Introduction

The BbyB Beacon is an electronic publication to keep the members of Bit by Bit informed about the current affairs of the company. It contains announcements of important events like training programmes, Management Review Meetings, etc.

Contact Information
 Any contributions to the newsletter in the form of technical articles, or items of general interest, are welcome. Please send them to padmabaliga@bbyb.sdc.int or padmabaliga@bbyb.com

Editorial                                                                                                                    (top)

Three decades ago, Freddie Mercury sang, “We are the champions, We are the champions, No time for losers…” and the song became such an arena stomping hit that it has since become an anthem for sporting and other victories. However, victories don’t come through wishful thinking or ardent prayer. When our parents and teachers extolled the virtues of hard work and commitment, they weren’t kidding. But hard work and commitment have to be backed up by Process and Method. In CompanySpeak, for process to be effective, it must flow from the vision, values and business strategy of the company.

Process is like plumbing, you must think it through before you start constructing your house. Most of us have our own processes whether we are aware of them or not. One of the benefits of formalizing your process is you don’t have to permanently carry it around in your head. Often if you have an ad hoc process you’ll miss steps or will have to do the same thing over and over again for each project. By setting up and following a formal process it can cut down on a good deal of wasted time and really help boost your productivity.

Process and Method are thought to be antithetical to flexibility but in fact can lead to more innovation and flexibility. In the discovery phase the use of techniques like brainstorming, mood boards and personas can all help spark your creativity, while creating specifications can help put boundaries around the project allowing you to focus your direction.

Communication is critical and a good process is the cornerstone to good communication. A good process aims to make sure there is understanding and consensus amongst all parties. It lays out the ground rules, allowing for objective rather than subjective decision making, and can help prevent costly last minute changes to specs.

Padma

From The Management                                                                                       (top)
Dear All,  

As Padma has already informed you all, the next 'stress buster' has already been planned. We will be going to Amblee Resorts (http://www.ambleeresort.com) at Srirangapatna. The whole idea behind these outings is to build up team spirit and break down any barriers between staff. I would request all staff (especially new staff and those who have never been on a BbyB 'Stress Buster') to try their utmost to come on this outing.

The swimming classes held over the weekends last month have been great fun and it is nice to see the pool being put to some use. If there are more of you who are interested in learning how to swim and have missed this time – please inform Padma and if we do have sufficient numbers (8-10) we can try and have another coaching session next month.

Regards,
Raghu

Projects News

StaffBank                                                                                                            (top)

This month the StaffBank team was fully engaged with bug fixes and version releases. StaffBank 2.07.02.60 Beta version was released to NHSP with bug fixes.

Usha and Arun started the month with changes in StaffBank and moved on to StaffRoster in the last week. Usha was involved with Oracle AP interface while Arun was leading Deepak and Dilna on ESR import changes. Deepak also started working on a change control for StaffBank on Web. Raghu, Chaitanya and Sreedhar were busy with StaffRoster. Jomon has moved from HelpDesk to StaffRoster and started working with Sreedhar on the UI part of it. Om and Prathibha were busy with writing scripts for StaffBank and Measals. I am currently working with Prathibha on Oracle AP Interface Changes. Jayashree was busy testing Agency Recharge functionality in web, bug fixes, writing test cases for StaffRoster, StaffBank Web changes for login ward clerk and senior admin, AFC pay point rise and Auto Email in StaffBank version 2.08.00. Poornima was busy in testing some external errors like agency zero charge, overlapping bookings and Agency recharge on web. Vasudev was busy in testing StaffRoster, HelpDesk and finished Camden database testing.

Yogita for StaffBank

MESaLS                                                                                                                  (top)

After complete testing by MESaLS testing team here and at BHP at Cheltenham, Version 4.01 was released to the users. It has been a very hectic month for both Development and Testing Teams. Chris Reed visited us between 26th and 30th to discuss the features to be incorporated for next release Version 4.02, of which the Beta is due in early May. We also discussed some of the enhancements that need to go into MESaLS 4.03. We are expecting to have a busy month as usual in April. Check in next month to see what happened in April in MESaLS.

Shashidhar for MESaLS

pFACT                                                                                                                   (top)

Hello All,

This month we had patch releases for both SQL and Oracle versions, 2.01.d in Oracle and 2.01.c in SQL.

The pFACT team is currently working on consolidation of pFACT to a common frontend which will be compatible to both SQL and Oracle databases and is scheduled to be completed by middle of next month. Phani and Sephali are handling database changes and Lakshman is working on connection class. Sukanya, Sumathy and I are working on bugfixes. Manu Gupta is writing classes for pFACT. The testing team was also busy writing test cases and closing issues related to the released versions.

Pravitha for pFACT

Sepia                                                                                                                   (top)

This month we had some issues from Dudley which have been sorted and we are ready for the release. We are just waiting for the client's response to release a patch (Ver3.08.00.j). Now we are concentrating on the internal errors and all the other unsolved issues, to stabilize the system.

Divya and Sai Ramesh had started automating Sepia using QTP. The most important functionality of the Client screen has been completed. Sunitha is getting ready to start scripting the rest of the system.

Padma is updating the new Sepia Manuals for Ver3.09.

Divya and Sai Ramesh left BbyB this month. A word of thanks to both of them for all their hard work in starting off the Sepia QTP scripting. Sepia Team wishes them all the very best in their future endeavours.

Looking forward to April and hoping it will be a great time for Sepia team.

Devaki for Sepia

Other News                                                                                                        (top)

ISO Re-certification

Great News!! The re-certification audit carried out by M/s TUV Rheinland on March 13th and 14th was successful (one minor non conformance in the entire audit) and we have been recommended for the certificate. StaffBank and Sepia were the two projects that were audited. Congratulations to all involved.

Farewell to some colleagues

Last month saw us bidding farewell to four of our colleagues, Nisha, Rajkumar, Vamsy and Divya. While Nisha will be winging her way to the US and to a new career as a photographer, Rajkumar, Vamsy and Divya have opted to join other companies here in Bangalore. We wish them all the best for their future and will miss their pleasant company.

Swimming Classes

March 10 was a splishy-splashy day when 12 intrepid BbyBers signed up for swimming classes at the BbyB pool. The initial nervousness was soon replaced by shouts of laughter and splashes of fun and a marked unwillingness to come out of the water. Mrs. Mohite, the coach, made everyone feel comfortable in their new aquatic environment.

Holidays                                                                                                                 (top)

April 6, Friday is a holiday. Christians everywhere observe this day (the Friday before Easter) as Good Friday. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary. While one could say that Good Friday is the saddest day of the year for Christians, the Church uses the word 'Good' to show that Christ died to liberate everyone from sin and that suffering and death are not pointless.

Training and Education                                                                                        (top)

Pinki Nair and Ciju George were trained in Visual Basic by Shashidhar S.

Padma conducted an Email Writing Session for all those who joined recently.

New Recruits                                                                                                      (top)

Anoop Anoop Suresh Nair had joined in February as a Programming Trainee and is currently with the MESaLS project. He is a B.Tech from Anna University and graduated in 2006. Anoop’s hobbies include browsing, driving down country roads and sleeping (and we hope he does not pursue all of them simultaneously!). He says he likes the good company, good people and good working atmosphere at Bit by Bit.
Yathiraj Yathiraj our new Graphic Designer, joined BbyB on March 1st. A pleasant person, he is a man of few words. An experienced graphic designer, he feels a little under-worked at BbyB and is waiting for the deluge of work everyone has been telling him about. Yathiraj says that colleagues at BbyB are extremely co-operative and helpful. His interests include light reading and web-site designing.

Weekend Jaunts                                                                                                  (top)

Bullish about Bhadra

Remnants of Karnataka’s once grand wildlife are now concentrated in a few forest pockets in and around Western Ghats. The little known Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary is one such area. It is ironical that this area, which owes its uniqueness to an irrigation project, is now being threatened by ecologically ill-conceived developmental activities of rather dubious economic value.

Little–known Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary not only far surpasses Bandipur and Nagarahole in scenic beauty but is also potentially perhaps a better wildlife habitat.

Nestled in the lush tropical forests of the Western Ghats in Chikmagalur district is the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. It is about 275 kms north of Bangalore and covers an area of 492.46 Sq. km. The highest peak of the sanctuary is Kallahathigiri with a height of 1875M. Its two component areas, Muthodi and Lakkavalli, are ecologically somewhat distinct.

       

The ravines of this sanctuary are home to a large variety of flora and fauna and it is regarded as one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India. The lush green vegetation and lofty hill ranges are a beautiful spectacle. The sanctuary gets its name from the Bhadra River, which flows perennially through this region. Two famed hill resorts, Kemmannugundi and Bababudan Hills, are within the sanctuary.

        

More than 120 tree species grow here, which include Teak, Rosewood, Mathi, Honne, Nandi, Tadasalu and Kindal. There are also important medicinal plants to be found here. A big teak tree called Jagara Giant with a girth of 5.21 mts and aged about 300 years is one of the attractions of the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is rich in wildlife. Home to the Indian Tiger, the sanctuary has the sort of habitat that the animal craves - large spaces, open jungle, ample shade. The leopard, sloth bear, giant squirrel, gaur, sambar, elephant and slender loris are the other mammals to be found here.

        

The sanctuary is also home to exotic butterflies, waterfowl and a variety of birds. Besides these, one can also spot the flying snake, rock python, bronze backed tree snake, common garden lizard, monitor lizard, atlas moth, wild dog and the Indian pond turtle.

        

The drive to Bhadra from Chikamagalur through the Baba Budan ranges should surely rank as one of the most spectacular ones in the country, to reach a national park. Six kilometres from Chikamagalur, on the Tarikere road, you reach the Kymara junction. Turn left, go past coffee estates and begin to climb the Baba Budangiri mountain. Soon, you’ll reach a point called Kavikalgundi. Take the narrow road that swings to the left there. The road snakes past the tiny settlement of Kolgame in the mountains; there is coffee everywhere as well as teak plantations that were the handiwork of the British. You are now in the immediate vicinity of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary having travelled 23 kms from Chikamagalur town.

       

Breathtaking views present themselves before you as the entire mountain range uncovers itself.

Accommodation:

River Tern Lodge (JLR)

Behind Ranganathaswamy Temple,

Bhadra Project, Chikmagalur.

                                                                                   Contributed by Omprakash

Birthdays                                                                                                             (top)

The Beacon wishes Prathibha N.T., Vijaya Sankar, Preetha Das and Aruna A a very happy birthday and lots of fun and frolic on that very special day. Prathiba N.T. celebrates her birthday on April 6, Vijaya Sankar on April 8, Preetha Das on April 8 and Aruna A on April 23