Pakistan has a vibrant software industry. While PASHA has specific stats on how quickly the industry is growing, as someone on the ground the indicators of growth are very clear. We started about 7 years ago as a company and felt that (as one friend put it), “operating a business here is Jehad”. I list […]
One of the key issues in managing an organization of IT people is understanding their needs. Understanding this helps managers motivate their staff better, align rewards and to UNDERSTAND how the engine they are managing works. I find most managers like to view their staff as machines that are expected to behave in particular ways […]
A small management consulting firm would do well by partnering with another business in order to expand the firm, gain more market share and increase revenue. A partnership helps the consulting firms earn greater revenue is several different ways. 1. Economies of Scale By joining as a partnership, the firm can order in bulk as […]
As consultants a constant requirement for us is to negotiate. Whether its requirements with stakeholders or proposals with decision makers, negotiating skills are central to the daily life of a consultant. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you have your negotiator cap on. Aim for the Win-win situation: Kind of obvious, […]
Most mid sized management consulting/business consulting firms face several challenges soon after their inception. Its generally one or a few principals that start the company off and have an already established base of clients. Soon after the initial momentum runs out though the following issues arise: How do find new clients How do they retain […]
Whether telecommuting or freelancing, more and more professionals are trading in the cubicle for the home office. We hear all about the perks of the work from home lifestyle — no long commutes, more time with family, conference calls in pajamas, etc. But what about the challenges? It’s not always easy to stay productive in […]
Recently I’ve come across an acronym called PASS MADE, which is interesting to memorize some important principals on Software Development; it looks like this: Performance Availability Security Scalability Maintainability Accessibility Deployability Extensibility We’ll have a brief look at each of these and then look at a few other possibilities for requirements. Remember, though, that all […]
I’ve been searching for some good ASP. Net based open source bug tracking systems. I came across a system named Gemini which is a beautifully designed system with pretty good features in it. Although it is good and full of features but its free version is limited to only 3 users with 180 days period. […]
ACE Portal Application and Program Participation To take advantage of the latest ACE Secure Data Portal capabilities company must register for it first. Benefits of establishing a Portal account include the following: file manifests electronically; make periodic payments on an interest-free monthly basis; file and process formal consumption entries and informal entries, including Automated Broker […]
Automated Commercial System (ACS) As shipments of raw materials, parts, and finished goods cross national borders, they must pass through customs. Today, the United States Customs Service allows shippers and consignees to submit customs declarations and receive customs releases electronically. In April 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began rolling out an electronic cargo […]