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Have you taken advantage of the MyPath.com Books 24x7 Reference Library? With your free trial subscription, you gain online access to a selection of leading technology and best-in-class business books from leading publishers. Your trial subscription is good for 30 days and will begin with your first use of the library. To access via MyPath, login to MyPath then go to Knowledge Center by SkillSoft. Finally, click the Books24x7 link and begin your trial. There is no other action required.

You can choose from two specialized technology and business collections, with hundreds of titles in each. You’ll see every word, page and image in each book. And every title is fully searchable.

One very popular book in the MyPath Referenceware collection is Competitive Engineering: A Handbook for Systems Engineering, Requirements Engineering, and Software Engineering Using Planguage.

Written for anyone involved in management and risk control, this unique book provides a practical set of tools and techniques that enable readers to effectively design, manage and deliver results in any complex organization.

Competitive Engineering copes explicitly with the rapidly changing environment that is a reality for most of us today.

Elegant, comprehensive and accessible, the Competitive Engineering methodology provides a practical set of tools and techniques that enable readers to effectively design, manage and deliver results in any complex organization - in engineering, industry, systems engineering, software, IT, the service sector and beyond.

Here is a sneak peek excerpt from Competitive Engineering: A Handbook for Systems Engineering, Requirements Engineering, and Software Engineering Using Planguage

What is in Competitive Engineering?

CE is taught using ‘Planguage.’[1] Planguage consists of a new industrial systems engineering language for communicating systems engineering and management specifications, and a set of methods providing advice on best practices. ‘Planguage’ is central to CE and permeates all themes of this book.

The Planguage Specification Language is used to describe all the requirements, designs and plans for a system.

The main Planguage Methods are as follows:

Requirement Specification: used to capture all the different requirement types. Emphasis is placed on specifying competitive performance and resource attributes quantitatively.

Impact Estimation: used to evaluate designs against the requirements. It is also used during project implementation to track progress towards meeting the requirements.

Specification Quality Control: used at any stage of a project to check the adherence of any plan, contract, bid or technical specification to best practice specification standards.

Evolutionary Project Management: used to plan and monitor implementation of the selected designs.

The reader will, hopefully, find that these are all very practical and innovative methods, compared with current practice and literature.

[1]The word ‘Planguage’ is derived from a combination of ‘plan’ and ‘language.’ It is pronounced like ‘language’ with the initial ‘p’ pronounced as in ‘plan.’

Chapter 1: Planguage Basics and Process Control—The Purpose of Planguage

1.1 Introduction: Why We Need a Different ‘Systems Engineering’ Approach

As the rate of technological change has ‘heated up,’ I am sure we have all seen that, increasingly, nobody ‘knows all the answers.’ Previously we could rely on comparatively stable environments (technology, workforce, experienced people, politics and economics). People knew how to solve problems because they had solved similar ones before. In addition, the concept of learning by apprenticeship was valid; ‘masters’ could pass on their wisdom over a time span of years.

Things are currently moving so fast that it is dangerous to assume there is any first-hand knowledge of the technology we are going to use, or of the markets we are going to sell to. Even the organizational and social structures that we are targeting are constantly changing. Authors such as Tom Peters have long since clearly documented these trends and threats (Peters 1992).

So we have to find out ‘what works now’ by means of practice, not theory. We need to develop things in a different way. We have to learn and to change, faster than the competition.

The fundamental concepts needed now in systems engineering include:

Learning through Rapid Feedback

Feedback is the single most powerful concept for successful projects. Methods that use feedback are successful. Those that do not, seem to fail. Feedback helps you get better control of your project, by providing facts about how things are working in practice. Of course, the presumption is that the feedback is early enough to do some good. This is the main need: rapid feedback.

Dynamic Adaptability

Projects have to be able to respond to feedback and also to be able to keep pace weekly or monthly with changing business or organizational requirements. Projects must continuously monitor the relevance of their current work. Then they must modify their requirements and strategies accordingly. Any product or organizational system should be continuously evolving or it dies. Coping with external change during projects and adapting to it during projects is now the norm, not the exception. Stability would be nice, but we can't have it!

Figure 1.1: Our requirements are changing faster due to external changes.

Capturing the Requirements

It is true of any system that there are several Critical Success Factors. They include both performance requirements (such as serviceability, reliability, portability and usability) and limited resource requirements (such as people, time and money). Projects often fail to specify these critical requirements adequately:

not all the critical success factors are identified

no target numeric values for survival and success are stated

variations in targeted requirements for differing times and differing places, are not addressed:

the effect of peak loads, or system growth, on the required levels, is not taken into account

the concept of very different attribute levels, being required by different parts of the system, or by different stakeholders, is not considered

no practical ways to measure the results delivered to stakeholders are specified alongside the requirement specification.

The result is that our ability to manage successful value delivery is destroyed from the outset. It is impossible to engineer designs to meet non-specified or ambiguous requirements. It also is impossible to track changes for such ill-specified requirements.

Focus on Results

The primary systems engineering task is to design and deliver the best technical and organizational solutions, in order to satisfy the stakeholders' requirements, at a competitive cost. Projects must ensure that their focus is on delivering critical and profitable results. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying: "Perfection of means and confusion of ends seem to characterize our age."[1] Unfortunately, this still appears true today. It is the delivery of the required results from a system that counts. The process used and the technology selected are mere tools in the service of the results.

Interdisciplinary Communication

Clear communication amongst the different stakeholder groups is essential. Common problems include:

ambiguity, due to specification that lacks precise detail

critical specifications being ‘lost’ in overwhelming detail

technical specification being unintelligible to the management, who reviews it

inadequate tracking of specification credibility: its source, status and authorization level.

Leadership and Motivation

Clear vision makes a huge difference. Clear vision gives a common focus for logical decision-making. When people understand the overall direction, they tend to make good local decisions. Only the critical few decisions need to be made at the top. It is important for all team members to be able immediately to channel their energies in a true common team direction.

Receptiveness to Organizational Change

It is also important for system engineers to know that their organizational culture really supports improvement in systems engineering methods. In other words, that people are actively encouraged to look for improvements and to try out new solutions. Positive motivation can be everything! It is not a case of demanding improvement, more a case of supporting and rewarding people who seek it.

Continuous Process Improvement

The quality guru, W. Edwards Deming considered that: "Eternal process improvement, the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, is necessary as long as you are in competition." Having best-practice systems engineering standards in place, measuring conformance to them and continually trying to improve them is necessary if you are to compete well.

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The only thing that should not change is a great change process.

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Want to learn more?

Competitive Engineering: A Handbook for Systems Engineering, Requirements Engineering, and Software Engineering Using Planguage is one of the Knowledge Center offerings found on MyPath.com in the Books 24x7 Reference Library.

To access via MyPath, login to MyPath then go to Knowledge Center by SkillSoft.

Click the Books24x7 link and begin your trial. Other than becoming a MyPath Community member, there is no other action required!

With your free trial subscription, you gain online access to a selection of leading technology and best-in-class business books from leading publishers, including Competitive Engineering. Your trial subscription is good for 30 days and will begin with your first use of the library.

Ready to learn? Visit the MyPath Knowledge Center and start your free trial today!

Every year millions of individuals save for retirement through their employer’s 401(k) plan. Hundreds of thousands of other employees who have access to a 401(k) plan do not utilize it. Those individuals who do participate in their employer’s 401(k) plan usually don’t know how to maximize their benefits, while those employees who are not participating usually have no idea what they’re missing or how it can affect them later in life. Most employees usually have many questions about 401(k) plans, as well. The challenge of adequately informing individuals about 401(k) plans has simply been massive, yet it is important for every individual to understand their benefits and how to optimize them.

An excellent solution is available to help you understand and maximize your 401(k) plans--401(k)s For Dummies . This self-paced, fully –digital book brought informs individuals and answers many of their common questions through a straightforward, informative, and enjoyable style widely respected and recognized throughout the world. Learners get a thorough, serious, and consistent look at what can be a very dull subject with this easy-to-use book. And, the book provides an excellent foundation upon which employees can build an excellent retirement plan.

Discover how to make smart investment choices and build your retirement nest egg.

401(k)s For Dummies

by Ted Benna and Brenda Watson Newmann

John Wiley & Sons © 2003 (266 pages) Citation

ISBN:9780764554681

After reading this book you will know more about:

·       Benefiting from Your 401(k)

·       Understanding the Important Features of Your 401(k)

·       Developing a Savings Plan

·       Weighing Your Options When You Leave Your Employee

·       Selecting Investments

Here is a sneak peek excerpt from 401(k)s For Dummies

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Chapter 8: Weighing Your Options When You Leave Your Employer

When you stop working at the employer that sponsors your 401(k) plan, as if by magic, some restrictions on your money drop away. Except in a few extreme cases, you’re allowed to withdraw your money for any reason at all (it doesn’t have to be a hardship), although you still have to pay applicable taxes and penalties.

This newfound freedom makes about one-third of 401(k) participants giddy enough to do something silly—that is, take the money and run. That’s a bad idea—we explain why later in the chapter. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to avoid pillaging your 401(k)—do a rollover. You can transfer your 401(k) money directly from your former employer to an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) or to your new employer’s retirement plan (if it allows rollovers), without owing tax. In the new account, the money continues to grow tax-deferred, with no income tax on annual earnings.

If you don’t do a rollover right away, you can most likely leave the 401(k) money in your old employer’s plan while you consider your options. This chapter explains how to preserve your 401(k) tax advantage when you change jobs and how to avoid costly mistakes with your retirement money. Chapter 9 explains your options when you retire, which may be slightly different.

Never Can Say Goodbye: Leaving Money in Your Old Employer’s Plan

Leaving your money in your old 401(k) plan may be a good temporary solution while you figure out your next step, but it’s probably not the best long-term solution.

Leaving the money in the 401(k) may have advantages for some investors because

Some people don’t want to make new investment decisions. If you’re satisfied with your 401(k) investments, this strategy is fine. However, be aware that an employer can change the investments offered by the plan at any time. If your money is in your former employer’s 401(k), you have to go along with the change. During the switchover period, which can take several weeks or months, you won’t be able to access your account.

Money in a 401(k) generally has more protection from creditors than that in an IRA should you declare personal bankruptcy.##

But, here are some drawbacks to consider about leaving your money in your former employer’s 401(k):

After you leave a company and are no longer an employee, you’ll be low in the pecking order for service if you request a distribution from the 401(k) plan, or if you have questions or complaints. Companies can change a lot over time, including being acquired or restructured. The level of support you receive as an ex-employee usually drops dramatically if this happens.

While the money is in a former employer’s 401(k) plan, you can’t take a loan. (Remember, you have to pay these back through payroll deductions.) Taking a withdrawal will also probably be difficult.

You can no longer contribute to the old 401(k) plan, but you can rebalance the investments.

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Want to learn more?

401(k)s For Dummies is one of the Knowledge Center offerings found on MyPath.com in the Books 24x7 Reference Library.

To access via MyPath, login to MyPath then go to Knowledge Center by SkillSoft.

Click the Books24x7 link and begin your trial. Other than becoming a MyPath Community member, there is no other action required!

With your free trial subscription, you gain online access to a selection of leading technology and best-in-class business books from leading publishers, including 401(k)s For Dummies. Your trial subscription is good for 30 days and will begin with your first use of the library.

Ready to learn? Visit the MyPath Knowledge Center .

How has your professional and/ or personal development been progressing this year?  Are you looking for new resources? Have you considered Open Courseware?

Open CourseWare, or OCW, is a term applied to course materials in a virtual learning environment created by universities and shared freely with the world via the internet.

Open CourseWare provides excellent online education resources that can help someone improve their skills, bone up for particular projects, or prepare for advanced degrees.  If you did not have the opportunity to attend Stanford, Harvard or MIT as an undergraduate or graduate student, here is your chance to sit in on the action at a top tier university.

OCW is not a substitute for a regular college education, but this free service does provide a "self-learner" the opportunity to review basic concepts from an academic standpoint, prepare for future course work (perhaps in pursuit of an advanced degree), or even complete particular business projects that require new or additional expertise.

A recent New York Times article gave an extensive overview on the wealth of educational material that has been publicly posted in the name of Open Courseware.

The top sites include:

Academic Earth http://www.academicearth.org

Connexions http://www.cnx.org

OpenCourseWare Consortium http://www.ocwconsortium.org

Open Culture http://www.openculture.com

ITunes U http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/

YouTube.com/edu http://www.youtube.com/education

Highlights for High School http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/home/home/index.htm

Also, according to the YouTube view count ticker, the following are the 10 most watched OpenCourseWare lecture courses on YoueTube today.

1. Moral Reasoning 22: Justice Harvard

2. Integrative Biology 131: General Human Anatomy University of California, Berkeley

3. Physics 10: Physics for Future PresidentsUniversity of California, Berkeley

4.Physics 1: Classical Mechanics M.I.T.

5. Introduction to Basic Electronics Indian Institutes of Technology

6. SIMS 141: Search Engines: Technology, Society and Business University of California, Berkeley

(Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin is the guest lecturer)

7. Computer Science 106A: Programming Methodology Stanford

8. Mathematics 18.03: Differential Equations M.I.T.

9. Modern Theoretical Physics: Einstein Stanford Continuing Studies

10. Math 18.06: Linear Algebra M.I.T.

Don’t forget that here on MyPath we offer a selection of 10 eLearning courses related to project management, personal development and more. In addition, more than 200 fully digitized online books are available in IT, business topics, finance and engineering.  Trying either of these free, trial subscriptions is another no-cost / no-risk way of finding out if online learning is right for you.

With your free trial subscription, you gain online access to a selection of leading technology and best-in-class business books from leading publishers. Your trial subscription is good for 30 days and will begin with your first use of the library. To access via MyPath, login to MyPath then go to MyPath Knowledge Centerby SkillSoft. Finally, click the Books24x7 link and begin your trial. There is no other action required. Try it today!

Online learning is different in many respects from the traditional face-to-face learning we're all used to, primarily in the way we get our information and how we interact with instructors and classmates. Many people say they learn more online, and their retention is better too.

Consider that good students in the traditional setting may fair poorly in an online environment, while struggling students may excel with online courses. This can be explained in part due to differences in learning styles. Visual, self-directed learners do well at online learning, but others succeed because online instructional design is often sophisticated and planned to reach a wide variety of learners.

Lifestyles play a big role in the success of online learners too. These are the traits that successful online students possess, to varying degrees:

• Self-Directed
• Motivated
• Comfortable with computers
• Able to use email, internet browser, word processor
• Like to read and write
• Inquisitive
• Disciplined
• Independent
• Able to stay on task

These questions may help you decide if online learning is for you:

Are you self-directed and motivated?
Most of online learning happens on your schedule. You'll need to be self-directed and motivated to complete activities on schedule and initiate the communication required to be successful. You'll be responsible for creating the structure to finish each course.

Are your technical skills adequate?
Along with having access to a computer and not being overwhelmed by typing, online learners should be comfortable with internet browsing and searching, email, sending and reading attachments, word processing, and sometimes downloading and installing software plug-ins (a normally simple but sometimes intimidating task).

Do you have strong reading skills?
Reading can play a large part in any class, and especially online. The ability to read and comprehend subject matter without it being a chore is critical to your success.

Does written communication come easily for you?
In most cases writing is the primary method of communication in online classes, so you should be at ease with writing to express your thoughts, share ideas, and ask questions.

Will you ask questions when you need to?
If you typically don't hesitate to seek help when you need it you'll do fine. Since you'll be in an online environment it's important to let your instructor and classmates know when you need help. Remember that they won't be able to see your looks of doubt, confusion, or other body language to tell when things aren't going well.

Will you miss the social interaction?
Interaction with instructors and classmates in online learning is often an integral part of the learning experience. Absent is the in-person contact - being able to see facial expressions, hear reactions, and speak. Campus life may be different or non-existent too.

Do you have the discipline to study regularly?
Like a traditional school you'll need to set aside adequate time for study. You may discover that you need to be online frequently to complete assignments or communicate with classmates and instructors. You can plan to spend at least as much time working assignments and studying as you would with a traditional course, and you'll be setting your own pace in many instances.

If you're satisfied with your answers to these questions, you're likely to do well in an online learning course. A no-cost / no-risk way of trying online learning is by accessing the MyPath Knowledge Center. There are 10 eLearning courses available in project management, personal development and more. In addition, more that 200 fully digitized online books are available in IT, business topics, finance, engineering and more. Try it today!

Recently, we have received some questions from MyPath members asking for tips on how to manage the costs for training for a new career.

Here are some general guidelines:

Consider the typical salary for your new career interest and ask yourself how much debt you are willing to take on to earn that particular salary.

After an exhaustive career exploration that involves researching jobs and conducting informational interviews with people in target career fields, many job seekers determine they need additional training to develop skills for a new career. However, it is important to research the possible training providers as intensely as you have researched your career interests.

Whether you are interested in a community college, a four-year institution, a short-term training program, a professional certification program or a private training provider, here are some questions you should ask.

How much is this going to cost?

School can be pricey. While it may give you new skills for a completely different career or add to the skill set you already have to make you a more marketable job candidate, it does not guarantee employment. Consider the typical salary for your new career interest and ask yourself how much debt you are willing to take on to earn that particular salary. Using these figures, calculate approximately how long it will take you to pay back the debt and consider the sacrifices — such as holding off on buying a new house or car — that you may have to make as a result.

Also, be sure to take advantage of resources available to help you with financing your education or training. One way to secure financial assistance is through the Workforce Investment Act. This federal program was designed to assist qualified unemployed, underemployed or dislocated workers by providing job-training scholarships.

Another means of support can be found through the Department of Education, which provides federal student aid for eligible individuals. Federal student aid is accepted at all community colleges and most public and private universities. Typically, most for-profit schools as well as non-degree-bearing programs such as continuing education or certification classes do not accept federal student aid, but you should check with the financial aid office at your school or training provider of choice to be sure.

Information about and a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) are available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

How many students who complete this training program end up working in a related career?

If you are going to make the commitment to train for a new career, you want to ensure the training and skills you receive will actually allow you to find work in that field. Credible training programs and schools should have this information and be willing to share it with you. Moreover, they should be able to direct you to graduates of the program who are successfully working in that field. You can set up a time to speak with them about any specific obstacles they faced in making the transition from school to work and ask them if they would do anything differently if they had the chance.

Does this program prepare me to obtain certification in my chosen field?

Many occupations have professional certifications that are recognized as industry standards. Find out what the standard certification is for your career of interest and ask the training provider whether you will be able to successfully obtain that certification after passing through its program. Also ask the training provider for data on its graduates’ certification exam pass rates. That information will give you an idea of how well the program does in preparing students to attain necessary professional certification in their career field.

What tutoring and additional help are available outside of class?

Many of you may be going to school for the first time or returning to school after a long hiatus, so you may be a little rusty. Ensure that there are sufficient resources available for any additional support you may need. Ask about tutoring programs, mentors and instructors’ office-hour schedules.

Does the program provide internships?

Internships offer you an opportunity to put your newly acquired skills into practice in a real-world work setting. Experienced professionals in your field will groom you as you learn the ins and outs of the industry and discover which areas you need to improve upon. Internships also provide an excellent opportunity to network with individuals and organizations in your new career of interest.

Are there other ideas and suggestions?  What are some creative ways you have managed the costs of changing careers?

You are not the boss. You've been called "peer," "esteemed colleague," "invaluable staff member," and "friend," but no one's even come close to calling you "boss." When you stop to think about it, you realize you have no real authority whatsoever. In fact, you have much more power than you think, even if you are on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder. As Jack London said, "Life is not always a matter of being dealt a winning hand, but sometimes, of playing a poor hand well." In the corporate world, when it comes to getting results when you have no authority, it is imperative that you play your best hand.

Are you looking to get results through others, even when you lack direct authority?

Through our partnership with SkillSoft, we are currently offering 10 self-paced, online courses to MyPath Community Memebers.

In the course Getting Results by Building Relationships you can learn to…

- recognize the importance of laying the groundwork for getting results.

- identify ways to make a good first impression.

- identify ways to demonstrate interest in co-workers.

- identify ways to build rapport with co-workers.

- recognize the importance of building credibility for the purpose of getting results.

- identify ways to win the confidence of co-workers.

- identify ways to demonstrate integrity to co-workers.

- apply the steps for dealing with conflict in a general business scenario.

Are you ready to learn more? Visit the MyPath Knowledge Centerand start your free trial today!

The MyPath community is committed to your continuing development. We have recently partnered with SkillSoft to bring our members a 30-day, free membership to a library of 10 online courses.

e-Learning is a developmental tool that you can utilize in your own time and at your own pace. Our goal is to support your development through innovative online learning that can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With our new online learning trial, you can look forward to accessing a diverse library of content. These courses cover a wide variety of subject matter in order to meet your various training needs.  The courses, and associated components, can also be used as reference tools to help answer your day-to-day on the job questions or as part of your personal development.

We hope that you will take full advantage of this opportunity!

• Performance-oriented instruction based on assessment results

• Available 24x7 to meet professional and personal development

• Control of the content – can be taken in a non-linear fashion to provide answers

• Search-AND-learn allows learner to search for content that meets development or reference needs

• Self-paced; content can be revisited again and again

• Achievements recorded in ‘My Report’; including assessment results and time

• Use ‘My Plan’ to plan and prioritize development; creates a shortcut to required course and creates scheduled email reminders

Ready to learn? Visit the MyPath Knowledge Centerand start your free trial today!

Let’s say you need to add some pop to your resume and you need it as quickly as possible.  You don’t have time to earn that degree just yet, the job market is tight and you’re looking for an edge and/or you just want to update and sharpen your skills.  Here are five fairly quick things you can do to add some pop to your resume.

Certify

If there is an industry standard that leads to a form of certification such as what you often find in IT, such as a CPA, PMP, etc. that you are qualified for in your career field of choice, go ahead and certify.  It may be time consuming and somewhat expensive in the short run, but not compared to a second degree.  You can also start looking at diversifying your skill set.  For example if you are a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) you can perhaps supplement this with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification as well.

Earn a Certificate of Completion

Earning a certificate of completion is different than certifying. A certificate of completion is often either academic or professional training in a wide variety of fields. Everything from liberal arts to military intelligence to hotel management can be found in this category.  The price can range everywhere from around a hundred bucks to many thousands of dollars depending upon where you go, how the course is delivered and the purpose of the certificate.

Take focused courses

Taking focused courses where you can raise your knowledge and even print a transcript is a great way to expand your skill set and can be done relatively inexpensively and fast.  In some cases you can even take the courses for free.  The trick here is to build a portfolio of work where an interested employer may be able to see you’ve done and what you’re capable of.  Perhaps you can add a “skills” section on your resume and place them there.  If you get asked how you learned these skills you have a lead into an interesting conversation.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to build experience when you have relatively little to none.  Maybe you haven’t gained that management position because you’ve never managed anything.  Volunteer organizations may welcome the skills that you do have and appreciate your eagerness to learn more.

Become a part of a project

Lastly, if you have a job already start looking for projects that will push your skill set further and force you to grow.  Often there are many project teams that need more people to help out, especially in unfunded projects.  Not only can you list these on your resume but it is a great way to network and build experience.

I hope these tips help. Do you have others you would like to add? Please share some creative ways you have enhanced your resume.

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.

            Herbert Spencer (1820- 1903)