An article published in the Thursday Magazine of The Times of Oman, dated 14th of August 2014 with a close friend cum colleague is in
fact the need the hour. Read on....
fact the need the hour. Read on....
Monday, September 1, 2014
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Article on Job Seeker to Job Provider in the Thursday Magazine of The Times of Oman
It was indeed a great experience to collaborate with my senior pro on an article of contemporary importance, published in the Thursday Magazine of The Times of Oman, dated 24th of July 2014. Read on....
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Article on Career Planning in the Thursday Magazine of Times of Oman
It is indeed a pleasure to collaborate for an article with my esteemed colleague and friend, Dr. Issa Al Amri on a topic which has very high relevance for all career aspirants. The article has been published in The Times of Oman's Thursday Magazine dated 10th of July 2014.
The article can also be viewed by clicking on the following link of the Times of Oman-
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/36467/Article-Roadmap-for-career-building-by-Omans-college-lecturers
Read on.......
The article can also be viewed by clicking on the following link of the Times of Oman-
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/36467/Article-Roadmap-for-career-building-by-Omans-college-lecturers
Read on.......
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Article on Collaborative Teaching in the Thursday Magazine of The Times of Oman
It was indeed nice to conduct a workshop and then follow it up with an article on Collaborative Teaching with my esteemed colleague and friend, Mr. Salim Bani Orabah, HoS, English Language Center, ICT, Oman. The article can also be viewed from the Times of Oman portal, from the link below-
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/35809/Article-Collaborative-thinking--Need-of-the-hour
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/35809/Article-Collaborative-thinking--Need-of-the-hour
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Article on Social Media based Teaching and Learning
It was wonderful to first experience and then collaborate for authoring an article on Social Media based Teaching and Learning. Kudos to Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration, ICT, and also the college administration for encouraging the departments to innovate and develop student centered teaching and learning. Thanks to the Business Studies Department as well for constant encouragement.
The article can also be viewed from the following link-
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Article on Cracking the Interview from The Thursday Magazine of Times of Oman
Read an article on cracking the interview published in The Times of Oman, Thursday Magazine, dated 29th of May 2014. The article can also be seen from the link below-
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/34493/Article-Crack-the-interview
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/34493/Article-Crack-the-interview
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Performance Appraisal and Productivity
Performance forms the backbone for all organizations, be it for profit or even for not for profit causes, although the criteria might vary from one company to another. Management ought to know good performers as well as the ones struggling and one or rather the best way to do it is through a fool-proof, error-free, fair and discrimination free performance appraisal process. It is an organization wide practice and therefore, performance appraisal cannot be a standalone activity for one department or a set of employees whereas it is non-existent or completely different for another department within the same organization. The main reason for the same is to align individual performance with that of the department, that in turn should be in line with the departmental as well as organizational goals and objectives. Importantly, performance appraisal should not be a tool to spread fear factor within the rank and file of the organization, nor it should be a tool for the superiors to flaunt so as to settle personal scores with their subordinates, whenever there are difference of opinion in the interest of the welfare of the organization, or for favouring an individual employee or group of employees close to the superior. Performance is a tool for motivating people that should culminate in enhancing performance and productivity. The managerial practice ensures that people are managed truly, honestly as performance appraisal provides opportunity to communicate business strategy to individual employees, it enables in establishing shared understanding between the appraiser and appraise, provides a tool to motivate employees, improve working culture and environment, provide constructive feedback with opportunities to grow and align individual goals with that of the organization. Performance Management has been seen as an Human Resource Development function as it provides avenues to improve the human asset or the intellectual capital of the organization through continuous monitoring of the performance, sans any discrimination. Aligning or bringing together of the individual goals with that of the organization cannot be done in a better way than that of performance appraisal as its qualitative as well as quantitative in nature. Performance appraisal can have different names like performance review, performance evaluation, career development discussion, employee appraisal, although the underlying theme remains the same for all and that is to evaluate performance so as to increase productivity. The broad objectives of performance appraisal could be record base full proof decisions on compensation and benefits, SWOT analysis of employees to put the right person in the right job at the right time, providing feedback, improving communication channels between the management and the employees, self reflection of all individual employees, means to influence working habits and behaviors of employees, decide on training and other developmental programs. The clear cut advantages it can bring into an organization if its state-of-the-art bias free performance appraisal process. However, one need to know the difference between performance management system and performance appraisal system as the former emphasizes on performance of individuals, team and organization, it is continuous rewards may or may not be integral, designed by the human resource department, monitored by the respective department, ownership is with line managers although HR help in its implementation. The latter gives importance to relative or comparative evaluation of individuals, which is also an annual exercise, necessarily rewards good performance and punishes as well if required, designed and monitored by the Human Resource department, and the ownership is mostly with the Human Resource department. It is therefore evident that Human Resource (HR) department happens to be the major department facilitating and implementation of performance appraisal set-up as it ensures free, fair and discrimination free processes. The advantages of performance appraisal are obvious-promotion of performers, framing of the right compensation and benefit structure, employee development, selection validation of wrong people for wrong positions, a tool for make communication more effective, apart from motivating the people. All the aforesaid steps are done with an intention to enhance productivity, which can be managed growth or working smarter or to make it ideal with more output with reduction in input, increasing the level of efficiency or even to manage a decline. Labor productivity used to be the word earlier, now its employee productivity as human resource is no more a mere resource, its an asset that differentiates leaders from followers and moreover, its not for labour, its for one and all, i.e. blue collared as well as white collared workers.
(Adapted from the ICT, Bachelor Handout)
Additional reading links-
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Article on Managing Student Related Affairs in the New Paradigm
It was indeed an honour and pleasure to author a collaborative article with the senior colleague of yours truly on managing student affairs in the new paradigm. The article throws light on different aspect in a student centered Higher Education Institute. Published in the Thursday Magazine of The Times of Oman, dated 15th of May 2014. The article has many important aspects related to student related affairs from a student centered perspective. Read on.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Cooperative Education and its importance for Academia-Industry combine
Friday, February 28, 2014
Industry Visit as a Teaching-Learning Tool
26th of February 2014 witnessed a unique teaching-learning experience while the eager learner of Financial Institution & Services of Diploma level and Banking Theory & Practice students of Advanced Diploma level embarked on a industry visit to the prestigious Central Bank of Oman(CBO). Industry visits have often been used as an effective teaching-learning tool, however, its effectiveness increases manifold if its properly planned in line with the theory taught in the four-walls of the classroom, not to forget the ability of the lecturer/trainer-industry professional combine to relate the presentation or learning derived precisely in consonance with the level of the learner. The amazing ability of the professionals from different departments of the CBO to reach out to the learner's level, in terms of simplicity, conceptual clarity and diving home the practical understanding of the theoretical learning imbibed while pursuing the academic program, made it a wonderful experience for all concerned. It was evident from the level of interactivity displayed by the listeners. The planned assignment in line with the industry visit just before the onset of the tour acted as the right motivator for the learner to prepare well, along with their spadework, not to forget the need to pay attention to every minute details being discussed. The post visit submission in the form of an individual report having due weightage, contributed towards the overall performance matrix of the learner. The biggest takeaways from this industry visit has been the following-
(1)The importance to plan the right topic at the right time
(2)The need for the industry professionals to reach out to the learner in terms of their understanding
(3)The importance of adequate spadework so as to make the learner prepare actively in the discussion
(4)The ideal motivator to participate with an open mind is decided with the fixation of the right kind of post visit submission and evaluation with due weightage
(5)Hearing from the horses mouth, i.e. the practical insights from the professional Central Bankers or industry chieftains
(6)Visit to the currency museum enabled the understanding of the evolution of currency from the historical perspective
(7)Last, but not the least the cooperation from the institution, the department as well the industry involved in the Industry visit based teaching-learning
Special thanks to CBO and the presenters, heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Mohd. Riyaz, OJT Coordinator, Business Studies Department, Business Studies Department Administration, College Administration of ICT, Ms. Marie Grace for facilitating the visit, along with yours truly and lastly the keen learner comprising of the students of Financial Institution & Services, and Banking Theory & Practice for their active partcipation.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Can the new India Born Head of Microsoft take the company past Google, Apple to name a few?
Satya Nadella is Microsoft's next CEO, Bill Gates his wingman
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