Learning for our personal purposes is not the limit of what IT workers are asked to do. There are also situations where we need to learn the latest tools or technology advances. Unfortunately, these are not often tasks assigned to junior staff. However, researching new tools is an excellent way to add to our resume and general skill set. Therefore, we should take on these assignments when they become available.
Researching New Tools For A Project
An assignment to research technology or tools will include a deliverable. Thus, we need to develop a process and approach for accomplishing our goals and reporting the results. Fortunately, we have been doing this for years. Nearly every skill we learn includes a proof of mastery. That may be in the form of a test, a certification, or a summary report. Likewise, each of these options is required in our professional pursuits. Therefore, the key to success in research projects (just as any other) is to understand the requirements and deliver on them.
Finding Options
Researching new tools often includes a requirement to evaluate whether they are worth switching to. In these cases, the deliverable will include a comparison of features amongst the options. The best approach to these projects is to develop the comparison criteria early on. That will help you know what to focus on while you are learning about each tool. When you wait until the end of your research to determine the evaluation criteria you are more likely to have to review what you covered. It is almost a guarantee that effort will be duplicated.
Proof In The Pudding
Most of the research projects I have been involved in over the years are a demo or proof-of-concept. In these cases, we are looking for solutions to a problem or evaluating the viability of a solution. Projects like this are personal favorites as they focus on the new solution over proven details. It takes a lot of drudgery out of the development process. Better yet, it is a type of development that is closest to pure learning. The things you already know are almost ignored by design. Thus, we focus on the new.
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