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braininventoryusa · 7 months ago

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7 Common Myths About IT Staff Augmentation Services Debunked.

Despite the tremendous popularity of IT Staff Augmentation services, many “myths” are also growing around it. Due to the prevalence of these myths, businesses are having second thoughts about availing of the services. Misconceptions like too much risk involvement, expensive services, poor quality, and delayed projects often deter startups from exploring the full potential of IT staff augmentation services.

So in this blog, we are trying to debunk 7 most common myths about IT staff augmentation services.

IT Staff Augmentation Myths

Myth #1- IT Staff Augmentation Services are Expensive

Truth- Hiring in-house is in fact expensive. And a time-consuming process. There are different types of costs involved in in-house hiring. For example, the cost required for pension plans, electricity, infrastructure, healthcare schemes, provident funds, payroll management, and various other expenses is hidden. So when you choose IT Staff Augmentation Services, you are not responsible for bearing all these costs. The employees in these services generally work remotely, or the staff augmentation company takes responsibility for their expenses. So you can save on these direct and indirect costs associated with employee management.

Myth #2- Involvement of Risk and Poor Quality Work

Truth- Businesses often associate IT staff augmentation services with risk. Many even fear that their project will get delayed and the quality will be compromised. But all such things are completely misleading and have no connection with reality. In fact, seasoned professionals work under staff augmentation models and they have technical expertise for the required work. They possess all the skills (soft skills and technical skills) needed to complete the IT projects while maintaining top-notch quality. Staff augmentation providers are well aware of the industry trends and understand the unique requirements of each project at a deeper level. You can even ask them to show their professional track record. And if desired, you can verify their skills by conducting tests before collaborating with them.

Myth #3- IT Staff Augmentation is for Big Businesses

Truth- It is often believed that IT staff augmentation is not for small businesses and startups. Again, it’s a pure lie. Any organization, irrespective of size, can take advantage of the staff augmentation services. Whether you want to develop an app or a website or want to manage your business operations with much-reduced labor costs, you can opt for staff augmentation services. You don’t need to go through the long process of hiring, training, and retaining employees. By hiring staff from staff augmentation service providers, you can add more value to your products. Moreover, there is no limit on hiring a minimum number of professionals. Whether you need a single professional or a team of 100, a staff augmentation firm like Brain Inventory can help you out. For small businesses and startups, it is a great option.

Myth #4- Data Integrity and Privacy is Compromised

Truth- As a modern business up and running in today’s digital age, this concern seems real. However, under the IT staff augmentation model, there is a solution for this. Remote staff adheres to tight regulations, contracts, and NDAs to safeguard data. And if they are working with an outsourcing company, they are superimposed with access control mechanisms to enable restricted access to sensitive data. Further, advanced security settings and implementation of data protection tools are there to reduce the chances of data leakage.

Myth #5- Communication is Difficult

Truth- There are several communication tools available in the digital space through which you can easily communicate and share information. Tools like Zoom and Google Meet allow you to conduct real-time meetings and share data from remote locations. You can use Slack for text-based communication, Dropbox for file sharing, Google Meet for video conferencing, and Redbooth for task management. This list of effective communication tools goes on. You can pick what suits you and your team the best and ensure uninterrupted communication with remote staff. Even if you are located in another country, divided by time zone, you don’t need to worry if you have access to these tools. Staff augmentation companies have proper knowledge of such useful tools and they train their staff so that you can communicate with each one of them without any hassle.

Myth #6- No Control Over Project

It’s a myth that employees must be onsite to be effectively managed. Dedicated professionals work sincerely, even remotely. In the staff augmentation model, companies train hires in advance on roles, responsibilities, and timelines. These experts have a proven track record, follow company rules, and are aligned with your requirements. You set rules during hiring, giving you control to guide, track progress, hold meetings, provide feedback, and address issues as needed.

Myth #7- Staff Augmentation Does Not Bring Value to the Business

Truth- It is also a lie. IT staff augmentation offers significant benefits to your business like easy access to resources. You can hire a team of professionals quickly, as compared to a traditional setup where you would go through a long, hectic process of conducting interviews and tests. You get their services at an affordable rate, and you don’t even need to pay for the infrastructure. No long-term contracts, you can select the model based on the requirements of your project (hourly, monthly). Also, you get to expand your team without any hassle. Talent is readily available in the staff augmentation model. The biggest advantage of all is that you complete your project on time without compromising on quality.

Now that we have debunked all the myths of IT staff augmentation, are you still skeptical about availing the services?

Let’s educate you about the significant benefits of IT staff augmentation services for your business-

Partnering with a staff augmentation provider ensures that you are getting access to top of the talents. It boosts your project’s productivity and efficiency, which reduces your time to market. These professionals can handle the most complicated projects, without training on your part. The outsourcing company takes care of their training and provides them with the necessary resources to complete the project.

It is a cost-effective option to work with remote professionals as compared to hiring in-house. You’re reducing the overhead costs under this model. The costs associated with providing the infrastructure, equipment, electricity, internet connectivity, and cover benefits. These vendors come with the tools to support your project throughout the development process, which means you don’t have to invest further in purchasing expensive subscription software. This is particularly useful for short-term projects.

Whether you need help with a single project or multiple projects with different timelines, the staff augmentation model offers you the flexibility to meet your goals. You can easily hire as many professionals as you want. The model is scalable, as well as flexible.

Staff augmentation allows you to hire professionals from a different country. It gives you easy access to a global workforce. No matter which skills you require, you can hire professionals from any location. This is particularly helpful because you may need professionals with some specific qualifications that aren’t immediately available in your geographic region.

“Studies show that the US talent scarcity has tripled over the decade”. It is predicted to reach approx 85 million by 2030. The shortage of talent is an alarming call especially when more than 34% of workers in the US are freelancing, instead of full-time jobs. This further accelerates the importance of hiring remote talent with the help of IT staff augmentation.

Conclusion

Far from being a risky option or a no-value business, staff augmentation offers businesses of any size the flexibility to access special skills and have full control over their projects. Even though there are myths revolving around this model of hiring, before reaching any conclusion, you need to understand the logic behind them. Or at least conduct research by yourself.

By partnering with a trusted staff augmentation provider, and discussing the misconceptions with them, you can extract most of the benefits from this model. Brain Inventory is an IT Staff Augmentation Company with years of experience in offering expert professionals to businesses worldwide. We have a team of talented people, who adhere to our rules of strict privacy and communication policies. We take care of every single element of your project so that you don’t have to!

#IT Staff Augmentation Company

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appson-technologies · 11 months ago

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Debunking the Myths: The Truth About Staff Augmentation

## Staff Augmentation: Separating Fact from Fiction

Staff augmentation, a strategic approach to supplementing a company’s workforce with external talent, has gained significant traction in recent years. However, misconceptions about this model persist, hindering its widespread adoption. This article aims to dispel common myths surrounding staff augmentation and illuminate its true potential as a valuable business tool.

### Myth 1: Staff Augmentation is More Expensive Than Hiring Permanent Employees

One of the most pervasive misconceptions about staff augmentation is that it is a more costly option compared to hiring permanent employees. While it’s true that there are additional fees associated with engaging a staffing agency, the overall cost of ownership can be significantly lower.

When calculating the total cost of employment, businesses must consider factors such as recruitment, onboarding, training, salaries, benefits, taxes, and potential turnover. These expenses can add up quickly, especially for specialized roles. Staff augmentation eliminates many of these costs by providing ready-to-work professionals with the necessary skills and experience. Additionally, the flexibility to scale the workforce up or down based on project needs can lead to significant cost savings.

### Myth 2: Loss of Control Over Project Execution

Another common misconception is that companies relinquish control over project execution when utilizing staff augmentation. This is a fallacy. Reputable staffing agencies prioritize client satisfaction and work collaboratively to ensure seamless integration of augmented teams.

To maintain control, companies can implement various strategies, including:

* **Clear project scope and objectives:** Defining project goals and deliverables upfront prevents misunderstandings and ensures alignment between the core team and augmented staff. * **Key performance indicators (KPIs):** Establishing measurable performance metrics helps track progress and evaluate the augmented team’s contribution. * **Regular communication:** Open and frequent communication channels facilitate effective collaboration and ensure that expectations are met. * **Onboarding process:** A structured onboarding program helps augmented staff quickly acclimate to the company culture and project requirements. * **Performance management:** Regular performance reviews and feedback mechanisms ensure that the augmented team is meeting expectations.

By implementing these practices, companies can retain control over project execution while benefiting from the expertise of augmented staff.

### Myth 3: Staff Augmentation is Only for Large Enterprises

A common misconception is that staff augmentation is primarily a strategy for large corporations with substantial resources. However, this is far from the truth. Businesses of all sizes can leverage the benefits of staff augmentation.

For startups, staff augmentation provides access to specialized talent without the financial burden of hiring full-time employees. This allows them to focus on core competencies and scale operations as needed. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), staff augmentation can help overcome skill gaps, manage fluctuating workloads, and improve operational efficiency.

### Myth 4: Compromised Data Security

Concerns about data security often deter companies from considering staff augmentation. However, reputable staffing agencies prioritize data protection and implement robust security measures to safeguard sensitive information. It is essential for companies to conduct thorough background checks on augmented staff and establish clear data handling protocols to further mitigate risks.

### The Real Benefits of Staff Augmentation

Dispelling these myths reveals the true potential of staff augmentation. By understanding the advantages, companies can make informed decisions and leverage this strategy to achieve their business objectives.

* **Access to Specialized Talent:** Staff augmentation provides access to a pool of skilled professionals with diverse expertise, allowing companies to tackle complex projects and stay competitive. * **Increased Flexibility:** The ability to scale the workforce up or down based on project demands enables organizations to adapt to changing market conditions and optimize resource allocation. * **Cost-Efficiency:** By eliminating the overhead costs associated with permanent hiring, staff augmentation can offer significant financial savings. * **Focus on Core Competencies:** By delegating non-core tasks to augmented staff, companies can concentrate on their core business activities and drive innovation. * **Risk Mitigation:** Staff augmentation reduces the risk of making long-term hiring commitments, especially in uncertain economic conditions.

### Maximizing the ROI of Staff Augmentation

To fully realize the benefits of staff augmentation, it is essential to adopt a strategic approach. Key strategies include:

* **Clear project definition:** Clearly outline project goals, scope, and deliverables to ensure alignment between the core team and augmented staff. * **Performance measurement:** Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the performance of augmented staff and measure the impact on project outcomes. * **Cost-benefit analysis:** Regularly evaluate the cost-effectiveness of staff augmentation compared to hiring permanent employees. * **Long-term perspective:** Consider staff augmentation as a strategic investment that can contribute to long-term business growth and success. * **Strong partnerships:** Build strong relationships with reputable staffing agencies to ensure access to top talent and efficient project execution.

By following these guidelines and dispelling common myths, organizations can harness the full potential of staff augmentation and achieve their business objectives.

Want to dive deeper into the world of staff augmentation? Read the full article to uncover more insights and strategies for maximizing the benefits of this powerful business tool.

Click Here.

Want to learn just about Staff augmentation in USA Click Here.

#technology #staff augmentation #staff augmentation in USA

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acquaintsofttech · 1 year ago

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Myths in IT Staff Augmentation: Regain Project Control

Introduction In the technology landscape, IT staff augmentation has become a key strategy for businesses seeking specialized skills. Yet, there are instances when organizations hear some myths about losing project control while leveraging IT Staff Augmentation services. This article will highlight the myths and realities surrounding IT staff augmentation for hiring remote developers. Before…

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#IT Staff Augmentation #it staff augmentation services

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amphibious-thing · 5 years ago

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Can you link the article from your last post abt the Baron ?

The one I mentioned in the tags that claimed Washington had Hamilton and Laurens find Steuben boyfriends? It’s George Washington’s Gay Mess: Was the ‘Father of Our Country’ a Queen? by Charley Shively. Which was published in the book Gay Roots Vol 2.

He isn’t the only one to have suggested that Washington was gay but he does so in such a over the top way I find it impossible to take him seriously. Besides writing that “Washington and Steuben who were about the same age understood each other at once. Steuben needed a job, boys, honor and an army which the American commander provided” (emphasis mine) and that “Hamilton and Laurens immediately took up with General Steuben and found him boyfriends”, he claims that:

- The Washington cherry tree myth has staying power because of heterosexual symbolism. You see by cutting down the cherry tree Washington is symbolically braking a woman's “cherry”.

- That Washington had numerous male lovers most notably Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens, Lafayette and even his own brother Lawrence Washington.

- That Washington “often slept with a chosen staff member” and yes when he says slept with he means sex.

- He claims that to enter Washingtons “mess group” (staff) a man needed to be handsome and “perhaps well hung like Alexander Hamilton”.

- He argues that the lack of mentions of food in Washingtons diaries is evidence that his “sexual interests were entirely anal.” However he then ponders whether Washington’s “great concern with his false teeth demonstrates some oral interests.”

- Hamiltons male lovers apparently included not only Washington and Laurens (at least he gets somethings right) but also Edward Stevens and Hercules Mulligan.

- Laurens lovers apparently included not only Washington and Hamilton but also James Grant (who would have been 30 years older than the then teenage Laurens, glad this one isn’t true) and John White.

- He mentions that William North and Ben Walker lived with the Baron for sometime at the Louvre and that; “Here Billy’s picture hung prominently in the entrance and guests were asked to speculate which was more handsome the soldier or his picture.” (This one I want to be true why don’t you cite your sources Shively!!!)

This article is also, at least as far as I can tell the origin of the claim that Laurens use of “kalos ka agatho” in a letter to Hamilton was gay code. It was looking for the source for this claim that I first discovered this article years ago. But unfortunately Shively does not properly source his claims writing that he does not include “footnotes, endnotes or bibliography” because “most authors use such paraphernalia to intimidate and belittle the reader” but that those who are interested can “write the author with ten dollars".

The thing is this article does have some good points about heteronormativity and queer erasure in the study of history, but his augment gets lost when he jumps to ridiculous conclusions based on little if any evidence and then refuses to cite his sources unless you pay him $10.

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cittasolutionspvtltd · 4 years ago

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Technical resources outsourcing is applicable for all from startups to small businesses to enterprise-grade and Fortune 500 companies.

Most companies outsource jobs to reduce costs. This may not be the biggest myth, but it’s a half-truth. Because, more and more companies nowadays opt for outsourcing to gain the advantage of subject matter expertise (Special Skillsets) and extract the intelligence, which they might be lacking in their in-house team.

Hiring a skilled dedicated resource through staff augmentation is cost-effective relative to the cost overhead of hiring a similar skill employee on the payrolls.

For more details about our resource hiring services visit - https://cittasolutions.com/hire-technical-resources

#Citta #resource #resourcehiring #resourceoutsourcing #outsourcing #outsourcingservices

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csmtechnologies · 2 years ago

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IT Staff Augmentation services are a great alternative, to support the development of specific projects or cover an urgent need.

#it staff augmentation services #IT Staff Augmentation

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astriiferous-blog · 7 years ago

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Can Brown-Bagging My Beverage Safeguard Me Out Of Open Container Expenses In Texas State?

Together with the many several metropolitan areas around the USA, for example, Las Vegas and New Orleans, consuming in public sites are still customarily prohibited. But regardless of the iconic brownish paper tote a lot of men and women would wrap around their beverage before sallying on onto the pavement, the more Terrible newspaper covering honestly does tiny to almost absolutely nothing at all to defend someone from getting ticketed to carry an open container at a public spot at Texas. The truth is that any technical benefits of camouflaging your overburdened can, in fact, do the job in reverse, alerting police force that you are attempting to eliminate the most obvious. An underage man captured drinking public might likewise be ticketed for young intake. Manifesto open container legislation Texas has offered open container legislation which connects with motor vehicles in addition to public regions. You may discover more on the topic of open up container expenses at engine vehicles at the DWI/DUI areas of our site. Broad container fees which don't involve open container law texas fines an automobile, but are targeted toward people spaces like retail and sidewalks organizations. The open container legislation has been dealt with in line from what kind of alcoholic beverages has been demanded. Malt drinks: Beer, lager, malt liquor, porter, and some other brewed or fermented beverage which isn't wine, however, is in between 0.5percent and 15 percent alcohol by volume.

It's traditionally augmented with the addition of dried spirits like brandy.

Open up beer along with (unfortified) wine legislation In Texas, ingestion or ownership of an open jar of malt drink or unfortified wine has been made to become controlled from local county or city ordinances. The metropolis of Charlotte, North Carolina has dominated this behavior: portion 15-3 of the town's Code of Ordinances allow it to be prohibited to get an open container of consuming malt wine or beverages from people roads, sidewalks or even railway stage. Ordinance offenses are comparable to some Class 3 misdemeanor the following. Open up augmented spirits and wine regulation Meanwhile, the ABC Commission's statewide law modulates the ownership of containers of consumption of wine along with liquor/mixed beverages. N.C.G.S. 18B-300 lays out particular driving law regions in which an individual could own and eat up these kinds of booze. Somebody who will be of drinking age may hold or absorb almost any sum of wine or liquor inside their home or house. When it's about somebody else's possessions, the individual has the capability to get for private use and application of up guests to 8 (8) gallons of wine or liquor should they've the house owner's approval and also the land isn't chiefly useful for industrial functions or now available for the general public. That is likewise permitted in business establishments which possess a"brown-bagging" license throughout the ABC Commission that empowers the company to create their alcoholic beverages. Fortified spirits and wine can be valid if you're transporting (however, perhaps maybe not swallowing ) it was afterward obtaining it carrying it into a few of those high regions. Broad containers of wine and liquor aren't allowed in regions besides those mentioned previously. What this means is that they aren't lawful in areas like wide community sidewalks. One of those reinforced spirits and wine legislation can be a Class 1 misdemeanor in Texas, an even more severe crime than the usual Course 3. Brown tote (non-) necessity for Alcoholic Beverages purchase Whenever it's the case in a few countries, spirits shops must pay alcohol they market; Texas is none of those. Clerks and clients equally are frequently confused concerning perhaps the patient wrappings on alcoholic beverages purchases really are a valid condition or only shop plan --as an instance, a number of the liquor Control merchants across their country have brownish handbag coverages in place for being a proof purchase note to put away staff members, in addition to being a nod to purchaser solitude. Regardless of this, lots of keep clerks and clients stick to this older myth which brownish purses usually are) demanded with almost any local or state legislation to transmit outside( and two ) the brownish tote reduces offender accountability. Some countries like California bill additional for baggage today, while a few cities and counties possess altogether prohibited using plastic luggage from most shops, for example, Hyde, Currituck and Dare counties in coastal Texas. If you're confronting open up container or alternative alcohol fees, then it's crucial to talk with a knowledgeable unlawful defense lawyer straight off to best shield your rights. Much misdemeanor crimes could infect someone for many a long time ahead of time along and also possess a considerable effect on their or her or his lifetime. Arnold & Smith, PLLC can be an aggressive unlawful defense and civil litigation business with many several decades of knowledge in protecting men and women from DWI/DUI as well as additional curricular rates in Charlotte, North Carolina. Please get in touch with me soon as easy to get a discussion regarding the own case.

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willhiretemp · 5 years ago

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Direct Sourcing

In today’s digital age, the global talent market is becoming increasingly dynamic and competitive with 90% of the talent finding their jobs online. A leading industry statistic says that the preferred mode of job search by 65% of this talent, is via a mobile device.

With mobile devices, while the world is virtually at one’s fingertips, smartphones are no longer just a means of communication — they are also THE means of employment search.

It is common knowledge that organizations hire their full-time employees via their Human Resources or Talent acquisition teams which are fully equipped and matured with tools and processes specific to talent sourcing. However, for several years now the hiring of contractors has seen a different approach.

This approach taken by the contingent staffing industry, has for years, been solving a big question – “What if we can acquire contractors directly? Can we really do that?”

This is where Direct Sourcing comes in.

Before we delve deeper into what is direct sourcing, let’s talk about why it is required.

Talent Acquisition has changed its course over the years and more so, this year. While the pandemic conditions have made available a huge pool of talented candidates, it has established what staffing agencies always believed. Companies cannot wait till the last moment to put out job descriptions and job openings and expect the perfect candidate to wondrously appear – proven in the past few months.

Companies need a more strategic approach to hiring, particularly for their contingent or temporary workforce – enters Direct Sourcing.

What is Direct Sourcing in Staffing?

Direct Sourcing is a method of sourcing contract workforce by leveraging the modern-day talent acquisition processes and techniques. Commonly used within the indirect procurement function by the procurement department, typically responsible for acquiring indirect goods and services. In this case, it includes acquiring third party labor or non-employee services through Staff Augmentation. Usually, large enterprises use one of the many names for these programs, namely, contingent labor programs also known as contingent workforce programs or non-employee or 3rd party labor programs, or Flex or On-demand talent programs.

In the staffing industry, it is used as an alternative sourcing approach in addition to traditional staffing suppliers for sourcing talent. While this is not a new process in the talent acquisition industry, contingent programs are a bit backlogged as compared to the HR and HRTech industry which have witnessed major modernization in the past two decades.

Every enterprise has a talent acquisition team that relies on an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or other HRTech platforms to attract and engage talent directly for direct hire/full-time roles.

Historically, this contract talent or temp labor sourcing was acquired/ managed through staffing agencies that are managed by a program management team internally or outsourced externally to a managed service provider (MSP).

How We, At WillHire, Define Direct Sourcing?

A common analogy we use at WillHire is – “Direct Sourcing is what Netflix is in the entertainment industry”. No contingent program manager likes to be a Blockbuster story while not attempting to modernize their program. Direct Sourcing is a result of applying Design Thinking & Digital transformation to a contingent program.

With these being unprecedented times, Direct Sourcing has become the new normal and accelerated its need multifold for enterprises to build better predictability and bring cost savings into the organization. It gives an ability for enterprises to source temporary labor or contract talent directly thereby reducing the dependency on staffing suppliers.

Clearing Assumptions and Busting Myths – What Does Direct Sourcing Entail?

There are too many assumptions, confusions, and myths around direct sourcing.

Let’s look at the key takeaways for enterprises that clarify what direct sourcing could do for them:

Potential cost-saving: Direct Sourcing has proven to be significantly cheaper than traditional staffing agency markups

Leveraging Employer Branding: To create a great candidate experience and attract good quality talent

Building and Nurturing Private Talent Pools: To fulfill the current and future needs of any organization

Reducing Time to Fill: By using a pre-vetted private talent pool – ready to hire

Talent Diversity: Measuring and managing talent diversity within the contingent labor pool

Now let’s talk about what direct sourcing is not:

It is not a replacement for your existing MSP

It is not an ‘All or Nothing’ method.

It does not fully replace all your traditional staffing suppliers, but rather gives you a way to increase the bar on talent sourcing

It is not a replacement for your VMS (Vendor Management Systems). However, direct sourcing platforms do act as an extension to the existing VMS.

It is not a total talent management (TTM) system or method. It is, however, heavily focused on contingent labor and builds a pathway for TTM.

It is not a co-employment risk, as it aligns into the program similar to existing suppliers.

It is not all about cost savings

To Summarize:

Direct Sourcing is a model to directly attract and engage the contract workforce by leveraging the modern-day talent acquisition techniques which include leveraging your brand, repurposing your traffic from the company’s website and your career pages, generating job seekers from job boards or all possible online channels and generating referrals for the temp roles similar to an employee referral program, and building a private talent pool which you can tap into as and when you need.

There are multiple models within direct sourcing on who and how talent is attracted, screened, or shortlisted and managed. In the entire process, technology plays a major role by ensuring efficiency and not acting as a disruptor in existing programs.

About WillHire

WillHire is an end-to-end direct sourcing technology platform that integrates with the majority of industry Vendor Management Systems. We help large enterprises implement and operate direct sourcing including talent attraction, curation, and managing candidates as an employer of record and payroll provider.

Have questions on direct sourcing and how it is more beneficial than hiring a staffing agency?

Schedule a call with our direct sourcing champion Praneeth Patlola

#online direct sourcing #Direct Sourcing #Direct sourcing solution #Direct Sourcing in Contingent Workforce #Willhire

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acquaintsofttech · 1 year ago

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Myths in IT Staff Augmentation: Regain Project Control

Introduction

In the technology landscape, IT staff augmentation has become a key strategy for businesses seeking specialized skills. Yet, there are instances when organizations hear some myths about losing project control while leveraging IT Staff Augmentation services.

This article will highlight the myths and realities surrounding IT staff augmentation for hiring remote developers.

Before heading into the myths, let's understand what is IT Staff Augmentation.

What is IT Staff Augmentation?

IT Staff Augmentation is a hiring process where organizations enable themselves to hire remote developers to meet their requirements. By hiring an augmented tech talent the company can scale their team up or down as per the needs and workload.

This model offers flexibility, access to global talent, and cost-effectiveness. Despite a lot of benefits, there are a lot of myths surrounding remote work and IT staff augmentation.

Let's understand all the Myths & their realities one by one.

5 Myths about IT Staff Augmentation

Myth 1 vs Reality:

Myth:

The IT-augmented staff is less committed as compared to the In-house team.

Reality:

IT staff augmentation team members are highly dedicated and experienced.

The best integration strategies to use while integrating remote teams with in-house team

Develop an equal company culture

Setting up goals & expectations

Provide necessary tools & support

Myth 2 vs Reality:

Myth:

Communication barriers in IT staff augmentation can lead to loss of control.

Reality:

By using proper communication tools, these communication barriers can be easily minimized.

Key communication strategies involve:

Use diversified communication channels

Plan an immediate contact point in case of emergency interaction.

Myth 3 vs Reality:

Myth:

By hiring remote employees, work quality gets compromised.

Reality:

External developers are highly skilled and committed to achieving project excellence quickly.

To ensure high standards:

Implement a thorough onboarding process.

Establish clear reporting and feedback frameworks.

Build collaboration between existing teams and augmented teams for knowledge-sharing & problem-solving.

Myth 4 vs Reality

Myth:

IT Staff augmentation leads to a lack of long-term commitment and stability in projects.

Reality:

IT staff augmentation is project-specific, and many external professionals show a level of commitment towards their work. By, doing this the company can achieve long-term collaboration.

Let's understand how to achieve long-term commitment

Professional Integrity & Reputation:

The IT-augmented staff strives to achieve a strong professional reputation. This motivation helps them to achieve excellence consistently.

Opportunity for extended engagement:

Businesses tend to find a greater value in specific remote workers. The company takes the responsibility of ensuring they achieve a higher engagement by rehiring them. Rehiring an existing remote worker will help them build stable working relationships.

Strategic Resource Planning:

The companies can align their staff augmentation goals by planning long-term project goals, ensuring stability & continuity.

Myth 5 vs Reality

Myth:

The Augmented IT staff negatively impacts the company's organizational culture.

Reality:

If managed properly, distributed teams can integrate well with the company culture. This integration will bring a fresh perspective to enhance the remote working model.

Cultural Onboarding:

Including augmented staff in cultural onboarding sessions helps them understand and embrace the company's values and work ethos.

Promoting Inclusivity:

The organization needs to promote an inclusive work environment. An environment where all team members are treated equally. A friendly company culture will help the members of the team participate in team meetings

Regular Culture exchange:

Regularly conducting team-building activities can help the IT-augmented staff align with the company culture by contributing positively.

Now, let's understand some strategies to retain control.

What are the effective ways to retail project control?

Dedicated Teams that work remotely need to be managed effectively. Remote teams are comprised of IT professionals who are working in different time zones. But, they play a defining role in streamlining the software development process.

Maintaining project control after hiring a remote team needs a high level of efficiency. The below two points will help you regain control over your remote software development project.

Define Project Guidelines & Setting Decision making

To make any software development project a success, it is important to define proper guidelines. This includes defining the project scope, deliverables, timelines, & quality standards.

Well-defined project guidelines will ensure everyone in the team understands their roles & responsibilities clearly.

The company also needs to define the decision-making process clearly.

Regular Monitoring & Performance Evaluation Using KPIs

Implementing a system for regular monitoring & performance evaluation is essential in maintaining control. It is important to develop KPIs to measure the project's objectives.

Let's understand some of the metrics that can help develop the key performance indicators

Project completion rate

Quality of work

Budget compliance

It is necessary to assess the performance of in-house & remote teams based on the KPIs. Doing a thorough analysis will provide a clear picture of the improvisations needed.

Providing continuous feedback will help the team to move forward in the right direction.

Apart, from this, the company should also use effective communication & project management tools for better project management.

Let's understand in brief some project management tools a company can use to maintain seamless integration.

5 Project Management Tools for seamless integration

Asana:

Asana is a project management tool that helps teams organize & track the progress of their work. It is well known for its user-friendly interface.

Key features:

It gives information about Task assignments & due dates.

It can easily integrate with Slack, Google Drive & Dropbox.

Trello:

Trello uses a card-based system that great for visual task management. It can be easily customized & is ideal for small projects and teams that use simple interfaces.

Key features

It uses boards, lists, and cards to organize & prioritize projects in the most rewarding way.

It can easily integrate with GitHub, Evernote & Google Drive.

Jira:

It is mainly used by software developers. Jira is used for bug tracking, issue tracking & operational project management. Jira is known as one of the most agile project management tools.

Key features

It provides customizable scrum boards & Kanban boards for managing the project.

It can help in achieving seamless integration with an Atlassian product like Confluence.

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is a powerful tool for complex project planning & management. It offers detailed project management capabilities and is best suited for larger organizations with experienced project managers.

Key features

It uses Gantt charts.

The tool can help in project scheduling & resource management.

It can easily integrate with Microsoft Office applications.

Monday(.)com

Monday(.)com is a project management tool known for its ease of use & ability to adapt to various project types. It's suitable for both small teams and large enterprises.

It provides features of customizable workflows, time tracking & automated notifications.

It can integrate with various tools like Google Drive, Slack & Zoom.

Now, let's understand some of the communication tools that can help in managing remote projects smoothly.

By using any of the above project management tools, the company can easily keep track of the project. Using the right tools will help them analyze the progress of the project i.e., goals achieved, KPIs met or not, etc.

5 Communication Tools for Seamless Integration

Having your toolkit flooded with the best communication tools can help in achieving seamless project management.

Let's understand the best communication tools you can use to maintain control over your project.

Slack:

Slack is a popular messaging app designed for team collaboration. Slack is known for its user-friendly interface & ability to organize conversations into channels.

Key features

It provides a feature for direct messaging & group chats.

It helps in organizing teams or topics and helps in receiving & sharing files.

It can easily integrated with Google Drive & Asana.

Zoom:

Zoom is a popular video conferencing tool that gained popularity for its quality video calling. It is useful for both small meetings & large webinars.

It provides a feature of High-definition video and audio conferencing.

It can help in screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms for smaller discussions.

Microsoft Teams:

Being a part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Teams is an effective communication & collaboration platform.

It provides a feature for chats & threaded conversations.

Enables the user to do video and audio conferencing.

Zoom can easily integrate with Microsoft Office applications.

It also allows to storage of files and documents.

Google Meet:

Google Meet is a video communication service provided by Google.

It provides a feature of secure video meetings.

Provides easy access to web tools, without the need to download the application.

Enables the feature of screen-sharing & generates real-time captions.

It can easily integrate with Google Calendar.

Cisco Webex:

Cisco Webex is a communication tool known for its enterprise-grade security & reliability. The tool is suitable for both internal team meetings & external meetings with clients & stakeholders.

It allows HD video & audio conferencing

It provides end-to-end encryption for security.

How Acquaint Softtech can help in IT Staff Augmentation?

Acquaint Softtech is a software development company specializing in IT Staff Augmentation Services and custom software development. We are a team of experts having 15+ years of industry experience in helping our clients build custom software. We can help your organization hire remote developers that meet your requirements.

Wrapping Up!

Debunking myths with realities shows that control in IT staff augmentation is not compromised. By using clear communication & strategic integration the organizations can reap numerous benefits. By, using IT staff augmentation the organization can regain the lost control over project management.

#IT Staff Augmentation #IT Staff Augmentation Services

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iconem · 8 years ago

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Digital restoration: Engaging experts and the public

In the third and final part of our interview with Adam Lowe, learn about what the Factum Foundation can study through scanning cultural heritage and sharing it with the public. If you missed our earlier posts, you can still read part one and part two.

How you can foster the communication of how crucial it is to make reproductions in a world that depreciates fakes?

The issues of conservation and the issue of restoration are very important to helping preserve things. One of the things that is emerging is the whole field of digital restoration. On the files we can actually inspect, look at, share and discuss with many experts, and try out different ways to conserve in a virtual space without even touching the original. The study separate from the physical content is extremely important. We’ve done a project in the Sala Bologna in the Vatican, making a digital restoration of one of the maps that covers the walls and working with experts from Bologna University: you can do many things without ever touching the object. You can also use high resolution digital data to monitor the conditions of the object. For example, we recorded Tutankhamun’s tomb in 2009 and we’re actually able to check how much the tomb has changed in the time between then and now and we can supply that information to the conservators. So, sharing information and pulling together expertise is the way technology will really help progress restoration. We must also remember that every generation of restorers is always critical of the previous generation of restorers, so future generations will be critical of the work that has been done now. The more evidence there is to demonstrate how something looked like before our restoration, the better. We’re now working with the National Gallery in London and with other museums to digitally record paintings before and during restoration, to record them in high resolution, in colour, and in 3D. It’s shocking how only in the last few years people started recording surface information, for me it is in those very surface layers that forensic evidence lies.

A depth plan map created using data collected through non-contact technologies. Credit: The Factum Foundation

Is the experience of a surface layer enough or we should show and share more of this scientific work with the public?

High resolution recording is able to result also in augmented and virtual reality that the public may like very much. We’ve worked a lot reimagining the Ultima Cena of Leonardo or the Nozze di Cana of Veronese, imaging multiple time lapse on the facsimile. All this can appeal very much to audiences and makes the time people think about an object and experience it longer. What I hope is that copies and facsimiles could provoke a new interest, in the object itself but also in the technologies used to record it and to display it. We’re at the beginning of an explosion of the reinterpreting of high resolution data.

Technology is not something in opposition with art or culture, this idea is a myth partly triggered by the way we’re educated, by the way arts and humanities have always been divided from science, that made in some way technology to be seen in opposition with manual skills. I think actually that the reverse is true and we can see it with emerging technologies. Thanks to them indeed, we see materials differently and how things are transformed and mediated. I think all this is leading to a whole explosion of new creative skills both physical and virtual: for me, the interest lies more in the physical domain, while for many others the interest is in the virtual one. In any case, it is in that crossover between the two domains that something exciting is happening.

Recording cultural heritage in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Credit: The Factum Foundation

Do you agree that a public aware of your work and technology is a public more empowered and engaged?

Yes! The more the public understands how difficult it is to protect and preserve something, the more they will understand that they're playing a role in modifying the context in which we are seeing things. Just think about the place where the painting le Nozze di Cana of Veronese is hanging: it is in the same exhibition room as the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris. Every day thousands of people are taking pictures of the Mona Lisa and you can’t even enjoy that painting. For the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, we made a copy of that masterpiece [le Nozze di Cana] to be hung in its original place, in the church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice. In its original environment the painting gives a more authentic experience: hanging in the environment it was painted for, at the right height, without a frame, illuminated by the correct light, in the building that Palladio designed. In that context, nearly everyone will agree that the experience to see the painting there is more authentic and more thought provoking.

Thank you Adam Lowe for taking the time to speak with us and for sharing your thoughts on the Factum Foundation, cultural heritage, and conservation in the digital age. To learn more about the Factum Foundation, visit their website, follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or watch videos of their team and technology at work on Vimeo.

Main photo: Staff members construct a facsimile of an Assyrian Lamassu from Ashurnasirpal II’s palace throne room. All photos courtesy of the Factum Foundation.

#cultural heritage #technology #history #art #facsimile #tutankhamun #patrimoine #preservation #conservation

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lauramalchowblog · 5 years ago

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Top 3 Myths About Digital Identity in Healthcare

By GUS MALEZIS

Healthcare is in the midst of a digital transformation, creating information security, compliance, and workflow challenges. The engagement of an increasingly decentralized workforce along with anytime anyplace healthcare and the proliferation of cloud-based applications, databases, and mobile devices have now (or soon will have) eroded the once well-defined network perimeter.

The healthcare industry remains one of the most highly targeted for cyber-attacks – a recent report from Beazley Breach Insights showed that, 41 percent of all breaches in 2018 occurred in the healthcare sector. This means that, going forward, healthcare organizations must pay particular attention to cybersecurity and do so without restricting or compromising access to the systems and services providers and patients are now using and may do in the future. A successful cybersecurity plan requires these organizations to focus on establishing and managing trusted digital identities for all users, applications, and devices throughout the entire extended digital healthcare enterprise – from the hospital, to the cloud, and beyond.

Why are modern hackers targeting healthcare? Because they can, and they have the opportunity to do so! Hackers also know the value of the data stored within provider systems. Today, medical records fetch up to ten times more money on the dark web than the average credit card.

Healthcare IT professionals are scrambling to shore up security and ensure system availability while supporting the complex workflows of their providers. However, the rapid pace of healthcare’s digital transformation along with the rapid growth of service locations and the integration of cloud apps and services creates an inescapable challenge.

In our new digital world, we see a series of “planes” that are expanding rapidly:

Today’s healthcare systems, and those of the future, have a much more extensive and expansive population of providers – both formal employees as well as visiting staff, interns and locum tenens – all of whom require access to IT systems and data if they are to be productive and efficient.

Providers are now operating from multiple locations, more than ever.

Patients are requiring more digital services – with access to their chart, their physician, scheduling and a plethora of other services, all from the convenience of their smartphone, or browser – from any location and at any time.

The number of devices and applications – both on-premises and in cloud – is exploding. Nursing station systems are now augmented by mobile systems, smartphones and tablets.

Healthcare organizations must now protect privacy across a complex network of people, technology and information – and while there are other planes to consider, those noted above are enough to send the average HIT architect, CIO and CISO into…a dark room.

In this new environment, digital identity is critical and an opportunity to leapfrog. Yet common myths persist. To help healthcare organizations build out an architecture of trust, let’s break down some common misperceptions about digital identity and better understand what digital identity is – and what it isn’t.

Myth #1: You have a trusted digital ID

Fact: No, you do not have a trusted Digital ID, possibly with one exception. Digital identities may seem like a simple concept, yet ask most people what their digital identity is, and they’ll likely ponder the question, and perhaps offer their email, a device, or an IP address – and that’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Yet none of these are verified or trustworthy identities. How do you really know if the person behind that device or email is who they say they are? How do they prove it?

The one exception would perhaps be your bank client number. Before a bank will offer you an account or a credit card they will collect a set of data on your person, which will then be used to verify your identity. Only when the bank is satisfied of your identity will they provide you with a client number – your trusted Digital Identity – usable for that institution, and that only. So, if you have a bank account – and most of us do – you do have a trusted digital ID, yet it is strictly used for that bank and not beyond. So, while you may have several IDs unless you’ve been identity proofed for EPCS, or some government institution, you do NOT have a usable trusted digital ID.

In our digital age, we must trust a digital identity – much like we trust a driver’s license or passport in the physical world. “Trust” means a reliable way to validate digital identities across disparate devices and channels. Establishing this trust requires creating trusted digital identities and then maintaining, modifying, and monitoring them as needed. Key components include onboarding and provisioning, dynamic access management based on changing roles, attributes and permissions of each trusted identity, and off-boarding and de-provisioning when an identity is no longer part of the organization.

A digital ID is not something that just exists; it must be created with trust and other attributes, must be managed, protected, secured, and shared in the appropriate conditions. It is this trusted digital identity that will be your gateway of simple efficient access to our ever-expanding digital universe.

Myth #2: Multi-factor Authentication is complicated, Will Take More Time

Fact: The next generation of 2FA and MFA are virtually invisible. The idea of using multi-factor authentication (MFA) isn’t new. Banking has successfully incorporated identity-proofing by using multiple layers of quality verification. If you swipe your bank card at the ATM and then enter a pin or log into a website, for example, that sends a numeric code to your phone to access an account, and that is MFA in action. Ok., it’s an additional step or two or more – but it elevates security and trust and that’s a great outcome. Yes, it takes some extra clicks and that we should look to compress, optimize and eliminate if possible. Yet Security and convenience can co-exist.

With two-factor authentication, healthcare organizations can combat phishing attacks and safeguard patients and their electronic health records (EHR). Most cyberattacks are preventable by using a good two-factor authentication. By “good” we are probably moving away from SMS as the token presentation, knowing that this has become a relative insecure way of carrying the token, and looking at other methods such as secure token apps or fobs. Still, why are only 45% of organizations using it? Some hospitals fear inconvenience to their clinical workflows, but this concern is misplaced – multifactor authentication solutions can still be secure and convenient without compromising provider productivity. New approaches to MFA, purpose-built for healthcare, now leverage Bluetooth, biometrics, smartphone technology and other innovative technologies to eliminate any extra steps that may frustrate clinicians. These solutions are seamless and invisible and eliminate any potential to create inefficiency, disrupt workflow, or contribute to physician burnout.

New approaches to MFA, purpose-built for healthcare, now deliver “skip-2nd factor” or “Hands-Free 2nd Factor Authentication” and do so by leveraging Bluetooth, biometrics, smartphone technology and other innovative technologies to eliminate any extra steps that may frustrate clinicians. These solutions are seamless and invisible and eliminate any potential to create inefficiency, disrupt workflow, or contribute to physician burnout.

Myth #3: The U.S. is Unlikely to Adopt A National Digital ID Very Soon

Fact: In the US we are rapidly progressing towards a national trusted Digital ID.

Fact: Other countries around the world already have trusted Digital ID systems.

Government officials are now developing a solution for digital patient and physician identification. This past year, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal a 21-year ban on funding for a national patient identifier – a number or code that would be assigned to every person, similar to Social Security numbers.

A unique patient identifier would link health and identity to avoid mix-ups between, for example, patients and physicians with the same name. Again, this doesn’t solve healthcare’s cybersecurity challenges on its own. And implementation certainly won’t happen overnight. Policymakers must first consider the best tools to use, such as biometric technologies. Many potential solutions also face resistance and skepticism from privacy advocates. Getting a program in place could take years.

Meantime, healthcare organizations can’t afford to wait. As the industry continues its shift to digital and increasingly becomes more connected, the challenges only grow. Protection must advance apace with technology. Digital identity will play a crucial role in protecting organizations, but solutions must be convenient, flexible, and purpose-built to meet the unique, demanding, constantly changing security, compliance, and workflow challenges of the modern healthcare enterprise.

Gus Malezis is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Imprivata, where he continues his strong track record of delivering growth and innovation for leading technology and security companies such as Tripwire, McAfee, and 3Com

The post Top 3 Myths About Digital Identity in Healthcare appeared first on The Health Care Blog.

Top 3 Myths About Digital Identity in Healthcare published first on https://venabeahan.tumblr.com

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kristinsimmons · 5 years ago

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Top 3 Myths About Digital Identity in Healthcare

By GUS MALEZIS

In our new digital world, we see a series of “planes” that are expanding rapidly:

Providers are now operating from multiple locations, more than ever.

The number of devices and applications – both on-premises and in cloud – is exploding. Nursing station systems are now augmented by mobile systems, smartphones and tablets.

Myth #1: You have a trusted digital ID

Myth #2: Multi-factor Authentication is complicated, Will Take More Time

Myth #3: The U.S. is Unlikely to Adopt A National Digital ID Very Soon

Fact: In the US we are rapidly progressing towards a national trusted Digital ID.

Fact: Other countries around the world already have trusted Digital ID systems.

The post Top 3 Myths About Digital Identity in Healthcare appeared first on The Health Care Blog.

Top 3 Myths About Digital Identity in Healthcare published first on https://wittooth.tumblr.com/

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blues-sevenfold · 6 years ago

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CBS Universe: Magic the Gathering

From what I’ve gathered, there are over a thousand realms (or planes) in the MtG Multiverse. I don’t think much more than a hundred were described, though. I already have 26 different physical universes, and I don’t wanna go all willy-nilly with creating a whole bunch of them.

I think the concept would work with CBS (cyber, bio, solar) Universe, though. While the Metaverse (the network of virtual worlds and augmented worlds) only got started in the early 1970s, the Ghost Realm and Faerie Realm existed for a little over a millennium prior to it.

The creators of MtG in “our” universe created about a hundred related cyber realms in CBS Universe by about 1985. Some have darker aesthetics than others, but none of the realms are evil or deadly. One thing all the realms have in common is that magic exists in some form, and their magic abilities can largely be used across the various realms.

Whereas Sandal Universe is the universe where All Myths Are (Partially) True, and the Age of Mythology never ended - CBS Universe basically brings back the myths via cyber realms. The MtG staff has about a realm for each type of mythology, going back to Ancient Egypt. Angels dominate some realms, while demons occupy some others. The angel/demon contrast is blue/red, rather than good/evil. Each realm has about a century’s worth of backstory.

Already existing cyber realms include the biome duplicates by Nature Works; the Enchanted Forest by Gothic Arts; Halloween Town, Christmas Town, and Easter Town by The Tim Burton Company; Mushroom Kingdom and Hyrule by Nintendo; Candy Land, Emerald City, and Floral Garden by Hasbro; amongst various others.

#world building #cyberspace #biopunk #solarpunk #magic the gathering #mythology #text post #xg

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tokupedia · 8 years ago

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Kamen Rider 45th Anniversary File: Wizard

2012:

The Metal Heroes Series celebrates its 30th anniversary with a mini-revival in the form of a film crossover with Gokaiger and a Gavan movie! Kenji Ohba returns as the legendary Retsu Ichijouji and a new Gavan appears: Gavan Type-G! Gavan also gets a crossover tie-in with Go-Busters to promote the Gavan movie! The Metal Heroes Space Sherrifs also crossover with the Kamen Riders and Super Sentai in Super Hero Taisen Z in 2013.

IT’S MORPHIN TIME! Power Rangers terms seep into Super Sentai with Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters, a series that tried to do some new things including a two front battle with the villains both on the ground and in a separate MegaZord.

The Symphogear Series debuts with its first season, showcasing superhero Magical Girls of a musical nature. Aoi Yuki (aka MADOKA!) , who would later be in Kamen Rider, is the main hero Hibiki Tachibana! (Ha! Tachibana!)

The Zetman anime debuts, featuring a hero called Alphas who is inspired by an tokusatsu-styled anime show.

Smile Smile Smile~ Smile PreCure! debuts and airs on the Sunday kids block with Go-Busters and Wizard. It features everybody’s favorite tokusatsu fangirl and the fandom’s unofficial mascot Cure Peace! Cure Peace’s voice actress would later go on to voice Sailor Mercury in Sailor Moon Crystal!

Ultraman Saga debuts in theaters featuring some members of AKB48 and a new fusion Ultra: Saga. A fusion of Zero, Cosmos and Dyna.

The first Super Hero Taisen film is released, in celebration of 10 years of Super Hero Time.

Takeru Satoh, aka Ryotaro Nogami from Kamen Rider Den-O steps into an awesome role as Kenshin Himura in the live-action Rurouni Kenshin movie! This is a great film, that it is- gozaru!

Cyborg 009 is revived in the film continuation 009: Re Cyborg. One perk of this film was minor changes to the 00 Cyborgs such as 003 seemingly gaining technopathic abilities and 005 trading in his stereotypical tribal marks and mohawk for a full head of hair and his markings being red “veins” that glow when he turns on his super strength. Both of these aspects would carry over to yet another incarnation.

During the time of Wizard, Japan was in pretty bad shape. It had been hit by a nasty earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima was now the location of the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl and became a ghost town.

So after the tragedy, when it came time to choose the theme of the next series, Tsuyoshi Kida decided on one: Hope and overcoming despair. And given how the previous Rider was a mechanical marvel of science, the staff decided to go full opposite and have a Rider who was pure fantasy based by having a wizard as the hero.

Kamen Rider Wizard saw a few changes, the transition from the use of Panasonic Varicams to Arri Alexa HD cameras for the cinematography, more CGI use including a few of Wizard’s forms that were fully CG. This series is also the last fall series to be premiered in September, as the staff decided to push for an October scheduling to extend the show and plug more merchandise. (In this case, the Legend Rider Wizard Rings) It also continued a trend from OOO that fans either love or hate: a “singing” Rider belt that plays a catchy tune with each form change.

But the biggest one that resonated with fans was a positive and progressive milestone, for the first time in the franchise’s history, an openly gay actor would be working on the series. Kaba-chan is also now retroactively the first transgender actor in Kamen Rider, as she transitioned from being a man to a woman after the series ended. Its certainly more progressive than western superhero movies were on that front until recently. (Ex.”Have you ever tried..not being a Mutant?”) .

Naturally, the LGBTQ community of the fandom were happy about the hiring as were activists who knew of Kamen Rider and this bit of news was featured in various articles on the web and drew praise on some forums. *Kuuga thumbs up*

We also see a more western inspired series in terms of mythology. Wizard’s dragon is European style in motif rather than Asian, the monsters are named after beings from myths and stories and have traits of those creatures in some cases. The myth of the Philosopher’s Stone is also referenced, which has an FMA bent to how it is made.

This also marked the first televised debut of a (sorta) original Female Heisei Kamen Rider...that actually lives! Granted, she does get taken out of play sometimes, but at least she survived! Though future installments of the franchise unfortunately would not be as kind (*fingers crossed for Poppy to live*).

We see how skillfully detailed some of the costumes Blend Master and PLEX would make, as the designs of the Wizard suits are fantastic. Wizard himself is very photogenic for a Kamen Rider, with a gemstone/wizard motif mixing primary colors with black and silver and a flashy leather duster coat. The gem on his face combined with the silver trim make out the “face” of the Rider and the wrists and ankles break up the black on the arms with gemstone wrist cuffs and anklets.

Sejii Takaiwa really gets a workout this season, as the Wizard costume is light enough for him to do flips, twirls and acrobatics and pull off some impressive moves and he even dual wields swords and does double gun kata this season. (He even shoots the guns Gangsta style again like he did in Den-O)

Having a magic motif, Wizard gained powers that no other Kamen Rider had ever used before as spells. Also, there are donuts, lots and lots of donuts. This is very important to know.

This series is brought to you by the magic of Plain Sugar.

There seems to be some love outside Japan for Kamen Rider Wizard in media, as a member of the Marvel Comics art team drew one of Wizard’s magic circles in a comic!

But now let’s show the Ringed Mage of Hope. Its Showtime Da!

youtube

WIZARD! PLEASE!

RIDER RIDER RIDER!

(Mr. Soma, ringed mage extraordinaire circa 2012)

Real Name: Haruto Soma

Haruto was traumatized as a young boy when his parents got in a car accident and he was the sole survivor. Before his parents died in the hospital, he was told by his mom and dad to never give up hope and be strong.

He tired his best to live up to that and got a shot at being a pro-soccer player, but left the profession when his friend Kazuya got hurt because of him and because what happened next the following day.

Later the next day on March of 2012, he was an unwilling participant in a mystic sacrificial ritual called the Sabbath during a solar eclipse. In a moment reminiscent of Go Nagai’s Devilman, Haruto feels a demonic force emerging and nearly destroys him but his hope and determination to live drive the creature, known as a Phantom, back into his body. Most of the people around him though were not so lucky as they died immediately from their despair overwhelming them and spawned Phantoms of their own.

This re-ignited Haruto’s survivor’s guilt and out of nowhere comes a white wizard who congratulates him on surviving after saving him from a Phantom, carrying a girl named Koyomi. The white wizard offers him a contra-er, I mean belt and the power to save people from the Phantoms and asks to care for the girl in his stead.

Six months later, the Tokyo Police are investigating a crime and happen upon monsters in a warehouse. One of the officers, Rinko Daimon is saved by Haruto who transforms and drives them off. (Daimon...DIAMOND! I just got that. Oh, the terrible puns.) The Phantoms were targeting Rinko as she is a Gate, a human with latent magic potential that can create another Phantom if they fall into despair. Haruto defends her again from the Phantoms and destroys Rinko’s Phantom by going into her Underworld to keep it from getting out. But as a side effect, she cannot utilize magic and is now an ordinary human.

Later, Haruto saves another Gate called Shunpei who is overeager to become Haruto’s apprentice as he has wanted to learn magic ever since he was a child. He ends up joining the group and Rinko takes an interest in Haruto’s activities using her connections with the police and communications with Section Zero of Japan’s National Security Agency.

Haruto goes around helping Gates find their hope again and in one holiday episode we learn how Santa Claus operates in the Kamen Rider Universe. (It is implied by the fact he can enter Underworlds that Santa is a wizard!)

Haruto faces some hardships as he further battles the Phantoms, but presses onward as the Final Hope of Magic and humanity, Kamen Rider Wizard!

Powers:

Agility, skill in kicking style combat and acrobatics (The kicking fighting style due to strong leg muscles from his soccer training).

Quite a lot of them actually via spells cast from the Wizard Rings:

Super Strength (Varies: Capable of becoming a buff Hulk-sized Wizard with the Excite Ring to holding a HUGE MEGAZORD SIZED AXE in Infinity form).

Skilled Marksmanship and Swordsmanship including dual wielding. Gun armed with silver bullets that can bend their trajectory to hit the target. Given the bullets are silver, yes, he can potentially kill werewolves as a bonus. Weapon can gain elemental augmentation to enhance attacks.

Strom creation: capable of creating gusts, hurricanes, thunder storms and blizzards. Capable of using wind energy to hover or propel himself in the air. Can generate massive bolts of lightning to shock his targets extra crispy. Freezing ability.

Creating localized seismic events and mystical terrakinesis (able to hurl boulders at targets, create sand or stone traps to hold enemies in), gravity distortions. Subterranean drilling.

Disguise generation or wardrobe changing.

Shield generation, varies in strength depending on what elemental form Wizard is in and how much mana he has left.

Size manipulation: Able to shrink in size to about half an inch or smaller. (A first in Kamen Rider, as J just shrunk back to normal size.) Capable of enlarging his arms to knock back waves of enemies or make his blade Zanbato sized.

Knockout spell

Light generation to blind foes or use as a way to navigate dark areas.

Create chains to bind enemies or use as a safety net.

Temporary cloning of both himself and his gear.

Elastic limbs

Creates holes for enemies to fall into/alter the environment (Ex. have water from a tank pour onto a monster) or for a quick getaway.

Noxious stink fumes.

Enter mirrors like Ryuki does

Time travel, maximum effect seen is 5 years into the past. Exact limit unknown.

Teleportation

Summoning familiars to aid him.

Astral projection of his Rider form to defend his own Underworld

Portal creation, mostly utilized to grab things Haruto has left behind (like his donuts) or for handy storage of his gear in a pocket dimension to call upon when needed.

Rider Finisher spells

Flame and Water Generation

Water gel form like Black RX Biorider form.

Wings, Claws, Tail and fire breathing dragon head via merging with WizarDragon.

Can create Christmas joy by restoring gifts (temporary power given by Santa)

Summon other Kamen Riders to his location immediately in an emergency.

Weaknesses:

Despite the awesome power he wields, Haruto’s spells are governed by mana. Based on early episodes, the mana of this series operates under a kind of Equivalent Exchange methodology. Use a spell, it drains the body’s energy to create the mana to cast it. The stronger the spell or the more spells are used, the more energy the caster burns unless they “level up” thier magic by training their bodies and gaining more power from the Phantom inside them or external mystical devices enhancing the magic.

As such, Haruto needs to eat high calorie foods or high sugar foods such as donuts to keep his metabolic rate stable enough to avoid going into shock or simply passing out. Resting does help too, so Haruto is a heavy sleeper when his mana runs dry. Mana can also be siphoned away from Haruto if a spell is used or some apparatus capable of such is present. If his mana gets low, his spells are not as effective and weaken and eventually the Wizard Driver will stop working

If Haruto’s spirit is broken and he falls into despair, he risks his Phantom getting out and that would result in him dying and the WizarDragon wearing his flesh as a suit to blend in until his next meal. (Though that danger is no longer 100% present as the two have made a mutual agreement and respect one another after the birth of Infinity form).

If his Underworld is entered by a Phantom or other mystical being, his powers could be destroyed if Dragon dies. This would render him Muggle and thus able to be killed as he would have no magic to defend himself.

The Wizard Driver can be jammed by sticky substances or prevented from being used by binding Wizard’s hands away from the Hand Author buckle of the belt.

The Wizard Rings are sometimes fickle, as some of them have spells that can be only cast when the target of the spell is wearing them (ex. Sleep Ring). The Rings are also somewhat fragile, as a Rider Punch can break them if Wizard isn’t careful. This puts a disadvantage to Wizard as he can only use grappling, spells and palm strikes in close combat and must compensate by using his weapons and legs. (Though the Dragon forms make up for that as Land Dragon and Infinity Dragon use claw attacks.)

Haruto was shown in the Wizard finale special as unable to defend himself against the super speed of the Worms, meaning speedier enemies or Riders such as Kabuto can possibly outmatch him.

Last is a more psychological one, Haruto has an acute case of survivor’s guilt that does affect him, but in a mostly positive constructive way. However, he does have weaker moments where his failure to help someone can weigh heavily on him (Ex. Koyomi), even distancing himself from his old life before becoming a Kamen Rider.

Gear:

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/WizarDriver

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Wizard_Rings

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Wizard_Ring_Holder

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/PlaMonsters

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/WizarSwordGun

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Machinewinger

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Wizard_Ring_Box

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Drago_Timer

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Stones - Not really part of the gear, but an essential for crafting new Rings to cast new spells.

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/WizarDragon

Signature Finishers:

Kick Strike: Wizard’s Rider Kick, comes in various elemental forms but mostly the same as wizard does some flashy acrobatics or jumps to execute the kick after charging power from the magic circle under his feet. A variation called the Strike End utilizes WizarDragon transforming into a giant flaming clawed boot and Wizard kicking it to smash his foes with the force of a meteor.

Slash Strike: Standard Rider Slash. Variants involve using elemental power, enlarging the blade with the Big Ring or cloning the WizarSwordGun for a double slash. The Dragon forms enhance the power of these attacks.

Shooting Strike: Standard Rider Shooting attack. Can be augmented with elemental power and can be used in a double shooting attack if Wizard could pull off scanning both WizarSwordGuns. The Dragon forms enhance the power of these attacks.

Dragon Breath: Flame Dragon’s finisher, a Rider Shooting attack. Wizard Flame Dragon scans the Special Ring and WizarDragon’s head on his chest comes alive and the Rider flies up and rains a massive burst of flaming dragon breath upon his foes.

Dragon Sonic: My personal favorite of the Dragon finishers. Wizard uses his wings and super speed as Hurricane Dragon to creates a powerful gust of hurricane wind around the enemy, lifting them into the air, he then scans the Thunder Ring and repeatedly zaps lightning bolts at the target then fries the Phantom with one huge skyscraper sized lightning bolt.

Dragon Smash: Wizard Water Dragon freezes his target with the Blizzard Ring, then skates to it with an ice magic charged Dragon Tail and uses the tail as a sword to slice the enemy in half.

Dragon Ripper: Using gravity manipulation via the Gravity Ring, Wizard Land Dragon pins down his foe and then slashes them with the Dragon claws.

Dragon Claw: Double Rider Slash with the Dragon Claws.

Strike Dragon: Wizard combines the elemental powers of his Dragon Forms into one shot as the magic of fire, water, earth and wind hit the target and then Wizard flies at super speed and kicks the enemy so hard they go FLYING INTO THE SUN. The downside is using it and All Dragon form depletes Haruto’s power really fast so the attack must connect or else he will be defenseless.

Dragon Shining: Wizard Infinity Form charges a massive amount of mana into the AxCalibur, which makes the axe grow to gigantic size. Wizard then goes into a leaping swing to cleave the target.

Shining Plasma Strike: Wizard Infinity Form hits the Hand Author repeatedly and then throws the AxCalibur and uses his magic to manipulate its movement to repeatedly strike the target. Its movements in this attack are almost similar to Den-O’s Extreme Slash.

Infinity End: Wizard’s ultimate Rider Kick. Using the power of Infinity Dragon form’s wings to propel the kick, the skull of WizarDragon appears on Wizard’s right foot and “bites” the target before it hits. There is also a spinning kick variation and an enhanced version when he goes to Infinity Gold Dragon form.

Finale DA!

Enemies:

Sou Fueki

http://kamenrider.wikia.com/wiki/Sou_Fueki

Aka The White Wizard aka Wiseman aka Kamen Rider Wiseman

A former physics professor who was desperate to save his little girl after she got sick, but his daughter died and he refused to accept it. He then turned away from his scientific profession and became obsessed with the occult and experimenting with it. He seems like a benevolent benefactor to Haruto as the anonymous white wizard, but he has much more sinister motives in mind for Japan and their magic users. He also pulls the strings of the Phantoms posing as their leader, all the while he does not care about them and simply wishes to restart his own plans.

As seen in his re-apperance in a Kamen Rider Ghost spin-off, he is a father who loved his kid a little too much and refuses to let her go and move on, as he proclaimed the whole world could be sacrificed of human life just so he can have her alive again. Ghost, being a hero who values life, was disgusted by Fueki and gave him a proper beatdown with the help of Wizard’s power in the form of an Eyecon.

Phantoms:

Phantoms are demonic beings that reside inside humans called Gates, individuals who possess the potential to use magic. The Phantoms goal is to try to create more of their race by repeating the process that created them; putting a Gate at thier absolute lowest by taking away thier hope and leaving them in soul-crushing despair and depression.

This will cause the unborn Phantom to emerge from the Gate’s Underworld and kill them, with the Phantom then replacing their host’s control over their bodies, wearing them as flesh suits to hide among people until they need to change into monster form. However, if a Gate overcomes their despair and gains hope, the Phantom will be sealed back in and the Gate will have the power to use magic as a mage or wizard. Otherwise destroying it and the Gate’s magic potential is the only way to keep it from coming out. Some like Wizard’s WizarDragon are more benign after they are sealed again, though in Haruto’s case it was because he proved to his Phantom that Hope is more powerful than Despair.

While Phantoms have a clear goal, some have personality quirks that make them either uninterested in the mission or do things in a manner that go against what they were assigned to do. (Including the really dangerous ones like Legion)

Aside from Wiseman, there are three generals:

Medusa

Phoenix

Gremlin

To ensure they stay on task, the Phantoms are given Ghoul grunts to dispose of interference or aid in the endeavor. (Fear and intimidation also help as motivators for them to work)

Phantoms are mostly extinct thanks to Wizard, but he remains vigilant as Gates are still out there. In times like these where it seems Hope is in short supply, he must prepare for any Phantom that comes. (or an evil Pac-Man)

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