WebSphere Application Server Performance Tuning Toolkit

Do you want to analyze the performance bottlenecks for the applications running under Websphere Application Server? IBM - WebSphere Application Server Performance Tuning Toolkit will help us to spot the issues during development time itself. Its an Eclipse based tool used to identify the performance issue at a code block/layer level.

Here, I don’t want to reinvent the wheel again. IBM developer work article explains with basic step by stem details.

WebSphere Application Server Performance Tuning Toolkit – Developer works article: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/websphere/downloads/performtuning.html

If you see any difficulties in using this tool, kindly post yiour qns to me. I am happy to help you.

Happy Learning,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy

SchemaSpy to visualise the DB schema design

Are you looking for very simple and lightweight tool that generates ER diagram from commonly used DBs. SchemaSpy tool will help you to understand all the relationships in DB schema. This week blog is about SchemaSpy tool.

About SchemaSpy:

SchemaSpy is a Java-based tool (requires Java 5 or higher) that analyzes the metadata of a schema in a database and generates a visual representation of it in a browser-displayable format. It lets you click through the hierarchy of database tables via child and parent table relationships as represented by both HTML links and entity-relationship diagrams. It's also designed to help resolve the obtuse errors that a database sometimes gives related to failures due to constraints. It’s free.

SchemaSpy uses JDBC's database metadata extraction services to gather the majority of its information, but has to make vendor-specific SQL queries to gather some information such as the SQL associated with a view and the details of check constraints. The differences between vendors have been isolated to configuration files and are extremely limited. Almost all of the vendor-specific SQL is optional.

Browse some sample pages generated by SchemaSpy. Note that this was run against an extremely limited schema so it doesn't show the full power of the tool.

SchemaSpy is a command line tool. If you are interested to work with GUI based tools. Try Its GUI tools using http://www.joachim-uhl.de/projekte/schemaspygui/

Running SchemaSpy

You run SchemaSpy from the command line:

java -jar schemaSpy.jar -t dbType -db dbName [-s schema] -u user [-p password] -o outputDir

More details to explore SchemaSpy can be found below:

http://schemaspy.sourceforge.net/

Happy Learning,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy

Apache PDFBox - A Java PDF Library

I wanted to share my recent learning on PDF creation using PDFBox Java API. More technical details about this documented below.

The Apache PDFBox library is an open source Java tool for working with PDF documents. This project allows creation of new PDF documents, manipulation of existing documents and the ability to extract content from documents.

Features:

Create PDFs:

 Create a PDF from scratch, with embedded fonts and images.

Signing Digitally:

 Sign PDF files.

Print:

 Print a PDF file using the standard Java printing API.

Preflight:

 Validate PDF files against the PDF/A-1b standard.

Fill Forms:

 Extract data from PDF forms or fill a PDF form.

Split & Merge:

 Split a single PDF into many files or merge multiple PDF files.

Extract Text:

 Extract Unicode text from PDF files. Save as Image Save PDFs as image files, such as PNG or JPEG.

Other alternative frameworks/tools to generate PDF in java:

• iText: nowadays iText is a commercial library, the latest version is not for free anymore.

• FOP: I worked a lot with FOP. It's fairly resource intensive (Java > XML > XSLT > PDF) and complex PDFs become a nightmare ( may result in XSLTs with 20k+ LoC).

• PDFBox: it seems to be the best alternative although I did not work with it in large project.

More details about this can be found from my previous blog at http://nanjundanonlinedictionary.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/wanted-to-generate-pdf-and-ms-excel.html

FOP is much performance optimized solution to create a PDF. It also comes with few limitations like digital signing, split&merge etc. iText and PDFBox offers almost same features from its library. Please be aware that iText is much performance optimized solution compare to PDFBox as the parsing techniques used.

Happy Learning,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy

Is the Competency differentiates Hard&Smart Workers?

Simple answer is YES as you all know. But here i want to explain with an example.

I have read through this stories long time back. I think this holds good even today. I though i can share with my readers so that so can understand Indian Managers expectations and work accordingly. In general, to win in a competitive would, only knowledge makes the difference to identify the experienced ones.

Story:

A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. 

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. 

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! 
A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars. 
"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!" 
So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill." 

The man sent a bill that read: 

Tapping with a hammer...... $2.00
Knowing where to tap.......... $9,998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference!

I have posted few people management related blogs recently as it is much required to understand and work as a team to win people heart. I am planning to concentrate few core technical blogs in coming days as many personally requested me!

Happy reading.

Nanjundan Chinnasamy

Technology driven business - An Example

Can the technology change the way we live today and transform our lifestyle? Yes, most of you might agree with my point as we are connected with the technology. This is once again proved by the new business model “Ola air”. This is something which I have come across this recently. Thought of sharing with you all.

Ola air - Ola chopper taxi service (https://www.olacabs.com/ola-air) brings the new technology and business in India. I am wondering how the digital technology can transform our live style and create the new business opportunity.

Banks have some specific examples like Mobile app, Apple Pay (TouchId) which changed the way the customer banking. If we change our strategy from Customer centric organization to Customer+Technology centric organization, reaching our goal might be much simpler. What do you think?


I am happy to get your experience/feedback/suggestion on Technology driven business to add more in this context. 

Ola air - Ola Chopper taxi service promo Youtube video..

Thanks,
Nanjundan Chinnasamy

Whatsapp marketing - New way of Higher value of Customer engagement

This is a follow-up blog on my previous Whatsapp Blog (http://nanjundanonlinedictionary.blogspot.in/2015/09/use-whatsapp-to-resolve-customer-queries.html). This blog is about higher degree of Customer engagement using Whatapp and how it can be achieved. 


What & Why?

•          Customers want to interact with brands today. They want to have a continuous connection and products & offers specific to them.

•          Current digital world is perfect opportunity to grow our customer base.

Leveraging interactive ads:

•          Video is very good marketing. This occupies more than 50% mobile data (http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242393). We can reach them personally and get their meaningful feedback.

•          Native ads, Native format, Geo ads, Location based ads, Behavioral marketing.

How to make Whatsapp marketing?

•          Go with Broadcast message option– broadcast message has Limitation (only 250).

•          There are some areas like BBC (http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/79714-WhatsApp-to-Change-Social-Media-Marketing) already engaged with Whatsapp and come-up with the alternatives to send message without any limitation.

•          Firstly, we don't have any API to customize.

•          secondly, this can't be used for commercial purpose. Like BBC, your Organization has to agree with Whatsapp Inc. 

Thanks,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy

Use “Whatsapp” to resolve customer queries

This blog is all about improving “Customer Service” further from the where we are now. It's an Ideation Blog. 

Like banks across the world, Organizations might have a presence on social media platforms, allowing customers to contact them through Facebook and Twitter to respond to questions, queries and providing support.  But, Is this enough? Simple answer is NO from Customer expectation perspective and my perspective as well.

Smartphone access continues to increase; WhatsApp is now the most popular messaging app across the Globe.  According to Mobile Marketing Magazine, it is installed on half of the Smart phones in the UK (76% in INDIA).  Despite its huge popularity, we haven’t utilized the technology to communicate with our customers.

Since we are already responding to customer queries via telephone calls, emails and website live chats and other social media channels, is it worth considering using other platforms in the same way? This may be the right time to Consider such Change.

Customer Benefits are:

1. Easily accessible platform, already installed on many mobile devices worldwide.
2. As messages are free to send, there’s no cost to your customers when they contact you.
3. Easy to use, and allows messages to be sent at any time – day or night

Whatapp may be one of the greatest ways to connect with the customer. Here in India, Police provided a Whatsapp no to report a compliant. Do you think this will be a right way to leverage the Technology and help our customer? I think so.

We do have few potential drawbacks from a business perspective:

• Security – there’s ongoing concerns about how secure WhatsApp messages really are, so it might not be a brilliant idea to ask for any sensitive information.
• No Public API is available at this moment to integrate with any of our Systems. Hope, Whatsapp may publish their APIs in near future. 

We may have good option to use WhatsApp in novel ways to connect with our Customers improve their queries&issues. (More over if any critical issues, those will not be publically visible to media unlike Social media).

Your comments please...

Project Management - Business outcome-based pricing models

As a Successful Project Manager, we are constantly looking for Process improvement to reduce the Cost and Quality product on time. Despite of religiously following an existing pricing models like Time&Labor & Fixed Bid, we end-up with disappointments many times. This blog is an Ideation blog to share my thought process on Project Operating Model.   

I have gone through an article about “Business out-come based pricing model” last week. It was very interesting read and I felt that it is much needed for us at this point of time due to many factors including quality of deliverables received from suppliers from outsourcing.

We might have seen many emails stating that there was an issue with System A/B/C, please apologize to all customers for any inconvenience caused etc. I strongly believe the outcome-based pricing model will be a promising solution to prevent such issues if we considered as the supplier will be paid only based on the outcome.

Deriving the out-come SUCCESS criteria for any project will be complicated and which may leads mistrust. If we formalize the SUCCESS criteria for a project prior to outsourcing, outcome-based pricing model will be a real game changer i believe. 

Read business outcome-based pricing model first post link at http://www.firstpost.com/business/igate-aims-to-shake-up-it-billing-model-with-outcome-based-pricing-635462.html

Please post your opinions/suggestion in the comments section below to understand your views..


Thanks,
Nanjundan Chinnasamy

Good Luck Rule – How to be Successful in Professional and Personal Life..

As many of you know, I am more interested in empowering people around me personally by sharing my leanings through various ways like presentation,  motivational speaking and writing few blogs (Other than technical, of course!).

I want to share my recent leanings to my audience about “GoodLuck Rule”. I don’t believe in Luck. Then, why am I writing on Good Luck? Do you think it’s all about Luck which is Good? No, No.. Stop your imagination here.. Here are Good Luck Rules (10 Rules)....

1. Luck will not stay long as it is not created by you. GOOD LUCK is something created by you. It will come till the end. So, take it till the end.
2. Many want Good Luck, but very few willing to pursue it. Be ready to pursue any time.
3. Create New conditions. Yes, It’s required.
4. Good luck is not only for your own benefit. Others problem might be solution for you. Try to help others. Most important one..
5. Hard work, and do it TODAY. Specific to me I think. I known to be delaying few things..
6. Don’t miss even small details. Small info can help you to discover. Yes, be conscious during important discussions.
7. Don’t worry about the chance. Try again. Yes, don’t give-up!
8. Nobody can sell Good luck. It can’t be sold. Don’t trust those who are willing to sell luck. Many of them doing this I think.
9. Be patient, don’t Quit. It’s easy to say. But, very difficult to follow.
10. Good luck = Opportunity + Conditions

a.    Opportunity is common to all.

b.    Need to create conditions to take that.

And finally, we want to be prepared enough to grab an opportunity when it comes. This may require some level of patient. We may need to create Conditions to grab an opportunity sometimes… In my opinion, I think many successful people do the second one. What do you think? 

PS:

This is the summary of the book which I read recently.  

Thanks,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy

Samsung Multi purpose Interactive e-board – Nanjundan Chinnasamy thoughts

I have been with “Samsung Enterprise Solutions Expo” last year. I wanted to say that I have enjoyed their products. But it has not meet my expectation at least. Very few products are admiring and grabbed most of the visitor’s attention. I'm here to share my experience from Expo about one product.

Multi purpose Interactive e-board: 

A bigger digital board can split into several frames. Every frame may be used supported the requirement. The same can be used for many purpose including writing, drawing, viewing the image, Editing the image and playing the video. In a Samsung statement “It’s a dedicated software solution which enables us to broadcast content seamlessly. It is allowing photos, audio, video and files to be sent to multiple screens. Unique content can be created for specific screens; content can even be scheduled to appear at certain times.”

I have used the word "Multi purpose” considering the use over the areas and commercial ventures including training, retail, bank and so on..

To particular to Banking industry which I am into, we can introduce this multi purpose Interactive digital e-board in a branch. In an extension, we may utilize this to exhibit new products and the administrations we are putting forth to our clients. Lastly special promotional ads if any..

In a Marketing Industry, this can be a best one to explain the product specific to the customer, play videos and compare the projects using different frames. This is not limited to Banking/Retails, it is the best product to use at modern education system to open the book/video and explain the same to the students. This can be extended to other places where ever applicable.  

On the off chance that somebody looking for a product clarification, we can use one portion of the screen (frame) as digital board and explain our products, spare that a picture and send to client email if necessary.

As expressed by Samsung, each one edge can be utilized for presentation remarkable substance (indent of one another). The excellence of this intuitive e-board casing is, we can tweak each one frame into particular size as indicated by our need. Also, it supports all smart phone touch screen capabilities including tapping/zooming etc. which makes more interactive.

I request you to have a look at the YouTube video to visualize/understand the product much better. When I enquired about the cost, it was around INR 2-2.2Lacks.

Product Link: http://www.wedgwood-group.com/Wedgwoodav-lcd-samsung.pdf 

Happy Learning!

Thanks,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy 

People management - One Minute Manager

I have completed 9 years in IT Software development recently. The one to whom I am reporting is 10^th Manager in my IT carrier. I think this is not a usual case with other Employees. I have seen very few Mangers (Who were influenced, inspired, demonstrated what is meant by management all about). Many times I felt that my leads have good management capability than the “so called Managers”.  Dear mangers, please  don’t think that I am writing something wrong about you.

So, what is the blog is all about? Am I here to review my managers Management skills? Ha, Ha.. No, I am here to recap what is management basics to my audience who are not aware. My readers may become leaders tomorrow. They shouldn’t forget about the basics of People management. I am here to share the quick summary of “One Minute Manager” by Ken Blanchard. So what is it all about?

“One Minute Manager” is all about:

1.    One Minute Goal Setting

2.    One Minute Praising

3.    One Minute Reprimand

This is an awesome way to become a Manager and you will be loved by your subordinates. Refer the Figure attached.

PS:

I have worked with a manager who is simply fantastic. All his team members trusting/loving him and his management team too. I yet to learn the secret from him J

Thanks,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy 

Dealing with the Employee from Hell

For those you are first time managers, it may be very difficult to understand the employee behaviours, patterns and how to deal with those Employees. Here is an article which may help you to deal with such Employees.

Not all the points from me OR on my own words.  I’ve added few on top of one of my Favourite book (Dealing with the Employee from Hell by SHAUN BELDING – Summary).  This blog is part my People management blog series. Hope you can see such interesting people management blogs in coming days.

1. What Employee wants? - DART

• Direction, Appreciation, Respect, Tools
• Telescope effort - Look at the problem in both the way. You will get different view. Eg. Telescope gives different view when you look at otherside.

2. How to set the stage

• Become a better boss
• create an enjoyable environment
• Communicate with your employees
• Lose the stupid rules - No rules if possible – KISS principle might apply here.
• Use the power of pardac
• don't embarrass your employee
• listen to your employees
• pay attention
• find out employee thoughts
• Echo employee thoughts
• Acknowledge employee ideas
• Set expectations
• Respond

3. Anatomy of a Great Boss - You get what you give

• Leadership all about,
• Trust
• Respect
• Action
• Focusing on common goal
• Championing employees
• Championing the company

4. Setting immutable performance standards

•    Principles of immutable performance standards
•     Stick to the important things
•     Keep them simple
•     Make them universal
•     Make them fair
•     Make them a source of pride
•     Make them measurable
•    Deal with Positive n Negative consequences

5. Performance Coaching

•   SOAR -
•    Set goals
•    Observe performance
•    Assess performance
•    Respond appropriately

6. Setting goal

•   Make the goals relevant
•   Keep them simple
•   Make them attainable
•   Make them challenging
•   Communicate their importance
•   Give them time frame

7. Observing performance

•   Look for the things good first
•   Be open
•   Be discreet
•   The TRAP - Don't loose the focus on your objectives

8. Assessing performance

•   Avoid preconceptions
•   True assessment required

9. Responding to Performance

•   The Positive response
•   The constructive response
•    Make it Good-Bad-Good-Bad stuff format
•    Don't use However, But, although - get the employee agreement
•    Reinforce the good ones
•    Gain the commitment to continue
•   The Corrective response
•    Fear of failure
•    Misunderstanding the task
•    Lack of self-awareness
•    Brain cramp
•    Disagreement with goal

10. Art of delegating

•   Delegating process
•    Decide what to be delegated
•    Choose your delegates
•    Discuss tasks with employees
•    Show your employees how to do the job
•    Supervise your employees
•    Follow-up instantly
•    Provide indirect, passive supervision

11. Carrots n sticks

• Push right button to the right ppl for the right reasons
• Incentives &  Rewards can be classified as

  

X	Tangible	Intangible
Visible	EARTH	FIRE
Discreet	WATER	WIND

12. Setting Employee free

•    Get the 2nd opinion
•    Cover your basics
•    Set the decision date
•    Break the news

13. Poison in the pool n curious quirks

•    Poison in the pool:
•    The Whiner-If someone unhappy, they will not make others also unhappy
•    The Gossip
•    Jealous Joe
•    Mr Sarcastic - Just humour, don't do any work
•    Snake in the gross - Good in talking n doing bad on back
•    Bully - Over confident
•    Curious quirks
•    Sunshine up the shorts
•    Mr. Impossible
•    Social Butterfly
•    Not My Job
•    Heart on Sleeve
•    Unfocused
•    Temporarily Challenged
•    All about me
•    Yeah But
•    Liars,Cheats and thieves

    

 

This book is available Online @ www.vivagroupindia.com. I strongly recommend the next generation leaders to go through this book (if possible have a personal copy to refer now n then). Again management is a continuous process to learn and discover solutions for the issues whenever encountered. Happy leaning..

Thanks,

Nanjundan Chinnasamy

AirDroid - Android device on your computer

In many occasions I felt that Android Mobile keyboard is not preferred to type such a lengthy SMS/Whatsapp message. I found myself more comfortable in typing using my Lenovo Thinkpad Laptop. I thought of using Laptop Keyboard to type my mobile SMS and Whatsapp to type the message rapidly.

I had an interesting read this morning about the AirDroid(Software which runs on any OS where you can see your Android phone on your computer without any cable/connection. If you are not interested in installing the tool, you can see your Android device via Online too). I thought of sharing the same with you all.

I heard about BlueStack technology earlier, it is to access android apps in your desktop. I personally feel AirDroid is much better than other tools in the similar stack. Hope you can find this interesting too. Web link: https://www.airdroid.com/

I recommend you to explore this tool and share your experience.


Thanks,
Nanjundan Chinnasamay