Brand new course!  No coding experience? We'll teach you all you need to know to make iPhone apps on our iOS App Training for Non Developers course!

JavaScript has been frustrating developers for years, but with javaScript libraries and frameworks like jQuery JavaScript is regaining its street cred. jQuery is not of course the only javaScript framework around, but the main reason that JavaScript is becoming more interesting and exciting is the ever increasing development of JavaScript libraries and frameworks.

If you're into your JavaScript Libraries, check out our Top 6 jQuery Tutorials

The real problem with JavaScript (released in 1995) lay with what we now call the DOM (document object model). Browsers implemented what we now know as the DOM in different ways meaning that browser cross compatibility was a nightmare. The standardisation of the DOM made thing a little easier but Internet Explorer (the bane of many a developers life) did not support basics like addEventListener until 2010 in IE9.

JavaScript frameworks provided developers with solutions to more easily overcome many browser bugs, allowing developers more time to develop.

Prior to attending our ITIL® Training courses we ask delegates to do a little pre-course reading to familiarise themselves with some key terms, which all helps when preparing for the ITIL Foundation Exam.

The following is the pre-course reading we provide before our ITIL Foundation Training course - but we thought we'd share it for free on the web for everyone else - we're just nice like that!

Silicon Beach Training run regular ITIL Foundation Training Courses.

It is strongly encouraged that you spend the time to read and understand the pre-course reading as this will aid you significantly during the course.

We've put together an interactive ITIL Training Quiz, to help you test your knowledge further.

Performance appraisals don’t always go to plan, being prepared and able to tackle things when they don’t go as planned can make a huge difference.

9 Deadly Performance Appraisals Mistakes –Problems to avoid

1. Managers and Employees have Bad experiences of appraisals

It is important to accept that many people fear and dislike appraisal interviews; it can often be because of bad past experiences when being appraised. Employees often think of appraisals are a stick for Management to beat them with – an opportunity to give them a "telling - off" or to give out extra workload. Appraisals for many people seem threatening and unpleasant. It can seem to employees that their pay-rise and/or job security, depend on performing well in an appraisal. Employees may worry about appraisers who they feel do not like them. Many employees worry about their weaknesses being exposed or about feeling humiliated.

Many managers or HR professionals have also had bad experiences of appraising employees. They may understand it is their job to make changes in people but don’t know how. They may be worried worry about upsetting people and causing arguments. Appraisal interviews have a reputation for being bureaucratic and time consuming and that often make very little difference. Appraisals can seem like a burden and a waste of time to be completed as quickly and painlessly as possible.

2. The Benefits of appraisals aren't properly explained

People will only change if they see benefits to changing. Often appraisal systems are introduced without the benefits being made clear. As a result most people participate in appraisals because it is obligatory. They participate but see them as pointless because they cannot see the benefits for themselves.

Microsoft Project allows you to plan, monitor and schedule your resources to manage your projects effectively. This tutorial shows you how to change the standard working hours in Microsoft Project 2007.

If you want to learn more about Microsoft Project, check out our 2 day Microsoft Project Training in for a comprehensive introduction.  We also provide  Project Management Training and PRINCE2 Training to provide you with excellent project management skills.

Changing the Working Hours

In Microsoft Project, the default project calendar, called the Standard calendar, defines the standard working hours for all projects. The default working hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with an hour starting at noon for lunch.

MSP® (which stands for Managing Successful Programmes) is the de-facto standard methodology for Programme Management in the UK.

Silicon Beach Training offer MSP Trainingin Brighton, Sussex, including MSP Foundation Training and MSP Practitioner Training

What is a Programme?

Whilst Project Management is about controlling a project, Programme Management is concerned with controlling a group of related projects.

How to Define a Programme with MSP

MSP provides a structured framework for managing programmes, and one of the very first of these steps is to define your Programme.

The basis for developing the programme definition in MSP is The Programme Brief. This also provides the basis for the programme’s strategies and plans for programme governance.  The Programme Brief is a very important document, as it provides the basis for deciding whether to even proceed with the programme or not! Detailed planning of the programme is essential, and the Programme Brief is where this is undertaken.

The MSP Programme Brief is used as the starting point for creating a Programme Definition Document. This document outlines

• What your MSP programme is going to do
• How it's going to do it
• Who is involved in the Programme
• How the Programme will be controlled
• The justification for going forward with the Programme

From this point, the Business Case and governance are now developed.

You can learn more about the structure of MSP by attending one of our accredited MSP Foundation Training or MSP Practitioner Training courses in Brighton, Sussex.

Find wifi cafe in Brighton - image by www.heatherbuckley.co.uk

The MetOffice warn us of another 5 days of snow and below freezing temperatures. The Brighton bus services are as precarious as the pavements, and you are the only one that actually made it into the office. Time to make the same excuse as everyone else, it's a “snow day”!

But don't hide at home. Instead, head to your nearest cosy café or pub with wifi and work from there. No excuse not to be online, Social Media is definitely not having a snow day. We provide  SEO Training, Email Marketing Training, Google Anlaytics Training and Photoshop Training, in Brighton, Sussex -  just some of the skills you could learn to keep you busy when you can't get out.

Here is a list of my favourite free wifi across the centre of Brighton, from Kemp Town to Hove. They all have a great laid back atmosphere that might make you want to stay for longer than planned.

Add The Colour
Bright, open, spacious, very comfortable and flexible, great place for photographers and office meetings. Wonderful coffee and delectable cakes 64-65 North Road, BN1 1YD
Find it here

Kemp Town Bookshop
Independent little gem of a bookshop with a cosy and quiet café on the top floor. Hot drinks, grilled sandwiches and a range of cakes will keep you feeling warm throughout the day.
91 St. George's Road, Kemp Town, BN2 1EE.
Find it here

A blueprint is a model of the organisation, its working practices and processes, the information it requires and the technology that supports its operations. The blueprint provides a useable basis for modelling benefits and designing the Projects Dossier. The Blueprint is used throughout the programme to maintain the focus on delivery of the new capability.

It is created in Defining a Programme with the Benefits Map, Project Dossier, Programme Plan, Benefits Realisation Plan and Business Case. The Blueprint will then be reviewed at the end of each tranche.

Silicon Beach Training offer great MSP® Training, you can try MSP Foundation Training and MSP Practitioner Training.
 

Copyright Statements

Leadership is part of how stakeholders are engaged. Programme managers need to think of stakeholder engagement not just as a system of tasks and managing things, but also as a way of achieving influence and positive outcomes through effective management of relationships.

Come along to Silicon Beach Training's MSP® Training, we offer MSP Foundation Training and MSP Practitioner Training.

Programme success relies on co-operative contributions and support from all involved.  Some will support and others oppose, some will benefit and see opportunity, others will see threat, and some will be indifferent.  The key to success is to understand and address all views.  A continuing and two-way approach to communications is essential between the programme and its stakeholders to secure commitment and maintain momentum.

The diagram below shows the steps involved in stakeholder engagement:

Benefits are the measurable improvements resulting from an outcome which are perceived as being an advantage by a stakeholder. The objectives of benefits realisation are to: