gains lots of importance these days:

1. Top-notch Accuracy

Through deep neural networks, AI obtains top-notch accuracy. For instance, your interactions with Google and Alexa are based on Deep Learning (DL). These products are getting more precise when leveraged regularly.

In the medical industry, AI methods from DL and object recognition can be leveraged to determine cancer on medical images with enhanced precision.

2. Improving Existing Products

AI adds intelligence to the existing products/services. Several products that we use in our routine life are being enhanced with AI potentials, much like Alexa and Siri, which were added as virtual voice assistant features.

To enhance technologies, automation, transforming platforms, intelligent machines, and bots can be incorporated with massive data. If you look at your workplace and home, AI has upgraded the range from security intelligence and intelligent cameras to investment analysis.

3. Progressive Learning Algorithms

To enable the data to do all the programming work, AI modifies through advanced learning algorithms. AI finds data regularities and structures so that algorithms can obtain skills. Like an algorithm undergoing self-study to play chess, it can teach itself what product to recommend following online.

Application of AI & ML

a. ML

• Product suggestions/recommendations
• Sales forecasting for various products
• Prediction of stock price
• Fraud analysis in banking and finance sector.

b. AI

• AI bots like Aibo and Sophia
• Machine Translation like Google Translate
• Speech recognition apps like OK Google and Apple's Siri
• Autonomous cars such as Google Waymo

What is Project Scope Management & How It’s Important in 2022?

Project scope management indicates a set of procedures that ensure project scope is precisely defined and mapped. The scope management methods enable project professionals to allocate the appropriate number of tasks necessary to complete a project, concerned primarily with controlling what is and what isn't a part of the scope.

The scope knowledge domain is crucial for a project professional, and the PMI also highlights this.

What is Project Scope?

Scope refers to the detailed set of project deliverables. These deliverables are produced from a project's prerequisite. According to PMI PMBOK, the scope is the work that needs to be obtained to deliver a service, product, or outcome with the particular functions and features.

There are three processes for a Project Scope Management which are:

1. Planning – happens when an attempt is made to achieve and define the work that requires to be completed.
2. Controlling & Monitoring - Focus on document tracking, approving/disapproving project shifts, scope creep, and tracking.
3. Closing - includes project deliverable audits and outcome assessment against the actual plan.

Significance of Project Scope Management

If you’re managing a project, observing the expectations of clients and stakeholders can be one of the most strenuous tasks. But with an accurate scope and set deadline, a project professional can seamlessly ensure that timelines are met and time is efficiently utilized throughout the project lifecycle.

The scope management helps in avoiding several common issues like re-examining the budget discussion, regular criteria changing, failure to meet the project timelines, and many more.

Scope management is vital for a long-term project, as it allows measurement of how much labor, cost, and time is required for executing the project. The scope is a crucial factor of project management, and it sets parameters for the shifting features of the project lifecycle.

Steps Involved in Project Scope Management

As a project manager, you have to define scope no matter what practice you select. Let's the steps involved in the project scope management:

Step 1: Define project requirement

Step 2: Understand the objectives of a project

Step 3: Define the project scope

For Step 3, following parameters have to be identified:

• Project objectives
• Goals
• Sub-phases
• Tasks
• Resources
• Budget
• Schedule

Once these specifications are established, the project limitation must be clarified, and the factors not included in the project are identified. Finally, the scope will explain what will and won't be included in the final service/product to team members, stakeholders, and senior executives.

Moreover, the project scope should have a tactile goal for the company undertaking the project. This is central to the project scope as it will play an essential role in how project practices are applied to complete it.

Project Scope Management Processes

1. Plan Scope Management

It's the first process that creates the scope management plan. This plan explains the scope and documents how it will be defined, validated, and controlled. It also includes data on scope creep, tackling change requests, the escalation path for any scope factor disagreement between clients, the process for the scope statement creation, WBS, and how the deliverables will be accepted.

2. Collect Requirements

This involves the documenting of stakeholder's criteria with the stated intent of meeting the project's goals. Here, professionals leverage several tools and practices for collecting project needs from stakeholders.

If this approach is accurately performed, it can drastically minimize the possibility of vexatious surprises as the project moves towards successful completion.

3. Define Project Scope

Here, a detailed description of the project and its relevant deliverables are prepared. The scope correctly states what the project goal is and what it can't achieve.

The supporting documents are verified to ensure that the project will deliver work in line with the stated objectives. The scope that results state the client's requirements and communicates expectations for project execution.

4. Create WBS

The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is an essential factor of the scope management process, while many project professionals often skip this procedure - leading to inaccurate project planning.

The WBS offers the project professional and the team with the choice to break down a top-notch scope statement to manageable units of works, known as work packages.

5. Scope Validation

This process focuses mainly on customer acceptance of all the project deliverables. The validate scope happens at the end of each stage; where the customer gives feedback on the tasks performed.

6. Scope Control

This is the last process group of project scope management that involves the monitoring of project status and managing of scope changes. This method involves assessing extra needs from the customer or proactively overlooking scope of the project.

Top 30 Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Exam Questions with Answers

Six Sigma is a group of methods and tools employed for process enhancement. It focuses on enhancing the overall quality by estimating the defects present within a process and eradicating those through a systematic technique.

The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification will offer you proficiency in Lean Six Sigma methods of DMAIC. Here, we have a collection of top 30 exam questions of the certifications with solutions that will help you gain confidence to appear for the test.

Q1. What does DMADV stands for:

1. Design, Measure, Analyze, Define, Validate
2. Develop Measurement and Analysis Department for Verification
3. Define, Measure, Analyze, Define, Verify

ANSWER: (A)

Q2. What does P stand in the acronym of a process map, SIPOC. What does the P stand for in this acronym?

1. Product
2. Process
3. Preliminary
4. Population

ANSWER: (B)

Q3. The practice of using specific points in its storage area to indicate when products need to be ordered. 

1. Poka-yoke
2. Checkpoints
3. Hoshin
4. Kanban

ANSWER: (D)

Q4. Which of the following techniques dramatically shortens changeover times?

1. Work in process (WIP)
2. Continuous flow
3. Single minute exchange of dies (SMED)
4. Standard work

ANSWER: (C)

Q5. Which of the following tools can be used to identify waste or non-value-added activities?

1. Process map
2. Force yield analysis
3. Scatter diagram
4. Pareto analysis

ANSWER: (A)

Q6. The purpose of Toll Gate review is to:

1. Review progress and kick off the next phase
2. Confirm if the earlier phase was completed successfully
3. Get a formal sign-off from the stakeholders
4. All of the above

ANSWER: (D)

Q7. A Black Belt is expected to deliver what types of results from Six Sigma projects?

1. Large projects
2. A minimum 200K USD as annual benefit
3. Defects reduction projects
4. Have everybody in the organization trained on Six Sigma

ANSWER: (B)

Q8. The purpose of capturing Voice of Customer (VoC) is to:

1. Capture stated or unstated customer requirements
2. Have a sampling exercise
3. Collect customer feedback
4. Ensure there is no confusion between the contract and delivery

ANSWER: (A)

Q9. Which of the control charts must have at least 20 subgroups of observed values to judge whether a process is in control or not?

1. R-Chart
2. P-Chart
3. C-Chart
4. Y-Chart

ANSWER: (A)

Q10. An advanced quantitative analysis to optimize business or industrial processes through process mapping and modelling using multiple variables. This tool is referred as:

1. Capability-requirements analysis
2. C&E Analysis
3. Capability-complexity analysis
4. FMEA analysis

ANSWER: (C)

Q11. Correction, over-production, inventory, and motion are all examples of:

1. Waste
2. Noise
3. 5S target areas
4. Value-added activities

ANSWER: (A)

Q12. What tool did Kaoru Ishikawa develop?

1. CTQ Diagram
2. FMEA Tool
3. SWAT Analysis Tool
4. Cause and Effect Diagram

ANSWER: (D)

Q13. Which tool is used to assess the significance of factors in either a fractional or a full-factorial experiment structure?

1. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
2. Fault tree analysis (FTA)
3. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
4. Evolutionary operation (EVOP)

ANSWER: (A)

Q14. Which of the following methods is used to develop an exhaustive list of ideas about a subject?

1. Benchmarking
2. Brainstorming
3. Goal-setting
4. Problem-solving

ANSWER: (B)

Q15. A company wishes to compare the expected mileage of eight different types of car tires. Which of the following statistical tests is best suited for the analysis?

1. Multiple regression
2. ANOVA
3. Paired-difference test
4. Z-test

ANSWER: (B)

Q16. A company has installed a system that prevents orders with incorrect information from being forwarded to production scheduling. This is an example of which of the following lean tools?

1. Standard work
2. Kanban
3. Poka-Yoke
4. Visual factory

ANSWER: (C)

Q17. SMED is a lean manufacturing concept that is used to reduce waste in the manufacturing process. What does the E stand for?

1. Exchange
2. Error
3. Estimate
4. Expected

ANSWER: (A)

Q18. Which of the following tools is appropriate to use with multiple criteria requiring a single option to be selected?

1. Pugh matrix
2. Kano model
3. Hypothesis testing
4. PDCA

ANSWER: (A)

Q19. The process developing a problem statement by a Six Sigma team will help to:

1. Agree on key dates associated with completing major project phases
2. Achieve consensus and ownership of the process
3. Determine solutions
4. Determine how often it should meet.

ANSWER: (B)

Q20. Which of the following is the correct formula for DPMO?

1. D/TOP
2. DPO×1,000,000
3. D×U×OP
4. DPU/DPO

ANSWER: (B)

Q21. A method that changes data without significantly reducing accuracy or precision is known as:

1. Bias adjustment
2. Statistical efficiency
3. Blocking
4. Coding

ANSWER: (D)

Q22. When the sampling method used creates a difference between the result obtained from the sample and the actual population value, the difference is known as:

1. Correlation
2. Precision
3. Accuracy
4. Bias

ANSWER: (D)

Q23. A technique for demonstrating the connection between customer needs and features on the product is:

1. Flow charts and process maps
2. Relationship matrix
3. Cause and effect diagrams
4. Pareto chart

ANSWER: (B)

Q24. The workers of a manufacturing unit want to maintain cleanliness on a daily basis. Which approach is most apt?

1. 5S
2. Poka-yoke
3. Kaizen
4. PDCA

ANSWER: (A)

Q25. Which of the following best describes a team that has members with different skills or roles from different areas within the organization?

1. Self-directed
2. Cross-functional
3. Parallel
4. Process

ANSWER: (B)

Q26. An important aspect of data collection is that the data collector should:

1. Determine the dispersion of the data
2. Know how the data are to be used
3. Use a control chart to analyze the data
4. Use stratified sampling plan

ANSWER: (B)

Q27. When the variation cause is a cluttered workstation which technique helps to increase the process stability?

1. 5S
2. SMED
3. Preventive maintenance
4. Visual factory

ANSWER: (A)

Q28. Which of the following is an important responsibility of a project champion?

1. Leading the team
2. Documenting the overall progress of the team
3. Allocating resources to support the team
4. Coaching the team in DMAIC process

ANSWER: (C)

Q29. Positional, cyclical, and temporal variations are most commonly analyzed in:

1. SPC charts
2. Multi-vary charts
3. Cause and effect diagrams
4. Run charts

ANSWER: (B)

Q30. Which one of the following is an inventive methodology for problem-solving?

1. BPR
2. TPM
3. TRIZ
4. BMP

ANSWER: (C)

Top 30 Scrum Exam Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT an objective of a Retrospect Sprint Meeting?

1. Identify Process Improvements.
2. Identify Feature Improvements.
3. Identify Best Practices.
4. Identify Process problems and bottlenecks.

Ans-B

2. Which of the following is a responsibility of the Scrum Master in the context of change in Scrum?

1. Eliminating all changes that may affect the quality of deliverables and processes
2. Facilitating the identification of Change Requests by the Scrum Team and their assessment and prioritization by the Product Owner.
3. Providing requests for changes in a project.
4. Approving amended, removed, or added changes according to project requirements and communicating to the Scrum Team.

Ans-B

3. Which of the following are roles in the Scrum framework?

1. Product Owner
2. Project Manager
3. Lead Developer
4. Business Analyst

Ans-A

4. What is most important in all Scrum Teams? A) Self-management B) Clear hierarchies C) Communication D) Continuous improvement

1. A, B, C, D
2. A, C, D
3. A, D
4. A, B

Ans-B

5. The primary purpose of the daily scrum (daily stand-up) is:

1. To give a status report to the ScrumMaster
2. To give a status report to the product owner
3. Developers inspect how progress is made towards the Sprint Goal and adapt how the remaining work is done accordingly.
4. To give team members a chance to take a break from their tasks

Ans-C

6. Which one of the following is NOT traditionally an activity of the Scrum framework?

1. Sprint planning
2. Sprint review
3. Sprint retrospective
4. Weekly inspection

Ans-D

7. The primary purpose of the daily scrum (daily stand-up) is:

1. To give a status report to the ScrumMaster
2. To give a status report to the product owner
3. Developers inspect how progress is made towards the Sprint Goal and adapt how the remaining work is done accordingly.
4. To give team members a chance to take a break from their tasks

Ans- C

8. Which statement of the following is the best description for sprint?

1. A sprint is a condensed amount of time where developers work as many hours as they need to finish the work assigned to them.
2. A sprint is a pre-specified amount of time in which the developer’s team works at a sustained pace to complete a chosen set of items from the Product Backlog.
3. A sprint is a fixed amount of time set aside for the team to run tests and resolve any outstanding bugs right before the product ships
4. A sprint is a pre-specified period during which team members choose individual items from the product backlog to work on. A new article is brought into the sprint as each item is completed.

Ans- B

9. What is the Scrum approach to doing design early in a project?

1. Having the design up front is always a good idea
2. Much design can be done in parallel with implementation because, ideally, both design and implementation are done by the same Scrum Team.
3. Design should be done by a separate team from the Scrum team.
4. Design has no place in an Agile project

Ans- B

10. How can software development projects be executed by implementing the Scrum Framework?

1. Complete software packages
2. Customer projects
3. All kinds of software development projects
4. Sub-systems, components, or parts of more extensive systems

Ans- C

11. An excellent approach to documentation in Scrum is:

1. Do no documentation because it is a waste of time
2. Do the necessary documentation to support the development and use of the product
3. Do sufficient documentation to prove you have done an excellent job
4. Do more documentation than usual because Agile is risky

Ans-B

12. Which of the following best describes the approach for determining the Sprint length?

1. Sprint should always be 30 days
2. The team determines Sprint length by dividing the total number of story points by the average velocity of the team
3. Sprint should always be two weeks
4. The team should agree on a fixed length of the Sprint, of one month or less

Ans-D

13. What should the developers do if the product owner is repeatedly too busy to be available?

1. Continue the work, record the assumptions and ask the customer later for input
2. Send the customer a written warning that the end product will be completed on time but may not meet their needs
3. Allow the Business Analyst to take on the role of Proxy Product Owner
4. Draw the problem to the attention of the Scrum Master

Ans-D

14. An excellent approach to documentation in Scrum is:

1. Do no documentation because it is a waste of time
2. Do the necessary documentation to support the development and use of the product
3. Do sufficient documentation to prove you have done an excellent job
4. Do more documentation than usual because Agile is risky

Ans- B

15. Why is it important to trust the team?

1. High trust teams do not have to be accountable to each other
2. High trust teams do not require a user representative
3. The Project Manager does not then have to keep a project schedule
4. The presence of trust is positively correlated with the team performance

Ans-D

16. In a Scrum Team, we “learn as we go” because

1. Planning gets more reliable over time
2. Requirements evolve over time
3. The collaboration within the team gets better over time
4. All of the above

Ans-D

17. What are the two primary artifacts of a sprint planning meeting, and what is the related commitment?

1. A sprint backlog and sprint goal
2. A requirements documents and a Gantt chart
3. A requirements documents and a test plan
4. A test plan and a Gantt chart

Ans-A

18. Which of these statements best describes the Agile approach to teamwork?

1. The team should plan to work overtime regularly throughout the project
2. The team should expect to work longer hours towards the end of the project to deliver all that was committed to
3. The team should strive for a sustainable pace that they can maintain potentially for a long time
4. The team will regularly need to work many hours overtime but can compensate for this during periods of less intensity

Ans-C

19. Who ultimately decides when the team has enough work for the sprint in planning?

1. The ScrumMaster
2. The product owner
3. The team Developers
4. The product owner, ScrumMaster, and team vote to determine when the sprint backlog is full

Ans-C

20. Which of the following is the most characteristic of a ScrumMaster?

1. Task focused
2. Process-oriented
3. Supportive
4. Disengaged

Ans-C

21. The Agile Manifesto states the following values:

1. People are more important than contracts
2. Working software is valued over comprehensive documentation
3. Plans should have priority over the ability to respond
4. Contracts should be negotiated which allow control over the people

Ans-B

22. The “ MoSCoW “ technique is a popular prioritization technique, where the "M" stands for ...

1. May have
2. Major
3. Must Have
4. Mandatory

Ans- C

23. The product owner role in a Scrum Teams…

1. Has no control over the prioritization of delivered features
2. Is accountable for the ordering of items on the Product Backlog
3. Collaborates with the developers over the prioritization of features, but the developers have the final decision
4. Collaborates with the developers over the prioritization of features, but the business has the final decision

Ans- B

24. When handling team dynamics, the ScrumMaster should ......

1. Empower the team members within appropriate limits
2. Encourage an environment of competition and personal advantage
3. Give clear directives to the team about what they should do and how
4. Expect team members to be proactive and each work to their priorities and objectives

Ans- A

25. Once an Agile project is underway, what should the approach to planning be?

1. Should be able to demonstrate control of its progress
2. Should have no control over its progress
3. Is always out of control
4. Is controlled by the velocity of the most junior team member

Ans-A

26. What does Scrum advise a team to do with the product backlog items it chooses to bring into the sprint?

1. The team should break each product backlog item into work items that preferably take no more than a day.
2. The product owner assigns each product backlog item to the specialist best suited to carry the work.
3. The team asks the ScrumMaster to research the product backlog items and decide who should work on each one.
4. The team doesn't do anything with the product backlog items. Scrum doesn’t use tasks or task lists.

Ans-A

27. As per Scrum, which one of the following is an essential feature of the daily stand-up (daily Scrum) meeting?

1. The meeting should ensure that it is clear to all which team members are not performing
2. All Developers participate every day and are willing to help each other in completing the work of the Sprint
3. Everyone is required to report how much time was spent on each work item
4. No one is allowed to leave the stand-up meeting until all problems raised have been solved

Ans-B

28. How could the maintainability of the developing product be improved in a team?

1. Apply standard design patterns
2. Make refactoring a common practice
3. Ensure unit testing is included in the sprint
4. All of these

Ans-D

29. An Agile project should have ...

1. Occasional early deliveries if the business is prepared to accept lower quality
2. A regular pattern of delivery of developer-focused products
3. A regular pattern of delivery of business-valued increments
4. An irregular and unpredictable delivery of products

Ans-C

30. How could maintainability of the developing product be improved in a team?

1. Apply standard design patterns
2. Make refactoring a common practice
3. Ensure unit testing is included in the sprint
4. All of these

Ans- D

Top 10 Career Certifications for 2022

If your career has been built upon diminishing techniques, it's time to upskill and get ready for your next career opportunity. Here is the list of top 10 career certifications professional can choose in 2022 that helps them climb the career ladder.

Why should I get certified?

For this, there are multiple reasons to get yourself a certification, out of which four main reasons are displayed below:

• Gain credibility
• Handsome remuneration or promotion
• Increase your marketability
• Keep yourself updated

Now, let's see the top 10 career certifications you should obtain to stand out from the crowd.

1. Big Data

It's not a technology but a technique that helps analyze colossal amounts of data to achieve insights and enhance decision making. As the total volume of data increases each day, skilled professionals in Big Data are in high demand. These top certifications can help you land a safe job in the flourishing field of Big Data:

• Big Data and Hadoop Administrator
• Big Data Hadoop and Spark

2. Cloud Computing

Earlier, organizations had to leverage software downloaded into a server or a physical computer. With cloud computing technology, the technique allows individuals to work on the same applications via the internet from various systems and have been widely adopted in most organizations globally.

These are some of the certifications which help you to advance your career in cloud computing:

• Microsoft Azure Certification
• AWS Certified Solution Architects
• Blockchain Developer
• AWS Developer Associate Certification

3. Business Intelligence (BI)

Individuals trained in BI play a crucial role in increasing data leverage without the need for full-scope training to become data scientists.

These below-given certifications can help you get started in Business Intelligence:

• Informatica Training
• Business Analytics with Excel
• Qlikview Developer Training
• Microsoft Power BI

4. Data Science

Data Science is one of the most demanding career choices in the modern job market. Choices in the field are infinite, and job roles in this field promise handsome remunerations.

Certifications that can help professionals to move into the Data Science area are:

• Business Analytics Expert
• Data Science with R Programming

5. Project Management

Project management is significant because it ensures that suitable projects are handled and delivered within budget and time. A project manager should be able to arrange reasonable timelines and targets across stakeholders, management, and teams.

To move ahead in the project management domain, the following certifications are necessary:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
• PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner Certification

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML)

AI and ML are the most debated or the hottest buzzword in the tech industry, and all the major organizations are leveraging these to enhance their business workflows.

From voice assistants to drones, ML and AI are drastically finding applications in our routine lives and are creating jobs across industry verticals, giving rise to novel career paths.

• ML Certification Course
• AI Certification Course
• DL Certification Course

7. Cyber Security

With the drastic increase of cyber-crimes, especially amid pandemics – when people started working remotely, cyber security has become necessary for every company, as companies have data that should not be compromised.

These certifications can aid you to launch a career in the cyber domain:

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

8. Networking

Every organization requires a streamlined and efficient computer network, even in the cloud computing era. The certifications that can help you climb the career ladder as a network professional are:

• CCNP-Routing & Switching Certification
• CCNA Routing & Switching Certification

9. DevOps

It is a technique that helps speed up software development by bringing operations and development, hence the name DevOps. These skills are vital for any business that wants to get and stay competitive in the swift-moving market.

The certifications that can help you launch a career in the DevOps field are:

• Docker
• DevOps Certification
• DevOps Architect
• Puppet

10. Software Development

Changes occur rapidly today, and software must keep up, the driving requirement for software developers who can develop the new apps as required.

Some of the certifications that help you move ahead in the software development domain are:

• SAS Base Programmer Certification
• Python Certification
• C Programming
• Full Stack Web Developer
• Java Training
• Angular 4 Certification

Top 6 Reasons How PMP Will Advance Your Career

Working in project management needs careful attention to detail, perplexing hands-on training, and credibility. Unfortunately, however, schedulers and planners in the project management roles often find themselves unable to offer proof of their achievements beyond previous roles as project managers.

Project Management Professional (PMP) accreditation was developed to fulfill the growing demand for project managers. The credential helps professionals climb their career ladder and drastically increase their salary.

PMP certification validates individual project management skills and assists them in better tackling future projects. In addition, the PMP credential tests your past and existing potential as a project manager; the certification offers credibility and reliability to your work across the world. However, several fail to understand the positive impact of accreditation on a project management career.

If you've considered achieving a PMP certificate, consider how the credential will improve your career in the following 6 ways:

1. Globally Renowned Certification

Different geographical and cultures have other hopes for a professional’s role as a project manager. However, PMP certification is a globally renowned accreditation by Project Management Institute (PMI). As a result, organizations will be more suited to choose you for their project management requirements.

2. Salary Hike

While achieving your PMP credential needs a significant investment of effort and time, the monetary benefit is worth the hard work. Whether an organization wants to execute a novel organization-wide software solution or coordinate a complete organizational restructuring, PMP-certified holders are the people for the task. Those with the certification are valuable benefits, and it seems like firms across the globe are getting the hint.

As PMP certification holders offer value to the organization, you can expect to earn more in your project management position than your previous salary or the salaries of non-certified professionals.

According to PMI, project managers with PMP certification receive handsome remuneration, i.e., a 25% salary hike, than their non-certified peers in the US.

3. Skill Advancements

Although this is a debate topic, project managers with PMP credentials are generally believed to have top-quality skills for ensuring a successful project. To pass the PMP credential test, candidates need to put much effort.

The significant aspects learned amid the PMP training are planning, initiating, implementing, monitoring & controlling, and closing a project. These skills assist professionals in better managing challenging projects.

Moreover, project managers with PMP credentials understand the effort that goes into preparing and maintaining PMP; thus, they must earn 60 PDUs every three years to keep the PMP active.

4. Credibility

For instance, two project managers of nearly identical backgrounds are applying for a position on an upcoming project. As PMP certification speaks a lot about your recent education and expertise, the certified project manager will beat out the non-certified peer in most scenarios.

While there are exceptions to this method, the PMP credential is the preferred standard for project management roles.

5. Career Development

The PMP credential course is recognized in several countries and industry verticals. Hence you have a better opportunity of finding a job as most companies seek project managers certified in PMP.

Moreover, it's an excellent networking opportunity. While individuals are pursuing a PMP credential or after they have become one, they will constantly contact other experts. These connections might become helpful when you seek a new job with better career growth or a handsome remuneration.

Hence, if you plan on working in the project management field for a prolonged period or lifetime, you must invest in a PMP credential, as it displays your commitment and intention of keeping the role for a long time.

6. More Value for a Company

As said, PMP-certified project managers are a valuable asset for any company. They're the person any business owner could rely on, knowing that work is in safe hands and is led by someone who knows what and how to achieve the outcome efficiently.

Concluding Thoughts

The PMP credential can drastically improve your career. Considering the growing demand and the need for expert project managers, the value of a PMP credential becomes visible. It can make your resume stand out among your peers and create excellent networking choices and directly enhance your salary.

How To Master in PMP Certification Exam

Succeeding in the Project Management Professional (PMP®) exam can be challenging. You need to know what you're up against to ensure success. If you're looking to get certified in project management this year, some tips will help you pass the test.

Review the examination content online

The content outline details the knowledge areas, tasks, and processes of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). PMP aspirants refer to this document to compare their preparation with the areas covered in the exam for the best results.

Understanding the content outline helps a candidate develop a better idea about how to study for the exam and which areas you might need to focus on more.

• Finding out what topics to study in the PMP exam (i.e.by studying the content areas and associated tasks)
• Studying the percentage of questions expected from each topic in the PMP exam.
• Knowing whether you have sufficient knowledge and experience to be eligible to apply for the PMP exam.
• Spend enough time studying each topic's weightage or importance in the PMP exam.

Enrolment in the study course

PMI’s REP aims to establish a global network of quality training providers who can help hundreds of thousands of PMI Project Management Professional (P.M.P.) ® credential aspirants and holders.

REP, an acronym for Registered Education Provider, is the term PMI uses to designate organizations approved to offer project management training in support of PMI credential holders and aspirants seeking professional development unit or continuing certification requirements with PMI.

Formulate the study plan

If you want to get a professional certification, you must treat getting certified as a project. Therefore, prepare a plan covering all the activities that lead to your certificate.

Break your study sessions into smaller chunks and prepare a study plan which includes timelines to read books, practice mock tests, study various materials, and more.

Check the latest edition of the PMBOK guide

A comprehensive guide based on the PMBOK Guide; Sixth Edition is a preferred read for PMP aspirants. It is designed to help readers master all the processes, inputs, tools, and outputs associated with project management as described in the newest edition of the Guide.

The author addresses each knowledge area and process group and identifies inputs, tools, techniques, outputs, and key terms. This focused study guide tells you exactly what to expect on the test and how to prepare so you can pass the exam with confidence.

This Guide is designed to help you obtain your Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification. It reviews each of the topics covered on the PMP certification exam, providing clear and concise information on project management processes and actions.

Practice the mock test for the exam

Mock tests are necessary for another reason. They will help you get used to the experience of sitting at a place for four hours at a stretch with a focus on answering questions.

It is a physically daunting and mentally straining experience. You can perform poorly in the actual PMP certification examination unless comfortable with it. Then, all your hard work goes down the drain.

Mock Tests are often a good indicator of your readiness to take the exam. In addition, they are beneficial for discovering the gaps in your assignment control information.

After taking a test, you could assess the outcomes and cognizance of areas you need to enhance.

Join the study group

Enter a challenge control meetup. A properly having a look at an organization may be quite helpful. As the name implies, it will help you relax and refresh your mind for a few hours.

In addition, it is quite possible that you would learn some new concepts or ideas from others in the group.

Keep your PMP preparation the center of your attention. If you have signed up for a training, mark down the dates and always remember to go through the materials provided with the courseware.

Suppose you are not one of the lucky ones to have enrolled in a training, markdown deadlines for completing every section of the study materials. Then, regularly review your learning and track what you need to work on.

Top 25 Six Sigma Interview Questions and Answers 2022

Efficient operations management is vital across different industry verticals. Its requirement is also changing and evolving towards quality control which is more data-driven than before. Here, Six Sigma satisfies the growing demand, and no doubt, a certification in Six Sigma can help the candidate stand out in today's job market.

There is an ocean of opportunities from several top-notch companies across the globe. According to research, Six Sigma has a market share of over 27.7%. Hence, you choose to move ahead in your career development with Six Sigma.

If you are looking for Six Sigma interview questions for freshers/experience, then you are at the right spot. This article will be vocal about how a Six Sigma accreditation holder can answer the trickiest and most accessible questions you know subtle method that impresses your recruiters and authorities responsible for your future.

Q1. What is Six Sigma and Why is it Called So?

The basic and fundamental question a recruiting manager can ask is your expertise and knowledge on Six Sigma. Therefore, in simple terms, you can define the methodology as a technique that a company leverages to enhances its business process and quality.

By leveraging Six Sigma, companies can maximize performance and minimize process variation - helping businesses to minimize defects, boost profits, improve employee morale, and ameliorate product quality.

For the question - why it's called Six Sigma, you can answer:

To achieve the methodology, the processes of a company require to maintain their defects maximum to 3.4 DPMO, which is otherwise strenuous to achieve.

(DPMO - Defects Per Million Opportunities)

Q2. Define Few Critical Principles of Six Sigma?

• Enhancing of processes
• Prime focus on customer demands
• Effective managing of cross-functional teams
• Relying on statistical analysis to determine the best possible methods of working and finding root causes of probable issues.
• Formulate process flexibility

Q3. Define Two Sub-methodologies of Six Sigma?

1. Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) - A method leveraged for existing processes that are lacking behind the features and require gradual enhancement.
2. Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Verify (DMADV) - An approach leveraged to create new products/services that match the Six Sigma quality. In case a business requires more than gradual enhancement, the DMADV process can be used.

Q4. Name Some Quality Management Tools in Six Sigma?

• CTQ Tree
• 5S
• Value Stream Mapping
• Cost-benefit Analysis
• COPIS Analysis
• SIPOC Analysis

Q5. Name a Tool that Visualizes the Possible Causes of a Given Issue?

A tool that helps in conceptualizing the possible causes of a given issue/problem is Ishikawa diagram.

Q6. What are the Different Variations Used in Six Sigma?

1. Mean: This measurement is considered only for a certain application and the values are estimated. Hence, within this process, the variations are measured and compared using average mathematics techniques.
2. Median: This method is done by determining the lowest and highest values and then dividing the value by 2. Within this process, the variations are estimated and compared by taking the midpoint of the set data range.
3. Range: It takes into account the largest and smallest values for a certain range of data.
4. Mode: This is nothing but the most occurred values in a given set of data range.

Q7. What is COPQ in Six Sigma?

Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) is the cost caused by generating defects. This cost involves the following guidelines:

• Disposition Costs
• Extra Utility/Material Cost
• Filling the Gap Between Actual and Desired Service/Product Quality
• Loss of Revenue or Sale
• Labor Cost
• Rework Cost

However, COPQ doesn't include detection and prevention cost.

Q8. Who is Responsible for Creating or being a Part of Six Sigma Implementation Team Within a Company?

The designated individuals who are part of the Six Sigma implementation team are:

• Decision-making executives
• Master Black Belts
• Champions
• Green Belts
• Black Belts
• Yellow Belts

Q9. Define Affinity Diagram?

Affinity diagram is a tool leverage to organize ideas into subgroups by having a common relation theme to build solutions after brainstorming. To proceed, we need to have an affinity group who puts their ideas of operative quality and starts the brainstorming session.

The solutions obtained from the members of the group are aligned and segregated into homogeneous groups with an affinity heading on top. In this way, an individual visualizes the solution and list their numbers accordingly.

Q10. State the Difference Between Performance and Load Testing?

Performance Testing

• It is all about having more stress on the system checks and the overall application and system performance during the stress conditions.
• Performance testing being a superset of load testing, the testing includes load and stress testing.

Load Testing

• It is a testing process where the load limit is beyond what the customer demanded. This will help the individual whether the application can handle a specific limit.
• Load testing is about how well the program behaves and how many concurrent users are able to log in without facing any issues.

Q11. What is Cpk and Ppk?

Cpk is process capability index that estimates how close a process is running to its specification limits, relative to the natural process variability.

Ppk is the process performance index that verifies if the model that has been produced from the process is capable of meeting customer needs or CTQs.

Q12. How Six Sigma Benefits a Company and an Individual Taking the Certification?

• Helps the company to minimize the level of errors.
• Works towards the amelioration of quality assurance
• Helps candidate to develop skills and turn them to leaders
• Candidates with Six Sigma certification receives handsome remuneration and promotion compared to non-certified peers
• The process applicable for all the markets and can be executed throughout the business environments
• Work towards the enhancement of business workflow.

Q13. Explain Pareto Chart?

Pareto analysis is the most used tool in Six Sigma for quality improvement. This not only prioritize problems, but define each and every aspect. This chart sets up a clear image of what required to be dome with the problems, keeping in mind the available resources and cost.

With the help of analysis, we can optimize the process require and the cost factor. This helps us to target customer requirements better than the competitors and reach satisfaction with the feedback loop offered by the stakeholders. 

Q14. How to Create a SIPOC Process Map?

Suppliers Input Process Output Customers (SIPOC) is defined as a series of consecutive steps and tasks that are executed promptly to receive a definite output.

The SIPOC process map is vital for determining the following elements:

• How the existing processes are working
• How the processes are changed and enhanced
• How the enhancement is implemented with the next stage of DMAIC.

Q15. What is DFSS in Six Sigma Process?

Define for Six Sigma (DFSS) is a process involved in designing or redesigning the product/service from scratch. One of the cases where the project is following DMAIC methodology goes into the DFSS project because of the designing related tasks.

Q16. What is Lean Six Sigma? What are its Benefits?

Lean Six Sigma is a performance enhancement method that involves eradicating activities that don't add value to the process and reducing variation. This relies on a collaborative team effort and contributes to top-notch quality and customer satisfaction.

Benefits of Lean Six Sigma are:

• Manage larger teams
• Better task prioritization
• Increase team productivity
• Eradicating defects
• Reduce time
• Ensure more efficient business workflow

Q17. Name Some Lean Six Sigma Tools?

• Regression Analysis
• Pareto Chart
• FMEA
• Value Stream Mapping
• Poka-yoke
• Kaizen

Q18. When can the Kaizen Tool be Used?

In situations where we require to implement gradual enhancement, Kaizen serves as the best solution by generating quick solutions to two pressing issues that appear to be critical. This is highly efficient in tackling intensive cross-functional collaboration, and with a swift solution, we can increment enhancement in nearly 3-5 days of execution.

Q19. Explain the Levels of Quality in Six Sigma?

Six Sigma quality levels is a method leveraged to observe and estimate the process quality. At every level of Six Sigma, a number of DPMO are defined. The perfect level of the methodology is achieved at 3.4 DPMO.

The levels of Six Sigma DPMO are:

1. 6,90,000
2. 3,08,537
3. 66,807
4. 6,210
5. 233
6. 3.4

Q20. What Exactly is FMEA in Six Sigma?

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is leveraged to determine possible risks within the product, process, or design. After determining the risk, individuals can create a risk alleviation plan to overcome them.

Q21. What are the Pros & Cons of Zero Defect?

PROS:

• Eradicates Hidden Costs/Expenses
• Helps in Planning
• Provides Improved Value to the customer

CONS:

• Strenuous to Achieve
• Time-bound and Needs a Proactive Method
• Sound More Abstract to Most of the Organizations
• Outdated Technology

Q22. Tell Us About the Project You Have Worked On?

For this question, you must describe the project and give a summarized and good insight into it. Make sure you describe the project precisely as the recruiting manager may ask for other details related to your project.

Q23. What Factors Did You Consider Before Initiating Your Six Sigma Project?

For this question, list the significant factors that you must have considered before initiating the project. The first and foremost factor any individual would consider is the Process Stability and other factor is Process Capability.

Q24. What Were the Problems You Faced When Working with the Project and How Did You Resolve It?

If you have worked on a project, try recalling minor to major details working on the same and write down some points that are relevant and also some factors that are fundamental in Six Sigma projects. Also ensure that your answer cover the next question which is how did you resolve the issue.

Q25. What is the Kano Model?

It is one of most significant questions on Six Sigma. Kano is a product development technique leveraged to determine VoC and compares the characteristics Vs degree of satisfaction each characteristic deliver.

The technique is invented by Dr. Kano which defines the following:

• Dissatisfying
• Must-Haves
• Customer needs
• Delighters
• Indifferent

Top 25 Agile Interview Q&As 2022

Q1. What is Agile Methodology?

Agile is a project management methodology that involves breaking up a project into several phases. Teams cycle through planning, execution, and evaluation at every stage. Once the work begins, collaboration with stakeholders is constant.

Q2. Are agile and lean the same?

Lean management promotes the idea of work cells, where teams can complete projects in a more connected way, making them less prone to delay. Similarly, the agile methodology focuses on concepts such as cross-functional teams and flow-to-work pools.

Q3. How do agile and Scrum differ?

Agile is a project management philosophy that utilizes a core set of values or principles. Scrum is one specific approach to Agile that has become popular.

Q4. Are agile certifications worth it?

Getting Agile certification can help you get a promotion or change jobs. Certification often translates into higher salaries and is worth the time and money to obtain these certifications. In addition, many companies pay for the training of their employees, so they can get them certified.

Q5. How does agile work?

Agile is a software development methodology with many phases, with constant collaboration between stakeholders. It involves continuous improvement at every stage of the process, and team cycle through planning, executing, and evaluating.

Q6. Can agile be used for non-software projects?

Agile project management, initially intended for software development in uncertain and dynamic environments, can also be used for non-software projects such as manufacturing or support. Some people even use personal Scrum to improve their private lives.

Q7. How do Agile and DevOps interrelate?

While Agile controls software development, DevOps brings the code into production and enhances the process. Both approaches are critical characteristics of the software development life cycle.

Q8. Why is agile certification necessary?

Agile certifications give working professionals knowledge and authority over Agile practices. They can then use this expertise to implement Agile practices within their organization, leading to a higher pay package or salary.

Q9. Which agile principle is being practiced?

The highest priority is given to this principle- satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.

Q10. What are the values of agile?

• individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• working software over comprehensive documentation
• customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan.

Q11. What are the 12 Principles of Agile?

1. Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.
3. Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference for the shorter timescale.
4. Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
5. Build projects around motivated individuals. Please give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.
6. The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
7. Working software is the primary measure of progress.
8. Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.
10. Simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential.
11. The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.
12. At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.

Q12. What are the best practices of Agile Methodology?

• Visualizing Workflows.
• Iterative Development
• Using Professional Tools
• Daily Meetings
• Use Burndown Charts for Sprints
• Creating Product Backlog and Product Vision Together
• Practicing Stand-Ups
• Setting communication guidelines for teams

Q13. How does Agile methodology work?

Agile is a method of managing a project by dividing it into several phases. It involves collaboration with stakeholders, who are kept in the loop. Teams cycle through planning, executing, and evaluating.

Q14. What are the benefits of the agile process?

• Customer satisfaction.
• Superior quality product.
• Reduced risks.
• Better control.
• Increased flexibility.
• It improved project predictability.
• Continuous improvement.
• It improved team morale.

Q15. How is agile different from other methodologies?

One of the main differences between traditional and agile approaches is that the sequence of project phases tends to be linear in a conventional project. In contrast, an agile development method tends to be iterative.

Q16. How do you implement Agile?

• Get the stakeholders to sign off on the plan.
• Start with one thing you can do today.
• Focus on inspiring and helping your team to succeed.
• Choose a framework, and then stick with it.
• Make changes to improve the work.

Q17. What is Kanban?

Kanban is a popular Lean workflow management method for visualizing, managing and improving knowledge work. It helps you maximize efficiency, handle even the most complex projects in a single environment, and improve continuously.

Q18. Does agile work for Cloud projects?

Yes, the agile development cycle helps you break up a cloud migration into a series of smaller, more manageable steps.

Q19. Does agile work in a large enterprise?

One of the biggest reasons why agile projects fail in large enterprises is that people don't have experience with the methodology or how to integrate it. For example, 44% of survey participants cited lack of experience as the top reason for project failure.

Q20. What's the difference between Scrum, Lean, and Kanban?

Scrum is a set of practices and tools developed to support Agile software development. Kanban is a set of rules and tools designed to support Lean manufacturing.

Q21. What are some of the biggest mistakes Agile teams make?

One of the most common mistakes when teams are forming new agile projects, is that managers tend to form groups in the same way they formed traditional projects. As a result, they have a really big team that includes many people who have minimal roles.

Q22. What is Scrum in Agile methodology?

Agile Scrum methodology is a project management system that uses incremental development. Each iteration consists of two- to four-week sprints. Teams focus on completing the most important features first and trying to release a potentially shippable product at the end of each sprint.

Q23. What are the three critical roles in a Scrum framework?

Scrum has three roles: product owner, scrum master, and development team members. For the most part, the job titles don't need to change when transitioning to Scrum. However, some organizations find it helpful to modify the tags slightly to reflect their new role in Scrum better.

Q24. What is a Kanban board?

A Kanban board is a simple but effective tool for agile project management. It lets you visualize work, limit work-in-progress, and maximize efficiency within your team.

Q25. What is the difference between a project manager and a Scrum Master?

A Scrum Master is a person who ensures that their team is following Scrum principles. At the same time, a project manager oversees the entirety of a project, including logistics like budget and risk. A Scrum master may also be a project manager, but they are not the same thing.

What You Need to Know About PMP Accreditation?

In recent years, project management has evolved as one of the globe’s triumphing new professions. According to the PMI survey, employers will need to fill over 2.2Mn new project roles each year through 2027, meaning project managers are in high demand.

This swift development, coupled with competitive industry remuneration, has encouraged many workforces and students to consider a career in project management.

But with so many novel arrivals to the industry, incentivized project managers are looking for different ways to distinguish them from the crowd. The Project Management Professional (PMP) accreditation holds the key for many.

What is PMP Certification?

PMP credential is a globally renowned accreditation for project managers awarded by Project Management Institute (PMI). Though the credential isn't required to work as a project manager in most roles, PMP reflects a person's technical skills and instills trust in future workforces and clients - serving as justification for promotion and handsome salary.

The average salary of project managers with a PMP certification is the US $112,000, and according to the PMI salary survey, the median salary for PMP holders in the US is 25% higher than those without the certification.

Prerequisites of PMP Certification Exam

Syllabus of PMP Exam

About half of the PMP certification exam will have predictive project management methodologies, and the other half will have agile or hybrid methods.

The PMP knowledge domains cover many essentials and understand concepts such as managing business environment changes, continuous improvement, and process analysis. 

According to the 2019 PMP Examination Content Outline (ECO), the credential covers three domains:

PEOPLE (42%)

The 'People' domain emphasizes the soft skills you require to lead a project team in the changing business environment efficiently.

Some of the tasks in this domain include:

• Conflict management
• Team leadership 
• Supporting team performance
• Ensuring adequate training for team members
• Project negotiation
• Stakeholder collaboration, and more.

PROCESS (50%)

The 'Process' domain strengthens the technical aspects of successful project management.

Some of the tasks in this domain include:

• Communication management
• Risk assessment and management
• Project execution to deliver business value
• Budgeting planning
• Plan and manage schedule, and more.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT (8%)

The 'Business Environment' domain displays the relation between projects and organizational strategy.

• Some of the tasks in this domain include:
• Plan and manage project compliance
• Determine project value and benefits
• Supporting organizational change
• Addressing external business changes

PMP Exam Format & Cost

• Total no. of questions: 180
• Question types: Combination questions (MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks, hotspot, etc.)
• No. of scored questions: 175
• No. of pre-test questions: 5
• Duration of the exam: 230 minutes (approx 4 hours)
• Exam mode: Online and offline

For the PMP test, there are two 10-minutes breaks. The first break appears when you complete questions 1-60 and review all the answers. Then, after you are done with 120 questions and confirm that all the responses are checked, you can take the next 10-minute break.

With so much new content to focus on, it's understandable that the new PMP test will facilitate a broader study scope to cover everything. However, there is much more to learn and outshine; therefore, the credential test will be more difficult.

The PMP certification exam costs for PMI members and non-members are as follows:

PMP Certification Renewal

Once you receive the PMP credential badge, ensure that you maintain the same by earning 35 PDUs over three years. After PMI confirms that you have met the PDU prerequisites, you'll receive a mail/message to apply for PMP certification renewal – asking you to make payments through the online certification system.

PMI will send the individual an updated certificate with new CCR cycle dates after processing the application and renewal fees. This usually takes around 6-8 weeks to get delivered through postal.

The credential holders must agree to comply with the terms of use, including audit norms agreements. The participant can renew the accreditation only after completing the audit and agreeing with all the terms and conditions during an audit.

The auditing done by PMI is random, i.e., PMI selects a group of PMI certification holders randomly, where they must submit supporting documentation to prove PDUs.

Therefore, credential holders must keep these PDU claiming materials for 18 months after the end of the CCR Cycle.

Conclusion

A PMP certification is a stepping stone to other project management accreditation, offering you a competitive edge in the market, a source of pride among peers, and several other perks.

Whether looking for marketability to workforces, clientele reputations, or annual income, the PMP credential is the best choice for project management enthusiasts globally.

To build a career in the project management field and develop your skills, enroll in the iCert Global PMP Certification Training Program, a PMI-approved training provider. The course will teach you how to plan, organize, execute, and direct successful projects irrespective of the scale or complexity.

Project Management Mindset

The project management mindset is the set of attitudes and behaviors that define how we approach projects. It can influence our performance as project managers and our ability to lead teams successfully.

The project management mindset is concerned with how we think about projects, which influences how we approach them and what results we achieve. It involves several different elements, including:

Critical thinking — the ability to look at problems from multiple perspectives and identify possible solutions. Critical thinking also helps us identify potential risks or issues before they become problems, so we can take action before it's too late.

Initiative — the willingness to take on new challenges and ideas without being asked. The initiative is essential for success because it allows us to create opportunities where there were none before.

Collaboration — working effectively with others in an open environment that encourages creativity and teamwork.

The project management mindset is the way you think of your work and the work of others. It's how you approach projects and what motivates you.

The project management mindset is:

1. Focused on results, not process
2. Results-oriented, not process-oriented
3. Project-focused rather than task-focused

PM is not a job; it's a mindset.

When you think about project management, you can break your mindset into two categories: