A comparison of grain size determination by light microscopy and EBSD analysis

This study shows that the accuracy of optical microscopy analysis of grain size depends on sample preparation techniques, etching procedures and materials, where the visibility of a boundary is a function of the techniques used, and the microstructure components on or close to the boundary. Optical examination of grain size does not always give the same information achieved by EBSD analysis. Fully automatic measurements of grain size by EBSD provides more accurate measurements than conventional optical imaging methods and yields smaller average grain size because EBSD has an advantage over the optical examination in better imaging smaller grains and its result is not dependent on etching and imaging techniques

The Information Technology Workforce: Trends and Implications 2005-2008

In 2005, a team of researchers sponsored by the Society for Information Management Advocacy program interviewed senior executives in Information Technology (IT) departments about their current and future workforce trends and skill requirements. This paper presents the results of that research: more organizations are increasing their in-house IT staffs than are decreasing them. IT executives say it is critical to own business and project management skills, and they seek these skills in their mid-level hires. The use of offshore workers is increasing, primarily through domestically headquartered providers. Technical skills are more likely to be externally sourced, but they are also sought in entry-level hires. The study points out the challenge of transforming technically skilled entry-level hires into mid-level IT managers with strong business and project management skills, given current IT recruiting and hiring trends. It also highlights the need for practitioner-academic collaboration to ensure appropriate development of IT professionals throughout their careers