Scientific Web Design
I was recently asked about the scientific basis for web design. Here it is.
Virtual Web Hosting just summarized a set of scientific studies on web usage in a post they titled Scientific Web Design: 23 Actionable Lessons from Eye-Tracking Studies. There you go.
Social Service Idea for HR: One Laptop Per Child
I just clicked my order for the Give One, Get One promotion for One Laptop Per Child. Here’s how it works:
One learning child. One connected child. One laptop at a time.
The mission of One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege. Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During this time, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution.
I’ve been following Nicholas Negroponte’s idea for a while now. And now it’s come into being.
We’re going to give away the one we get to a child in Philadelphia. Wouldn’t it be a great idea to get people in your organization to participate? If you’re in HR, you can send out a quick note to let everyone know about the promotion. One laptop goes to a developing nation, and one goes to the employee. Imagine the possibilities if those laptops were given away, too. Laptops and learning are a heckuva lot better than guns and ammo. Four hundred dollars seems like a small price to pay to change two lives.
Want to Create a Great HR Website?
If you want your HR website to rock, listen to Seth.
Next week we’ll reveal our research report on the best practices in recruiting and career sites. It’s pretty cool.
Workstream Announces TalentCenter 7.0
Workstream unveiled TalentCenter 7.0 today. (You have to go check out their landing page — it’s one of the cooler Flash applications I’ve seen and has to do with this product launch. Click on the image at right to see a screenshot of the tool.)
The company continues to deliver on its aggressive schedule of product launches under the leadership of Deepak Gupta, president and CEO. Workstream’s TalentCenter 7.0 includes these elements according to materials released to the business press:
- Out-of-the-Box Globalization – TalentCenter 7.0 offers built-in support for 10 languages and multiple currencies, including languages such as English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and double-byte language like simplified Chinese.
- Unification - “No Boundaries” Cross-Module Integration – TalentCenter 7.0 provides a common reporting and user-interface layer for all Workstream applications that far exceeds the basic integration capabilities of competitive systems by eliminating the boundaries between talent management modules. This improves effectiveness and productivity by providing managers a single view of information across multiple talent management solutions like compensation planning, performance management and competency management. The improved and intuitive look-and-feel eliminates the need for training, enabling company wide adoption and acceptance.
- Built-in Advanced Analytics and Dashboards – TalentCenter 7.0 delivers rich analytics and dashboards for enhanced decision-making, including role-based views for staff at many levels. Executive dashboards quickly identify key issues and highlight results, while line-of-business dashboards and analytics support pay-for- performance and competency optimization initiatives.
- Web 2.0-enabled User Interface – TalentCenter 7.0 provides a superior end-user experience, with heavy use of Web 2.0 conventions such as dynamic rollovers that improve usability. The new software is highly configurable to accommodate specific customer as well as user needs (e.g., workspaces that can be modified by the end user). Improved navigation provides high productivity by ensuring fewer mouse-clicks for faster access to information.
You can read more about Workstream’s product launches this year in the “Other Stories You Might Like” below. It’s been a good year for Workstream.
A CEO Who Listens — Steve Jobs and the iPhone
I griped a bunch yesterday when Apple announced they were dropping the price of the iPhone by $200. I got my iPhone during the first land rush, and have had it for nine weeks. Too bad, so sad for me. No price protection coverage on my $599 purchase. But wait.
Steve Jobs listened to customers. And did what a real leader does — he made a business decision. Everyone who bought an iPhone and isn’t covered by a price protection plan is getting a $100 gift certificate to use at an Apple store. Apple fanboys call Steve Jobs “Uncle Steve” because he’s always turning up with cool presents. This one is more than a present — it shows that he listens to what customers say and makes hard business decisions. Fast.
Isn’t that what we all want from a leaders and managers? To listen. Make firm decisions. Have guts.
Do we have the guts to say these kinds of things to managers during their HR training? If so, Steve Jobs’ iPhone decision could be a great case study. WWSD?
Technorati Tags: Steve Jobs, Apple, iPhone, CEO, management
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