This week's article focuses on a very critical question that was asked about gaining expertise on Emerging Technologies. I have chosen to answer this and share the same with all of you.

Vikram: In the 1st article about career guidance u mention that one must be good in his area of expertise I agree...

But I am confused with the enormous technologies coming up... Say for e.g. There is Java and there is c++...and also VB; There is JavaBeans and there is ActiveX...and OLE...and OLE automation; There is EJB application servers and there is Microsoft's MTS; There is server side technologies and there is user interface work... There is oracle...; there are data structures... ;

I have seen students confused.... They are through with the d2k and they still ask what else they should do... Though I am not that confused... Or may be I am not confused at the lower level ...but at a higher level I am also confused...

How to make a choice ...which one to concentrate on... Which one to be expert on...

Kishore: Thanks for writing. I do understand the dilemma people are facing in choosing which technology to get trained on.

As a manager I always to used to coach my technical team the following:

• Do not get bogged down by hype. New Terms will keep popping up very frequently
• Work on current technology
• Learn Basic principles of Good Programming. Any other thing is just a change of syntax. Whether it is C++, VB or Fortran basics of programming remain same: Basic Syntax, Control Flow implementation, Compilation, Functions. Only variations exist.
• It is not difficult to master new technology. It is matter of practice on the new technology
• Experience comes only when you start using the technology.
• Get good handle of Software Engineering principles of Design, Coding and Testing
• Given 2-3 weeks of time any new technology can be learned and mastered.

Towards gaining expertise on any new technology the following needs to be done:

• Learn basic syntax of the new technology
• Learn definition
• Define a sample business problem
• Apply the knowledge to solve the business problem
• This sample project will give enough confidence on the new technology

Finally confidence of individuals matters a lot in mastering new technologies.

As a faculty don't teach them just learning the programming. Learn how to apply the knowledge.

Another thing most of the similar technologies have similar features with a variation. Only implementation changes. Basics remain same.

Vikram: I get your point...that one should go for the Concepts. Besides I have come another viewpoint... that these emerging technologies are simply the tools and not the final product. They must be used as a tool only. That is the right tool is chosen for the task or the product to be developed. The "means" must not confuse one; instead he must strive for the "target" or in other words should remain focused for the "end", "product" or "goal".

Kishore: That is true. Imagine you are used riding a bike designed by one company. Tomorrow you plan to purchase a bike from a different company. Basics of driving do not change. Only the way the bike has designed needs some unlearning and learning. This is very easy to do as an expert driver. The same applies to Software Technologies. Understand basics are important and changing from one technology to another technology is a matter of understanding how things are implemented and learn how to use them.

This is a very crucial aspect to Understand in IT industry. Don't get carried away by Hype of new technical terms that come up frequently. This is advice from what I have observed in my years of experience in IT. Learn a chosen technology and be an expert. You will find it easier to master new technologies in no time.

If you have any questions on Career Guidance do write to cskishore@yahoo.com