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Plus seven things you should NOT do. By Martin Bissett Passport to Partnership Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

The trade deficits will remain roughly unchanged — the globe will just end up poorerView the full article

This is a recipe for mediocrity. Competitors don’t always know what they’re doing. Their campaigns might be underperforming, and blindly following them could land you in the same hole. You also don’t want to get into a copying war and…Read more ›View the full article

The leading lender says its underwriters have already used Google's technology to improve from six loans a day to 14. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Garmin Forerunner 255 is on sale right now for $229.99, its lowest price ever. That’s about half the price of the Forerunner 265 ($449.99), which is the current generation (and my personal favorite running watch). The two watches have nearly identical features—I’ll explain the differences below—making the 255 an incredible bargain. Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch (Gray) $229.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $349.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Get Deal $229.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $349.99 Save $120.00 The differences between the Forerunner 255 and the 265 Left: 265S (the smaller, newer model). Right: 255 (the larger one with the MIP screen that's currently on sale). Credit: Beth Skwarecki The numbered models can get confusing, but I promise you’ll be able to follow along. Just remember that the 255 is the slightly older one that’s on a big sale right now, and the 265 is the newer version. The newer 265 is my favorite running watch. You can read my review here: it has a ton of great features for runners. Some are concrete and functional: physical buttons, lots of options for data screens, and a dual-band GPS for extra location accuracy. Others are more software-y but still arguably useful: training status, daily suggested workouts. The battery also lasts between one and two weeks, depending on how many workouts you do. The 255 has all of these same features. The only features that are meaningfully different between the 255 and 265 are: The 255 has the older, always-on MIP screen, while the 265 has a smartphone-style AMOLED screen. The 255 doesn’t have a touchscreen. You’ll use the UP and DOWN buttons on the left side to scroll through options. The 255 can’t store music, unless you buy the 255 Music version. The 255 doesn’t have Training Readiness, but it does have Training Status. (Personally, I never use Training Readiness, so this isn’t much of a loss. You can always look at your HRV trend, which the watch also reports, if you want a sense of how recovered you are each morning.) For the detailed list of every minor feature that’s different between the two, you can check out this comparison page on Garmin’s site. Which Forerunner 255 version you should getThere are four versions of this watch, compared to two versions of the 265. Three of them are on sale. The regular Forerunner 255 is the larger size (45.6 mm) and does not have music storage. The Forerunner 255S is the smaller size (41 mm) and also does not have music storage. The Forerunner 255 Music is the larger size (45.6 mm) and does have music storage, so you can play tunes from the watch while leaving your phone at home. The Forerunner 255S Music is the smaller size (41 mm) with music storage. I’m not seeing any discounts on this one, so it still costs $100 more than its non-music counterpart—enough that you may want to look at the Forerunner 265S instead. Personally, I always have my phone with me when I run, so I’ve never found the standalone music feature very helpful. If you think you might use it, though, it’s normally a $50 upgrade, but currently only a $20 upgrade on the larger size of the watch. To help you decide, the photo above shows the difference in screens between the AMOLED 265S (left) and MIP 255 (right). It also shows the size difference between the smaller and larger models; the 265S on the left is 41.7 mm, very close to the 255S at 41 mm. How old is the 255, anyway? The 255 is only one year older than the 265. They were released in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Before that, Forerunner releases tended to be three to four years apart. The quick turnaround between the 255 and 265 makes sense when you realize they’re basically the same watch with a different display. So I wouldn’t expect a 255 to feel outdated anytime soon. The main question you need to ask yourself is: How do I feel about an MIP screen? I’ve written more about the difference between MIP and AMOLED here. MIP screens don’t light up, although they have a backlight that can come on automatically when you raise your wrist. At rest, they are “always on,” in the sense that they’re always displaying something, so you’ll never look down at a blank screen. They’re also brightly reflective in sunlight. AMOLED screens are more like a smartphone screen, with glowing pixels, and watches typically turn off the display when you’re not using it to save energy. (You can enable an always-on setting, but it eats battery.) That said, the overall battery life on both watches is similar on default settings—14 days not counting activities for the 255, and 13 days for the 265. Some people prefer the MIP screens, and if that includes you, this is a no-brainer: snag the 255. You can even get a refurbished version for $179.99, which makes this one of the cheapest Garmin watches in any line. View the full article

Federal Reserve officials want to see how exactly new trade policies impact the U.S. economy before adjusting interest rates. Markets and monetarists have different ideas about what that might look like. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s hard to get real-world information about what jobs pay. Online salary websites are often inaccurate, and people can get weird when you ask them directly. So to take some of the mystery out of salaries, it’s the annual Ask a Manager salary survey. Fill out the form below to anonymously share your salary and other relevant info. (Do not leave your info in the comments section! If you can’t see the survey questions, try this link instead.) When you’re done, you can view all the responses in a sortable spreadsheet. Loading… View the full article

Defining the project scope is a critical part of the project planning process. That’s because the project scope defines the boundaries of what will and won’t be part of the project work, which is essential when making the project budget and schedule. Naturally, scope management is an important area of project management and there’s a lot to learn about it. But before we jump into that, let’s start with the definition of project scope. What Is Project Scope? The project scope is the total amount of work that needs to be done to complete a project. To define it, project managers must break down the project into the tasks and deliverables that’ll be executed to meet goals and stakeholder requirements and deliver the project successfully. Defining the project scope is an integral part of the project planning process because based on the scope, project managers will assemble their teams, estimate what project resources are needed and determine what the project plan, schedule and budget will be. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Project-Scope-Template-1.png Get your free Project Scope Template Use this free Project Scope Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File Who Is Responsible for the Project Scope? The project manager has the main responsibility for defining, managing and controlling the project scope. While defining the scope, they often work with key stakeholders and the project team who provide input on what the project will and won’t include. The project manager will also manage the scope throughout the project lifecycle and inform stakeholders of any updates. The project sponsor initiates the project and provides high-level requirements and business needs that drive the project scope. They also formally approve the project scope statement or major changes. Also involved at a higher, more strategic level than the project manager may be portfolio managers or PMOs, as they work to ensure that all projects and programs within the portfolio align with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives. The project team or subject matter experts may contribute to defining the scope by offering insights into the tasks, resources and deliverables needed for their areas of work. What Is Project Scope Management? Project scope management is the process of tracking the scope of a project once it starts to ensure it doesn’t grow beyond control. It’s important that no extra work or extra costs are added to the project scope without the supervision of a project manager; if the scope of a project changes during the project execution phase, the project plan, schedule and budget that were initially defined won’t match the scope, causing project delays and overspending. This is known as scope creep and might cause projects to fail. However, the scope of a project can safely expand when stakeholders or project team members use a formal change request which is agreed upon by both parties. This allows project managers to ask for more time and resources and adjust the project schedule and budget accordingly. To control project scope, project managers create two main project scope management documents: a scope statement and a scope management plan. These documents define the scope during the planning phase and establish the rules and guidelines for tracking it. We’ll explore these documents in more depth in the section below. But before doing so, let’s hear some expert advice. In the video below, Jennifer Bridges, professional project manager (PMP) explains what the scope of a project is and why it is so important to control it. Now that we’ve defined what project scope management is, let’s focus on each of the scope management steps to better understand this process. Project Scope Management Steps Managing scope means from the start that you and the stakeholders have a clear line of communication. You must know their vision to know what they’re expecting in a project. That way, when change happens you can direct it to meet the project’s goals while keeping the project on track. But that’s just the beginning. To manage the scope of the project, you have to do five things: 1. Define the Project Scope Defining the scope of a project consists of identifying the work that’ll be performed. To do so, you must first outline the main goals and objectives of the project and think about the activities required to achieve them. Then, once you have an idea of what your project should accomplish, you can use a work breakdown structure to break down the project into a set of tasks. A work breakdown structure (WBS) is a planning tool that helps project managers visualize the tasks required to complete a project, prioritize them and identify deliverables and dependencies. Once the scope of a project has been determined, it needs to be managed through a process known as project scope management. Project management software helps you manage scope. ProjectManager, award-winning project management software that has robust Gantt charts, helps you to create a project plan, where all of your scoped tasks are scheduled with assignees and deadlines. Plus, our Gantt charts feature progress bars that update in real time as team members complete their tasks, so you have utmost transparency. You can also set a baseline to track your planned effort against your actual effort in real time to avoid scope creep. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025.jpgLearn more Once you’ve defined the project tasks that’ll be executed, you should consider what won’t be included in your project scope, which is known as project exclusions. Determining that is just as important as defining the scope. That will help you avoid any misunderstandings with project stakeholders when submitting a project proposal. It’s also important to note any important constraints such as costs that might affect the project scope. Related: Project Proposal Template 2. Write a Project Scope Statement Once you’ve defined your project scope, you can write a project scope statement, also known as a project scope document, which describes the following elements: Project goals & objectives: The project requirements or acceptance criteria. Project deliverables: The outcomes of project tasks. Project exclusions & constraints: As a project manager you need to explain what can’t be done and why. Project assumptions: Some initial assumptions that the project management team has before executing the work. Project milestones: These mark important moments in your project life cycle, such as the end of a phase. Scope baseline: Your original scope as you planned it. The scope baseline allows you to compare actual results against what it’s in your scope statement. The scope statement is also a guideline for the project manager. It helps them make decisions about change requests throughout the project life cycle. Change is an inevitable part of any project, no matter how thorough your project plan is, so you want to include the likelihood of change in your scope statement to better manage it later. 3. Create a Scope Management Plan The scope management plan is a document that describes the guidelines and procedures on how the scope will be defined, tracked and adjusted. The scope management plan is an important component of the overall project plan. While there’s not a one-size-fits-all method to create a scope management plan, it should: Include the scope statement Show the work breakdown structure that was used to define the project scope Describe the scope baseline Explain who are the team members and what their roles and responsibilities are Establish acceptance criteria for project deliverables Describe what are the major milestones and project phases Explain what change control procedures will be used to change the project scope 4. Define a Scope Baseline to Control the Scope A scope baseline describes the project scope that was approved by both the project stakeholders and the project management team. It’s used during the project execution phase to ensure the project scope is executed as planned. 5. Monitor and Control your Project Scope During the Project Life Cycle Besides creating project documents, most project managers use project management software tools like Gantt charts, kanban boards and project dashboards to keep track of their project scope. For example, ProjectManager’s Gantt charts allow you to create a visual project schedule where you can add tasks, link their dependencies and set due dates. /wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Manufacturing_GanttChart-CLOSEUP-CAR.jpg Then, ProjectManager’s real-time project dashboard lets you monitor the status of your project and check whether tasks have been completed on time and under budget. We even have portfolio dashboards that allow you to track data across all of your projects. Project Scope Template Defining the scope of a project can be challenging for both new and experienced project managers alike. For this reason, we’ve created a free project scope template for Word to facilitate this process. Download it for free now to get started quickly. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Project-Scope-Screenshot-600x443.jpg Why Is Project Scope Important? Scope management is one of the most critical areas of project management because managing the project scope also helps manage its schedule and budget. That’s because scope management consists in achieving the goals of the project within the timeline and costs approved by the stakeholders. An effective scope management process can help project managers achieve the following goals. Creating realistic project plans Avoid issues like cost overrun and scope creep Set clear expectations for project stakeholders Hire team members with the right skills and qualifications for the project Meet project deadlines Produce high-quality deliverables Establish change management procedures How to Prevent Scope Creep in Project Management Scope creep can happen in any project, resulting in delays, budget overruns and even decreased team morale. Here are five ways to avoid it. Define and Document the Project Scope from the Beginning Establishing project boundaries from the beginning can go a long way in managing expectations early. Define what is included and excluded during the planning process and document any assumptions made during planning. Visual representations of the project scope are helpful as well, including a work breakdown structure (WBS) to ensure everyone has a shared understanding. Establish a Formal Change Control Process Outline the steps for requesting, evaluating and approving changes to the project scope. All formal requests should be submitted in writing and there should be an impact analysis of the proposed change on the budget, resources, schedule and overall project objectives. Consistently adhere to this process and don’t make any exceptions. Maintain Consistent, Proactive Communication with Stakeholders Stakeholders should be informed about project progress and any scope-related discussions. Be proactive in communicating and addressing misunderstandings as quickly as possible. If stakeholders have feedback or concerns, pay attention to what they have to say. However, always refer back to the documented scope. Implement Scope Verification and Validation Conduct periodic reviews of project deliverables with stakeholders to ensure they approve of the defined scope and acceptance criteria. If needed, get formal sign-off on key deliverables and project phases to ensure the work meets the agreed-upon requirements. This way, stakeholders can’t later request additional features or changes. Foster a Culture of Scope Awareness within the Project Team The team should be aware of the project scope and how their responsibilities contribute to it. Do they fully understand how important it is to adhere to the project scope? If they notice any requests or tasks that seem to fall outside the scope, encourage them to flag them. Should there be any perceived scope changes, the team should understand and follow the established change control process. Project Scope Management Tips Here are some of the best project scope management tips for project managers. Start by Defining Project Goals & Objectives Project goals and project objectives aren’t the same things. Goals are higher-level than objectives, which are more specific. They must be set before you can define the scope. Collect Project Requirements Stakeholders have quality, financial, and other types of project requirements. Those requirements will help you define what can and can’t be included in your scope. Make a Resource Management Plan Based on your project scope, you should create a resource management plan which will guide how resources will be acquired, allocated and leveled throughout the project. This includes team members, equipment and materials. Estimate the costs related to these project resources and add them to your project budget. This is key to ensuring the execution of your project scope goes as planned. Establish a Change Control Process The project scope can be negatively impacted when changes such as new project requirements go unnoticed. That’s because they create extra work which isn’t accounted for. To avoid that, you need to change control procedures such as change requests so that the project team can adjust the scope management plan. How to Manage Project Scope With ProjectManager ProjectManager has a bevy of tools to help managers track their project scope. Our online software gives you real-time data to make more insightful decisions and fosters collaboration by allowing teams to share files, comment and much more. Task Management Features for Doing the Work ProjectManager comes with different views for working on tasks: Gantt charts, kanban boards and task lists. All three views can be used to work on the same project, which means team members can work on the project tasks in their own way. This flexibility improves productivity across the team, making sure that you avoid the dreaded scope creep. /wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Manufacturing-overlay-LIST-ZOOM-task.jpg Project Dashboards for Better Tracking Dashboards are your best friend when you’re trying to spot scope creep. Our real-time project dashboard gives you a live look at critical metrics across your project. This live data lets you spot bottlenecks and issues faster than you would have thought possible. Plus, it’s all displayed in simple graphs that can easily be shared with stakeholders or team members. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Dashboard_Construction_Wide_Zoom-150.jpg Related Content There’s a lot to learn in project management before you can plan, schedule, execute and deliver projects successfully. For this reason, we’ve created dozens of blogs, templates, ebooks and videos on the most important topics in project management. Here are some of them. 20+ Project Management Tools & Techniques Best Project Management Certifications Project Management Basics: Definitions, Methods and Tools 100+ Project Management Terms: PM Terminology PMBOK: The Project Management Body of Knowledge Explained Top 15 Project Management Methodologies: An Overview Best Project Management Charts for Project Planning ¿Qué es la Metodología de un Proyecto? 15 Tipos de Metodologías The best way to manage the scope of a project is to have an online project management tool that gives you real-time data so you can act when issues arise and before they become problems. ProjectManager is online, so when your team updates their status, from wherever they are and at whatever time, that information is immediately updated and you can monitor the progress of your project more accurately. See for yourself by taking this free 30-day trial. The post What Is Project Scope? Scope Management Steps, Tips & Tools appeared first on ProjectManager. 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It would seem unlikely for clothing designers get their wheels turning by thinking about what happens to garments when people are through with them. But that’s exactly the sort of backward thinking that led to Under Armour’s new “regenerative sportswear collection,” created in collaboration with Portland, Oregon-based Unless Collective. The collection, which is making its debut in Italy this week during Milan Design Week, comprises footwear and clothing made entirely from plants and plant-based materials. That means they’re biodegradable and compostable. “All of our products make good dirt,” says Eric Liedtke, Unless co-founder & Under Armour EVP of brand strategy, who spoke with Fast Company from Milan. Unless was acquired by Baltimore-based Under Armour last summer, and Liedtke says that it’s allowed Unless to tap into Under Armour’s large base of resources and partnerships to expand its offerings and development operations—the new “regenerative” collection is the result. “We’re here to introduce the idea of regenerative fashion,” he says. “What we mean is that things come from plants and minerals, natural materials, and then go back to being natural materials . . . When you’re ‘regenerative,’ you add value back to the ecosystem, rather than being destructive.” Liedtke says that 70% of clothing is created from “petroleum-based feedstock,” mostly various types of plastics, which never completely vanish or go away—they break down into microplastics and end up in the food and water supply. But his new clothing line does break down and go away; once you’re through with one of Unless’s garments, for instance, you can bury it in your backyard garden, and it’ll compost away. In an industrial composter, an Unless tee shirt will decompose within weeks. The new collection features shoes, jackets, vests, shirts, and more that are made from a variety of plant materials. For instance, shoe liners and soles are made from coconut husks and natural rubber latex, buttons are made from corozo nuts, Kapok cotton is used for insulation in vests and jackets, while cotton remains a staple for shirts and other garments. Liedtke says that the garments are built to last, too, and could be compared to products from companies like Russell, Champion, Carhartt, or Dickies. And for those worried about their clothes decomposing while they sit in a dresser, he says not to worry: It takes very specific conditions to initiate the composting process—conditions hopefully not present in the typical closet or bedroom. The collection is meant to be provocative, in some ways, and bring attention to the pollution that modern fashion and clothing manufacturing produces. In that way, it’s not too different from how companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat disrupted the meat industry, or how EVs have shaken up the auto market in recent years. Liedtke hopes that at least some clothing manufacturers will follow suit and start using more natural materials, rather than plastics, to cut down on waste and pollution. “The future is regenerative,” he says. “The question now is scaling it, and telling people about it.” View the full article

There are many project risks that can affect your project and, as a project manager, you’re responsible for the risk analysis process. Risk analysis, or risk assessment is essential because it allows project managers to classify project risks and determine which of them should be tracked closely. What Is Project Risk Analysis? Risk analysis consists of using tools and techniques to determine the likelihood and impact of project risks that have been previously identified. Therefore, risk analysis helps project managers decipher the uncertainty of potential risks and how they would impact the project in terms of schedule, quality and costs if, in fact, they were to show up. Risk analysis isn’t exclusive to project management and it’s used in other disciplines such as business administration, construction or manufacturing. No matter what industry you’re in, you’ll always have projects and so, you should use project management software for risk analysis. ProjectManager, for instance, has risk management tools that let you track risks in real time. Keep track of individual risk events and mark their impact, likelihood and overall risk level with a risk matrix. Then assign that risk to a team member and use project dashboards to monitor. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/risk-image-cta-2024-1.pngLearn more Who Is Responsible for Risk Analysis? Several roles, including the project manager and the project team, are typically responsible for risk analysis. The project manager takes on the main responsibility as they oversee the process, helping to document risks in a risk register. They are typically in charge of facilitating risk identification and analysis sessions with the team and stakeholders. They will prioritize the risks based on their likelihood and impact, usually using tools such as a risk matrix. Project team members are also responsible for identifying potential risks related to their areas of expertise. They offer insights into the likelihood of and potential impact of identified risks. Project sponsors may also be involved, defining the overall risk tolerance for the project and approving major risk responses. How to Analyze Project Risks At a basic level, there are three things you should consider when assessing project risks: risk probability, risk impact and risk exposure. These three things can be estimated through qualitative and quantitative risk analysis. Risk Probability All risks have a certain probability of occurrence, which means they might or might not happen. Estimating risk probability isn’t an exact science, but there are several techniques you can use, such as examining data from past projects. By analyzing similar projects from the past, you can better determine whether there’s a high or low chance of project risk. Risk Impact Consider the type of risk and its potential impact on the project. Some risks will bring financial stress, while others might involve resource management issues or delays to the project schedule. To make things simple, you can simply assign levels of impact for your project risks, such as low, medium or high depending on how critical they are. Risk Exposure Risk exposure combines risk probability and risk impact in one formula that’s used by businesses to determine whether they’re ready to assume a potential risk or not. This technique can only be used when you can measure the potential losses associated with risk. The risk exposure formula is: Risk Exposure = Risk impact * Risk probability So, if a given risk had an impact of $1 million and the probability of that risk was 50%, your risk exposure would equal $500,000. Why Does Project Risk Analysis Matter? Project risk analysis is largely important as it can help improve the chances of project success. It encourages a forward-thinking approach, prompting the project team to identify potential problems and challenges before they occur. Risk analysis also allows for more informed decisions, helping project managers weigh potential rewards against the possible downsides. Once risks are identified, they can be prioritized based on their likelihood and impact. As a result, the team can focus its attention and resources on the most critical threats and opportunities. From there, they can develop mitigation strategies to minimize the potential damage to the project’s objectives. This can be facilitated through both qualitative and quantitative risk analysis. Types of Risk Analysis There are two main types of risk analysis: qualitative and quantitative risk analysis. Let’s learn about these two approaches. Qualitative Risk Analysis The qualitative risk analysis is a risk assessment done by experts on the project teams who use data from past projects and their expertise to estimate the impact and probability value for each risk on a scale or a risk matrix. The scale used is commonly ranked from zero to one. That is, if the likelihood of the risk happening in your project is .5, then there is a 50 percent chance it’ll occur. There is also an impact scale, which is measured from one to fine, with five being the most impact on the project. The risk will then be categorized as either source- or effect-based. Once risks are identified and analyzed, a project team member is designated as a risk owner for each risk. They’re responsible for planning a risk response and implementing it. Qualitative risk analysis is the base for quantitative risk analysis and reduces project uncertainty while focusing on high-impact risks. This allows you to assign a risk owner and plan out an appropriate risk response. Get started with qualitative risk analysis with our free risk assessment template. Quantitative Risk Analysis By contrast, quantitative risk analysis is a statistical analysis of the effect of those identified risks on the overall project. This helps project managers and team leaders to make decisions with reduced uncertainty and supports the process of controlling risks. Quantitative risk analysis counts the possible outcomes for the project and figures out the probability of still meeting project objectives. This helps with decision-making, especially when there is uncertainty during the project planning phase. It helps project managers create cost, schedule or scope targets that are realistic. The Monte Carlo simulation is an example of a quantitative risk analysis tool. It’s a probability technique that uses a computerized method to estimate the likelihood of a risk. It’s used as input for project management decision-making. 11 Project Risk Analysis Methods & Techniques There are several risk analysis methods and tools that help managers through the analysis and decision-making process. Some of these involve the use of risk analysis tools such as project management charts and documents. Let’s dive into these risk analysis methods and how they can help you. 1. Team Brainstorming Sessions Estimating risk probability and impact is a huge part of risk analysis. As stated, this can be done subjectively, which might lead to error, especially if you do it by yourself as the project manager. To avoid this, you can involve all the team members you consider relevant to get their input on risk likelihood and potential negative consequences. 2. Delphi Technique The Delphi technique involves a panel of experts on topics that are critical to your project risk. It could be financial experts, lawyers, project management consultants or any other type of professional. This risk analysis method consists of promoting a debate among these experts who ultimately need to reach a consensus on a particular topic, such as estimating the business impact of a risk. 3. Risk Interviews and Surveys These can help gather information, perspectives and insights from stakeholders and team members about potential risks. They’re structured or semi-structured conversations using open-ended questions to encourage interviewees to share their concerns, past experience and potential future issues. This risk analysis tool allows for a deeper understanding of individual perspectives and reasoning behind their risk assessments. The questions can also be tailored to the specific role and expertise of the interviewee. /wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Risk-assessment-template-screenshot-600x212.pngDownload now 4. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis allows managers to understand the current situation of their business or project by looking at its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. As a risk analysis tool, it lets you note which of your weaknesses might be exploited by others and which external threats might affect your projects, such as economic conditions or the threat of new competitors. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Swot-analysis-template-screenshot-600x513.jpgDownload now. 5. Risk Analysis Matrix The risk analysis matrix assesses the likelihood and the severity of risks, classifying them by order of importance. It’s main purpose is to help managers prioritize risks and create a risk management plan that has the right resources and strategies to properly mitigate risks. Risk likelihood is measured on a relative scale, not a statistical one, which makes it a qualitative risk analysis tool. This tool is also called the probability/consequence matrix by some project managers. /wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Risk-Matrix-Screenshot-600x584.jpgDownload now. 6. Risk Register A risk register is a crucial project management tool to document project risks. It’s a document that lists all the potential risks that could occur during the project execution phase, as well as critical information about them. It’s meant to be used as input for the risk management plan, which describes who’s responsible for those risks, the risk mitigation strategies and the resources needed. Creating a risk register usually involves several reliable information sources such as the project team, subject matter experts and historical data. /wp-content/uploads/2023/05/risk-register-example.pngDownload now. 7. Decision Tree Analysis A decision tree analysis consists of mapping out the potential outcomes that might occur after a decision is made. This is a great method to analyze risks in new projects. Create decision trees as you go through your project planning process so you can identify potential risks and their probability and impact along the way. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Decision-Tree-Template-image-600x364.pngDownload now 8. Root Cause Analysis A root cause analysis (RCA) dives deeper into risks to understand what underlying causes might be contributing to them occurring in the first place. For example, while traditional risk analysis might identify “supplier delays” as a risk, RCA would go further, asking “why might suppliers be delayed?” This allows teams to develop more targeted and effective risk response strategies. 9. Bow Tie Analysis This qualitative risk analysis method is used to identify causes and consequences for all potential project risks. The project management team must first identify risks that might affect the project and then think about causes, consequences and more importantly, a risk mitigation strategy for them. It’s a versatile method that can be used in any industry. 10. SWIFT Analysis SWIFT stands for Structured What If Technique. It’s a risk analysis method that focuses on identifying potential risks associated with changes made to a project plan. As its name suggests, team members have to come up with any “what if” questions they can to find out all the potential risks that could arise. 11. Contingency Planning This is another risk analysis tool that involves developing pre-defined actions or strategies to implement if an identified risk occurs. It’s sometimes seen as the “plan B” for when things don’t go as planned. Once a risk is identified, it is analyzed to understand its likelihood and potential impact. Contingency planning directly relates to developing a risk response plan, as it outlines the steps to take if the risk occurs. If a risk materializes, having a pre-prepared plan helps develop a swift, organized response. Benefits of Risk Analysis There are many benefits to using risk analysis in your projects. Here are some of the most common ones. Avoid potential litigation Address regulatory issues Comply with new legislation Reduce exposure Minimize impact Risk analysis is an important input for decision-making during all the stages of the project life cycle. Project managers who have some experience with risk management are a great resource. We culled some advice from them, such as: There’s no lack of information on risk Much of that information is complex Most industries have best practices Many companies have risk management framework Project Risk Analysis Templates There are several quantitative and qualitative risk analysis methods. There are several tools that can be used for different purposes. To help, we’ve prepared some free risk analysis templates to help you through the risk analysis process. Risk Register Template This risk register template has everything you need to keep track of the potential risks that might affect your project as well as their probability, impact, status and more. Risk Analysis Matrix Template This risk matrix template lets you visualize your project risks in one color-coded graph to classify them by likelihood and severity. This allows you to better understand the most critical risks for your project. Risk Analysis In Project Management Risk analysis is a fundamental step in the project risk management process, which consists of four main stages. Risk identification: First, identify your potential project risks and list them using a risk register. Risk analysis: Now, estimate the impact, likelihood and exposure for each risk and assign a priority level based on this information. The higher the priority level, the more resources are allocated to mitigate the risk. Create a risk management plan: Create risk mitigation strategies, or contingency plans to alleviate the impact of each project risk you’ve previously analyzed. These details are usually included in a risk management plan. Track risks until project completion: Implementing your risk management plan is as important as creating one. Set up project controls to keep track of risk at all times. Risk Analysis Video If we’ve caught your attention when it comes to discussing risk analysis on a project, don’t worry. Watch project management guru Jennifer Bridges, PMP, as she helps visualize how to analyze risks on your project. Here’s a shot of the whiteboard for your reference! Thanks for watching! How ProjectManager Helps Your Risk Analysis ProjectManager is online work and project management software that allows you to manage risks alongside your project. Activate the Risk View to create a running list of all of your project risks. Then add descriptions, mark likelihood, impact and level with an embedded risk matrix. Work towards resolutions with your team and add comments along the way. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/risk-image-lightmode.png Project Tracking You Can Trust It’s hard to recognize risk without a proper project tracking system in place. Across all of ProjectManager’s views, you can monitor progress and communicate with your team as you work together. But, to take it even further, leverage our built-in dashboards and project reports to stay on top of all aspects of your projects, so you’re ready to identify risks as soon as they appear. /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/project-management-dashboard.webp Analyzing and resolving risk is a team effort and our software is collaborative to the core. Teams can comment, share files and get updates from email notifications and in-app alerts. There’s one source of truth and you’re always getting real-time data so everyone is on the same page. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Project Risk Analysis: Tools, Templates & Techniques appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Insurers had already doled out more than $12 billion to pay for wildfire damages as of early March, according to California state officials. View the full article

Tax Day (April 15, 2025) is just days away. Are you still scrambling to gather tax documents and get your return filed? If you just can’t complete your return accurately, you may be better off simply filing an extension with the IRS. Doing so allows you to have a six-month grace period to get your taxes filed without having the failure to file penalty assessed. However, you must still pay any taxes you owe (make an estimate and pay on or before April 15, 2025) to avoid late payment penalties and interest. Filing an extension can help reduce the stress of trying to meet the deadline and reduce your tax penalty burden if you already have one to contend with. Many taxpayers, freelancers included, are not clear about what an extension on their taxes really means, and how to handle it. To help cut through the confusion, here are some facts about what an extension on your freelance taxes means, and how you can navigate it effectively for your personal and freelance taxes. An extension is simply an agreement between you and the IRS that as long as you file on or before the 6-month mark after the original deadline, you will not be subject to failure-to-file penalties. To file an extension, use IRS Form 4868. In reality, an extension is not an extension on the tax payment you owed at the April original filing deadline. Your 2024 tax liability is due, in full, on April 15, 2025. Keep in mind that: If you don’t file an extension and you owe taxes, you will have a failure to file penalty of 5% per month and interest. If you file an extension and you owe taxes, you will then also owe interest on the payment (currently 7%) and a 0.5% penalty for any partial month balance that is owed. For example, you would pay 0.5% in April and May if you did not pay your tax bill during these months. The maximum late-filing penalty is 25% and the late-payment penalty maximum is 25%.In addition to the federal penalties stated above, individual states also charge penalties and interest if you owe after the April 15 deadline, so be sure to check in the states you do business in for any late-filing and late-payment penalties. Make sure your tax records are complete, current, and secure.If you are missing information or need updated or corrected forms in order to file your taxes, it is imperative to use the next few weeks to get the information you need (the tips below can help) so you can make the tax return extension deadline on October 15, 2025. All records must be kept for a minimum of three years after filing your taxes, these include but are not limited to: W-2s or Form 1099s, be sure to contact the issuing organization and request the missing documents. This also applies if you received an incorrect W-2 or Form 1099. If you do not receive the missing or corrected form in time to file your tax return, you can estimate the wages or payments made to you as well as any taxes withheld. If you receive the missing or corrected Form W-2 or Form 1099-R after filing your return and the information differs from your previous estimate, you must file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.If you receive an incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits, you should contact the issuing state agency to request a revised Form 1099-G. If you aren’t sure of an amount or are still waiting for documents, remember, you have three years from the due date or the date you filed to amend your tax return, if you have a refund due. If you have no refund due, you have more than three years to file an amended tax return, Form 1040X, however, you will be subject to interest and penalties on the outstanding balance. If you have any previous freelance tax issues or unfiled returns, you can also take care of those as you use the extra extension time to take care of tax issues. If you need help, you can also work with a tax professional after the April 15 deadline and get all of your freelance tax obligations on the right track. Did your state experience a natural disaster this year? You may have an automatic extension.Another potentially unexpected filing extension may be valid for your freelance tax situation if you are in a federally declared disaster zone. If this is the case (you can look to see if your state has any federal disaster zones identified, you may be eligible for this extension. The Federal Emergency Management Administration has a listing of this information at Disasters and Other Declarations | FEMA.gov. Failure to file your tax return extension may impact your passport.The IRS is serious about delinquent tax filers! If you have significant unpaid federal tax debt (including assessed penalties and interest on your extended taxes) totaling more than $62,000 (adjusted yearly for inflation) from obligations including U.S. individual income taxes, trust fund recovery penalties, business taxes for which taxpayers are personally liable for and other civil penalties, you may be at risk for losing your passport, too. The IRS clearly states that if you have this type of serious tax debt, they want you to stay close to the United States and will take extreme measures such as garnishing your passport. Take action now and take care of your extended freelance tax return!With Tax Day just a few weeks away, do not delay getting your extended freelance taxes filed now. The time you spend today taking care of this will allow you to reduce your financial burden and deadline stress related to taxes so you can focus on finishing your taxes well before October 15, 2025 and keeping your freelance business strong to avoid any additional penalties or interest. View the full article

Tax Day (April 15, 2025) is just days away. Are you still scrambling to gather tax documents and get your return filed? If you just can’t complete your return accurately, you may be better off simply filing an extension with the IRS. Doing so allows you to have a six-month grace period to get your taxes filed without having the failure to file penalty assessed. However, you must still pay any taxes you owe (make an estimate and pay on or before April 15, 2025) to avoid late payment penalties and interest. Filing an extension can help reduce the stress of trying to meet the deadline and reduce your tax penalty burden if you already have one to contend with. Many taxpayers, freelancers included, are not clear about what an extension on their taxes really means, and how to handle it. To help cut through the confusion, here are some facts about what an extension on your freelance taxes means, and how you can navigate it effectively for your personal and freelance taxes. An extension is simply an agreement between you and the IRS that as long as you file on or before the 6-month mark after the original deadline, you will not be subject to failure-to-file penalties. To file an extension, use IRS Form 4868. In reality, an extension is not an extension on the tax payment you owed at the April original filing deadline. Your 2024 tax liability is due, in full, on April 15, 2025. Keep in mind that: If you don’t file an extension and you owe taxes, you will have a failure to file penalty of 5% per month and interest. If you file an extension and you owe taxes, you will then also owe interest on the payment (currently 7%) and a 0.5% penalty for any partial month balance that is owed. For example, you would pay 0.5% in April and May if you did not pay your tax bill during these months. The maximum late-filing penalty is 25% and the late-payment penalty maximum is 25%.In addition to the federal penalties stated above, individual states also charge penalties and interest if you owe after the April 15 deadline, so be sure to check in the states you do business in for any late-filing and late-payment penalties. Make sure your tax records are complete, current, and secure.If you are missing information or need updated or corrected forms in order to file your taxes, it is imperative to use the next few weeks to get the information you need (the tips below can help) so you can make the tax return extension deadline on October 15, 2025. All records must be kept for a minimum of three years after filing your taxes, these include but are not limited to: W-2s or Form 1099s, be sure to contact the issuing organization and request the missing documents. This also applies if you received an incorrect W-2 or Form 1099. If you do not receive the missing or corrected form in time to file your tax return, you can estimate the wages or payments made to you as well as any taxes withheld. If you receive the missing or corrected Form W-2 or Form 1099-R after filing your return and the information differs from your previous estimate, you must file Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.If you receive an incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits, you should contact the issuing state agency to request a revised Form 1099-G. If you aren’t sure of an amount or are still waiting for documents, remember, you have three years from the due date or the date you filed to amend your tax return, if you have a refund due. If you have no refund due, you have more than three years to file an amended tax return, Form 1040X, however, you will be subject to interest and penalties on the outstanding balance. If you have any previous freelance tax issues or unfiled returns, you can also take care of those as you use the extra extension time to take care of tax issues. If you need help, you can also work with a tax professional after the April 15 deadline and get all of your freelance tax obligations on the right track. Did your state experience a natural disaster this year? You may have an automatic extension.Another potentially unexpected filing extension may be valid for your freelance tax situation if you are in a federally declared disaster zone. If this is the case (you can look to see if your state has any federal disaster zones identified, you may be eligible for this extension. The Federal Emergency Management Administration has a listing of this information at Disasters and Other Declarations | FEMA.gov. Failure to file your tax return extension may impact your passport.The IRS is serious about delinquent tax filers! If you have significant unpaid federal tax debt (including assessed penalties and interest on your extended taxes) totaling more than $62,000 (adjusted yearly for inflation) from obligations including U.S. individual income taxes, trust fund recovery penalties, business taxes for which taxpayers are personally liable for and other civil penalties, you may be at risk for losing your passport, too. The IRS clearly states that if you have this type of serious tax debt, they want you to stay close to the United States and will take extreme measures such as garnishing your passport. Take action now and take care of your extended freelance tax return!With Tax Day just a few weeks away, do not delay getting your extended freelance taxes filed now. The time you spend today taking care of this will allow you to reduce your financial burden and deadline stress related to taxes so you can focus on finishing your taxes well before October 15, 2025 and keeping your freelance business strong to avoid any additional penalties or interest. View the full article

What does the future of computing look like? Is it voice chat? Floating holographic displays? A generative AI fever dream with no escape? At Salone de Mobile—the annual design fair in Milan—Google is suggesting something less literal: It’s light that’s as pliable as fabric. Since first attending in 2018, Google has become a staple of Milan’s annual design festival, where the installations draw long lines and buzz. The company has measured how different rooms make you feel, demonstrated that water informs their design, and explored the ties of color and emotion through immersive spectacles. This year, Google’s project is called Making the Invisible Visible, on display at Garage 21 in Milan from April 7 to 13. It’s a series of what I might only describe as a series of light showers that stand six feet in diameter. Laser light rains down from a halo above, and by running your hands through the beams, they react in a dynamic animation that falls somewhere between a draping textile and the strings of a harp. The architectural approach was inspired by conversations Ivy Ross, chief design officer of consumer devices at Google, and artist Lachlan Turczan had around the role of technology in our lives. Turczan explores the intersection of light and the environment, with surreal works placed in nature that blend the wild and the technological. Squint and you can almost see a vision of ambient computing. Over several conversations, Ross and Turczan spoke about how Humanity shapes technology, and technology shapes humanity back. Turczan has been developing these sculptures, dubbed Lucida, out of those conversations. “At this moment in time, we’re questioning what role does technology have? What does it mean to be human?” says Ross. “We have to come to that place where we’re not competing [with technology], but we are interacting together, moving modern life forward.” The light showers in Making the Invisible Visible are meant to explore that theme, not necessarily literally, but as a more generalized ethos. Then through the rest of the installation, Google goes on to articulate how it’s made the invisible visible within their own products. That includes the Pixel Buds which required laser scans from 3,200 ears to get its one-size-fits-all geometries, along with the new Nest thermostat, which sits quietly until it senses your approach, and displays its user interface. Then in the final room, Google designers share some of the actual objects that have inspired their approach to products—like river rocks for an earbud case, and a macron for a speaker. (The design team is given a budget to acquire bits of inspiration in their travels around the world, which they deposit inside their design studio’s private library.) While the installation is built for the public, Ross sees the benefits this annual practice brings to her own team. “It’s giving them an opportunity to work at a different scale with a different set of challenges, which I think is really good to feed their creative muscle,” says Ross. “And [the other benefit] is the joy they get from manning these exhibits. Because we don’t usually get to interact with the public about what we do.” View the full article

The real value of accounting isn’t in the numbers but in the conversations we’re not having. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

The real value of accounting isn’t in the numbers but in the conversations we’re not having. The Disruptors With Liz Farr Go PRO for members-only access to more Liz Farr. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google AI Mode now supports images as part of your questions...View the full article

The modern workplace is increasingly flexible, collaborative, and reliant on advanced technology to bridge the gap between remote and in-office teams. In this work-form-home (WFA) era, a hyper-collaborative mindset has become the norm and expectation. Some might think that remote work puts up a barrier between team members looking to continue collaborating from a distance, but thanks to the abundance of collaborative tech tools available to remote workers today, it has never been easier to collaborate from anywhere. Collaboration across time zones and employee schedules is crucial to any team’s success. With more workers having at least one weekly online or hybrid meeting (86%) than in-person one (83%), according to our 2024 State of Hybrid Work Report, leveraging the right communication tools is essential. As companies embrace hybrid and remote models, they must support both synchronous and asynchronous work by adapting policies, office spaces, and project management tools—an approach that can boost productivity by 1.4 extra days a month per employee and ensure seamless teamwork across all working styles. View the full article

Ukrainian president demands explanation and accuses Beijing of actively participating in Moscow’s warView the full article

AI tools can get you started, but they can’t finish strong. Here's how to shape AI-generated drafts into meaningful, effective content. The post Humans Are Better At Writing Than AI In These Tasks appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

If there's something you want to keep track of regularly, it belongs on your Mac's menu bar. The left side of the menu bar, of course, shows the menu for the current application. The right side, though, is a series of icons—and with the right application, you can put just about anything there. This is a list of the applications I find most useful in the menu bar but it's far from exhaustive—developers have gotten quite creative over the years. Check out the website MacMenuBar.com if you want to see even more menu bar tools. Check your calendar Credit: Khamosh Pathak Click the clock on Windows and you'll see a calendar. This is a feature macOS hasn't copied for reasons I don't understand. That's why I recommend Itsycal, a tiny free application that every Mac user needs. This application adds a calendar icon to your menu bar which you can click to see a mini calendar. This would be useful even if all you could see were which dates occur on which day of the week—a thing I need to reference constantly—but Itsycal offers more. Your appointments from the macOS calendar app all show up, making it easy to see which days you're free and which days you're busy. The application is also customizable—you can choose which appointments show up, the look and information offered by the icon, and whether you want to highlight the weekend or any other day of the week. It's a great addition to any menu bar. See the current temperature Credit: Khamosh Pathak I like to glance at the temperature before heading outside—the menu bar is perfect for this. That's why I'm happy Apple finally offers weather updates in the menu bar. This adds the temperature and an icon for the current conditions to the top of your screen—click the icon to see conditions for the next few hours and for all of your saved locations. You can click any city to open it in the Weather app. The feature isn't enabled by default, though, and is a little bit buried. You need to open System Settings, then head to Control Center. Scroll down until you see the Menu Bar Only subheading, and from the box next to Weather, switch to Show in Menu Bar. You'll now see the weather in your menu bar. I'm glad I can have this without the need to install a third party app. Check on your co-worker's time zones Credit: Justin Pot If you work remotely, time zones are the bane of your existence. Your co-workers in Europe are wrapping up their day around the time anyone on the North American west coast is waking up, and that's before you factor in that daylight savings happens at different times in different places. The application There takes care of this by letting you see the time where your co-workers are. Just install the application and add the co-workers you want to track, along with where they live. There's even the option to add photos, if you want. After setting everything up you can click the menu bar icon and see what time it is where your co-workers are, meaning you won't bother them during breakfast or dinner ever again. Quickly check maps Credit: Justin Pot If you find yourself constantly looking up where things are, consider downloading Mappa Mini, a free menu bar app you can use to search maps and addresses. Just click the icon and type where you're looking for—you'll see where it is, and the address, right away. You can also copy the address, or open the location in your preferred maps application or website. It's great Turn your taskbar into a virtual sticky note Credit: Sindre Sorhus No offense to people who put actual sticky notes on their screen when you need to remember something—it's a system that works. If you'd rather not use physical paper for the job, though, OneThing is an app that lets you leave notes for yourself on the menu bar. You can even leave emojis for emphasis or use Markdown to create clickable links. Get a Windows-style start menu Credit: Justin Pot Do you wish macOS had a Windows-style start menu? XMenu is basically that. With it you can add icons for your documents, applications, and other folders. Click the icons and you can browse everything in those folders, including subdirectories. It's a quick way to jump to applications or files without having to open a Finder window. Clean up the mac menu bar Credit: Justin Pot Installing even a few of these applications will create a lot of clutter, quickly, which can be a particular problem on notched Macs. The good news is you can hide menu bar icons you're not using with the free application Ice. With it you can clean up the Mac menu bar by hiding applications you don't need to reference often. You can click an icon anytime to see the icons you've decided to hide. It's a feature Apple should have added to the operating system decades ago but I'm glad there's a free tool for the job. View the full article

When everything bagel seasoning dropped as a supermarket seasoning blend, I admit, I bought a giant container of the stuff. The powerful concoction that transforms consolation prize, plain bagels into the most coveted bagel could now be mine? And I could use it on everything? And by golly, I did. I put it on everything—that is, until everything tasted the same. I lost myself for a while in that hoi polloi of seeds and dry onion, and I had to reset. Now when I crave a savory, oniony flavor, nigella seeds are my secret ingredient for better breads, salads, and spreads. What are Nigella seeds?Nigella seeds are from the nigella sativa plant. They’re small, black seeds that look deceptively similar to black sesame seeds. You have to look closely to see that nigella seeds have something of a pyramid shape, where sesame seeds are flatter and rounded. You’ll see it used frequently in South Asian and Western Asian cooking, though the seed has become available worldwide in most big box supermarkets. Nigella, sometimes called black seed or kalonji, has a strong onion flavor that borders on caraway seed. While this might sound like the most unattractive flavor, I’m telling you, it’s fantastic. I never would have known about it if my culinary mother, Nigella Lawson, hadn’t once used the seed in an episode of her TV show. I don’t remember what she sprinkled them in, but I remember becoming dedicated to the mission of finding some for myself. Once I finally did find them, hanging in a small pouch by the spice section of the nearby supermarket, I didn’t really know what to do with them. I don’t want you to run into the same problem. How I use nigella seeds Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Breads. When I think to myself, “Would I use everything bagel seasoning on this?"—that’s when I use nigella seeds. They’re absolutely lovely as a seed to stick on different breads. I spill some nigella out onto a plate and press the raw dough of any savory bread or roll I’m making before the final proofing period. Try using them on hamburger buns, dinner rolls, or savory biscuits. If you’re making pretzels, why not mix some nigella seeds into the finishing salt? Pigs in a blanket or sausage rolls are incredible with nigella seeds. Just brush the rolls lightly with an egg wash (or water if you can’t spare the egg) and sprinkle the seeds on. When you’re making homemade pizza—here are my top tips for a great ‘za—season the edge of the crust with a brush of oil and a sprinkle of nigella seeds before baking. You’ll get a hint of floral onion flavor that blossoms with the sweetness of the tomato sauce. Salads. I find that it’s the small details that bring the most interest to salads. Salads don’t always have a ton of flavor. I think that’s part of the reason they’re a hard sell. Sautéing and roasting ingredients with oils and fats make for flavorful meals, so in order to have a good salad, each component must pull its weight. Seeds are a phenomenal way to add flavor to salads. Add nigella seeds directly to the dressing, or sprinkle them in after the dressing has been tossed with the other ingredients so they’ll stick instead of falling to the bottom of the bowl. Dips and spreads. This is the easiest place to start if you’re not used to using seeds in cooking. Simply start by sprinkling them on top of dips and spreads. Homemade or purchased hummus is my favorite go-to. I’ll open a container of hummus or tzatziki and cover the surface with nigella seeds. Then I’ll get a little pop of herbal allium-esque flavor with every dip of a cracker. When you’re making a sandwich, swipe some mayo onto the bread and sprinkle nigella onto it. Nigella seeds are brilliant for garnishing your avocado toast. And of course, for the bagel that truly has everything, coat a split everything bagel with cream cheese and sprinkle on nigella seeds for a complementary flavor and a gorgeous contrast of color. View the full article

Giving money away has never been so easy—thanks to AI. Daffy, a platform that facilitates charitable giving, is rolling out a suite of new AI-powered tools that’s making it easier than ever to donate to charity. So easy, in fact, that a Daffy user can feel like a billionaire making a quick donation to their chosen charity without having to fill out forms, mail checks, or any of the other tedium that can slow the giving process down—simply hit a button, or make a verbal command, and make a donation. Specifically, Daffy’s new tools include a Quick Donate feature, which converts free text or voice commands into an immediate donation. Daffy will need some direction (users choose a charity, donation amount, etc.), but from there, you can simply say to the application “make a donation to the ACLU,” or something similar, to facilitate the donation. “The idea was to leverage AI to improve the giving experience,” says Daffy CEO Adam Nash. “We looked at the real world to see what benefits the wealthy get—they get concierge service. They don’t need to fill out a bunch of forms or track down an EIN from a database. They tell an assistant they want to make a donation, and it gets done,” he says. The goal, then, was to get as close to that experience as possible while leveraging AI to make it happen. Over time, too, the feature will learn the specifics of a user’s desired causes or charities, so a user could tell it to make a donation to their child’s school, for example, and Daffy can handle the rest. And by allowing Daffy to handle the rest, Nash believes that people will give more. Because “friction is the enemy of generosity,” he says. In other words, the easier it is to make a donation, the more donations people will make. If the process is tedious and time-consuming, fewer people are going to do it. “We feel like we’ve proven the hypothesis that technology can help people be more generous,” Nash says. “And we think AI has a role to play.” Users can also use the AI features to set up recurring donations—like a donation to a local food bank every year on Thanksgiving, for example. In all, Nash thinks that the AI features could open the floodgates to potentially millions of dollars more in donations every year. “A lot of people are using AI right now and are just playing with it,” Nash says. “We’re trying to use it for something important.” View the full article

From AI resources to upskilling growth programs, LinkedIn’s annual Top Companies list reveals top employers are investing in making the workplace a place to grow and succeed. “These are companies that make a commitment to their employees and their employees know that they’re not alone in their career,” said Andrew Seaman, editor at large for Jobs & Career Development at LinkedIn News. “I think you can use the methodology in your own job search too.” Published on Tuesday, the list uses LinkedIn data on upskilling, attrition and retention, gender diversity, ability to advance, and more to rank the top 50 U.S. companies for career growth. The list not only honors the companies, but serves as a tool for members looking for jobs. Each honoree will receive a badge on its company page. And according to LinkedIn, all of those top companies are hiring right now, with more than 129,000 job openings across the companies. Landing at the top of the list, Google’s parent company Alphabet takes the number one spot, followed by Amazon and Wells Fargo, which ranked last year as well. AI companies also took the spotlight, with NVIDIA and ServiceNow landing on the list for the first time. Among the 50 honorees, which span across various industries, employers are using AI-powered resources for employees, like Bank of America’s (no. 11) AI virtual assistant Erica; Moderna’s (no. 43) AI academy which customizes learning for employees’ needs; and AT&T’s (no. 7) conversational productivity assistant “Ask AT&T.” AI upskilling initiatives further advances this year’s top skill on the rise, equipping employees with AI literacy. Beyond AI, many top companies shared growth programs for employees like cross-practice rotations. Some of the companies include Walmart (no. 10), which invested $1 billion in week-long training and certificate degrees, creating a pathway for in-demand jobs; and Kearny (no. 46), which offers rotational programs and six-month individualized coaching programs. LinkedIn’s methodology is based on eight pillars: ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity, educational background, and employee presence in the country. “It can feel really lonely navigating your career, and it’s nice to see companies that invest in their employees and have a vested interest in seeing them succeed,” Seaman said. Here are the top ten companies for 2025 in order: Alphabet Amazon Wells Fargo Northrop Grumman PwC Capital One AT&T JPMorgan Chase EY Walmart View the full article

With Google’s introduction of its vision match feature, users can now describe a product they’re looking for, and AI will generate suggestions similar to that item. The real kicker is that the product generated likely doesn’t exist. The AI will create something that you want, show you the product, and then try to match the AI product with items from the real world. It sounds like a streamlined, user-friendly shopping experience that could revolutionize online shopping yet again. But does it actually enhance our shopping journey? Are these AI-generated results truly more effective than the product results we get from traditional Google search? What does this mean for advertisers? To find out, I tested the feature myself, comparing vision match results with standard search results for a few product categories. What I found may give you a new perspective on the role AI plays in online shopping. Test 1: Vision match ‘suggested query’ To start, I choose one of vision match’s “suggested queries.” Search query: “holographic platform boots with metallic highlights” Vision match results Sponsored shopping results Free listing results Interestingly, my AI-generated image results are more accurate than the “shop similar-looking product” results. While the product recommendations included some metallic holographic platform boots, they also included a mix of non-metallic boots and even a prom dress. So, what’s the point of the AI-generated images if they’re not actually helping me find the product I want but instead creating a fake version of it? Wouldn’t it be more sensible to expand the “Shop Similar” section beyond six products and give us more real options? What also stands out to me is the selection of retailers. I’ve never heard of most of these retailers. Some results come from resale platforms like eBay and Poshmark. And then there’s the cost difference. The average price of the AI-generated product recommendations? A whopping $230, with some listings going as high as $954. Meanwhile, the average price from a regular search? Just $75. Looking at my shopping results, every product in the first carousel (and beyond) is a pair of holographic platform boots with metallic highlights and nothing else. Now, I’m not planning on attending a disco party anytime soon, but if I were, I’d know where to go: Google Search. Contender GradeVision matchD+Traditional searchA Next, I tried a broader query, hoping for more accurate results. Test 2: Non-specified search (statement piece) Search query: “mens red button down shirt” Vision match results Sponsored shopping results Free listing results The first AI-generated image and product suggestions did show a red button-down shirt (though some may argue it’s an orange-red.) From there, I got a mix of red button-downs, some with patterns and textures. Overall, it wasn’t bad, but the price range was still all over the place. I still find myself drawn to the traditional search results. When I search for “men’s red button-down shirt,” I get exactly what I asked for. No guesswork, no unnecessary variations. Plus, I’m given valuable details upfront, like: Discount percentages. Customer ratings. Product attribute callouts (“comfortable,” “easy to clean”). These elements make the listings far more compelling and trustworthy, which incentives my click – unlike the AI-generated results, which feel more like a best guess than a true recommendation. Contender GradeVision matchCTraditional searchA Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. Business email address Sign me up! Processing... See terms. Test 3: Brand search You’d expect that searching for a specific brand name would surface products primarily from that brand’s official website, right? Not quite. I ran this search multiple times just to be sure I wasn’t imagining things – and still, less than 3% of the results actually came from Nike’s own site. Search query: “Nike sneakers” Vision match results Sponsored shopping results Free listing results Even worse, I was given additional irrelevant results – New Balance sneakers, socks, leggings, and blue polka dot blankets – definitely not Nike sneakers. Sponsored shopping is a different story. Since other major retailers carry Nike products, it makes sense to see them appear alongside Nike. However, when looking at the free listings, all my results come from nike.com. So, what does this mean for brands? If Nike, one of the world’s largest retailers, is hardly featured in the vision match results, what does this mean for smaller brands? Will they struggle even more to get visibility in vision match and possibly other future AI-generated product recommendations? Contender GradeVision matchD-Traditional searchA+ Test 4: A trending search For my final test, I wanted to see how AI would handle a fashion trend rather than a standard clothing item. Trends come and go quickly, creating a high demand for a short period of time, unlike staple pieces like a “men’s red button-down shirt,” which remain relevant year after year. This felt like an important test, given how fast fashion moves and how crucial it is for shopping tools to keep up with ever-changing styles. Search query: “barrel jeans” Vision match results Sponsored shopping results Free listing results If you haven’t heard of the “barrel jean” trend, don’t worry; you’re not missing much in the vision match results because they’re completely wrong. I only included three screenshots, but after scrolling through everything, I didn’t spot a single pair of actual barrel jeans. Instead, I got jeans in every color and pattern imaginable, along with some random dress slacks. Meanwhile, a simple Google Search gave me exactly what I was looking for: a variety of barrel jeans from well-known retailers available in different price ranges and washes. It’s pretty clear that when it comes to keeping up with fashion trends, AI might be trending, but vision match still isn’t fashion-forward. Contender GradeVision matchFTraditional searchA+ The final verdict In my experience, while vision match offers an interesting new way to search for products, it still has a long way to go in terms of accuracy and relevance. In each test, it struggled to provide precise matches for the products I was looking for, often offering unrelated items or a confusing mix of options. On the other hand, traditional search results from Google gave me exactly what I wanted: clear product options, price ranges, and relevant details that helped me make an informed decision. Let’s take a look at the final results of our test: Contender GradeVision matchDTraditional searchA I understand that these results are subjective, but anyone with search intent would agree that a D average is generous in this case. So, what does this mean for advertisers? As AI-generated results grow, advertisers must continue to adapt their strategies to ensure their products are accurately represented. However, with limited control over what’s featured in vision match, this will be very difficult. Given that the current vision match results seem subpar, users will likely still prefer the traditional search results, which continue to provide more accurate and relevant options. While vision match has potential, its current limitations likely won’t sway many users away from the search results for now. View the full article