November - December 2001

 
 Reader Feedback:
 Give us a piece of your mind...

On Remote Meetings… (October-November 2001)

I have long been a proponent of the concept of desktop VTC to reduce travel costs, operate more efficiently, and save time. As stated, desktop VTC is cheap; it generally costs less than an executive's time to make one trip to the airport, to say nothing of all the other time he or she is out of the office. The biggest impediment to implementing videoconferencing more widely is ensuring the network has enough bandwidth and throughput to provide a "real time" presentation to the viewer. Also, it has been my experience that many managers are still not approachable on the concept of desktop VTC.

— W. Richard Braymer
GSA FTS Business Development Specialist
New Athens, IL

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Todd Yuzuriha's "Rethinking the Need for Face-to-Face Meetings" makes some good points. I find it very helpful to combine e-mail with conference calls when video conferencing is not available. Sending an e-mail of the meeting agenda ahead of the meeting is a must. Without a written agenda, phone conference calls are hard to manage and keep everyone focused.

— Robert Merritt
IEEE Member
Santa Clara, CA

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On the Image of Engineers… (October-November 2001)

Related to the editorial about using the term "Engineer," I am a Professional Engineer registered in North Carolina. For years I have been disturbed that IEEE has downplayed this accomplishment and achievement in excellence by individual engineers. Well Done! Now, if we can only get IEEE to include the identifying mark of achievement — P.E. — alongside the educational mark of achievement — Ph.D.?

— Phillip W. Rowland, P.E.
IEEE Member
North Carolina

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On Publishing Internet Résumés… (July - August 2001)

The Internet is NOT a vehicle for distributing résumés, period. Terry's comments on the style, font and background impact are correct, but there are several problems with this as a distribution vehicle:

1. The background used by the receiver is totally uncontrollable. Most often, résumés are attached to e-mail messages as attachments. But in what format? MS-Word comes to mind, but the versions may not match and the conversion, up or down, does not always give an accurate rendition. If the receiver is a non-MS shop, your attachment may not even be read.

2. If published as part of a web site, every Tom, Dick and Harry has access to your life, and there are too many pretenders out there. More background checking is good but the résumé is only good for attracting attention, not for securing a position.

3. The third problem far overshadows the first two technical issues. As an educated professional, you should choose a more formal method of distributing your record. You will have direct control of the font, style and background, as well as the organization. Include a first-class letter, and mail or deliver it to the responsible engineering/personnel officer — but never fax a résumé — they are often unreadable and too informal.

— Phillip W. Rowland, P.E.
IEEE Member
North Carolina