Liquid Metal Printing

Liquid Metal Printing Liquid Metal Printing Liquid Metal Printing New art of printing electronics on Paper, Plastics or even Cotton By Ritesh Lakhkar, ASME, ME TodayAs electronic devices become more common and shape human lives, it is becoming more challenging to reduce the size of the electronic circuits and use them with different substrates to make better devices. Some of the substrates previously could not be even thought of due to their inherent nature. Making electronics on any desired objects, various sizes and surfaces without wires may soon become possible. Many opportunities and innovations in industry can be expected based on these ideas.One such technology that may enable breakthrough in electronics development is aufgetaut metal printing. Dr. Jing Liu, a professor with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering of Tsinghua University (THU), pioneered many non-conventional technologi es and invented many liquid metal based breakthrough technologies. More than twelve years ago, he initiated for the first time the liquid metal based chip cooling technology which was later turned into commercial products and molded into many heat transfer enhancement method and waste heat recovery technology. In recent years, he made great efforts in significantly extending the liquid metal technologies into a variety of newly emerging areas especially the liquid metal 3D printing and printed electronics.Conventional electronics manufacturing strategies are generally complicated. They are time, water, werkstoff and energy consuming. Besides, building an electronic device on a complex object generally requests a series of different connecting wires which would make the machine a mess. In an alternative approach, Dr. Liu proposed an innovative method of realizing conformable electronic connection by the low melting point metal ink and the related flexible packaging materie for quickl y manufacturing electronics. The liquid metal ink could easily and directly be written on a series of complex surfaces and then coated with the packaging material which is to offer mechanical strength and prevent it from air oxygenation. For illustrating purpose, an electrical connection of LED circuit on cylindrical surface, concave, inclined structure, planes of right angle and sphere was demonstrated. Such optoelectronic device appears rather compact without any evident connecting wires exposing out. Further, a thermal cycle experiment (?40C 120C) was designed to test the variation of the electrical properties of the working sample. It was disclosed that the conductive line covered by the packaging material had a temperature coefficient of 0.255 mO/C (T0=?16C) and finally an increasing rate of only 4.24% in resistance after all thermal aging cycles. This electrical connection method is expected to have a significant impact in surface mount technology. Its applications will not on ly find their way in the industry but also can change the way we interact with each other and our everyday life.A technical paper titled, Additive manufacture of conformable electronics on complex objects through combined use of liquid metal ink and packaging material was presented by Dr Liu at IMECE 2013. According to the session chair and the audience, this talk generated big interests owing to its innovative contribution. This innovations important practical value initiated the new direction of additive electronics fabrication. Quite a few audience members had follow up discussions and exchanged ideas with the author.According to Dr. Liu, small businesses, venture capitalists or young entrepreneurs can work in this area to start a new business. The method as initiated by this present research has generalized significance and a series of innovative products can be created along this direction in the future. For example, this new technology has been used to paint desired electrical circuits to decorate the home such as making LED light on the window glass, the wall, the table, whatever as one can image. Even the human skin with complex shape can be painted with liquid metal electrical circuits to monitor the physiological information. It is imperative for the industry to find new ways to manufacture personal electronics, reduce the cost and time of electronics manufacturing and make circuits on any desired surfaces whenever needed, to continue to innovate.MIT Technology Review published an article about Dr. Jing Lius work where he explained how liquid metal printing can be used to print electronic circuits on any substrate such as paper, plastic, glass, rubber, cotton cloth and tree leaves using just an inkjet printer filled with liquid metal. This technology is cheap and simple and can be easily commercialized. If commercialization of liquid ink printing becomes a reality, a day when on skin display devices, wallpaper circuit boards and RFID or LED sticky no tes are common commodities, is not far away.Dr. Jing Liu is a professor with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering of Tsinghua University (THU). Dr. Liu received his B.E. degree in Turbo Machinery and B.S. degree in Physics in 1992, and Ph.D. in Thermal Science in 1996, all from THU. He then served as assistant professor at THU, a postdoctoral research associate at Purdue University, and a visiting scholar at MIT. Dr. Liu has authored nine popular books on cutting edge frontiers, fifteen invited book chapters, and over three hundred peer reviewed journal papers. His research interests include thermal management, printed electronics, bioheat and mass transfer, micro/nano fluidics and mobile health technology. He contributed significantly to the bioheat transfer area through numerous conceptual innovation, methodology development and technical inventions. His work was also fully reflected in energy related area where he pioneered a series of non-conventional technologies especially the liquid metal based thermal management, waste heat recovery, biomedical technology, 3D printing and printed electronics. He is a recipient of Best Paper of the Year Award from ASME Journal of Electronic Packaging, the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China, National Science and Technology Award for Chinese Young Scientist, and five times highest teaching award from CAS. Ritesh Lakhkar is research and development engineer with diverse interdisciplinary background in manufacturing processes such as laser based manufacturing, welding, deburring and edge finishing, corrosion management, glass cutting, glass sheet manufacturing, etc., currently working for Corning Incorporated. He has bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Govt. College of Engineering, Pune, India and masters in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, W. Lafayette, Indiana, USA. He is Member a t Large on ASMEs hauptplatine on Career Development, Member of Manufacturing Processes Technical Committee and Chair of ME Today Committee.

Hiring Gen Y Makes Dollars and Sense

Hiring richtung Y Makes Dollars and SenseHiring Gen Y Makes Dollars and SenseHiring Gen Y Makes Dollars and SenseBy Jason Ryan Dorsey An excerpt fromY-Size Yur Business How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business.Why should I hire Gen Y?Employers ask me this question every day. Then they start in with their stories about people my age. One of my recent favorites I know all about employing your generation. Last year I hired a young guy right out of college. He had good grades and seemed like a hard worker. A week later Im in the company bathroom and I hear him talking on his cell phone in a restroom stall. And his phone was on speaker Even worse, he didnt think he was doing anything wrong. He just kept talking and talking.Okay, I get it. My peers and I can be alittledifferent when we enter the workplace (which is, on average, about 10 minutes later than youd like). Sure, we show up to work with our iPod buds dangling out of our purse or backpack, and ou r ever-present cell phone is ringing loudly during the CEOs Monday morning pep talk. Yes, many of us have a tattoo (or several) some of us sport nontraditional hair colors and its not uncommon for us to have a piercing somewhere besides our ear lobes (and, no, it didnt hurtmuch).However, in my work consulting and speaking with business leaders around the world, Ive seen time and again that Gen Y can deliver tremendous workplace performance and loyalty at a substantial value when managed correctly. This combination could not have come at a better time, because the current economic climate is forcing companies to do mora with less in an increasingly competitive business environment. Its my belief and Ive seen it in action that Gen Y can be the strategic differentiator youve been looking for to decrease your costs and grow your business.Here are a few of the strengths that Ive seen Gen Y bring to a workplacewhen managed correctlyOutcome driven By definition this means G en Y is all about results (especially the kind we can brag about on Twitter). We want to see we are making ongoing progress and be a part of the solution. When you manage us based on results rather than a job description, we will focus all our energy on the outcomes youve deemed most critical to your business operations.Tech aware Gen Y has come of age immersed in technology that our grandparents only dreamed about (although it was our grandparents generation that created the engineering that led to the current technology). Gen Ys comfort with technology can be an asset for companies that rely on technology to zustrom their business as well as serve customers. One way to leverage Gen Ys tech awareness is to ask us to test new technology you are considering for adoption.Desire to prove The huge expectations sometimes negatively associated with Gen Ys entrance into the workplace can be a big value-add to a company when managed correctly. Harness this ambition by giving us the chance to temporarily take on larger responsibilities as well as short-term projects that stretch our skills. While its true we have much to learn, we also have a huge desire to show you (and our 5,000 friends on Facebook) what we can do. Let us. When you do, we both win.Cost effective In many places where I speak, Gen Y is the least expensive employee group to hire. Being less expensive by itself is not enough reason to hire Gen Y, but in combination with the timely skills and big aspirations we carry into the workforce, the potential ROI from our employment is significant. The key is to manage us correctly what I callY-Sizingyour business.To understand which steps to take, I interviewed executives, managers, and entrepreneurs around the world to learn the actions they have taken to successfully employ Gen Y. I share the best of these frontline tested actions in my new book,Y-Size Your Business How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business.Here are threeY-Sizeactions that will give you an immediate head start when employing Gen YY-SizeStrategy 1.) Make the first day at work unforgettableGen Y decides on our first day at work whether or not we can stay with an employer long term. To make the first day unforgettable all you have to do is welcome Gen Y with a handshake and a small box of our new business cards. This unexpected gesture sets the tone upfront that we are professionals and that we must meet those expectations. And who is the first person were going to give our new business card to??? Our mom And many of us will give it to her right when she picks us up . . .Y-SizeStrategy 2.) Demonstrate the performance you expectGen Y is entering the workforce at a later age and with less real world training than previous generations. You can quickly bridge this skills gap, and in turn rapidly increase our workplace value, by providing us with specific examples of the performance you expect. The more specific the examples you provide, the easier it is for you to hold us accountable. And, no, business casual does not mean leather flip flops.Y-SizeStrategy 3.) Check in so we stay tuned inGen Y seeks specific feedback about our performance every month. However, we dont need an in-depth 360-degree evaluation. All we need is a quick 30-second check-in where you tell us what we are doing well and where we can improve. These quick interactions build our loyalty to you as our leader and are way more motivational than a giftstoff card for a free car wash. After all, its hard for us to wash our scooter in a drive-through car wash. For the completeY-Sizemethodology, including 50 cost-effective ways to unlock Gen Ys workplace performance, check out my new book,Y-Size Your Business How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business.You can download a free chapter atwww.ysize.com.Author Bio Jason Ryan Dorsey,author ofY-Size Your Business How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money an d Grow Your Businessis an award-winning entrepreneur and an acclaimed keynote speaker often referred to as The Gen Y Guy. He has been featured as a Generation Y expert on60 Minutes, 20/20, theToday show,andThe View, as well as inFortunemagazine.For more information about the book, please visitwww.JasonDorsey.com.

The AIDA Model and How to Use It

The AIDA Model and How to Use ItThe AIDA Model and How to Use ItOne of the founding principles of modern marketing and advertising is known as AIDA. The acronym stands for Attention, Interest, Desire (or Decision), and Action. Its often said that if your marketing or advertising is missing just one of the four AIDA steps, it will fail and it will fail hard. No need to take that warning too literally. A branding or awareness campaign does not necessarily need the Action step in that sense of the word. Nevertheless, you need to know about AIDA and use it whenever possible. AIDAs Origins American advertising and sale pioneer Elias St. Elmo Lewis, a legend in the industry, coined the phrase and the approach. As far back as 1899, Lewis talked about catching the eye of the reader to inform him, to make a customer of him. By 1909, that had evolved several times, becoming attract attention, awaken the interest, persuade and convince. Its not far from the AIDA model now used around the wo rld. Attention The A is for attention, though sometimes the word awareness is substituted. It simply means that an advertisement must be seen to be effective. To attract the attention of the consumer, the best approach is called disruption. The consumer is literally abflugled into paying attention. It can be done in many ways, including Location Placing advertising in an unexpected location or situation. This is often called guerrilla or ambient media.Shock factor Adding something provocative to bestattungs attention. This can be done in many ways, the most common one being sexually provocative imagery.Personalization Targeting the consumer individually. The novelty of personalized direct mail has long worn off. But imagine reading a newspaper ad and seeing your name in the headline. That might grab you. Interest Once youve got the consumers attention, you have to keep it. This is actually trickier than the first step if your product or service is not inherently fascinating. Think of insurance or banking products. The best advertising pros get a dry subject across by delivering the information in a way that is entertaining, memorable, or funny. The insurance company Geico does well with its Geico Gecko and Cavemen ads. Keeping the consumers interest is a particular challenge in a direct mail campaign. The worst choice is to bore the reader with pages of heavy text. Keep it light, easy to read and break up the information with lively subheads and attractive illustrations. Desire Lets assume the advertiser has grabbed the consumers attention, and kept it. Now, the ad must create desire. The story must become relevant in order to make the product irresistible. Infomercials actually do this very well, by showing products in dozens of situations. Sure, its a nice frying pan, but did you know it can also cook a whole roast chicken and do sides at the same time? And it can make dessert too Plus, its easy to clean and takes up no counter space. A great inf omercial keeps layering on the facts until viewers can only be amazed that theyve been able to live without the product for so long. Remember, this part of the AIDA model is sometimes known as decision. Once the desire has been created, the decision is almost made. Action If the consumer is still with you at this point, theres just one more step and that is, of course, closing the sale. Once again, infomercials do this well, although crudely to say the least. Its the call to action or, as they say in infomercials, an amazing offer. Theyll start out with a high price, chop it down again and again until its a third of the original price, and then give you a two-for-one deal and free shipping. Who could resist? Marketing doesnt have to be that blatant. It just has to get consumers out of their chairs. The action might be making a call or visiting a website. It might be going to a showroom for a test drive. No campaign, however excellent, is going to get a 100 percent response rate on the action step. But the consumers who dont take action should at least be left with a lasting and positive impression of your product. The action step might occur down the road, when they see the product on the shelves and remember the message. Some Excellent Examples The best way to learn the AIDA model is to take a look at some of the best examples of it in action. Almost every movie poster ever made conforms to AIDA. They have to. The movie poster exists to grab your attention, get your interest, feed you with a desire to see the movie, and then go and buy a ticket. Creators of direct mail campaigns also tend to be huge proponents of AIDA. The direct mail package must walk the reader through all four steps, and fast, or it will wind up in the trash. Email campaigns have the same challenges, and AIDA is the solution. The subject line must grab attention. The content must raise interest? and incite desire. And the final action should be a simple click. If you want to see an example of AIDA that will stay with you long after reading this article, for better or worse, try the scene from the movie Glengarry Glen Ross in which Alec Baldwin shows a masterly command of the model in just a short few minutes.

Customize this Outstanding Experienced Cinematography Resume Template

Customize this Outstanding Experienced Cinematography Resume TemplateCustomize this Outstanding Experienced Cinematography Resume TemplateExperienced cinematographers can find employment nationwide, though the Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows that California, New York, Texas, and Georgia have the highest rates of employment for the field. Whether youre seeking employment close to home or in another state, making a standout impression via a solid resume is as important as a great portfolio.Entertainment industry professionals often have experienced cinematographers they prefer to collaborate with, but even if youve acquired a strong network of contacts, a detailed resume is still important. zu nutz und frommenducers and project investors may need more than word of mouth to arrive at a decision. Employers are looking for candidates with demonstrated creative and technical skills who have experience in managing various pre- and post-production scenarios, schedules, and budgets.Thin k of employers as your target audience as you review the cinematography experienced resume template below for some ideas on how to create a showstopping resume. Create ResumeDenny Fisher100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019 C (555) 322-7337 example-emailexample.comSummaryHighly talented and motivated with a strong background in lighting and camera work. Offering a unique combination of creativity and efficiency with an ability to convey emotion through the lens. Experienced creating beautiful images across a broad spectrum of media outlets including film, television and the web.HighlightsExperienced with a variety of camera systems, including HDSLRs, RED Digital Cinema and Black Magic Cinema CameraAccustomed to working efficiently both individually and within a groupExperienced working at every level of the camera and lighting departmentExperienced using Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro and ColorExperience02/2013Chief Lighting TechnicianBiosafe Systems Emergency Room (Commercial) Li ttle Rock, AR11/2011 to 12/2012Chief Lighting TechnicianP. Allen Smiths Garden to Table (Television) Little Rock, ARDesigned and implemented lighting plans for recipe segments, interviews, and food product shotsExperienced lighting in studio setting and on location in working restaurants11/2011 to 12/2012Camera OperatoreHow Home (Web) Little Rock , ARRecorded content for a variety of segments including gardening, lifestyle and design, and animal careExperienced shooting in documentary-style situations10/2012 to 01/1753Camera OperatorDecember 1982 (Short Film) Little Rock, AROfficial selection to the 2013 Little Rock Film Festival08/2012 to 01/1753Chief Lighting TechnicianLeft (Short Film) Little Rock, ARAwarded Best Cinematography at the 2012 Little Rock 48 Hour Film Festival04/20111st Assistant Camera The Bloodstone Diaries (Short Film) El Dorado, ARResponsible for the maintenance and organization of the camera and its accessories including batteries, lenses, and filters06/2009 to 07/20091st Assistant CameraTable at Luigis (Feature Film) Conway, AREducation2011Cinematography Residency Maine Media Workshops Rockport, MEWorked with world-renowned cinematographers in all aspects of the artAdvanced Digital Cinematography- Alice BrooksLocation Lighting- Bill HolshevnikoffCamera Movement- Daniel Pearl, ASCDirector of Photography Masterclass- Rexford Metz, ASC2011Digital Filmmaking University of Central Arkansas Conway, ARStudied the theory and practice of filmmaking from pre- through post-production. Advanced coursework included classes in cinematography, visual effects, sound design and editing. Customize ResumeMore Entertainment and Media ResumesEntry Level Cinematography Resume TemplatesEntry Level Editing Resume Templates

Never Tell the Interviewer You Were Fired

Never Tell the Interviewer You Were FiredNever Tell the Interviewer You Were FiredNever Tell the Interviewer You Were FiredIve been working on a project that involves asking real-world hiring managers for their thoughts on a variety of interview topics. One of the most enlightening comments (so far) came from a hiring manager with 25 years of interviewing and hiring experience. I asked whether a job seeker whos been fired should admit that during an interview. His reply?Of course not Youre not trying to get into heaven, youre trying to get a jobIm not saying you should tell an outright lie, he clarified, because if they hire you and find out later that you lied, youll be fired again. But its foolish to tell a prospective employer that your old employer fired you.I thought that was a great way of looking at it. Some job seekers feel guilty if they dont confess every detail. But omitting certain details is not the same as making a false statement.So how should you address a past firing in an interview? Follow these three simple principlesIf they dont ask, dont tell.Never volunteer negative information in an interview. Prepare an answer, but cross your fingers that you wont have to use it.If they do ask, put a positive spin on the truth. Avoid harsh words like fired or terminated. Talk about things like differing expectations, or a mutual realization that it wasnt a good fit.Be factual and brief, then change the subject.schliff your answer with a statement or question that redirects the topic back to your qualifications and enthusiasm for the new job.Heres a sample of how this might workI really liked the company, and Id been very successful in the role for two years. When a corporate reorganization brought a new set of expectations from the management team, I think my supervisor and I both realized the job was no longer a good fit. What skills do you think are important to ensure a good fit in this role?

The Most Disregarded Fact Regarding Resume for College Student with No Experience Explained

The Most Disregarded Fact Regarding Resume for College Student with No Experience Explained Resume for College Student with No Experience Options You make the most effective vodka-based beverages. There are variety of examples and unique forms of Free Resume Templates which can be found that may be downloaded free.Now youre networking and building contacts in the business Some people would rather list qualifications rather than objectives. Read below for advice on how to compose a strong college resume. When it might appear a tiny premature, its essential for students to create good social networking habits from the get-go. Extracurricular activities are a great add-on to a resume. In reality, your educational attainment will appear less significant in comparison to what you could offer in your resume and in interviews. If youre a high schooler that has been accepted to a college already, you may also state your colleges anthroponym and the date you will start attending. Its expected that students will understand how to use these. The Foolproof Resume for College Student with No Experience Strategy Read resume articles focused on specific features of job searching and the way to use your resume. Besides jobs, you may also list key activities here, whether paid or not. Appealing to every individual employers demands and job requirements is the ideal strategy for getting your application noticed. Of course if youre asking for a particular job, its simple enough to amend a resume to incorporate an objective that matches the work description.For students that are new to the work market, interests and activities are a oben liegend method to show employers you have skills they are searching for. On the flip side, perhaps you have little in the method of paid job experience but a number of volunteer work on your CV. Its true that you need experience to acquire experience, but this doesnt signify there arent any companies that are prepared to supply y ou with an opportunity. Trying to find a job when you dont have any experience can be a fairly negative experience sometimes, but you shouldnt let it get you discouraged. Employers can learn all they will need to understand about a candidate from their school performance, which means that your Education section should reflect well on you. Bear in mind that a resume is your very own personal tool which allows you to promote your abilities and experiences to possible employers. For Pharmacy students, its very hard to have a job if they dont have a strong knowledge in English. Beyond showing an expected employer these skills, education may be used to help somebody whos turning in a work application for the very first time. Whispered Resume for College Student with No Experience Secrets In case you have any part-time work, that will go a ways towards a wonderful experience section. Whats more, youre getting on what things to write under which point. You should also search for a nything that may be acceptable as experience and emphasize it. Make a list of absolutely whatever youve done that may be useful on a resume. Make certain theres a summary statement near the top of your resume, following your header. The business information ought to go on the left side of the webpage, and ought to incorporate the organization name and the name of the contact person. You might also Sample resumes. See the included Internship resume for a complete example. If you want to apply to get a part-time position at a retail shop, utilize the next objective examples as a guide that will help you create one that is suitable for you. Also, make sure to incorporate the name of the company that you want to work for as a way to demonstrate your interest. If you follow the suggestions above you will have an interesting, compelling resume summary that is likely to make the reader want to find out more about you even regardless of your lack of work experience What you would lik e to avoid is having an experience section thats almost empty, or one which is full of experience thats not related to your targeted position.

4 Ways to Reduce 3 Ways to Impress Your Boss to 2 Ways

4 Ways to Reduce 3 Ways to Impress Your Boss to 2 Ways Everybody loves to read ways articlesabout 4 ways to make your resume shine, 3 ways to impress your boss, 5 ways to better networking and the like. As Ive argued before, in 5 Reasons Why We Like 5 Reasons Why Analyses , there are, in particular, some good reasons why 5 ways is especially appealing and commonmostly because of the fact that we have 5 fingers on which to conveniently count and remember them.So, if starfish wrote HR articles, they would probably display a similar bias for 5 ways, e.g., 5 Killer Ways to Snag an Ideal Catch.Mathematical HamletHowever, most appealing of all has to be making the number of ways as small as possible or at least as small as some symbolically or otherwise psychologically satisfying target numberyet especially 2, because it is the smallest number that suggests freedom of choice and therefore free will.Hen ce, the freedom and choice-loving human mind being what it is, well probably be interested in having mora than one way to reduce the list to two ways, like Hamlet.Accordingly, an article with the title 4 Ways to Reduce 3 Ways to Impress Your Boss to 2 ways has got to grab the attention of ways-and-free-choice-minded existentialists who insist on having choice, free will and responsibility for both, but with as few clear-cut choices as possibleif only to avoid existential clutter in the fasson of over-choice of options, decisions and responsibilities.But, in practice, how easy can it be to find 4 ways to reduce 3 ways to 2 waysor, more generally, to find n ways to reduce p ways of doing X to r ways? If that question can be answered, it may be possible to extract from that analysis some general counting principle with terrific applications to ways-list creation or to ways of doing almost anything.Moreover, the answer may shed additional light on the psychology, strategies and objectiv es of making lists of ways, in general.Ways of Reducing WaysConsider a very simple model involving rolling dice. Suppose we want to get a sum of 4 in a roll of 2 dice. There are, as combinations, 2 ways to do that Roll a 1 and a 3, or roll two 2s. But imagine that before we do that, we actually have 3 dice to roll, but still want to get a sum of 4.Thats possible roll a 1, another 1 and a 2. But thats the only way. If, however, we remove exactly one of the dice from the tossdie 1, 2 or 3we will have exactly three ways to be left with 2 ways to get the result we want. Hence, in this model, there are, in some sense, 3 ways to get 2 ways of getting the result we want.To reduce 4 ways of getting 3 ways to get 2 ways of getting a sum of 4, just add a fourth die and refrain from rolling one of the four. Yes, Im equivocating on the concept of ways, hereusing it to mean mathematical sums on the one hand and dice selection on the other. But, both count as ways of doing something.Having illust rated even just one way there can be 4 ways of reducing 3 ways of doing something to 2 ways, I think the general principle can be understood Yes, there can be n ways of reducing p ways of doing X to r ways of getting some result, through a process of whittling of wayseven perhaps all the way down to existentially satisfying 2-ness.So What?But apart from that metaphysical consequence, so what? Metaphysical reassurances of our claims and aspirations regarding free will aside, what practical benefit can there be in knowing that this kind of reductive multi-step process is possible?Consider this very concrete, practical recruiting scenario Youve got to prune your candidate list down to 2 finalists. Your HR manager has told you that in the time available thats the manageable number for the final interview. But you sincerely believe youve got 10 great candidates. Now, youve got the challenge of finding a way or ways to reduce that field to the final 2. You think youll be happy to find eve n one way to do thatuntil you reflect on it, and wonder whether the first way you find will also be the only or even the best way.What youve realized is that youve got a qualitative challenge as well as a quantitative one to not only reduce the numbers, but also to maximize or at least preserve the quality of those numbers.You also realize that the first way of pruning the field may not be the wisestjust as the best way to reduce your payroll may not be to lay off essential personnel instead, eliminating costly overtime pay or reducing general hours, across the board.So, now you start to enumerate the ways available to you to reduce the candidate field to 2. For example, you identify four ways1. Lottery literally picking the names out a hat2. Reassigning weights to specific, established selection criteria, e.g., shifting more weight from personnel test scores to prior experience.3. Adding new criteria, e.g., second-language competencies4. Reassessing prior assessments, e.g., careful ly reviewing notes and comments of your own, of other interviewers, of references and of the candidates themselvesNow youve got 4 ways of reducing 10 candidates to 2.Although each of ansicht 4 ways has its merits, it would be great if these could not only be reduced to a smaller number, but also reduced to the smallest set of optimal ways.So, revisit the list of 4. The lottery method seems inferior to the others, despite its obvious fairnessthat is, fairness, assuming that the initial rankings were impartial and otherwise well-grounded. Thats because despite its appearance of being a decision rule, its in fact a default option, to be exercised when decisive action is neither possible nor appealing.Now we are down to three, having found one way to get there, viz., by an analysis of the concept of real decision making weighed against an analysis of fairness. But thats not the only way to whittle down the four ways of whittling 10 candidates down to 2.Consider the second way of accompl ishing this Eliminate 2, above, i.e., eliminate reassigning weights to previous criteria. Way 2 could be effective as a way to end up with only 2 candidates, but only if the reweightings are not arbitrary, are not biased, are not desperate ad hoc juggling, etc. So, pruning away way 2, from our list of 4, is a second way to reduce a field of 10 candidates to 2 finalists.If you eliminate 1 and 2, for the reasons just given, you are left with 2 ways to reduce a field of 10 candidates to 2, namely, 3 and 4. Which survives the next cut depends on what matters more or seems smarter adding new criteria or reassessing the assessments.Either way, from beginning to end, the decision process involves finding n ways to reduce p ways of reducing X things, choices, etc., to r ways of choosing, doing, etc.Without this concept, understanding and application of this multi-phase, decision-counting process, the likelihood of making the mistake of choosing the first and sub-optimal way to reduce option s and ways that pops into ones head vastly increases.Exactly how many ways can making this mistake happen? I dont know. But I do know one thing.Theres no way you want that to happen.