Apr 17, 2009
Apr 12, 2009
A true friend
You came like spring, And lit my soul on fire. When the birds began to sing, You came and inspired. When the flowers began to bloom, With the smell of spring in the air. You took away the gloom, And taught me how to care. I'll never be the same, You breathed new life into me. I'm so glad you came, A True Friend You'll Always Be.
Posted by Oodly Appropriate at 2:29 PM 0 comments
Labels: collectible, poem
Expert Systems - An Extract from My 1st Seminar.
Extract from my 10 year older seminar on Expert Systems - an Artificial Intelligence Technology. I won 1st Prize in 3rd year symposium. Then, later I continued & extended the same as my final year compulsory seminar. Just Blogging it to my blog. What is AI ? In all science fiction movies, we see machines talking and acting like a real human! Well , That's not really a fiction, coz such machine exists ! Not at such sophisticated level at which they are shown, but the seeds of those capabilities do indeed exist today in research laboratories, and some of the technologies are becoming commercial realities. The scientists and business people who are investigating the potential of these new technologies are working in several different fields, but those fields often are grouped together under a common heading: "Artificial Intelligence". Technically speaking AI is defined as "Artificial intelligence is the part of computer science concerned with designing intelligent computer systems, that is, systems that exhibit the characteristics we associate with intelligence in human behavior." Introduction to Expert System Human experts in any fields are frequently in great demand and are, therefore in short supply. One solution to this dilemma is the Expert System, an AI computer program specially designed to represent human expertise in a particular domain (area of expertise). Now, an Expert system is a computer program designed to act as an expert in a particular domain (area of expertise). Also known as knowledge based system, an Expert system typically includes a sizeable knowledge base, consisting of fact about domain and rules for applying those facts. Expert system currently is designed to assist experts, not to replace them. Expert systems act as an intelligent assistant to human experts as well as assisting people who otherwise might not have access to expertise. Expert system can help meet the following needs: - Expert system must not be confused with database programs. Although both Expert system and database programs feature the retrieval of stored information, the two types of programs differs greatly. In medicine, for example, a database program might be useful for enumerating the symptoms of various illnesses; while an expert system might help to diagnose an illness, determine its causes and suggest programs for treatment. Database program cannot draw conclusions by reasoning about the facts in its domain, users of a database programs are expected to draw their own conclusions. In contrast, Expert systems contain expertise, consisting of both declarative and procedural knowledge, which allows emulating the reasoning processes of human experts. Expert systems have proven to be useful in diverse area such as medical diagnosis, chemical analysis, geological exploration and computer system configuration. As one of the first AI technologies to help solve important problems, the expert systems field has become imbued with a certain mystique, a high tech aura that illuminates the field and, at the same time, discourages closer examination. Expert system holds much promise, but they also have been subjected to a great deal of 'hype' as they have moved into the commercial marketplace.
Posted by Oodly Appropriate at 2:23 PM 0 comments
Labels: artificial intelligence, my work, technology
Process List
Complete Process List of PM processes (PMBOK v3) with their knowledge area and process groups. S.No. Name Of Process Knowledge Area Process Group 1 Develop Project Charter Process Integration Initiation 2 Develop Preliminary Project Scope Statement Process Integration Initiation 3 Develop Project Management Plan Process Integration Planning 4 Direct and Manage Project Execution Process Integration Execution 5 Monitor and Control Project Work Process Integration Monitor & Control 6 Integrated Change Control Process Integration Monitor & Control 7 Close Project Process Integration Closure 8 Scope Planning Process Scope Planning 9 Scope Definition Process Scope Planning 10 Create Work Breakdown Structure Process Scope Planning 11 Scope Verification Process Scope Monitor & Control 12 Scope Control Process Scope Monitor & Control 13 Activity Definition Process Time Planning 14 Activity Duration Estimating Process Time Planning 15 Activity Sequencing Process Time Planning 16 Activity Resource Estimating Process Time Planning 17 Schedule Development Process Time Planning 18 Schedule Control Process Time Monitor & Control 19 Cost Estimating Process Cost Planning 20 Cost Budgeting Process Cost Planning 21 Cost Control Process Cost Monitor & Control 22 Quality Planning Process Quality Planning 23 Perform Quality Assurance Process Quality Execution 24 Perform Quality Control Process Quality Monitor & Control 25 Communication Planning Process Communication Planning 26 Information Distribution Process Communication Execution 27 Performance Reposting Process Communication Monitor & Control 28 Manage Stakeholders Process Communication Monitor & Control 29 Risk Management Planning Process Risk Planning 30 Risk Identification Process Risk Planning 31 Qualitative Risk Analysis Process Risk Planning 32 Quantitative Risk Analysis Process Risk Planning 33 Risk Response Planning Process Risk Planning 34 Risk Monitoring and Control Process Risk Monitor & Control 35 Human Resource Planning Process Human Resource Planning 36 Acquire Project Team Process Human Resource Execution 37 Develop Project Team Process Human Resource Execution 38 Manage Project Team Process Human Resource Monitor & Control 39 Plan Purchases & Acquisitions Process Procurement Planning 40 Plan Contracting Process Procurement Planning 41 Request Seller Reponses Process Procurement Execution 42 Select Seller Process Procurement Execution 43 Contract Administration Process Procurement Monitor & Control 44 Contract Closure Procurement Closure
Posted by Oodly Appropriate at 1:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: PMP, process areas, project management
Earned Value Technique
Earned Value Management is nice technique to gauge the performance of a project
Here is one for Earned Value Technique used to calculate performance of project at any given point of time.
Key Definitions:
Planned Value (PV) or Budgeted Cost Of Work Scheduled (BCWS):
- Authorized budget assigned to the scheduled work to be accomplished for a schedule activity or WBS component.
- Authorized budget assigned to the scheduled work to be accomplished for a schedule activity or WBS component.
Earned Value (EV) or Budgeted Cost Of Work Performed (BCWP):
- Approved budget assigned to that work for a schedule activity or WBS component.
- Approved budget assigned to that work for a schedule activity or WBS component.
Actual Cost (AC) or Actual Cost Of Work Performed (ACWP)
- Total cost incurred or recorded in accomplishing work performed during a given time period for a schedule activity or WBS component.
- Total cost incurred or recorded in accomplishing work performed during a given time period for a schedule activity or WBS component.
Task Name | Duration | Planned Cost | Cost Expended | % Completed | Earned Value |
A | 23 | 150 | 250 | 100 | 150 |
B | 4 | 40 | 50 | 80 | 32 |
C | 32 | 75 | 100 | 70 | 52.5 |
D | 12 | 100 | | | |
E | 14 | 150 | | | |
- At the end of 59th day, performance review is required.
Only three tasks - A, B, C were planned till 59th day.
- So PV = 150+40+75 = 265
- So PV = 150+40+75 = 265
Actual cost by 59th day is
- AC = 250+50+100 = 400
- AC = 250+50+100 = 400
Earned Value will be based on % completed * planned cost.
EV = 100%*150 + 80%*40 + 70%*75 = 234.5
- Schedule Variance (SV) = EV - PV = 234.5 - 265 = -30.5
Cost Variance (CV) = EV - AC = 234.5 - 400 = -165.5
- Negative SV means project behind schedule.
- Negative CV means cost has been expended more that what was assigned.
- Negative SV means project behind schedule.
- CPI (Cost Performance Index) = EV/AC = 234.5/400 = 0.5863
SPI (Schedule Performance Index) = EV/PV = 234.5/265 = 0.8849
- SPI less than 1 means behind schedule.
- SPI more than 1 means ahead of schedule.
- SPI = 1 means on schedule.
- CPI less than 1 means cost overrun.
- CPI more than 1 means cost under run.
- CPI = 1 means on budget.
- SPI less than 1 means behind schedule.
To Complete Performance Index (TCPI) = (BAC - EV)/(BAC - AC)
- BAC = Budget At Completion. = 150+40+75+100+150 = 515
- TCPI is efficiency that must be achieved to complete remaining work with remaining budget.
- TCPI = (515 - 234.5)/(515 - 400)=2.4391
- So, 243% of original planned performance required to meet objectives.
- BAC = Budget At Completion. = 150+40+75+100+150 = 515
- Estimate at Completion (EAC) = expected total costs of scheduled activity, WBS component or project.
Estimate to Complete (ETC) = expected cost needed to complete all the remaining work for a schedule activity, WBS or the project.
- EAC = AC + ETC
- ETC = (BAC - EV) for atypical variance.
- EAC = AC + BAC - EV
- ETC = (BAC - EV)/CPI for typical variance.
- EAC = BAC/CPI for typical variance.
VAC (Variance At Completion) = EAC - BAC
- If this project has atypical variance, then
- ETC = 515 - 234.5 = 280.5
- EAC = 400 + 280.5 = 680.5
VAC = 680.5 - 515 = 165.5
- If this project has typical variance, then
- ETC = (515 - 234.5)/0.5863 = 478.424
- EAC = 515/0.5863 = 878.3899
- VAC = 878.3899 - 515 = 363.3899
- EAC = AC + ETC
Posted by Oodly Appropriate at 1:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: earned value management, EVM, PMP, project management
Apr 9, 2009
Self Respect vs. Ego
There is thin line between self-respect and ego.
What I feel is self-respect for me , may be perceived by other as an ego.
If something hurts my self-respect, I definitely feel anger.
But if I exhibit my anger, other will perceive it as an ego.
What exactly distinguish self-respect from an ego ?
Probably everybody will call their ego as their self-respect.
And other's self-respect as ego.
Probably anger is the main culprit.
Posted by Oodly Appropriate at 9:41 PM 0 comments
Labels: my thoughts, philosphy