Sunday, May 28, 2017

Education, health sector KP’s top priority: CM Khattak

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pervez Khattak has directed to increase the salaries of the provincial government employees. He also asked the health and education sector to come up with viable proposals in the education and health sector for efficent utilisation of provincial budget.

He was addressing a meeting in which final touches were given to different schemes in both, education and health sectors. Provincial Ministers Muhammad Atif Khan, Shahram Khan Tarakai, Chief Secretary Abid Saeed, ACS Muhammad Azam Khan and administrative secretaries also attended the meeting.

Improving quality of learning in math, science education stressed

Maths and science competition was held among seven government schools across Rawalpindi aimed at improving the quality of learning in math and science education among students.

The event was jointly organised by Rawalpindi Education Authority (REA), Pakistan Alliance for Math and Science and Alif Ailaan on Saturday.

Baligh acclaims KP being Ist province adopting all education standards

The 10th Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) concluded here Thursday with a joint statement presented by the Federal Education Minister Baligh Ur Rehman at a press conference here. Talking to the media, the Federal Minister Balig Ur Rehman said that IPEM Conferences are ongoing since 2012 and so far ten conferences have been conducted in Islamabad, Peshawar, Balochistan, Gilgit- Baltistan.

Zubair appreciates increased allocation for higher education

Governor of Sindh, Muhammad Zubair on Saturday appreciated the raise made in the budgetary allocation for Higher Education Commission (HEC) for fiscal year 2017-18.
Addressing a cash award distribution ceremony held here for the students of IBA – Sukkur and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana, he said Rs 35662.801 million allocated for HEC will equally help promotion of education and research in the country.

Huge sum allocated for Higher Education, Budget 2017-18

Finance Minister today has unveiled the budget for FY 2017-18 today. The economy has gone past 5 percent threshold and the govt now has set a target of 6 percent growth for the coming FY.

This will be the last budget presented by the PML-N government.

The government has announced that it will be spending Rs 35 billion for the purpose of Higher Education. More money will be spent on the Human capital of the country. With the companies bill, women will feature on the board of directors.

Pakistan's education financing—a glass half empty?

On March 28, 2014, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif publicly announced his commitment to raise the education budget to 4% of the GDP by 2018. His commitment was later reinforced when he endorsed the proposals of Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Education, during his visit to the UN General Assembly in September 2014.

But, in 2017, the allocation for education in Pakistan hovers around 2.83% of GDP, a climb from 2.59% in 2013-14, which, at best, can be called a marginal increase.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

SEO - Hiring an Expert

Creating, editing, and promoting unique high-quality content is difficult and time consuming. If you are really serious about SEO and you are not getting expected result, then it would be better to hire an SEO expert.

SEO experts perform the are following tasks:

SEO - Verifying Web Site

You design and develop a website but how would you know if you have put all the HTML syntax in a correct way. Most browsers do not complain against your wrong syntax, but wrong is wrong.

There are many SEO experts who claim that SEO is not dependent on site HTML/XHTML verification. But we will discuss various reasons why your site should be W3C Compliance.

A Mild Attack of Locusts by Doris Lessing

A Mild Attack of Locusts by Doris Lessing
The attack of locusts is a natural calamity that makes the human beings helpless in saving the crops, and asset and a source of living for an agriculturist. The farmers did their best to save their crops from the attack of locusts. They burnt bing fires so drift up thick clouds of smoke and made loud noise by beating the tin cans to keep the insects away from their fields. But all their attempts failed, and the insects are every blade of their crops leaving the fields to five a look of a devastated landscape. However, they did not take the loss to their hearts, and remained calm. They endured what they could not cure

Monday, May 22, 2017

SEO - Content is the King

Content basically includes what you see on the site: the text, graphics, and even links to other websites. You should not use excessive graphics because they are not Search Engine Friendly plus heavy graphics normally put the users out when they get downloaded, especially over a slow network.

Thousands of articles, books, and forum entries are available on how to make your website search engine friendly, but ultimately, one rule stands above the rest:

Laravel - Application Structure

Introduction
The default Laravel application structure is intended to provide a great starting point for both large and small applications. Of course, you are free to organize your application however you like. Laravel imposes almost no restrictions on where any given class is located - as long as Composer can autoload the class.

Where Is The Models Directory?
When getting started with Laravel, many developers are confused by the lack of a models directory. However, the lack of such a directory is intentional. We find the word "models" ambiguous since it means many different things to many different people.

SEO - Optimized Anchor

Use descriptive anchor text for all your text links. Most search engines consider anchor text of incoming links when ranking pages. Here is an example of anchor:

<a href="otherpage.htm" title="Anchor Title">Anchor Text</a>

SEO - Title Optimization

An HTML TITLE tag is put inside the head tag. The page title (not to be confused with the heading for a page) is what is displayed in the title bar of your browser window, and is also what is displayed when you bookmark a page or add it to your browser Favorites.

This is the one place on a webpage where your keywords MUST be present.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

HEC, ECOSF Forum Stresses Significance of Inquiry Based Science Education

Islamabad, May 11, 2017: The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan in collaboration with ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) organised Forum on Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) -- La main a la pate to emphasise the importance of inquiry in science education and strengthening science base in schools.

Dr. Ameer Muhammad, Rector National University of Science and Technology (NUST) was chief guest of the occasion.

HEC Approves Research Projects for Returning PhD Scholars

The Higher Education commission (HEC) Pakistan organized the second steering committee meeting for final review and approval of project proposals submitted under the project “Establishment of Technology Development Fund (TDF) for HEC scholars returning from abroad after completing PhD to introduce new technologies in Pakistan.”

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC chaired the meeting. Dr. Arshad Ali, Executive Director HEC and Dr. Muhammad Latif, Adviser R&D were also present on the occasion. Project Steering committee comprised members from education sector of all provinces, AJK and industry to maintain transparency for final approval of project proposals.

Board Officials Involved in Cheating Scam

According to counter-terrorism department (CTD), new information has surfaced regarding the mysterious leak of board exam papers.

Not long ago CTD traced four WhatsApp groups which were sharing the exam papers. Today, CTD has found out that officials of the intermediate board themselves are involved with the cheating mafia.

AKU to Conduct Study Over the Best Way to Teach Maths & Science

The Higher Education Commission has granted funding for an innovative study designed to identify how different methods of teaching Mathematics and Science can improve children’s understanding of these key subjects.

The study will be conducted by researchers from the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (IED) over a period of at least three years.

Only 2% of Candidates Pass CSS Examinations

A report from Islamabad has revealed that in the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations of 2016, just two percent of candidates passed. Three female candidates managed to score the top three positions offered in the examination.

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) revealed the results on Wednesday which showed that only 2.06 percent of all applicants had managed to score even the minimum passing marks.

A Matter of Concern
A member of the commission, Ahmed Farooq, said that “the poor result is a matter of concern… there is a need to bring improvement in the higher education sector of the country.”

Furthermore, Farooq also said that over the past few years CSS results had been declining but the commission was adamant that the quality of the examinations should not fall at any cost.

Only 3.33 percent of students passed the examination two years earlier, an even lower number of 3.11pc in 2015, and 2.09pc last year.

He said,

The mushroom growth of higher learning institutions, particularly in the private sector, is one of the major reasons behind the declining results.

200 Out of 9500 Passed
More than 9500 candidates took the CSS examination in 2016 out of which a dismal number of only 202 managed to pass and get through to the next round.

There were further eliminations in the next round, the viva voce, out of which 199 candidates passed, 114 male and 85 female.

A press release by the commission announced that 193 candidates have been given recommendations for job appointments (84 female and 109 male).

The press release also directed the recommended candidates to contact section Officer (T-V) of the Establishment Division in Islamabad for further communication.

All the top three positions that were taken by the females, Maleeha Iesar, Qurat-ul-Ain Zafar, and Mariya Javaid were from the Punjab province.

Issues With The Examination?
The Higher Education Commission Chairman, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, said the commission along with the FPSC was trying to figure out the reasons for this decline. He added,

I do agree there are quality of education issues and we are conducting audit of universities; secondly, I think there is a gap between assessment of students and the subjects they are being taught in universities.

Furthermore, he also added that Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and the HEC were working in collaboration to try and improve the higher education sector of the country.

4 Whatsapp Groups Found Involved in Leak of Board Exam Papers

Four WhatsApp groups involved in leaking papers have been traced by the counter-terrorism department.

Four of the people from the groups have been traced to Karachi with three more being traced back to Hyderabad.

KPK Establishes Regulatory Body to Put a Check On Private Schools

Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education for KP, Muhammad Atif Khan announced that a new private school regulatory authority has been established in the province. The authority would help put a check on educational institutions who overcharge parents when it comes to fees, according to the minister.

The authority would also keep an eye on the schools, analyzing their performance in all aspects. The provincial education minister announced this at the Mardan Press Club after taking oath and joining the new cabinet.

Sindh University Outsources Degree Printing To Combat Fake Degrees

Following the scandal of fake degrees, Sindh University (SU) has officially announced that they will no longer print academic degrees themselves.

On Thursday, a meeting was held which was chaired by SU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat. In the meeting it was agreed upon that SU will be handing over the printing duties to Pakistan Security Printing, Karachi.

Microsoft’s New Windows 10 S is Aimed at Schools

Microsoft announced a new version of Windows 10 at an event today, called the Windows 10 S. The “S” signifies schools as Microsoft tries to recapture the classroom market share in the US, a market that has been dominated by Google’s Chromebooks over the past few years.

Windows 10 S is a slimmer version of the OS designed to focus on classrooms and teaching environment.

Education sector neglected due to inept governance

The broken windows, doors and low and weak boundary walls of a government girl primary school located in the centre of the federal capital tells a story of indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned.

The lack of basic facilities in the school at Farash Town proved that the incumbent government’s claims of bringing revolutionary changes in education sector was nothing but mere a travesty of reality.

Curtin University Alumni chapter launched in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Margaret Adamson launched last night in Pakistan an alumni chapter of Australia’s Curtin University.

Curtin University has more than 600 alumni in Pakistan, many of whom are working in high profile and influential positions in public, private and the not-for-profit sectors. The Alumni Chapter in Pakistan aims to work closely with Curtin University Australia and current and potential employers in Pakistan to increase the employability of its graduates.

Inauguration the Faculty of Education at FJWU

US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director John Groarke, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Dr Muktar Ahmed and State Minister of Federal Education and Training Dr Balig ur Rehman inaugurated the new $1.5 million ‘faculty of education’ building at Fatima Jinnah Women’s University (FJWU), constructed by USAID to attract the brightest young Pakistani women to the teaching profession.

“Our shared goal is to invest in the next generation of doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs and leaders,” Groarke said in his remarks.

Govt giving special attention to promotion of education

Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Engr. Baligh ur Rehman along with Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director John Groarke Tuesday inaugurated the new $1.5 million Faculty of Education building at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU).
The building has been constructed by USAID to attract best and bright young Pakistani women in the teaching profession.

Lack of education

Pakistan is suffering not only from economic problem but there’s a mild diversity in case of Education. Lack of education is the main reason behind the backwardness of Pakistan. Poverty has led many homes to discourage their children from going to school. Education?al infrastructure, ghost schools, culture of absenteeism, multiplicity of educational system, gender disparity, lack of technologies, bad governance and poorly-trained teaching staff are the major reasons behind the education crisis.

Govt committed to cause of educated, healthy Pakistan

Islamabad: While inaugurating a two-day education expo at the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre here on Tuesday, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb praised the Jang Media Group for organising the event to the benefit of local residents, especially youth.

“I congratulate the Jang Group for bringing the country’s leading educational institutions under one roof and thus, providing the residents of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and adjoining areas from students to parents to teachers with access to a wide range of information on education and career development,” she said.

The News Education Expo 17 in Lahore from today

LAHORE: The News Education Expo’17—a mega education event by the Jang Media Group, is starting at Expo Center, Johar Town, on Saturday (today).

The two-day expo will continue without any break from 10am to 7pm with free entry to all on Saturday (today) and Sunday (tomorrow). Like the previous years, the event is likely to attract large number of visitors, particularly prospective students and their families, as dozens of local and national educational institutions and education consultants are taking part in the expo.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Laravel - Overview

Introduction
Laravel is a MVC framework with bundles, migrations, and Artisan CLI. Laravel offers a robust set of tools and an application architecture that incorporates many of the best features of frameworks like CodeIgniter, Yii, ASP.NET MVC, Ruby on Rails, Sinatra, and others.

Laravel is an Open Source framework. It has a very rich set of features which will boost the speed of Web Development. If you familiar with Core PHP and Advanced PHP, Laravel will make your task easier.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

SEO Glossary of Terms

Absolute Link
An absolute link is one where the destination href value of the anchor tag is fully qualified and includes all of the following:

  • the transfer protocol: http://
  • domain name: www.example.com
  • file name: my-page.html

SEO - Optimized Metatags

There are two important meta tags:

  • Meta description tags
  • Meta keyword tags

Some search engines may display the meta description as a part of the search results, but the meta keyword tags should not appear in search results.

The general consensus among SEO experts is that metatags are dead.

SEO - Optimized Keywords

A keyword is a term that is used to match with the query a person enters into a search engine to find specific information. Most people enter search phrases that consist of two to five words. Such phrases may be called search phrases, keyword phrases, query phrases, or just keywords. Good keyword phrases are specific and descriptive.

The following concepts related to keywords, help in optimizing the keywords on a web page.

SEO - Design & Layout

The website design and layout gives the first impression about your site. There are sites which are too fancy and regular net surfers just reach those sites and come out even without creating a single click.

Search engines are very smart but after all, they are software and not human being, who can read the content of their interest. If you make your site too complicated, then the search engine would not be able to parse the content of your site properly, and finally indexing would not be efficient, which results in a low rank.

The actual page content should have a keyword density of about 10% and should weigh in at about 200 words - but there are as many opinions about this as there are SEO experts.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

SEO - Relevant Filenames

One of the simplest methods to improve your search engine optimization is to look at the way you name your files. Before writing this tutorial, we did a lot of research on file-names and found that search engines like Google give too much importance to file names. You should think what you want put in your web page and then give a relevant file name to this page.

Just try giving any keyword in Google search engine and you will find file names highlighted with the keyword you have given.

Web Site Domain

Domaining is when you register a domain, or buy a domain on the seondary market, with the intention of deriving traffic, and turning that traffic into revenue. Traffic comes from type in traffic. i.e. people type a keyword into the address bar and add .com on the end. Domains can be valuable internet real estate, because, unlike a search engine, there is no middleman between you and the visitor. A lucrative pursuit, if you choose the right names.

Let's take a look at how domineering strategy can be applied to SEO.

Techniques and Methods

If you’re a startup entrepreneur, chances are good that search engine optimization (SEO) is the last thing on your mind. After all, why should you worry about things like keyword phrases and backlinks when there are a hundred other items on your “to do” list, all clamoring for your attention?

Unfortunately, this mindset is extremely shortsighted. It doesn’t matter how innovative your products or services are. If people can’t find you online, you’re going to have a seriously tough time sustaining the momentum you need to propel a growing business to success.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

What is SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to techniques that help your website rank higher in organic (or “natural”) search results, thus making your website more visible to people who are looking for your product or service via search engines.
SEO is part of the broader topic of Search Engine Marketing (SEM), a term used to describe all marketing strategies for search. SEM entails both organic and paid search. With paid search, you can pay to list your website on a search engine so that your website shows up when someone types in a specific keyword or phrase. Organic and paid listings both appear on the search engine, but they are displayed in different locations on the page.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Decline of education

Education is the fundamental need of every individual in every corner of the world. But we the Baloch are deprived of this basic need. When we talk about education system, then we take it as a failed system of our education, the main reasons are many but the top one is the policy makers are themselves uneducated.
No one of them has gotten the degree of children psychology or education managing system. But still they are our destiny makers. On the other hand, state is not interested to educate the poor people and not willing to provide quality education. Furthermore, the primary teachers are unprofessional and untrained. So, due to this our basic education is very week. I suggest the government to take action on this issue.

Research based education is foundation of nation’s progress

President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday said educational and research institutes are recognized by their patronage of intellectual development, where new ideas and concepts are promoted to strengthen the foundation of a nation’s progress. Addressing the awards ceremony of National Research Programme under the auspices of Higher Education Commission (HEC) here at the Presidency, the President said the nations that focus on research activities never lag behind others in development.

Shahbaz inaugurates teachers training institute for special education

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated Teachers Training Institute for special education at PAF Base, Sarwar Road, Lahore Saturday.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Provincial Ministers Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique, along with high officials of PAF were present on the occasion.

Empowering provinces in higher education

PAKISTAN came into existence in 1947 as a federal country.
The Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah always advocated federal form of government and provincial autonomy. Government of India Act, 1935 was adopted as interim constitution in 1947 by putting education including universities under the control of provincial governments.

Youth to break Pakistan’s begging bowl

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the PML-N government is determined to equip every child education for progress and prosperity of the country.

“With this view in mind, the government established Punjab Educational Endowment Fund whose volume has now been raised to Rs17 billion from initial Rs2 billion to provide scholarships to thousands of students, who otherwise do not have resources to bear the expenses on their studies,”

Research-based education vital for country’s development

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has stressed the need of promotion of knowledge-based education and personality building of the students for making it a developed and forward-looking Pakistan as well.
Addressing the participants of a prestigious laptops distribution ceremony at Govt College Women University (GCWU) here Monday,

AIOU in collaboration with UNESCO to promote non-formal education

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and UNESCO agreed, on Friday, of bilateral cooperation to promote non-formal education in the country, particularly to achieve 2025’s sustainable development goals.

Under a formal agreement, UNESCO will extend financial support to AIOU for launching post-graduate diploma and certificate courses of non-formal teachers’ training programme.

Monday, May 8, 2017

SQL Server: Functions

For easy reference, we have provided a list of all SQL Server (Transact-SQL) functions. The list of SQL Server functions is sorted alphabetically based on the function name.

These functions can be used in SQL statements or queries in SQL Server. Or, they can be used within the programming environment provided by the SQL Server (Transact-SQL) database, such as stored procedures, functions, triggers, etc.

Below is the list of SQL Server (Transact-SQL) functions, sorted by alphabetically by function name.

  • ABS
  • ASCII
  • AVG
  • CASE
  • CAST
  • CEILING
  • CHAR
  • CHARINDEX
  • COALESCE
  • CONCAT
  • Concat with +
  • CONVERT
  • COUNT
  • CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
  • CURRENT_USER
  • DATALENGTH
  • DATEADD
  • DATEDIFF
  • DATENAME
  • DATEPART
  • DAY
  • FLOOR
  • GETDATE
  • GETUTCDATE
  • ISDATE
  • ISNULL
  • ISNUMERIC
  • LAG
  • LEAD
  • LEFT
  • LEN
  • LOWER
  • LTRIM
  • MAX
  • MIN
  • MONTH
  • NCHAR
  • NULLIF
  • PATINDEX
  • RAND
  • REPLACE
  • RIGHT
  • ROUND
  • RTRIM
  • SESSION_USER
  • SESSIONPROPERTY
  • SIGN
  • SPACE
  • STR
  • STUFF
  • SUBSTRING
  • SUM
  • SYSTEM_USER
  • UPPER
  • USER_NAME
  • YEAR

Database Normalization

Functional Dependency
Functional dependency (FD) is a set of constraints between two attributes in a relation. Functional dependency says that if two tuples have same values for attributes A1, A2,..., An, then those two tuples must have to have same values for attributes B1, B2, ..., Bn.

Functional dependency is represented by an arrow sign (→) that is, X→Y, where X functionally determines Y. The left-hand side attributes determine the values of attributes on the right-hand side.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Short Questions and Answers - Management

Question: What is Globalization?
Answer: Organizational operations no longer stop at geographic borders. Managers in all types and sizes of organizations are faced with the opportunities and challenges of globalization.

Question: Why we use quantitative approach to management?
Answer: The quantitative approach involves the use of quantitative techniques to improve decision making. This approach has also been labeled operations research of management science. It includes applications of statistics, optimization models, information models, and computer simulations

Question: How many branches of quantitative management?
Answer: There are three main branches in the Quantitative Management Viewpoint: management science, operations management, and management information systems Management science (or operations research as it has been called) is an approach aimed at increasing decision effectiveness through the use of sophisticated mathematical models and statistical methods. This is NOT a term to be used synonymously with either the term “Scientific Management” described earlier featuring Taylor and others or “The Science of Management,” a term that usually refers broadly, to a deliberate, rational approach to management issues. Operations Management is the function or field of expertise that is primarily responsible for the production and delivery of an organization’s products and services. Management information systems (MIS) is the name often given to the field of management that focuses on designing and implementing computer-based information systems for use by management

Question: Who are early advocates?
Answer: Four people stand out as early advocates of the OB approach. These include Robert Owen Hugo Munsterberg, Mary Parker Follett, and Chester Barnard.

Question: What reflects the Hawthorne Studies?
Answer: 1. In the first set of studies, no correlation was found between changes in lighting conditions and individual work performance. In fact, performance nearly always went up with any change—brighter or darker—in illumination. 2. In the second set of studies, the concept of the Hawthorne
effect emerged. The Hawthorne effect refers to the possibility that individuals singled out for a study may improve their performance simply because of the added attention they receive from the researchers, rather than because of any specific factors being tested in the study. 3. The third set of
studies centered on group production norms and individual motivation

Question: In which areas psychologists help industry according to Hugo Munsterbeg ?
Answer: He argued that psychologists could help industry in three major areas:
a. Finding ways to identify individuals best suited to particular jobs.
b. Identifying the psychological conditions for optimum efficiency.
c. Finding ways to influence individual behavior to be congruent with management’s objectives
Question: What are the assumptions of Maslow’s need theory?
Answer: Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) developed a theory of motivation that was based on three assumptions about human nature:
a. Human beings have needs that are never completely satisfied.
b. Human behavior is aimed at satisfying the needs that are yet unsatisfied at a given point in time.
c. Needs fit into a somewhat predictable hierarchy ranging from basic, lower-level needs to higher-level needs:
1) Physiological (lowest)
2) Safety
3) Belongingness or social
4) Esteem Self-actualization (highest and NOT achieved by everyone)

Question: What is social responsibility?
Answer: Social responsibility is an obligation, beyond that required by the law and economics, for a firm to pursue long-term goals that are good for society

Question: What are two opposing views of social responsibility?
Answer: There are two opposing views of what social responsibility is.

  1. The classical view is the view that management’s only social responsibility is to maximize profits. 
  2. The socioeconomic view is the view that management’s social responsibility goes well beyond the making of profits to include protecting and improving society’s welfare.

Question: What is E-business?
Answer: E-business (electronic business) is a comprehensive term describing the way an organization does its work by using electronic (Internet-based) linkages with its key constituencies (employees, managers, customers, suppliers, and partners) in order to efficiently and effectively achieve its goals.

Question: Compare and contrast national culture and organizational culture?
Answer: Like organizational culture, national culture is shared by all or most inhabitants of a country and shapes their behavior and the way they see the world. Organizational and national cultures differ in that national culture has a greater effect on employees than does organizational cul¬ture

Question: What is Management?
Answer: Simply speaking, management is what managers do. However, this simple statement doesn’t tell us much. We define management as the process of coordinating and integrating work activities so that they are completed efficiently and effectively with and through other people.

Question: What is mega-enviornment?
Answer: The mega-environment, or general environment as it is sometimes called, is that segment of the external environment that reflects the broad conditions and trends in the societies within which an organization operates.

Question: what is task environment?
Answer: The task environment is that segment of the external environment made up of specific outside elements (usually organizations) with which an organization interfaces in the course of conducting its business

Question: what are the different ways for employees to learn an organization’s culture?
Answer: Employees “learn” an organization’s culture in different ways.
1. Organizational stories are one way that employees learn the culture. These stories typically involve a narrative of significant events or people.
2. Rituals are repetitive sequences of activities that express and reinforce the key values of the organization, what goals are most important, which people are important.

Question: Who are Managers?
Answer: A manager is someone who works with and through other people by coordinating their work activities in order to accomplish organizational goals.

Question: What do managers do?
Answer: We can focus on following five categorization schemes while making mind what do managers do: Traditionally, a manager’s job has been classified according to the following four functions i.e.:
Planning: determining organizational goals and the means for achieving them
Organizing: deciding where decisions will be made, who will do what jobs and tasks, and who will work for whom
Leading: inspiring and motivating workers to work hard to achieve organizational goals
Controlling: monitoring progress towards goal achievement and taking corrective action when needed Good managers are those who assure themselves to perform these functions

Question: What is an Organization?
Answer: An entity where two or more persons work together to achieve a goal or a common purpose is called Organization.

Question: What are the four major approaches to the study of management?
Answer: The four major approaches to the study of management are scientific, general administrative, quantitative, and organizational behavior. Each is correct and makes an important contribution to our overall understanding of management.

Question: Discuss the three important themes in the definition of entrepreneurship?
Answer: First, is the pursuit of opportunities, because entrepreneurship is about pursuing environmental trends and changes that no one else has seen or paid attention to. Second, is innovation, because entrepreneurship involves changing, revolutionizing, transforming, and introducing products or services or new ways of doing business. Third, is growth, because entrepreneurs are not content to stay small or to stay the same in size.

Question: What are the functions of management in the hirarachy?
Answer: A number of aspects of the management process differ within the hierarchy. The importance of each of the functions of management differs from one managerial level to another. a. Planning tends to be more important for top-level managers. b. Organizing tends to be more important for both top and middle-level managers. c. Leading is more important for first-line managers. d. Controlling is important among all levels of the hierarchy.

Question: What is scientific management?
Answer: Scientific management is defined as the use of the scientific method to define the “one best way” for a job to be done.

Question: Quantitative Approach to Management:
Answer: The quantitative approach involves the use of quantitative techniques to improve decision making. This approach has also been labeled operations research of management science. It includes applications of statistics, optimization models, information models, and computer simulations

Question: What is total quality management?
Answer: Total quality management is a philosophy of management that is driven by customer needs and expectations and focuses on continual improvement in work processes

Question: What is objective of total qulity management(TQM)?
Answer: The objective of TQM is to create an organization committed to continuous improvement

Question: What is system?
Answer: A system is a set of interrelated and interdependent parts arranged in a manner that produces a unified whole.

Question: Describe Frederick W. Taylor’s contributions to scientific management?
Answer: Frederick Taylor defined four principles of management—develop a science for each element of an individual’s work; scientifically select, train, teach, and develop each worker; cooperate with workers to ensure that all work is done in accordance with the principles of science; and divide work and responsibility almost equally between management and workers.

Question: Explain Frank and Lillian Gilbreth’s contributions to scientific management?
Answer: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth studied work arrangements to eliminate wasteful hand and body motions. They also experimented with the design and use of proper tools and equipment for  optimizing work performance.

Question: What is organizational behavior?
Answer: Organizational behavior is the field of study concerned with the actions or behavior of people at work.

Question: How is globalization affecting the way managers do their jobs?
Answer: Management is no longer constrained by national borders, and managers in organizations of all sizes and types around the world are faced with the opportunities and challenges of operating in a global market.

SQL Overview

SQL is a programming language for Relational Databases. It is designed over relational algebra and tuple relational calculus. SQL comes as a package with all major distributions of RDBMS.

SQL comprises both data definition and data manipulation languages. Using the data definition properties of SQL, one can design and modify database schema, whereas data manipulation properties allows SQL to store and retrieve data from database.

ER Model to Relational Model

ER Model, when conceptualized into diagrams, gives a good overview of entity-relationship, which is easier to understand. ER diagrams can be mapped to relational schema, that is, it is possible to create relational schema using ER diagram. We cannot import all the ER constraints into relational model, but an approximate schema can be generated.

There are several processes and algorithms available to convert ER Diagrams into Relational Schema. Some of them are automated and some of them are manual.

Relational Algebra

What is Relational Algebra?The relational algebra is a theoretical procedural query language which takes instance of relations and does operations that work on one or more relations to describe another relation without altering the original relation(s). Thus, both the operands and the outputs are relations, and so the output from one operation can turn into the input to another operation which allows expressions to be nested in the relational algebra, just as you nest arithmetic operations. This property is called closure: relations are closed under the algebra, just as numbers are closed under arithmetic operations.

Relation Data Model

Relational data model is the primary data model, which is used widely around the world for data storage and processing. This model is simple and it has all the properties and capabilities required to process data with storage efficiency.

Concepts

  • Tables − In relational data model, relations are saved in the format of Tables. This format stores the relation among entities.

Codd's Rule

E.F Codd was a Computer Scientist who invented Relational model for Database management. Based on relational model, Relation database was created. Codd proposed 13 rules popularly known as Codd's 12 rules to test DBMS's concept against his relational model. Codd's rule actualy define what quality a DBMS requires in order to become a Relational Database Management System(RDBMS). Till now, there is hardly any commercial product that follows all the 13 Codd's rules. Even Oracle follows only eight and half out(8.5) of 13. The Codd's 12 rules are as follows:

Generalization, Aggregation

The ER Model has the power of expressing database entities in a conceptual hierarchical manner. As the hierarchy goes up, it generalizes the view of entities, and as we go deep in the hierarchy, it gives us the detail of every entity included.

Going up in this structure is called generalization, where entities are clubbed together to represent a more generalized view. For example, a particular student named Mira can be generalized along with all the students. The entity shall be a student, and further, the student is a person. The reverse is called specialization where a person is a student, and that student is Mira.

ER Diagram Representation

Let us now learn how the ER Model is represented by means of an ER diagram. Any object, for example, entities, attributes of an entity, relationship sets, and attributes of relationship sets, can be represented with the help of an ER diagram.

Friday, May 5, 2017

ER Model Basic Concepts

Introduction
ER Data Model is based on the real world objects and their relationship. In other words, each and everything, either living or non-living things in this world forms the object in database world. We identify all the required objects for our database requirement and give the shape of database objects. Before putting them into database, it is very much essential to understand the requirement properly and design them efficiently. It is like a foundation of the building. For this purpose, we use ER diagrams where we plan the database pictorially. ER diagram basically breaks requirement into entities, attributes and relationship. Let us see them in detail.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

SQL Server - Joins

In Structured Query Language (SQL), a JOIN is a method of linking two data tables in a single query, allowing the database to return a set that contains data from both tables at once, or using data from one table to be used as a Filter on the second table. There are several types of JOINs defined within the ANSI SQL standard.

Here explains how to use JOINS, both INNER and OUTER JOINS, in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) with syntax, visual illustrations, and examples.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Data Independence

If a database system is not multi-layered, then it becomes difficult to make any changes in the database system. Database systems are designed in multi-layers as we learnt earlier.

Data Independence
A database system normally contains a lot of data in addition to users’ data. For example, it stores data about data, known as metadata, to locate and retrieve data easily.

DBMS - Data Schemas

Database Schema
A database schema is the skeleton structure that represents the logical view of the entire database. It defines how the data is organized and how the relations among them are associated. It formulates all the constraints that are to be applied on the data.

A database schema defines its entities and the relationship among them. It contains a descriptive detail of the database, which can be depicted by means of schema diagrams.

DBMS - Data Models

A database model is a type of data model that determines the logical structure of a database and fundamentally determines in which manner data can be stored, organized and manipulated. The most popular example of a database model is the relational model, which uses a table-based format.

Data models define how the logical structure of a database is modeled. Data Models are fundamental entities to introduce abstraction in a DBMS. Data models define how data is connected to each other and how they are processed and stored inside the system.

The very first data model could be flat data-models, where all the data used are to be kept in the same plane. Earlier data models were not so scientific, hence they were prone to introduce lots of duplication and update anomalies.

Entity-Relationship Model
Entity-Relationship (ER) Model is based on the notion of real-world entities and relationships among them. While formulating real-world scenario into the database model, the ER Model creates entity set, relationship set, general attributes and constraints.

ER Model is best used for the conceptual design of a database.

ER Model is based on −

  • Entities and their attributes.
  • Relationships among entities.

These concepts are explained below.

  • Entity − An entity in an ER Model is a real-world entity having properties called attributes. Every attribute is defined by its set of values called domain. For example, in a school database, a student is considered as an entity. Student has various attributes like name, age, class, etc.
  • Relationship − The logical association among entities is called relationship. Relationships are mapped with entities in various ways. Mapping cardinalities define the number of association between two entities.

Mapping cardinalities −

  • one to one
  • one to many
  • many to one
  • many to many

Relational Model
The most popular data model in DBMS is the Relational Model. It is more scientific a model than others. This model is based on first-order predicate logic and defines a table as an n-ary relation.



The main highlights of this model are −

  • Data is stored in tables called relations.
  • Relations can be normalized.
  • In normalized relations, values saved are atomic values.
  • Each row in a relation contains a unique value.
  • Each column in a relation contains values from a same domain.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

DBMS - Architecture

The design of a DBMS depends on its architecture. It can be centralized or decentralized or hierarchical. The architecture of a DBMS can be seen as either single tier or multi-tier. An n-tier architecture divides the whole system into related but independent n modules, which can be independently modified, altered, changed, or replaced.

In 1-tier architecture, the DBMS is the only entity where the user directly sits on the DBMS and uses it.

DBMS - Overview

Database is a collection of related data and data is a collection of facts and figures that can be processed to produce information.

Mostly data represents recordable facts. Data aids in producing information, which is based on facts. For example, if we have data about marks obtained by all students, we can then conclude about toppers and average marks.

Monday, May 1, 2017

SQL Server - Restoring Databases

Restoring is the process of copying data from a backup and applying logged transactions to the data. Restore is what you do with backups. Take the backup file and turn it back into a database.

The Restore database option can be done using either of the following two methods.

Method 1 – T-SQL
Syntax
Restore database <Your database name> from disk = '<Backup file location + file name>'

SQL Server - Monitor Database

Monitoring refers to checking database status, settings which can be the owner’s name, file names, file sizes, backup schedules, etc.

SQL Server databases can be monitored mainly through SQL Server Management Studio or T-SQL, and also can be monitored through various methods like creating agent jobs and configuring database mail, third party tools, etc.

SQL Server - Assign Permissions

Permissions refer to the rules governing the levels of access that principals have to securables. You can grant, revoke and deny permissions in MS SQL Server.

To assign permissions either of the following two methods can be used.

SQL Server - Creating Backups

Backup is a copy of data/database, etc. Backing up MS SQL Server database is essential for protecting data. MS SQL Server backups are mainly three types − Full or Database, Differential or Incremental, and Transactional Log or Log.

Backup database can be done using either of the following two methods.

SQL Server - Drop Database

To remove your database from MS SQL Server, use drop database command. Following two methods can be used for this purpose.

Method 1 – Using T-SQL Script
Following is the basic syntax for removing database from MS SQL Server.

Computer Programming - Summary

Computer programming is defined as telling a computer what to do through a special set of instructions which are then interpreted by the computer to perform some task(s). These instructions can be specified in one or more programming languages including Java, Python, C, and C++.

A computer goes through a set of steps whose purpose is to achieve something. These steps are instructed to the computer by computer programs. Essentialy, computer programming is the process by which these programs are designed and implemented.

Computer Programming - File I/O

Computer Files
A computer file is used to store data in digital format like plain text, image data, or any other content. Computer files can be organized inside different directories. Files are used to keep digital data, whereas directories are used to keep files.

Computer files can be considered as the digital counterpart of paper documents. While programming, you keep your source code in text files with different extensions, for example, C programming files end with the extension .c, Java programming files with .java, and Python files with .py.

Computer Programming - Functions

A function is a block of organized, reusable code that is used to perform a single, related action. Functions provide better modularity for your application and a high degree of code reusing. You have already seen various functions like printf() and main(). These are called built-in functions provided by the language itself, but we can write our own functions as well and this tutorial will teach you how to write and use those functions in C programming language.

Good thing about functions is that they are famous with several names. Different programming languages name them differently, for example, functions, methods, sub-routines, procedures, etc.

Computer Programming - Strings

During our discussion about characters, we learnt that character data type deals with a single character and you can assign any character from your keyboard to a character type variable.

Now, let's move a little bit ahead and consider a situation where we need to store more than one character in a variable. We have seen that C programming does not allow to store more than one character in a character type variable. So the following statements are invalid in C programming and produce syntax errors −

Computer Programming - Arrays

Consider a situation where we need to store five integer numbers. If we use programming's simple variable and data type concepts, then we need five variables of int data type and the program will be as follows −

#include <stdio.h>

main() {

   int  number1;
   int  number2;
   int  number3;
   int  number4;
   int  number5;
   

Computer Programming - Characters

If it was easy to work with numbers in computer programming, it would be even easier to work with characters. Characters are simple alphabets like a, b, c, d...., A, B, C, D,....., but with an exception. In computer programming, any single digit number like 0, 1, 2,....and special characters like $, %, +, -.... etc., are also treated as characters and to assign them in a character type variable, you simply need to put them inside single quotes. For example, the following statement defines a character type variable ch and we assign a value 'a' to it −

char ch = 'a';