Agile in 1 sentence

Here is a question on LinkedIn where people define Agile in one sentence:

What's the Elevator Pitch for Agile?

Let's say you got into an elevator with a senior executive and you had 30 seconds to sell Agile to them, what would you say?

Carolyn Sanders writes:"Agile delivery is about two things: you usually don't know what you want until you see something, so deliver something real as early as you can; and if you're going to fail, fail fast.

Agile in general is about being fundamentally honest with each other, about money, about technical delivery and quality, about requirements andtime - that's why it's so scary for some people."

Mark Hawkins writes:"Methodology that empowers a project team to collaboratively take ownership of their deliverables to ensure successful completion of the project."

Change awareness is the source of innovation

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" Harry M. Warner, Warner Bros Pictures, 1927

"The discipline of innovation", by Peter Drucker, lists several types of innovation divided in 2 groups: sources from inside companies or industry and external sources, such as incongruities, demographic changes or new knowledge. An example of a technological change triggering innovation was the arrival of mature sound film technology in years 1920s.

If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have asked for a faster horse. Henry Ford

Innovation comes from or is influenced by culture, resources, infrastructure or process.

Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable. William Pollard

Basically, change and awareness to change occurence in various areas (market, technical, culture) is the source of innovation. Changes in those areas that you are not aware of, are useless.

The things we fear most in organizations: fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances are the primary sources of creativity. Margaret J. Wheatley

The Chinese word weiji (危機 translated as "crisis") is often said to be composed of the characters for "danger" and "opportunity".

The goal is to take advantage before others of these opportunities and to build innovation above.

I consider high-speed data transmission an invention that became a major innovation. It changed the way we all communicate. Dean Kamen

My innovation involved taking an idea from the telecommunications and banking industries, and applying that idea to transportation business. Frederick W. Smith

Some innovations trigger an endless chain of subsequent innovations. That is what is usually called "humanity's progress".

Dinosaurs demise on LinkedIn: fullfillment of the prophecy

With the new Linkedin search page you get the final step of what I prophetized 2 years ago following the exact steps:

• 1st step: cutting visibility from 4 to 3 levels (summer 2005).
• 2nd step: limit mega-networkers activity (winter 2006).
• 3rd step : enforce the no email policy (summer 2008).
• 4th step: take off the “sort by number” search option (december 2008).

Read it at:
http://eric-mariacher.blogspot.com/search/label/dinosaurs%20demise or
http://eric-mariacher.blogspot.com/2006/06/dinosaurs-demise-on-linkedin-dont-read.html

Marc Freedman is not going to earn any money any more :(

Complainte de Mandrin

Nous étions vingt ou trente
Brigands dans une bande,
Tous habillés de blanc
A la mode des, vous m'entendez?
Tous habillés de blanc
A la mode des marchands.

La première volerie
Que je fis dans ma vie,
C'est d'avoir goupillé
La bourse d'un, vous m'entendez?
C'est d'avoir goupillé
La bourse d'un curé.

J'entrai dedans sa chambre,
Mon Dieu, qu'elle était grande,
J'y trouvai mille écus,
Je mis la main, vous m'entendez?
J'y trouvai mille écus,
Je mis la main dessus.

J'entrai dedans une autre
Mon Dieu, qu'elle était haute,
De robes et de manteaux
J'en chargeai trois, vous m'entendez?
De robes et de manteaux
J'en chargeai trois chariots.

Je les portai pour vendre
A la foire en Hollande
J'les vendis bon marché
Ils n'm'avaient rien, vous m'entendez?
J'les vendis bon marché
Ils m'avaient rien coûté.

Ces messieurs de Grenoble
Avec leurs longues robes
Et leurs bonnets carrés
M'eurent bientôt, vous m'entendez?
Et leurs bonnets carrés
M'eurent bientôt jugé.

Ils m'ont jugé à pendre,
Que c'est dur à entendre
A pendre et étrangler
Sur la place du, vous m'entendez?
A pendre et étrangler
Sur la place du marché.

Monté sur la potence
Je regardai la France
Je vis mes compagnons
A l'ombre d'un, vous m'entendez?
Je vis mes compagnons
A l'ombre d'un buisson.

Compagnons de misère
Allez dire à ma mère
Qu'elle ne m'reverra plus
J' suis un enfant, vous m'entendez?
Qu'elle ne m'reverra plus
J'suis un enfant perdu.

What are generally the top priorities you would address during first months in a new job?

This is a question asked on LinkedIn: In a new job, what are generally the top 5 priorities you would really address during the first month and then the two following months ?

One of the answer was:

First month:

- Know who is who in what places. DON'T judge
- Know the systems you have to work with
- Know your job and who is your client, internal or external
- ORGANIZE yourself
- LISTEN to people, NO MATTER WHAT

2 next months:

- Get involved in projects that will help you know you job
- Know the daily routine of your direct report
- Get in better touch with the clients
- Know what the problems are and what you are really facing
- AND NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON A PROBLEM. It won't go away

May you be successful.

Agile Maturity Model

Here are 2 interessant articles I found talking about Agile Maturity Model:

• The Agile Maturity Model
• An "Agile Maturity Model?"

Java Extracting only first Integer value from String

Here is the new java function that extracts the 1st Integer value from String:
String s = new String("Eric Mariacher 1965 AoxomoxoA 1967 Cowabunga 2009 ");
Matcher matcher = Pattern.compile("\\d+").matcher(s);
matcher.find();
int i = Integer.valueOf(matcher.group());

Here is the old java function that extracts the 1st Integer value from String:

   3:    public static int findNextValidInteger(String s) throws Exception {
   4:
   5:      // detect 1st digit after start of string
   6:      int beginIndex=0;
   7:      int endIndex=1;
   8:      int length=s.length();
   9:      while(!s.substring(beginIndex,endIndex).matches("\\d")) {
  10:        beginIndex++;
  11:        endIndex++;
  12:        if(endIndex>length) {
  13:          throw new Exception("No digit found.");
  14:        }
  15:      }
  16:      int i_startNumber= beginIndex;
  17:
  18:      // detect 1st non digit after start previously detected 1st digit   
  19:      beginIndex=i_startNumber;
  20:      endIndex=i_startNumber+1;
  21:      while(s.substring(beginIndex,endIndex).matches("\\d")) {
  22:        beginIndex++;
  23:        endIndex++;
  24:        if(endIndex>length) {
  25:          break;
  26:        }
  27:      }
  28:      int i_endNumber= beginIndex;
  29:
  30:      // return absolute value of integer
  31:      return Integer.valueOf(s.substring(i_startNumber, i_endNumber));
  32:    }
  33:
Can also be done the following way, but may take lot of resources if String
is very long and you only need the 1st Integer.
  35:
  36:    StringTokenizer str = new StringTokenizer("A 1965 Eric");
  37:
  38:    while(str.hasMoreElements()) {
  39:      System.out.println(str.nextElement());
  40:      int i = Integer.parseInt(str.nextElement());
  41:    }
  42:

Innovation Quotes: Brainstorming

"The problem is never to get innovative ideas in your mind , but how to get the old ones out."

"We can believe that we know where the world should go. But unless we're in touch with our customers, our model of the world can diverge from reality. There's no substitute for innovation, of course, but innovation is no substitute for being in touch, either." Steve Ballmer

"My innovation involved taking an idea from the telecommunications and banking industries, and applying that idea to transportation business." Frederick W. Smith

"The metaphor is perhaps one of man's most fruitful potentialities. Its efficacy verges on magic, and it seems a tool for creation which God forgot inside one of His creatures when He made him." Jose Ortega y Gasset

"But an innovation, to grow organically from within, has to be based on an intact tradition, so our idea is to bring together musicians who represent all these traditions, in workshops, festivals, and concerts, to see how we can connect with each other in music." Yo-Yo Ma

"The mind ought to sometimes be diverted that it may return the better to thinking." Phaedrus

"Don't try to come up with the proper answers ; target coming up with good questions." Stanford professor Bill Lazier

"Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction." – Pablo Picasso

Innovation Quotes: Setting an innovation friendly environment

"Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer." W. Edwards Deming

"We need a positive economic agenda that invests in the innovation and growth that will create jobs for middle class families and ensure that America remains the world leader." Rick Larsen

"This is the nature of genius, to be able to grasp the knowable even when noone else recognizes that it is present." Deepak Chopra

"The innovation point is the pivotal moment when talented and motivated people seek the opportunity to act on their ideas and dreams." W. Arthur Porter

"The greatest obstacle to innovation in organizations is the unwillingness to let go of yesterday's successes, and to free up resources that no longer contribute to results." P.Duckler

"The achievement of excellence can only occur if the organization promotes a culture of creative dissatisfaction." Lawrence Miller

"Human societies vary in lots of independent factors affecting their openness to innovation." Jared Diamond

"Innovation is this amazing intersection between someone's imagination and the reality in which they live. The problem is, many companies don't have great imagination, but their view of reality tells them that it's impossible to do what they imagine." Ron Johnson

"Mindless habitual behavior is the enemy of innovation." Rosabeth Moss Kanter

"Ideas, like young wine, should be put in storage and taken up again only after they have been allowed to ferment and to ripen." Richard Strauss

"It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute." William Pollard

“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat”

"The only thing that makes people and organizations great is their willingness to be not great along the way. The desire to fail on the way to reaching a bigger goal is the untold secret of success" Seth Godin

“Orville Wright did not have a pilot’s license.” Gordon MacKenzie

Innovation Quotes: Where does innovation come from?

"The problem is never to get innovative ideas in your mind , but how to get the old ones out."

"The things we fear most in organizations: fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances are the primary sources of creativity." Margaret J. Wheatley

"This is the nature of genius, to be able to grasp the knowable even when noone else recognizes that it is present." Deepak Chopra

"The innovation point is the pivotal moment when talented and motivated people seek the opportunity to act on their ideas and dreams." W. Arthur Porter

"We can believe that we know where the world should go. But unless we're in touch with our customers, our model of the world can diverge from reality. There's no substitute for innovation, of course, but innovation is no substitute for being in touch, either." Steve Ballmer

"I consider high-speed data transmission an invention that became a major innovation. It changed the way we all communicate." Dean Kamen

"Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable." William Pollard

"My innovation involved taking an idea from the telecommunications and banking industries, and applying that idea to transportation business." Frederick W. Smith

"The Chinese word weiji translated as 'crisis' is often said to be composed of the characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity'."

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Charles R. Swindoll

Innovation Quotes: Why should we innovate?

"Change before you have to." Jack Welch

"The winner is the chef who takes the same ingredients as everyone else and produces the best results." Edward de Bono

"You can only win the ‘war’ with ideas, not with spending cuts." Klaus Kleinfeld, President and CEO, Siemens AG

"Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity." Michael Porter

"Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer." W. Edwards Deming

"We are a party of innovation. We do not reject our traditions, but we are willing to adapt to changing circumstances, when change we must. We are willing to suffer the discomfort of change in order to achieve a better future." Barbara Jordans

"We need a positive economic agenda that invests in the innovation and growth that will create jobs for middle class families and ensure that America remains the world leader." Rick Larsen

"Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow." William Pollard

"If all you're trying to do is essentially the same thing as your rivals, then it's unlikely that you'll be very successful." Michael Porter

"innovation is the technological pre-condition for growth." Eric Schmidt (Google CEO)

Innovation Quotes: What is Innovation?

"Genius is one percent inspiration, and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Thomas Edison

"Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things." Theodore Levitt

"Innovation is the process of turning ideas into manufacturable and marketable form." Watts Humprey

"To turn really interesting ideas and fledgling technologies into a company that can continue to innovate for years, it requires a lot of disciplines." Steve Jobs

"Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result is tied to logical structure." Albert Einstein

"Business has only two functions - marketing and innovation." Milan Kundera

"Innovation is the whim of an elite before it becomes a need of the public." Ludwig von Mises

“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat”

“If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.” Woody Allen

"True innovation is based on the recognition that a business concept represents a dozen or so design variables, all of which need to be constantly revisited and constantly challenged" Gary Hamel

"Think of invention as the laying of an egg, innovation as the laying, incubating and hatching." Gordon Graham

"Innovation is the process or result of combining previously separate ideas or technologies in useful and valuable ways" Karl Long

other resume/CV formats

Do you want to experiment non-text resumes/CVs?

Video CV, Flyers CV...

Click here: in french but everyone can understand

Video CV By Jim Newton: http://www.customvideoresume.com

Linkedin history 2006 - 2008

For a year, number of Linkedin users is going exponential vs time. When I look at number of connections vs network ratio (for myself), it can be seen that people are more and more connected with each other.

I am not inviting any more people as I reached the number of people I am allowed to invite. The growth seen in the green curve (numbers of 1st level connections) is purely passive.

I have received 12 invitations per day for the last year. I am not advertizing my email anymore in my profile as it is now "strictly" forbidden, I mainly receive invitaions from LIONS and toplinked users. By the way, I did not see any diminution in the number of received invitations when removing my email from my profile.

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard

I am proud that my team delivered firmware for the new Logitech illuminated keyboard.

I especially appreciate working with this keyboard because it is illuminated. This is useful when you surf on the web or watch a video in the evening and you do not want to be disturbed by anything else than the computer screen.
Something positive is also the fact that you choose the illumination level, as opposed to some automatic ambiant light system which choose the level for you.

This development was a challenge for our swiss team, as we are more specialized in developing wireless keyboards. We had to use a new chip that we had little experience with. The biggest obstacles we encountered was not because of the chip itself, but because of the compiler badly translating the C language to assembly code: "what you write, is not what you get". And this triggered some bugs that we had great difficulties to track and correct.

LotusNotes vs Sharepoint

One of my job related questions is: "How long am I going to (suffer from?) using LotusNotes everyday?". Here are some various feedbacks that I got when asking:

"SharePoint is fast becoming the next IBM Lotus Notes — and not in a good way. For years people implemented Lotus Notes databases like crazy, seeing them as the best way to store and share information. Now you hear more about moving all the content and data into SharePoint. But what’s the point if you are just going from one messy datastore into another?"

Move Over Lotus Notes, SharePoint is Filling Yer Shoes
Has anyone migrated from Sharepoint to LotusNotes?
What is the future of Lotus Notes?

My (temporary) conclusion is if you're using LotusNotes and a reasonable part of your co-worker is not overly dissatisfied working with it: keep using it.

Have you ever had key repeats when using a keyboard?

If you ever had key repeats when using a keyboard, and if every other PC device works correctly, it's not always the fault of the keyboard...

Actually each PC devices has it's own very specific constraints.

For instance a mouse has to be very reactive and its USB interface has to sustain several hundreds of reports per seconds. But if one is missed, it is often not noticed otherwise (except when it is a mouse click missed).

A keyboard has "opposite" USB constraints. A fast typist usually does not type faster than 20 characters per seconds which translates to 40 reports per second (each key means a report that says key is pressed and another one saying key is released). But we don't want to lose any key.

Some USB hubs sustain some constraints better than others. some USB software drivers for other devices (video cards, etc...) sometimes put huge constraints on USB hubs and have side effects on other devices.

Usually, the best thing to do is to swap the USB port on which the keyboard is plugged, or if the keyboard is plugged on a USB hub, plug directly the keyboard on the root hub of the PC.

An enhanced TreeMap Applet

TreeMap is a way to present information that is very efficient sometimes...
This TreeMap Applet has been enhanced with custom colors and comments using 2 additional xml fields to the standard xml description:

• details for comments when clicking on squares.
• hue / color for discriminating between main groups of squares.

The java applet code is based on http://www.objectlab.co.uk/open original JTReeMap code.

Les réseaux sociaux tissent des liens en amont du processus de recrutement

Les entreprises peuvent maintenant se mettre en contact avec des personnes au profil intéressant, avant même de viser un poste à pourvoir. Ce, sans que la recrue potentielle soit en recherche active d'emploi.

en lire plus...

Excel visual basic macro generates table of contents

Excel visual basic macro generates table of contents that has one entry per worksheet.

download excel file

   1:rem Eric Mariacher
   2:rem generate some charts and build a table of contents as 1st worksheet
   3:Sub charts and TOC()
   4:    Dim ws As Worksheet
   5:    Dim cpt, cptpoint As Long
   6:    Dim color_index As Long
   7:    For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
   8:        ActiveWorkbook.Activate
   9:        ws.Select
  10:        ws.Activate
  11:        Worksheets.Add
  12:        With ActiveSheet
  13:            .Name = "G" + ws.Name
  14:            Rem ch = .Controls.AddChart("B2:F7", "tagada")
  15:        End With
  16:        Charts.Add
  17:        ActiveChart.ChartType = xlColumnStacked
  18:        ActiveChart.SetSourceData Source:=Range(ws.Name), PlotBy:=xlColumns
  19:        With ActiveChart
  20:            .HasTitle = True
  21:            .ChartTitle.Characters.Text = ws.Name
  22:          
  23:            cpt = 1
  24:            For cpt = 1 To .SeriesCollection.Count
  25:                Select Case cpt
  26:                    Case 1
  27:                        color_index = 1
  28:                    Case 2
  29:                        color_index = 9
  30:                End Select
  31:                .SeriesCollection(cpt).Interior.ColorIndex = color_index
  32:            Next cpt
  33:        End With
  34:        ActiveChart.Location Where:=xlLocationAsObject, Name:="G" + ws.Name
  35:        With Worksheets("G" + ws.Name)
  36:            .ChartObjects(1).Width = 900
  37:            .ChartObjects(1).Height = 600
  38:            .ChartObjects(1).Left = .Columns("A").Left
  39:            .ChartObjects(1).Top = .Rows("2").Top
  40:        End With
  41:    Next ws
  42:  
  43:    Dim wsTOC As Worksheet
  44:    Dim Chart As Chart
  45:    Dim r As Long
  46:    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
  47:    Set wsTOC = ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets.Add _
  48:         (Before:=ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(1))
  49:    wsTOC.Name = "Table_of_Contents"
  50:    wsTOC.Range("A1") = "Table of Contents"
  51:    wsTOC.Range("A1").Font.Size = 18
  52:    wsTOC.Columns("A:A").ColumnWidth = 40
  53:    r = 3
  54:    For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
  55:        If ws.Name <> wsTOC.Name And ws.Name Like "G*" Then
  56:            wsTOC.Hyperlinks.Add _
  57:                anchor:=wsTOC.Cells(r, 1), _
  58:                Address:="", _
  59:                SubAddress:=ws.Name & "!A1", _
  60:                TextToDisplay:=ws.Name
  61:            r = r + 1
  62:            ws.Hyperlinks.Add _
  63:                anchor:=ws.Cells(1, 1), _
  64:                Address:="", _
  65:                SubAddress:="Table_of_Contents!A1", _
  66:                TextToDisplay:="Table of Contents"
  67:        End If
  68:    Next
  69:    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
  70:End Sub

Logitech Cordless Desktop® EX 100: a product I am proud of

Here is (yet another) Logitech product I am proud of:

I am proud of this keyboard because first of all I like to use it for my daily work. Though I have the opportunity to use all keyboards we are developing at Logitech Switzerland, I like the simplicity, comfort and ease of use of it, especially for it's low-cost price point. I can only recommend it to you.

I am also proud of this keyboard because it has been developed by a junior engineer coming out of school. The embedded software developed for this keyboard is 90% legacy code, and seasoned engineers do not enjoy working on legacy code as much as when they are doing completely new development. This is why I assigned this job to a beginner. She successfully stayed focused on the development of this keyboard and all issues occuring, especially when communicating with development teams in China.

Map

Labyrinth

Reactos

I just tried to install reactos Alpha 0.3.4 ( a 99% windows like free OS) on an old dead PC and it works!

I tried after this 1st successful 1st step to install an old win95 game "Age of wonder" but it failed :-(

interview d'une ingénieure en software embarquée chez Logitech

TEMOIGNAGE

Qui a dit que femme et informatique ne faisaient pas bon ménage? Ana Milosevic, jeune ingénieure d’intégration software de 26 ans pour logitech, nous explique en quoi son métier est passionnant.

Parole d'informaticienne: "C’est un métier excitant et plein de défis"

LES GALETS

Il ne suffisait plus de savoir compter les
galets; il fallait connaître leur place exacte
Où est la place exacte d'un galet?
Au creux de la main comme une bête.

Jean Orizet

Aube

A l'aube je suis descendu au fond des machines

J'ai écouté pour une dernière fois la respiration profonde des pistons

Appuyé à la fragile main-courante de nickel j'ai senti pour la dernière fois cette sourde vibration des arbres de couche pénétrer en moi avec le relent des huiles surchauffées et la tiédeur de la vapeur

Nous avons encore bu un verre le chef mécanicien cet homme tranquille et triste qui a un si beau sourire d'enfant et qui ne cause jamais et moi

Comme je sortais de chez lui le soleil sortait tout naturellement de la mer et chauffait déjà dur

Le ciel mauve n'avait pas un nuage

Et comme nous pointions sur Santos notre sillage décrivait un grand arc-de-cercle miroitant sur la mer immobile

Blaise Cendrars - Feuilles de route

Universal lua tostring

Universal tostring (also available here)

function table_print (tt, indent, done)
done = done or {}
indent = indent or 0
if type(tt) == "table" then

 local sb = {}
 for key, value in pairs (tt) do
   table.insert(sb, string.rep (" ", indent)) -- indent it

   if type (value) == "table" and not done [value] then
     done [value] = true

     table.insert(sb, "{\n");
     table.insert(sb, table_print (value, indent + 2, done))
     table.insert(sb, string.rep (" ", indent)) -- indent it
     table.insert(sb, "}\n");
   elseif "number" == type(key) then

     table.insert(sb, string.format("\"%s\"\n", tostring(value)))
   else
     table.insert(sb, string.format("%s = \"%s\"\n", tostring (key), tostring(value)))
    end

 end
 return table.concat(sb)
else
 return tt .. "\n"
end

end

function to_string( tbl )
 if  "nil"       == type( tbl ) then
     return tostring(nil)
 elseif  "string" == type( tbl ) then
     return tbl
 elseif  "table" == type( tbl ) then
     return table_print(tbl)
 else
     tostring(tbl)
 end
end

Example

 print(to_string({"Lua",user="Mariacher",{{co=coroutine.create(function() end),{number=12345.6789}},
 func=function() end}, boolt=true}))

This prints

"Lua"
{
{
 {
   number = "12345.6789"
 }
 co = "thread: 0212B848"
}
func = "function: 01FC7C70"
}
boolt = "true"

user = "Mariacher"

"Automatically" test your resume

Catherine Palmiere writes in one of her mail I received: "It is vital to know that automation plays a new role in the hiring process. Companies now use special scanner and software packages and feed through resumes they receive in order to search for keywords and phrases. Spend those extra few minutes to customize your resume and use as much specific verbiage as possible from the ad itself. If they mention international travel, then you mention international travel too, etc."

Here is the opportunity to test your resume: http://jobetic.lingway.info/

The result is in french but it did a pretty good job analyzing mine which is 100% english written.

It understood RTF format much better than pure word/doc format.

When LinkedIn search engine is not working, use Spock

When LinkedIn search engine is not working, just use spock . Spock has access to Linkedin profiles and also to other web sites related to this person.

Innovation video and presentations

Video:

Every successful innovation will be taken for granted.

The innovation Radar:

The Innovation Radar - Upload a Document to Scribd

Innovation Strategy

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: business strategy)

21 Ways to Know It's Time to Leave Your Job

Read Davids Finch post.

SALTIMBANQUES

A Louis Dumur.

Dans la plaine les baladins
S'éloignent au long des jardins
Devant l'huis des auberges grises
Par les villages sans églises

Et les enfants s'en vont devant
Les autres suivent en rêvant
Chaque arbre fruitier se résigne
Quand de très loin ils lui font signe

Ils ont des poids ronds ou carrés
Des tambours des cerceaux dorés
L'ours et le singe animaux sages
Quêtent des sous sur leur passage.

APOLLINAIRE

Plaxo is dead

Here is a Plaxo message I just discovered this morning when logging in:
"You've reached the maximum number of allowed connections (1000). If you want to add more you'll need to remove some of your exsting ones or wait until we increase this limit. Sorry!"

Plaxo is now useless for me as I have more than 20000 1st level contacts on LinkedIn, Viadeo and Xing.

Read also a post written by Dawn Mular : Plaxo Processing Alternatives

un bon CV

Etes-vous sûr d’avoir un CV irréprochable ?

Notre CV dans les mains du recruteur

"The What The F%&K Factor" or What Not to Write In a Resume

Is Plaxo dead?

Plaxo just sends me back some blank page when I log in.

Does anyone have the same problem?

Technical innovations until 2030

Here are some technical innovations projected by some "Young Global Leaders".

A bad new for the keyboards I build: "full voice interaction with PC"

Some questions:

• What the hell means "Virtual Holydays"? Does that nean "No Holidays"?
• What is a "Dream Machine"? A machine connected to your brain that "downloads" dreams into your head? Or a machine so beautiful or efficient that you can't do anything but wondering how marvelous the world has become?
• "Computers that write most of their software": Thi is not a progress. That already exists today, and it does not work that well.
  

Here is the one I am waiting for: "Fully auto-piloted cars"

Sun Tzu - Art of War

Logitech diNovo Mini: A product I am proud of...

The Logitech diNovo Mini's elegant design won't besmirch your living room; it gives the Home Theater PC owner full cursor control.


read CNET's review

I am the embedded software manager responsible for this marvelous product. Challenges we encountered:

• new usage model meaning that we had to mange lot of interactions with marketing and usability engineer.
  
• new key matrix concept because it's not the 101 keys keyboard.
  
• illumination scheme
• touchpad integration

Where will LinkedIn be in 5/10 years?

This question was asked on LinkedIn Q&A forum. Read answers from various LinkedIn users: http://www.linkedin.com/answers/career-education/professional-networking/CAR_PNT/143754-2667972

Automotive embedded software industry is the most advanced industry in the world

Automotive embedded software industry is the most advanced industry in the world because no other industry has the constraints it has: "producing for mass market with very high security, environment, cost and reliability constraints"

* aerospace has greater security, environment and reliability constraints but is not mass market by a factor of 1000.
* telecom, PC and web industries are as much mass market as automotive but do not have security, environment and reliability constraints as high. If some telecom equipement, PC or web service/site does not work it won't kill you...

Every engineer should keep an eye on what's happening in the automotive industry.

This also applies to the automotive embedded software. I would advise to actively follow the AUTOSAR initiative supported by all the major automotive player.

http://autosar.org

AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) is an open and standardized automotive software architecture, jointly developed by automobile manufacturers, suppliers and tool developers.

AUTOSAR

* paves the way for innovative electronic systems that further improve performance, safety and environmental friendliness
* is a strong global partnership that creates one common standard: "Cooperate on standards, compete on implementation"
* is a key enabling technology to manage the growing electrics/electronics complexity. It aims to be prepared for the upcoming technologies and to improve cost-efficiency without making any compromise with respect to quality
* facilitates the exchange and update of software and hardware over the service life of the vehicle

Save Your Linkedin Profile To PDF

http://www.linkedintelligence.com/linkedins-built-in-save-to-pdf

I tested it, it does the job as expected, printing resume PLUS recommandations.

cool social networking videos

http://fr.mashable.com/2007/08/07/869/

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=7698536413&oid=5515479740

Interview questions

The best hiring questions list I know is available in files
HRinterviewquestions.doc at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NESTJOBS/
I use some of them as an interviewer...

"Un bon post" en français: Comment trouver un emploi de conseiller aux ventes...

What will be the successor of the current user (professional) profile in online networks?

This question has been asked in LinkedIn Q&A forum Ronald Wopereis.

Ronald Wopereis asks: "Currently every major online social and/or business network has this concept called "user profile". The information inside such profile would hardly be considered factual by any news reporter or judge. Clearly, our presentation of ourselves is biased, aimed at offering a certain kind of contact while at the same time making sure that our shadow elements are left out as "not really relevant at this stage of relationship building".

In my theory of attention, and following Spinoza's comments 300 years ago that mind and body are two perspectives on one and the same area, i see a future where software usage is what builds a user profile."

My answer is: I guess LinkedIn is pioneering the "successor of (professional) user profile" with 3 specific features:

1. who you know - your network
2. recommendations from current and past colleagues
3. LinkedIn Q&A feature where you can advertize your skills by asking and answering question. from what I understand this is what you call "software usage".

In addition to what's on LinkedIn, as Ronald wrote it, every name can be "googled". That's why in addition to Linkedin Q&A, it's a good practice to participate to forums and publish some papers.

Read also: GROW YOUR NETWORK WHILE YOU DON'T NEED IT!

Indian walkins / walk-ins

To get a feeling of the software indian job market it is a good idea to wander in offshore related forums to get a better feeling of what's happening in India.

• Get a view of the indian job market and the industrialization degree it reached:
  • http://groups.google.com/group/grkist?hl=en
  • http://groups.google.com/group/chetana_freshers?hl=en
  • http://groups.google.com/group/lookhere?hl=en
• Get a more specific view on how some engineers are recruited:
  • http://www.kyapoocha.com/
  • http://www.mywalkin.com/

You will soon notice the word "walk-in" or "walkin". There are plenty of those industrial recruiting events in every big indian city. Here is an example of a recruiting "walkin" exam:

Walkin Interview @ XXXXX in Chennai on 5th to 12th June 2007

Walkin Interview Details:

Date:5-Jun-07 to 12-Jun-07
Venue:

XXXXX India Pvt Ltd
XX, XXXX Main Road
Chennai - 600058

Contact Person: XXXXX yyyy@zzzz.com
Phone: YY-YYY-YYYYY

IT - Microsoft technologies

Software Engineer

Desired Skills

- 2 years hands on experience VB.net, ASP.net, SQL Server 2000.
- Completing tasks with allocated resources. Research and Development as and when required.
- Reporting on progress.
- Documentation and Record keeping

Experience 2 - 6 years

Location Chennai

Read also my offshoring paper: 9_OFFSHORING_ADVICES

my gmail greasemonkey scripts

I recommend those 2 greasemonkey scripts to all gmail users:

• Gmail color labels
• Gmail Conversation Preview

LinkedIn is back!

LinkedIn just reached 11 millions users!

It took 4 months to LinkedIn to grow from 9M to 10M and it took only 6 weeks to go from 10 to 11M.

The graph below shows the sharp increase in terms of users (blue line).


I write "LinkedIn is back!" compared to what I posted previously: LinkedIn is still growing, but...

LinkedIn, The World, France, Germany, India and China

OK, LinkedIn is the 1st worldwide and in Europe BUT not in Germany and France.

Germany and France are still important markets and still love to speak their respective national language. Actually they not only love to speak it, but a sizeable part of french and german people do not speak any other language and they live and work very happily.

That's why, it is my feeling that whatever the size LinkedIn will reach, both Xing and Viadeo will keep an advantage in France and Germany.

By the way, I think there is definetely a place for a chinese speaking social networking site, and that's why Viadeo made an alliance with one of them... No place though for an indian speaking social networking site as many languages are spoken in India and english is the common language. India is using LinkedIn!

Read also my previous post Are French and German not interested in "social networking"?

By the way, I'm an open networker and welcome all invitations on LinkedIn, Viadeo and Xing.

I use Viadeo for France (4000+ 1st level contacts), LinkedIn for the world (12000+ 1st level contacts) and Xing for german speaking countries (1000+ 1st level contacts). I am not speaking chinese fluently enough to invite you to connect on a chinese social networking site :-(

LinkedIn is growing its user base in India

I am one of the 50 most connected users in LinkedIn. Lately I have seen a trend where my network in India is one of those that grow the fastest .

What is unusual here is that usually the fastest growers are also the the biggest as UK, NY or the bay. But this is not the case for India which is below 4% but may soon appear in the top 5 areas in terms of LinkedIn users.

In Basic LinkedIn Users Radioscopy I explain why my network may be similar to the entire LinkedIn user base.

PS: I heavily "invested" in terms of connection effort towards India because I'm in love with this country/continent and I think it is an area of growth in many areas.

Technorati tag this: mariacher, linkedin

Social Networking for Jobs

Should Monster be scared?

Read this article about employers and job seekers using LinkedIn. Viadeo is missing in this comparisons between different websites.

LinkedIn is still growing, but...

So LinkedIn just enlisted it's 10 millionth user. Here is LinkedIn progression since early 2006:













A 1st fact is that since early 2006 LinkedIn is growing linearly, while one could expect it to grow exponentially as more and more users would invite more and more people.

A 2nd other interessant fact is that the ratio between people I can reach and the total LinkedIn users is increasing these last weeks, while my number of 1st level connections does not grow as fast as this ratio. Ratio was 55.5% jnuary 2007 and is 60% today.

It means that inside LinkedIn, people are connecting between themselves faster than new users are entering LinkedIn. I have more and more connections, but in a closed world.

How to use Linkedin and Viadeo to find a new position in 4 steps

Step 1 connect with as many people as possible

The main goal is to maximize the chances to see and be seen on LinkedIn and Viadeo. An additional goal is to minimize the path for reaching people you want to contact.

Connect with 3 different kinds of profile in addition to your near colleagues:

• Connect to people who share your professional goals.

• Connect with recruiters. There is a huge number of these people on LinkedIn and Viadeo.

• Connect with people having a lot of contacts (several thousands) on Viadeo and LinkedIn like eric.mariacher@gmail.com.

To add me as your LinkedIn connection:

0. register on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com

1. copy/paste eric.mariacher@gmail.com

2. click on http://www.linkedin.com/addContacts?displayAddByHand=

3. paste eric.mariacher@gmail.com in the email field

4. click on "search"

5. click on "send invitation"

To add me as your Viadeo connection: Invite Eric Mariacher on Viadeo

As a general rule do not use standard boiler plate invitation (3rd advice). People with more than 1000 1st level connections usually accept every invitation provided it is not too standard.

To find the most connected people on LinkedIn: click on http://www.linkedin.com/search and sort results by number of connections.

To find the most connected people on Viadeo: ask me

Step 2 get recommendations

One of the real plus of tools such as LinkedIn and Viadeo is the recommendation feature. You get feedback from former colleagues in real time. people looking for those recommendations can contact those former people to get additional information.

Step 3 use Q & A feature on LinkedIn

Another plus of LinkedIn (and to a lesser extent of Viadeo and Xing) is the Q & A feature where you can show your expertise concretely.

Step 4 read my "My 2 cents about Online Business Networking"

http://eric-mariacher.blogspot.com/2006/05/my-2-cents-about-online-business.html

“Grow your network while you don’t need it”

Technorati tag this: mariacher, linkedin

Good links for good powerpoint presentations

Keep it simple! Read these articles before building your next powerpoint presentation.

• Use Powerpoint to enhance your presentation, not cripple it
• Write complete sentence headlines
• PowerPoint Is Evil
• The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint
• 5 Ways to Reduce PPT Overload
• Management Communication for Undergraduates from MIT OpenCourseWare

Some graphics and ways to represent data:

• http://rapidbi.com/management/leadership-models/
• periodic table of visualization methods
• http://www.slideshare.net/rfitzgerald/visualization-methods
• Gallery of Data Visualization

| View | Upload your own

Viadeo: Connecteurs d'élite

Bonne année 2007 aux Connecteurs d'élite sur Viadeo!

Ce graphique est basé sur les informations, peut-être partielles que j'ai à ma disposition.

Profil d'Eric Mariacher sur Viadeo

Technorati tag this: mariacher, linkedin