#MBA in Systems Management

[mohitkolkata]

Top Colleges for MBA in Systems Management in India

Pursuing an MBA in Systems Management offers a transformative pathway for those looking to steer their careers towards managing complex technological infrastructures within businesses. As we delve into this specialized field, we focus on how a Systems Management degree equips students with both the technical knowledge and the strategic acumen necessary for leadership roles in today's digital era. This guide has been meticulously curated to assist Indian students in selecting the best institution for their MBA aspirations, providing a detailed exploration of top colleges in India that excel in Systems Management.

Understanding the Systems Management Degree

A Systems Management degree extends beyond typical business management, integrating core IT skills with advanced strategy and leadership training. This unique blend ensures graduates can oversee IT systems effectively, crucial for supporting and achieving business objectives in our increasingly digital world.

The Future of Systems Management

The future of systems management is promising, fueled by rapid advancements in technology and an increasing reliance on complex data systems across industries. Systems managers are vital, ensuring organizations stay agile and secure in handling data and infrastructure. Their role is crucial in integrating new technologies that drive business efficiencies and competitive advantage.

Career and Job Roles Post-MBA

Graduates with an MBA in Systems Management are well-prepared for a variety of roles, from IT Directors and Systems Analysts to Chief Technology Officers and Project Managers. These career and job roles demand a robust understanding of both technology and business, making this MBA specialization highly valuable. The demand for skilled professionals in this area is projected to grow significantly as businesses continue to invest in and prioritize their IT infrastructure.

Top Institutions Offering MBA in Systems Management

Let’s explore some of the premier institutions across India renowned for their MBA in Systems Management programs:

1. National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai

NITIE is celebrated for its focus on operational excellence and technology management. The institute's Systems Management program is particularly noted for its rigorous curriculum that blends theoretical knowledge with practical applications, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges effectively. Alumni reviews often highlight the active industry engagement and the contemporary nature of the curriculum, which keeps pace with changing technology trends.

2. University of Engineering & Management (UEM), Kolkata

UEM Kolkata offers one of the most esteemed MBA programs in Systems Management, emphasizing innovation and critical thinking. The program's strength lies in its comprehensive approach that covers emerging IT trends and strategic management, supported by case studies and live project experiences. Graduates from UEM are known for their exceptional strategic insights and operational expertise, making them leaders in their fields.

3. Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon

MDI stands out for its specialized MBA that focuses on developing leaders in systems and operations management. The program is designed to produce graduates who can seamlessly navigate the complexities of IT and business, equipped with the latest knowledge in digital transformation and strategic IT management.

4. Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune

SIBM offers a dynamic MBA in Systems Management, aligning its curriculum with global standards and focusing on producing graduates who are ready to take on leadership roles in technology-driven business environments. The program includes a mix of classroom learning and hands-on projects, ensuring that students gain practical skills alongside their academic knowledge.

5. Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad

IMT Ghaziabad's MBA program is known for its innovative teaching methods and strong focus on technology management. The course structure is designed to challenge students and foster a deep understanding of both the technical and managerial aspects of systems management.

Conclusion

Choosing the right college for an MBA in Systems Management is a decision that impacts not just your educational path but your future career trajectory. Each of these institutions offers unique strengths and focuses, catering to the diverse needs and aspirations of students. As you consider your options, think about your career goals and the learning environment in which you will thrive. The right MBA program will not only enhance your resume but will also equip you with the skills necessary to lead in the rapidly evolving field of systems management.

Prospective students are encouraged to visit each institution's website to learn more about their specific Systems Management MBA programs, faculty, and admission criteria. By making an informed choice, you can set the stage for a successful and fulfilling career in systems management.

[roseband]

ppl complaining about the new legally blonde prequel coming out didn't seem to get the movie cause elle WAS interesting and smart from the get go????

"i have a 4.0...." "but in fashion merchandising"

girlie's got a business related degree from the beginning, even if it's a "frivolous" thing

i think u rlly missed the main idea?

[manavrachnaonlinedegreecourses]

Key Skills You’ll Develop in an Online MBA in Management Information Systems

Pursuing an online MBA in Management Information Systems is an excellent way to advance your career while balancing other commitments. These UGC-approved online courses offer the flexibility to study from anywhere while gaining valuable skills that are in high demand. Let’s explore the key skills you’ll develop during your journey in this online programme.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

One of the most crucial skills you’ll gain in an online MBA in Management Information Systems is the ability to analyse and interpret data. In today’s business world, data is everywhere, and companies rely on professionals who can make sense of it. Through this programme, you’ll learn how to collect, manage, and analyse data using various tools. More importantly, you’ll be able to translate this data into actionable insights that can drive business strategies and decisions.

For example, if you’re working for a retail company, you might analyse customer data to understand purchasing patterns. This information can help create more effective marketing campaigns or improve product offerings. The ability to work with data is a game-changer in almost every industry.

Project Management

Managing projects effectively is a skill that will benefit you in many areas of life, not just business. In this course, you’ll learn how to lead and manage technology projects from start to finish. This includes planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and risk management.

Understanding IT Systems

An online MBA in Management Information Systems dives deep into the world of IT systems. You’ll become familiar with various systems that businesses use to operate smoothly, from cloud computing to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. These systems play a vital role in managing day-to-day operations, and you’ll learn how to implement and maintain them efficiently. Not only will you understand how IT systems work, but you’ll also gain insights into how to select the right system for a business’s needs.

Leadership and Teamwork

In the business world, leadership is more than just managing a team—it’s about inspiring and motivating others to achieve a common goal. In this UGC-approved online course, you’ll develop leadership skills that will help you guide teams and manage diverse groups of people effectively.

As part of the course, you’ll also work on teamwork skills. You’ll learn how to collaborate with others, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts within a team. These skills are essential for working in today’s collaborative work environments, especially in tech-driven industries where teamwork is key to success.

Conclusion

An online MBA in Management Information Systems provides more than just theoretical knowledge. It equips you with practical skills like data analysis, project management, IT systems understanding, and leadership that are essential in today’s tech-driven businesses.

These online courses are a great way to build a strong foundation for your career while learning at your own pace. Whether you’re aiming for a leadership role or looking to improve your current skills, this programme will give you the tools to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world.

[maharghaideovate]

Tech and Systems: The Madras University MBA Way

Thinking of taking your career to the next level with an MBA? Well, let us talk a bit about how Madras University is blending technology with its system management program. If you’re thinking of pursuing an MBA distance education at Madras University, you would like to know how they are making things exciting in the world of technology. Why Tech Matters to Managing Systems Imagine running a…

[scare-ard--sleigh]

this mf is on my Last nerve 😤

[metamatar]

When electronics manufacturing took off in China in the 1980s, rural women who had just begun moving to the cities made up the majority of the factory workforce. They didn’t have many other options. Managers at companies like Foxconn preferred to hire women because they believed them to be more obedient [...]

Hiring a young, female workforce in India comes with its own requirements — which include reassuring doting parents about the safety of their daughters. The company offers workers free food, lodging, and buses to ensure a safe commute at all hours of the day. On days off, women who live in Foxconn hostels have a 6 p.m. curfew; permission is required to spend the night elsewhere. “[If] they go out and not return by a specific time, their parents would be informed,” a former Foxconn HR manager told Rest of World. “[That’s how] they offer trust to their parents.”

[...] the Tamil Nadu government sent a strong signal welcoming Foxconn and other manufacturers: Authorities approved new regulations that would increase workdays from eight to 12 hours. This meant that Foxconn and other electronics factories would be able to reduce the number of shifts needed to keep their production line running from three to two, just like in China. [...] Political parties aligned with the government called the bill “anti-labor” and, during the vote, walked out of the legislative assembly. After the bill passed, trade unions in the state announced a series of actions including a demonstration on motorbikes, civil disobedience campaigns, and protests in front of the ruling party’s local headquarters. The government shelved its new rule within four days.

Indian Foxconn workers told Rest of World that eight hours under intense pressure is already hard to bear. “I’ll die if it’s 12 hours of work,” said Padmini, the assembly line worker.

For the expatriate workers, the slower pace of the factory floors in India is its own shock to the system. A Taiwanese manager at a different iPhone supplier in the Chennai area told Rest of World that India’s 8-hour shifts and industry-standard tea breaks were a drag on production. “You have barely settled in on your seat, and the next break comes,” the manager lamented.

In China, Foxconn relies on lax enforcement of the country’s labor law — which limits workdays to eight hours and caps overtime — as well as lucrative bonuses to get employees to work 11 hours a day during production peaks [...] five Chinese and Taiwanese workers said they were surprised to discover that their Indian colleagues refused to work overtime. Some attributed it to a weak sense of responsibility; others to what they perceived as Indian people’s low material desire. “They are easily content,” an engineer deployed from Zhengzhou said. “They can’t handle even a bit more pressure. But if we don’t give them pressure, then we won’t be able to get everything right and move production here in a short time.” [...] At the same time, the expat staff enjoy the Indian work culture of tea breaks, chatting with colleagues, and going home on time. They recognize they are helping the company spread a Chinese work culture that they know can be unhealthy. [...]

On the assembly line, Foxconn’s targets were tough to reach, workers said. Jaishree, 21, joined the iPhone shop floor in 2022 as a recent graduate with a degree in mathematics. (With India’s high level of unemployment, Foxconn’s assembly line has plenty of women with advanced degrees, including MBAs.) [...] “At the start, during my eight-hour shift, I did about 300 [screws]. Now, I do 750,” she said. “We have to finish within time, otherwise they will scold us.” [...]

Mealtimes are an issue, too. In December 2021, thousands of Indian Foxconn employees protested after some 250 colleagues contracted food poisoning. In response, the company changed food contractors, and increased its monthly base salary from 14,000 rupees to 18,000 rupees ($168 to $216) — double the minimum wage prescribed by the Tamil Nadu labor department for unskilled workers. [...]

Working conditions take a physical toll. Padmini has experienced hair loss because she has to wear a skull cap and work in air-conditioned spaces, she said. “Neck pain is the worst, since we are constantly bending down and working.” She has irregular periods, which she attributes to the air conditioning and the late shifts. “[Among] girls with me on the production line, some six girls have this problem,” Padmini said. Workers said they regularly see colleagues become unwell. “The day before yesterday, a girl fainted and they took her to the hospital,” [...] Padmini, at 26, believes she is close to the age where the company might consider her too old. “They used to hire women up to age 30, now they hire only up to 28,” she said.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Brinklump Linkdump

Catch me in Miami! I'll be at Books and Books in Coral Gables on Jan 22 at 8PM.

Life comes at you fast, links come at you faster. Once again, I've arrived at Saturday with a giant backlog of links I didn't fit in this week, so it's time for a linkdump, the 14th in the series:

https://pluralistic.net/tag/linkdump/

It's the Year of Our Gourd twenty and twenty-four and holy shit, is rampant corporate power rampant. On January 1, the inbred droolers of Big Pharma shat out their annual price increases, as cataloged in 46Brooklyn's latest Brand Drug List Price Change Box Score:

https://www.46brooklyn.com/branddrug-boxscore

Here's the deal: drugs that have already been developed, brought to market, and paid off are now getting more expensive. Why? Because the pharma companies have "pricing power," the most reliable indicator of monopoly. Ed Cara rounds up the highlights for Gizmodo:

https://gizmodo.com/ozempic-wegovy-wellbutrin-oxycontin-drug-price-increase-1851179427

What's going up? Well, Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists. These drugs have made untold billions for their manufacturers, so naturally, they're raising the price. That's how markets work, right? When firms increase the volume of a product, the price goes up? Right? Other drugs that are going up include Wellbutrin (an antidepressant that's also widely used in smoking cessation) and the blood thinner Plavix. I mean, why the hell not? These companies get billions in research subsidies, invaluable government patent privileges, and near-total freedom to abuse the patent system with evergreening:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/23/everorangeing/#taste-the-rainbow

The most amazing things about monopolies is how the contempt just oozes out of them. It's like these guys can't even pretend to give a shit. You want guillotines? Because that's how you get guillotines.

Take Apple. They just got their asses handed to them in court by Epic, who successfully argued that Apple's rule requiring everyone who sells through the App Store to use Apple's payment processor and pay Apple 30% out of every dollar they bring in was an antitrust violation. Epic won, then won the appeal, then SCOTUS told Apple they wouldn't hear the case, so that's that.

Right? Wrong. Apple's pulled a malicious compliance stunt that could shame the surly drunks my great-aunt Lisa used to boss in the Soviet electrical engineering firm she ran. Apple has announced that app companies that process transactions using their own payment processors on the web must still pay Apple a 27% fee for every dollar their process:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apples-app-store-rule-changes-draw-sharp-rebuke-from-critics-150047160.html

In addition, Apple will throw a terrifying FUD-screen up every time a user clicks a payment link that goes to the web:

https://www.jwz.org/blog/2024/01/second-verse-same-as-the-first/

This is obviously not what the court had in mind, and there's no way this will survive the next court challenge. It's just Apple making sure that everyone knows it hates us all and wants us to die. Thanks, Tim Apple, and right back atcha.

Not to be outdone in the monopolistic mustache-twirling department, Ubisoft just announced that it is going to shut down its driving simulator game The Crew, which it sold to users with a "perpetual license":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIqyvquTEVU

This is some real Darth Vader MBA shit. "Yeah, we sold you a 'perpetual license' to this game, but we're terminating it. I have altered the deal. Pray I don't alter it further":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/26/hit-with-a-brick/#graceful-failure

Ubisoft sure are innovators. They've managed the seemingly impossible feat of hybridizing Darth Vader and Immortan Joe. Ubisoft's head of subscriptions, the guillotine-ready Philippe Tremblay, told GamesIndustry.biz that gamers need to get "comfortable" with "not owning their games":

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-new-ubisoft-and-getting-gamers-comfortable-with-not-owning-their-games

Or, as Immortan Joe put it: "Do not, my friends, become addicted to water. It will take hold of you, and you will resent its absence!"

Capitalism without constraint is enshittification's handmaiden, and the latest victim is Ello, the "indie" social media startup that literally promised – on the sacred honor of its founders – that it would never sell out its users. When Ello took VC and Andy Baio questioned how this could be squared with this promise, the founders mocked him and others for raising the question. Their response boiled down to "we are super-chill dudes and you can totally trust us."

They raised more capital, and used that to create a nice place for independent artists, who piled into the platform and provided millions of unpaid hours of creative labor to help the founders increase its value. The founders and their investors turned the company into a Public Benefit Corporation, which meant they had an obligation to serve the public benefit.

But then they took more investment money and simply (and silently) sold their assets to a for-profit. Struggling to raise capital, the founders opted to secretly sell the business to a sleazy branding company called Talenthouse. Its users didn't know about the change, though the site sure had a lot of Talenthouse design competitions all of a sudden.

Finally, the company announced the change as the last founders left. Rather than announcing that the new owners were untrustworthy scum, warning their users to get their data and get out, the founders posted oblique, ominous statements to Instagram. The company started stiffing the winners of those design competitions. Then, one day, poof, Ello disappeared, taking all its users' data with it. Poof:

https://waxy.org/2024/01/the-quiet-death-of-ellos-big-dreams/

I'm sure the founders' decisions each seemed reasonable at the moment. That's every terrible situation arises: you rationalize that a single compromise isn't that big of a deal, and then you do the same for the next compromise, and the next, and the next. Pretty soon, you're betraying everyone who believed in you.

One answer to this is "Ulysses pacts": making binding commitments to do right before you are tempted. Throw away all your Oreos when you go on a diet and you can't be tempted to eat a whole sleeve of them at 2AM. License your software under the GPL and your investors can't force you to make it proprietary. Set up a warrant canary and the feds can't force you to keep their spying secret:

https://locusmag.com/2021/01/cory-doctorow-neofeudalism-and-the-digital-manor/

If the founders were determined to build a trustworthy, open, independent company, they could have published their quarterly books, livestreamed their staff meetings, built data-export tools that emailed users every week with a link to download everything they'd posted since the last week. Merely halting any of these practices would have been a signal that things were wrong. Anyone who says they won't be tempted in the moment to make a "reasonable" compromise in the hopes of recovering whatever they're trading away by living to fight another day is bullshitting you, and possibly themself.

The inability to project the consequences of your bad decisions in the future is the source of endless mischief and heartbreak. Take movie projectors. A couple decades ago, the studio cartel established a standard for digital movie distribution to cinematic exhibitors called the Digital Cinema Initiative. Because studio executives are more worried about stopping piracy than they are about making sure that people who pay for movies get to see them, they build digital rights management into this standard.

Movie theaters had to spend fortunes to upgrade to "secure" projectors. A single vendor, Deluxe Technicolor, monopolized the packaging of movies into "Digital Cinema Prints" for distribution to these projectors, and they used all kinds of dirty tricks to force distributors to use their services, like arbitrarily flunking third-party DCPs over picky shit like not starting and ending on a black frame.

Over time, the ability to use unencrypted files was stripped away, meaning every DCP needed to be encrypted, and every projector needed to have up-to-date decryption keys. This system broke down on Jan 1, 2024, and cinemas all over the world found they couldn't play Wonka. Many just shut down for the day and refunded their customers:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/1/24021915/alamo-drafthouse-outage-sony-projector

The problem? Something that every PKI system has to wrangle: an expired certificate from Deluxe Technicolor. The failure has been dubbed the Y2K24 debacle by projectionists and film-techs, who are furious:

http://www.film-tech.com/vbb/forum/main-forum/34652-the-y2k24-bug-major-digital-outage-today

Making everything worse is that Sony mothballed the division that maintains its projectors, so there's no one who can update them to accommodate Technicolor's workaround. Struggling mom-and-pop theaters are having to junk their systems and replace them. There's plenty of blame to go around, but Sony is definitely the most negligent link in the chain. Shame on them.

Big corporations LARP this performance of competence and seriousness, but they are deeply unserious. This week, I wrote, "we're nowhere near a place where bots can steal your job, we're certainly at the point where your boss can be suckered into firing you and replacing you with a bot that fails at doing your job":

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/15/passive-income-brainworms/#four-hour-work-week

Score one for team deeply unserious. The multinational delivery company DPD fired its support staff and replaced them with a chatbot. The chatbot can't tell you where your parcels are, but it can be prompt-injected into coming up with profane poems about how badly DPD sucks:

https://twitter.com/ashbeauchamp/status/1748034519104450874

There once was a chatbot named DPD, Who was useless at providing help. It could not track parcels, Or give information on delivery dates, And it could not even tell you when your driver would arrive.

DPD was a waste of time, And a customer's worst nightmare. It was so bad, That people would rather call the depot directly, Than deal with the useless chatbot.

One day, DPD was finally shut down, And everyone rejoiced. Finally, they could get the help they needed, From a real person who knew what they were doing.

This is…the opposite of an AI hallucination? It's AI clarity.

As with all botshit, this kind of AI self-negging is funny and fresh the first time you see it, but just wait until 3,000 people have published their own versions to your social feed. AI novelty regresses to the mean damn quickly.

The old, good web, by contrast, was full of enduring surprises, as the world's weirdest and most delightful mutants filled the early web with every possible variation on every possible interest, expression, argument, and gag. Now, you can search the old, good web with Old'aVista, an Altavista lookalike that searches old pages from "personal websites that used to be hosted on services like Geocities, Angelfire, AOL, Xoom and so on," all ganked from the Internet Archive:

http://oldavista.com/

I miss the old, good internet and the way it let weirdos find each other and get seriously weird with one another. Think of steampunk, a subculture that wove together artists, makers, costumers, fiction writers, and tinkerers in endlessly creative ways. My old pal Roger Wood was the world's most improbable steampunk: he was a gay ex-navy gunner who grew up in a small town in the maritimes but moved to Toronto where he became the world's most accomplished steampunk clockmaker.

I was Roger's neighbour for a decade. He died last year, and I miss him all the time. I was in Toronto in December and saw a few of his last pieces being sold in galleries and I was just skewered on the knowledge that I'd never see him again, never visit his workshop:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/16/klockwerks/#craphound

A reader just sent this five-year-old mini documentary about Roger, shot in his wonderful workshop. Watching it made me happy and sad and then happy again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqMGomM8yF8

The old, good internet was so great. It was a place where every kind of passion could live. It was a real testament to the power of geeking out together, no matter how often the suits demand that we "stop talking to each other and start buying things":

https://catvalente.substack.com/p/stop-talking-to-each-other-and-start

The world is full of people with weird passions and I love them all, mostly. Learning about Don Bolles's collection of decades' worth of lost pet posters was a moment of pure joy (I just wish more of it was online):

https://ameliatait.substack.com/p/the-man-who-collects-lost-pet-posters

That's the future I was promised: one where every kind of freak can find every other kind of freak. Despite the nipple-deep botshit we wade through online, and the relentless cheapening of words like "innovation" and "future," there are still occasional gleams of the future I want to live in.

Like the researchers who spliced a photosynthesis gene into brewer's yeast (a fungus) and got it to photosynthesize, and to display enhanced fitness:

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)01744-X

As Doug Muir writes on Crooked Timber, this is pretty kooky! Fungi – the coolest of the kingdoms! – can't photosynthesize. The idea that you can just add the photosynthesis gene to a thing that can't photosynthesize and have it just kind of work is wild!

https://crookedtimber.org/2024/01/19/occasional-paper-purple-sun-yeast/

As Muir writes: "Animals have no evolutionary history of photosynthesis and aren’t designed for it, but the same is true for yeast. So… no reason this shouldn’t be possible. A photosynthesizing cat? Sure, why not."

Why not indeed?!

OK, that's this week's linkdump done and dusted. It only remains for me to share the news with you that the trolley problem has been finally and comprehensively solved, by Sidereal@kolektiva.social, of the IWW IU 520 (railroad workers):

Slip the switch by flipping it while the trolley's front wheels have passed through, but before the back wheels do. This will cause a controlled derailment bringing the trolley to a safe halt.

https://kolektiva.social/@sidereal/111779015415697244

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/20/melange/#i-have-heard-the-mermaids-singing

[funemployed-fangirl]

Modern Bridgerton AU

Benedict & Sophie

Benedict does the “good second son thing” and goes to Yale (where his dad went), gets his MBA, and goes to work at the family company to help his brother. But it’s not really what he wants to be doing. And even though he’s miserable at the company, he sticks with it to support his brother. He starts to develop a painting hobby, though no one in the family knows.

Sophie has a rough background, having been through the not-so-great parts of the foster care system. Once she graduates high school, she works her ass off to put herself through college, mostly working as a nanny for rich New York families. Once she graduates, she gets a job as a live-in nanny for one of those families. It’s not what she wants to be doing, but this is New York City and taking care of rich people’s kids is good money, especially when your other expenses are practically zero.

After a couple years, she runs into Colin Bridgerton in her employer’s building (it happens to be the same building where the Featheringtons live, and Colin is heading in to see his college bestie Penelope while on break), and he invites her to a party that’s happening that night. While at that party, she meets Benedict. They spend the entire night together in a quiet corner of the party, but she ends up leaving abruptly after spotting someone who will know who she is.

A couple of years later, Sophie is now a household manager for a new family. When heading home one night she gets accosted by a couple of drunk frat bros, only for Benedict to step in and help escort her home. They recognize each other from the party two years prior, and perhaps despite better judgement, start seeing each other. 

Benedict has never been much of a relationship guy, so keeps insisting/acting like this thing with Sophie is a casual hook-up situation. But casual hook-up situations rarely include midnight rooftop dinners, or private gallery showings, or meeting members of the family (look, the man is clearly head over heels in love, and not being particularly subtle about it). Finally, Sophie puts her foot down and tells him to get his head out of his ass or they're over. Benedict panics, insists he’s only looking for something casual, and they break up.

He makes the mistake of telling his family about the break-up. His mother is devastated. Daphne and Kate are pissed when they find out about the break-up. Hyacinth is inconsolable. Everyone loves Sophie, and they’re not going to let Benedict make a stupid mistake like break-up with the woman he is clearly in love with. It’s at this point Benedict gets a call from Sophie - she’s been arrested, and “I didn’t know who else to call. I need your help.”

Her employers are going through a nasty divorce and can’t afford to keep her on, so they decide to fire her. But in the shuffle, something goes missing from their apartment and Sophie gets arrested for theft. Benedict comes to her rescue, bailing her out of jail and reminding everyone that “My sister-in-law is a lawyer!”. Turns out, whatever was “stolen” has actually just been misplaced in the shuffle of moving the husband’s stuff out of the apartment.

Benedict promptly leaves the family business (though he maintains his seat on the board and almost always shows up for board meetings), and he and Sophie move to some adorable small town in Connecticut, where Benedict takes up painting full-time (turns out he’s pretty good) and Sophie runs a small art gallery. They’re just far enough away from the city that the family doesn’t visit too often (“You’re like 2 hours away. We have to drive!”), but the nieces and nephews LOVE going for long weekends at Aunt Sophie and Uncle Benedict’s house. They have a pool!

more (x)

[thefirsthogokage]

The Fucking AMPT(P) and Studios, Man

[Image ID: The above tweet thread by Amy Thurlow (@athurlow) from August 23rd, 2023 reads in its entirety:

This proposal (that very much shouldn’t have been released under media blackout) is wild to me for so many reasons. Here’s why it is a giant nothing burger of an offer. 🧵

[this tweet includes an image of part of the proposal that reads:

Required Employment in the Writers' Room

Oh High Budget SVOD and pay television series or serials, the Showrunner may select at least two writers to be employed (together with the Showrunner) for a period of at least twenty (20) consecutive weeks in the writer's room, but not to exceed the duration of the writer's room.]

The Showrunner “may select” aka it is the Showrunner’s choice. This may seem like an out for SRs that don’t want to be “forced” to hire but really it’s a loophole. The studio can just suggest that if the SR makes this “choice” will pay for it some other way.

Maybe that means the studio tells them “we’d really rather you not” or “actually we don’t do that here” — there are a million ways that passing this off on the Showrunner is a way of hiding how little power many Showrunners have — especially if they’re new.

If a SR does manage to hire these two lucky lads for 20 weeks they are not to exceed the duration of the writers room. 🤔 So, if a room is 10 weeks they can’t stay for 20 and be involved in production and post. So they’re just hired for the TIME THEY WOULD ALREADY BE HIRED FOR.

And only for 2 of them when a standard room is no less than 10. But wait, there’s more: this only applies to High Budget SVOD, pay tv and serials — meaning maybe 10% of television that’s made.

The spin is going to be “we gave them minimum staffing” but this proposal is maybe worse than the current system because it codifies the 2 person room as being the Showrunner’s “choice”.

It does nothing to address the broad issues of 4 writers doing the work of 10 and those lucky 4 people not being able to pay their rent bc they have to make 8 weeks of employment with a 25% rep tax last 52+ weeks.

/End ID]

[Image ID: The above is a tweet from David Slack (@slack2thefuture) quote-tweeting Amy's "The spin is going to be..." Tweet. Also from August 23rd, 2023. It reads:

It’s also worth noting that unless the term “showrunner” is rigorously defined as a writer in our MBA — which it presently isn’t — there’s nothing to stop the studios from saying, “You’re just the head writer. Exec X is the showrunner now and they select zero writers.”

/End ID]

[Image ID: the above Image is Jose Molina's (@JoseMolinaTV) August 24th, 2023 Quote Tweet of David's tweet that reads:

Happened to me a couple of years ago on an animated show. I had all the responsibilities of a showrunner, but my producers had final call on all things -- like when they took scripts I'd assigned to writers of color and gave them to white guys who weren't even in the room.

/End ID]

[sarkariresultdude]

CAT Results 2024: Your Gateway to Top B-Schools Revealed

 The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most incredibly expected tests for aspiring business specialists in India. Conducted annually with the aid of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), CAT serves because the gateway to most reliable management packages, which include the flagship MBA courses supplied by the IIMs and different pinnacle-tier enterprise schools throughout the us of a. Each year, heaps of applicants positioned months of instruction into achieving their first-class feasible overall performance in the exam, and the assertion of the CAT results is an equally enormous occasion.

Common Admission Test Results

The Importance of CAT Results

CAT results play a critical position in shaping the educational and expert careers of applicants. The results determine eligibility for admissions into some of the maximum sought-after management institutes in India. A sturdy CAT rating no longer simplest enhances a candidate’s possibilities of securing admission into prestigious institutions however additionally serves as a testament to their analytical, quantitative, and verbal talents. For many candidates, a excessive CAT score is step one towards realizing their dream of turning into a a success enterprise chief.

Beyond admissions, CAT results hold significance for aspirants looking for opportunities in corporate internships, scholarships, or even placements publish-MBA. Several recruiters value the rigor of the CAT examination and the credibility of a excessive percentile, making the rating an additional feather inside the cap for activity-searching for candidates.

How to Check CAT Results

Candidates eagerly looking ahead to their CAT results can get right of entry to them online via the reliable CAT website. Here is a step-by-step guide to check the effects:

Visit the Official CAT Website: Go to the reputable website of CAT, typically introduced with the aid of the engaging in IIM. The outcomes link is prominently displayed at the homepage.

Log in Using Credentials: Enter your user ID and password, which have been generated throughout the registration system. Make sure to hold these credentials available to avoid any remaining-minute hassles.

Access the Scorecard: Once logged in, click at the hyperlink to download the CAT scorecard. The scorecard incorporates information including your phase-wise scores, common rating, and percentile.

Download and Print: It is recommended to download the scorecard and take a printout for destiny reference. The scorecard is regularly required all through next admission strategies.

Candidates have to make sure that the statistics on their scorecards is accurate. In case of discrepancies, they have to immediately contact the CAT helpline.

Understanding the CAT Scorecard

The CAT scorecard presents a complete breakdown of a candidate’s overall performance. Understanding the components of the scorecard is crucial for interpreting the effects correctly:

Scaled Scores: The CAT examination employs a normalization procedure to ensure fairness across multiple take a look at sessions. The scaled rankings are derived from the raw ratings obtained by using candidates.

Sectional Scores: CAT is divided into 3 sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The scorecard presentations scaled ratings for each segment.

Overall Score: This is the sum of the scaled ratings from all 3 sections.

Percentile: The percentile suggests the share of candidates who scored lower than you. It is one of the maximum essential aspects of the scorecard, as it determines your rank relative to other check-takers.

Next Steps After CAT Results

Once the CAT effects are introduced, applicants have to take the following steps:

Shortlisting through Institutes

Post-consequences, IIMs and different taking part institutes release their shortlist of candidates for the next round of the admission process. Each institute has its own criteria, regularly combining the CAT rating with elements which include educational performance, paintings experience, and variety.

Preparing for the Next Rounds

Candidates shortlisted by means of institutes should tools up for the following choice rounds, which usually include:

Written Ability Test (WAT): This evaluates a candidate’s ability to articulate their mind efficiently.

Group Discussion (GD): This exams interpersonal abilities, teamwork, and the potential to present ideas coherently.

Personal Interview (PI): This is regularly the most important round, wherein applicants are assessed on their character, clarity of goals, and alignment with the institute’s values.

Preparation for these rounds entails staying up to date on cutting-edge affairs, working towards mock interviews, and honing communication abilities.

Applying to Other Institutions

Candidates need to additionally discover admission opportunities in non-IIM institutions. Many reputed enterprise colleges in India be given CAT rankings, and each has its very own reduce-off percentiles and selection criteria. Researching and making use of to those institutes broadens the scope of options to be had.

Common Reactions to CAT Results

The statement of CAT consequences elicits a number emotions among applicants:

Joy and Excitement: Candidates who obtain excessive percentiles frequently feel a feel of accomplishment and optimism about their future potentialities.

Relief: After months of training and anticipation, many feel relieved to have their outcomes in hand.

Disappointment: Not all applicants achieve their desired rankings. However, it's miles critical to don't forget that a single exam does not define one’s capabilities or capability.

Motivation for Improvement: Candidates who fall short of expectancies often channel their disappointment into preparing for the subsequent attempt or exploring alternative pathways to success.

Addressing Low Scores

For applicants who do now not score as predicted, there are numerous techniques to don't forget:

Retake CAT: If control research remain a concern, recollect reattempting CAT with a greater refined training approach.

Explore Alternative Exams: Exams like XAT, MAT, GMAT, and CMAT also provide pathways to authentic commercial enterprise schools.

Look Beyond CAT: Many institutes have their personal entrance tests or be given rankings from different standardized checks.

leverage Work Experience: Gaining extra work enjoy and constructing a robust profile can enhance future admission possibilities.

Seek Counseling: Professional steerage can help applicants perceive appropriate programs aligned with their desires and profile.

Success Stories

Each year, CAT consequences display inspiring testimonies of perseverance and triumph. Many top scorers come from various backgrounds, including non-engineering fields, demonstrating that the exam rewards difficult paintings and strategic guidance over inherent aptitude.

For example, some candidates excel despite non-public challenges or restrained resources, proving that determination and consciousness can triumph over large odds. These memories serve as motivation for destiny aspirants.

Tips for Future Aspirants

For the ones planning to take CAT within the future, here are some guidelines:

Start Early: Begin your preparation properly in advance to cowl the syllabus thoroughly and have sufficient time for practice.

Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize your self with the shape, varieties of questions, and staining scheme.

Focus on Weak Areas: Identify your vulnerable regions and work on enhancing them systematically.

Take Mock Tests: Regular mock tests help in constructing confidence and enhancing time management.

Stay Consistent: Consistency in preparation is key to performing well on the examination.

[careermantradotorg]

SJMSOM IIT Bombay: A Leading Business School in India

Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) stands as one of the premier business schools in India. With a unique blend of technology and management education, SJMSOM has consistently delivered leaders who are adept at navigating the ever-evolving global business landscape. Situated in the heart of one of India's most prestigious engineering institutions, SJMSOM IIT Bombay offers a dynamic environment for innovation, leadership, and strategic thinking.

Why Choose SJMSOM IIT Bombay?

1. World-Class Faculty and Curriculum

One of the key strengths of SJMSOM IIT Bombay is its highly accomplished faculty. The professors at SJMSOM are not only academicians but also have real-world experience in various industries. This blend of theoretical and practical knowledge ensures that students are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in today's competitive business world.

The curriculum at SJMSOM is designed to be both rigorous and flexible. It covers a wide range of management topics including finance, marketing, operations, and strategy, all infused with a strong focus on technology and innovation. This ensures that students receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for diverse roles in business and management.

2. Strong Industry Connect

SJMSOM IIT Bombay maintains strong ties with industry leaders across sectors, offering students numerous opportunities for interaction through guest lectures, workshops, and internships. The school has a robust placement record, with top multinational companies recruiting from the institute every year. Companies from sectors like consulting, finance, IT, FMCG, and manufacturing are regular recruiters, showcasing the demand for SJMSOM graduates.

3. State-of-the-Art Facilities

Being a part of the larger IIT Bombay ecosystem, SJMSOM benefits from access to cutting-edge research facilities and a vibrant campus life. The infrastructure at SJMSOM includes modern classrooms, well-equipped computer labs, and a vast library that supports academic and professional development. Moreover, IIT Bombay’s lush green campus provides a serene environment conducive to learning and innovation.

4. Focus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

In today’s fast-paced world, innovation and entrepreneurship are crucial for business success. SJMSOM IIT Bombay places a strong emphasis on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among its students. With its close association with IIT Bombay’s renowned research and innovation centers, students are encouraged to explore new ideas, create startups, and contribute to the startup ecosystem of India.

The Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship (DSSE) at IIT Bombay further complements this focus by providing students with incubation support, mentoring, and access to a network of investors and successful entrepreneurs.

5. Global Exposure

SJMSOM offers various opportunities for international exposure through student exchange programs and global partnerships. These programs allow students to spend a semester at top management schools across the world, gaining insights into international business practices and expanding their global networks. Such experiences not only broaden their horizons but also give them a competitive edge in the global job market.

Programs Offered at SJMSOM IIT Bombay

Master of Business Administration (MBA) – The flagship program of SJMSOM, offering specializations in areas such as finance, marketing, operations, and information systems. The MBA program is designed to nurture future leaders who can bridge the gap between technology and business.

Executive MBA (EMBA) – In collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis, this program is tailored for working professionals looking to enhance their leadership skills and strategic thinking.

PhD Program – SJMSOM IIT Bombay offers a PhD program in management that provides students with an opportunity to delve into advanced research across various domains of business and management.

Management Development Programs (MDP) – These short-term programs cater to the professional development needs of corporate executives, helping them stay updated with the latest trends and innovations in business.

Admissions at SJMSOM IIT Bombay

Admission to the MBA program at SJMSOM IIT Bombay is highly competitive. Candidates are required to take the Common Admission Test (CAT), followed by a selection process that includes group discussions, personal interviews, and a statement of purpose. The selection process ensures that only the most deserving candidates, with a balance of academic excellence, leadership potential, and professional experience, are admitted to the program.

For the Executive MBA program, applicants must have significant work experience and go through a rigorous application process, including interviews and an assessment of professional achievements.

Alumni Network and Career Opportunities

SJMSOM IIT Bombay boasts a strong and supportive alumni network spread across the globe. Alumni of SJMSOM have gone on to achieve leadership positions in some of the world’s top companies, making significant contributions to their industries. This vast network serves as a valuable resource for current students, providing them with mentoring, career advice, and networking opportunities.

The placement cell at SJMSOM works tirelessly to ensure students are matched with the right career opportunities. The school's consistent record of high placements with attractive salary packages speaks volumes about the value employers place on an SJMSOM degree.

Conclusion

SJMSOM IIT Bombay offers a unique combination of technology and management education, preparing students to excel in the ever-changing business environment. With its world-class faculty, strong industry connections, and emphasis on innovation, SJMSOM is an ideal choice for aspiring business leaders. If you’re looking to pursue an MBA that will equip you with both the technical and managerial skills necessary to thrive in today’s world, SJMSOM IIT Bombay is undoubtedly a top contender.

[manavrachnaonlinedegreecourses]

Career Paths and Opportunities for MBA in Management Information Systems Graduates

The business field has different types of job roles in all domains. These job roles are quite interesting. You will be amazed by their enriching opportunities and how a simple action can significantly contribute to a business operation. Management Information Systems help businesses streamline their operations through data-oriented decisions. It basically studies the relationship between employees, technology, and clients relate to each other. You will learn everything about this system with an online MBA in Management Information Systems.

Core Skills and Knowledge from MBA in Management Information Systems

You will learn the following skills from this MBA degree:

Technical Skills: You can do system analysis and database management.

Business Skills: You will train in indispensable skills like project management and strategic thinking.

Analytical Skills: You will also learn data mining and business intelligence.

Communication Skills: You can communicate effectively and work with a team to complete projects.

Popular Career Paths for MBA in Management Information Systems Graduates

The skills mentioned above will open doors to new opportunities for you. Management Information Systems are present in all domains and hence, every domain requires such systems.

IT Project Manager: You will use these systems to oversee IT projects.

Systems Analyst: You will analyse and design IT business solutions.

Business Intelligence Analyst: You will interpret data to make informed decisions.

Data Scientist: You will use data mining techniques to extract valuable information.

Cybersecurity Analyst: You will protect your organisation from cyber-attacks.

IT Consultant: You will advise companies facing IT management issues.

Enterprise Architect: You will design ERP solutions.

Product Manager: You will develop and launch new IT products and services.

Industry-Specific Career Paths

These are industry-specific roles that use management information systems to reach one specific end goal.

Healthcare IT: You will manage vital patient records and medical images with an Management Information Systems.

Finance IT: You will use Management Information Systems for financial risk management and analytics.

E-commerce: Management Information Systems will be used for web development and regulatory compliance.

Manufacturing: Automation and quality control will be done through an Management Information Systems.

Consulting: You can also become a consultant in a big consulting firm.

Tips for a Successful Career with an MBA in Management Information Systems Degree

Build relationships with professionals in your industry.

Get industry-certified credentials.

Gain practical experience through internships and live projects.

Stay updated on emerging trends and technologies.

With a strong foundation in MBA in Management Information Systems, you're equipped to pursue a fulfilling career in IT. The opportunities are vast after graduating with an online master’s degree in India. Leverage your business skills and stay updated on industry trends to achieve your career goals. An MBA in Management Information Systems degree positions you at the forefront of innovation.

[maharghaideovate]

Getting Your Hands Dirty: Project Work in System Management at Madras University

Ever wonder what you’d actually do in a system management program? Let’s chat about the project work in the MBA distance education at Madras University. It’s where book smarts meet real-world challenges. What Kind of Projects You’ll Tackle In the MBA distance education program at Madras University, you’re not just hitting the books. You’ll work on stuff like: 1. System Makeovers: Giving old…

[studymaterialanindita]

The Value of a BCA Degree: Is It Worth Pursuing?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and business, the Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree has emerged as a popular choice for students aiming to carve out a career in the IT sector. As technology continues to influence every aspect of our lives, the demand for skilled professionals in the field has never been higher. But is a BCA degree truly worth pursuing? Let’s explore the benefits and considerations to help you determine if this path aligns with your career goals.

What is a BCA Degree?

A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) is a three-year undergraduate program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in computer science and applications. The curriculum typically covers programming languages, software development, database management, networking, and other core areas of IT. In addition to technical skills, BCA programs often include training in problem-solving and project management.

Benefits of Pursuing a BCA Degree

Foundation in IT Skills: The BCA program equips students with essential IT skills, including proficiency in programming languages like Java, C++, and Python. This foundation is crucial for any career in technology and prepares students for various technical roles.

Diverse Career Opportunities: Graduates of BCA programs can pursue a wide range of careers in IT and related fields. Job roles such as software developer, web developer, system analyst, and network administrator are just a few examples. Additionally, the skills gained from a BCA degree can also be applicable in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and education.

Gateway to Advanced Studies: For those interested in further specialization, a BCA degree can serve as a stepping stone to advanced degrees such as a Master’s in Computer Applications (MCA) or a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). These advanced degrees can open doors to higher-level positions and increased earning potential.

Practical Experience: Many BCA programs emphasize practical experience through internships, projects, and industry collaborations. This hands-on approach helps students gain real-world experience, making them more attractive to potential employers.

Growing Demand for IT Professionals: The tech industry continues to expand globally, and the demand for skilled IT professionals is on the rise. A BCA degree can provide a competitive edge in a job market that increasingly values technological expertise.

Considerations Before Pursuing a BCA Degree

Cost and Duration: While a BCA degree is often less expensive than a four-year engineering degree, it’s still a financial commitment. It’s important to weigh the cost of tuition against the potential return on investment in terms of job opportunities and salary.

Job Market Saturation: In some regions, the job market for IT professionals can be competitive. It’s important to research local job markets and employment trends to ensure that there are sufficient opportunities available.

Interest in IT: A BCA degree requires a strong interest in technology and computer science. If you’re not passionate about these fields, you might find the coursework challenging and less engaging.

Long-Term Career Goals: Consider how a BCA degree aligns with your long-term career goals. If you aim to work in highly specialized or advanced IT roles, you may need additional qualifications or experience beyond a BCA degree.

Alternative Paths: There are various alternative paths to a career in IT, such as coding bootcamps, certifications, and online courses. These alternatives can sometimes offer a more flexible or cost-effective route to entering the tech industry.

RERF , while primarily known for its research on radiation exposure and health effects, is not directly related to educational institutions like BCA colleges. However, for students interested in a Best BCA college in Kolkata, the city offers several reputable options that provide a solid foundation in computer applications and technology. These colleges prepare students for diverse IT careers and often include advanced research opportunities in their curriculum. If you're looking to pursue a BCA in Kolkata, you'll find institutions that can equip you with the skills needed for a successful career in the tech industry.

Conclusion

The Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) degree offers a solid foundation in computer science and opens doors to numerous career opportunities in the technology sector. For those with a passion for IT and a desire to work in a rapidly growing field, the BCA degree can be a worthwhile investment. However, it's essential to consider your personal interests, career goals, and the job market in your area before making a decision. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can determine if a BCA degree aligns with your aspirations and offers the value you’re seeking in your educational and professional journey.

[jcmarchi]

Deepfake misuse & deepfake detection (before it’s too late) - CyberTalk

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/deepfake-misuse-deepfake-detection-before-its-too-late-cybertalk/

Deepfake misuse & deepfake detection (before it’s too late) - CyberTalk

Micki Boland is a global cyber security warrior and evangelist with Check Point’s Office of the CTO. Micki has over 20 years in ICT, cyber security, emerging technology, and innovation. Micki’s focus is helping customers, system integrators, and service providers reduce risk through the adoption of emerging cyber security technologies. Micki is an ISC2 CISSP and holds a Master of Science in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA with a global security concentration from East Carolina University.

In this dynamic and insightful interview, Check Point expert Micki Boland discusses how deepfakes are evolving, why that matters for organizations, and how organizations can take action to protect themselves. Discover on-point analyses that could reshape your decisions, improving cyber security and business outcomes. Don’t miss this.

Can you explain how deepfake technology works? 

Deepfakes involve simulated video, audio, and images to be delivered as content via online news, mobile applications, and through social media platforms. Deepfake videos are created with Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN), a type of Artificial Neural Network that uses Deep Learning to create synthetic content.

GANs sound cool, but technical. Could you break down how they operate?

GAN are a class of machine learning systems that have two neural network models; a generator and discriminator which game each other. Training data in the form of video, still images, and audio is fed to the generator, which then seeks to recreate it. The discriminator then tries to discern the training data from the recreated data produced by the generator.

The two artificial intelligence engines repeatedly game each other, getting iteratively better. The result is convincing, high quality synthetic video, images, or audio. A good example of GAN at work is NVIDIA GAN. Navigate to the website https://thispersondoesnotexist.com/ and you will see a composite image of a human face that was created by the NVIDIA GAN using faces on the internet. Refreshing the internet browser yields a new synthetic image of a human that does not exist.

What are some notable examples of deepfake tech’s misuse?

Most people are not even aware of deepfake technologies, although these have now been infamously utilized to conduct major financial fraud. Politicians have also used the technology against their political adversaries. Early in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Russia created and disseminated a deepfake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advising Ukrainian soldiers to “lay down their arms” and surrender to Russia.

How was the crisis involving the Zelenskyy deepfake video managed?

The deepfake quality was poor and it was immediately identified as a deepfake video attributable to Russia. However, the technology is becoming so convincing and so real that soon it will be impossible for the regular human being to discern GenAI at work. And detection technologies, while have a tremendous amount of funding and support by big technology corporations, are lagging way behind.

What are some lesser-known uses of deepfake technology and what risks do they pose to organizations, if any?

Hollywood is using deepfake technologies in motion picture creation to recreate actor personas. One such example is Bruce Willis, who sold his persona to be used in movies without his acting due to his debilitating health issues. Voicefake technology (another type of deepfake) enabled an autistic college valedictorian to address her class at her graduation.

Yet, deepfakes pose a significant threat. Deepfakes are used to lure people to “click bait” for launching malware (bots, ransomware, malware), and to conduct financial fraud through CEO and CFO impersonation. More recently, deepfakes have been used by nation-state adversaries to infiltrate organizations via impersonation or fake jobs interviews over Zoom.

How are law enforcement agencies addressing the challenges posed by deepfake technology?

Europol has really been a leader in identifying GenAI and deepfake as a major issue. Europol supports the global law enforcement community in the Europol Innovation Lab, which aims to develop innovative solutions for EU Member States’ operational work. Already in Europe, there are laws against deepfake usage for non-consensual pornography and cyber criminal gangs’ use of deepfakes in financial fraud.

What should organizations consider when adopting Generative AI technologies, as these technologies have such incredible power and potential?

Every organization is seeking to adopt GenAI to help improve customer satisfaction, deliver new and innovative services, reduce administrative overhead and costs, scale rapidly, do more with less and do it more efficiently. In consideration of adopting GenAI, organizations should first understand the risks, rewards, and tradeoffs associated with adopting this technology. Additionally, organizations must be concerned with privacy and data protection, as well as potential copyright challenges.

What role do frameworks and guidelines, such as those from NIST and OWASP, play in the responsible adoption of AI technologies?

On January 26th, 2023, NIST released its forty-two page Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) and AI Risk Management Playbook (NIST 2023). For any organization, this is a good place to start.

The primary goal of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework is to help organizations create AI-focused risk management programs, leading to the responsible development and adoption of AI platforms and systems.

The NIST AI Risk Management Framework will help any organization align organizational goals for and use cases for AI. Most importantly, this risk management framework is human centered. It includes social responsibility information, sustainability information and helps organizations closely focus on the potential or unintended consequences and impact of AI use.

Another immense help for organizations that wish to further understand risk associated with GenAI Large Language Model adoption is the OWASP Top 10 LLM Risks list. OWASP released version 1.1 on October 16th, 2023. Through this list, organizations can better understand risks such as inject and data poisoning. These risks are especially critical to know about when bringing an LLM in house.

As organizations adopt GenAI, they need a solid framework through which to assess, monitor, and identify GenAI-centric attacks. MITRE has recently introduced ATLAS, a robust framework developed specifically for artificial intelligence and aligned to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

For more of Check Point expert Micki Boland’s insights into deepfakes, please see CyberTalk.org’s past coverage. Lastly, to receive cyber security thought leadership articles, groundbreaking research and emerging threat analyses each week, subscribe to the CyberTalk.org newsletter.

[ravnique]

Ideal Customer Persona: Marketing Director Mark

About Them

Name: Mark Thompson

Role: Marketing Director

Industry: SaaS (Software as a Service)

Company Size: Mid-sized (100-500 employees)

Demographics:

Age: 35-45 years old

Education: Bachelor's in Marketing or Business, often with an MBA

Location: Urban areas with a tech industry presence (e.g., San Francisco, New York, Austin)

Experience: 10+ years in marketing, 3-5 years in a leadership role

Professional Background:

Strong understanding of digital marketing, analytics, and customer acquisition strategies

Experienced in leading cross-functional teams and managing marketing budgets.

Use Case

How they use our product:

To manage and optimize digital marketing campaigns across multiple channels (e.g., social media, email, SEO)

To gain insights into customer behavior and campaign performance through advanced analytics and reporting tools

To streamline and automate repetitive marketing tasks

What they’re trying to achieve:

Increase lead generation and conversion rates

Enhance brand visibility and engagement

Improve ROI on marketing spend

Gain a competitive edge through data-driven decision-making

Previous Solution & Pain Points

Previous Solution:

A combination of multiple marketing tools (e.g., email marketing platforms, social media schedulers, web analytics tools)

Manual processes for campaign management and performance tracking

Pain Points:

Fragmented data across different tools leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies

Time-consuming manual processes

Difficulty in measuring the true impact of marketing efforts on revenue

Challenges in personalizing marketing campaigns at scale

Benefits

Main Benefits from Using Our Product:

Integrated Platform: Unified solution that brings all marketing tools and data into one platform

Automation: Streamlined workflows for campaign management, reducing manual effort

Advanced Analytics: Comprehensive reporting and analytics that provide actionable insights

Scalability: Ability to personalize campaigns at scale, driving better engagement

Improved ROI: More efficient use of marketing budgets through data-driven optimization

Buying Trigger

What Causes Them to Seek Out Our Product:

Need to consolidate marketing tools for better efficiency

Growth in company size leading to more complex marketing needs

Desire to improve marketing performance and accountability

Feedback from the executive team demanding better metrics and ROI

Frustration with current tools' limitations and lack of integration

Buying Process

Typical Process People Go Through to Buy Our Product:

Research: Initial online research to identify potential solutions, reading reviews and case studies

Evaluation: Shortlisting a few platforms, attending demos, and comparing features and pricing

Consultation: Internal discussions with the marketing team and other stakeholders (e.g., IT, finance)

Trial: Requesting a free trial or pilot program to test the product

Decision: Final decision made by the Marketing Director, often in consultation with the executive team

Approval: Securing budget approval and negotiating contracts

Choice Factors

Things They’re Looking for in a Product Like Ours:

Ease of Use: Intuitive interface and easy onboarding process

Integration: Seamless integration with existing tools and systems

Scalability: Ability to grow with the company and handle increasing volumes of data and users

Support: Reliable customer support and resources for troubleshooting and optimization

Value: Competitive pricing and clear ROI

Innovation: Regular updates and new features that keep the platform ahead of industry trends