Portfolio

Running head: DIGITAL PORTFOLIO 1

DIGITAL PORTFOLIO 3

Digital Portfolio

Introduction

A digital portfolio refers to a website that shows how you utilize the electronic media and other forms of virtual technology in the personal or organization level. There are different sites that offer free portfolio websites that assist a person in developing the portfolio website. In this paper, I analyze a portfolio website that I have created. My portfolio website is based on my designing job. The fashion and design industry is a very competitive industry and use of virtual technology is vital for competitive advantage.

The diagram below shows the arrangement of my portfolio website.

( Portfolio website )

Tool creating portfolio websites

a) Website: creation of a portfolio website is partly dependent on a website that holds portfolios. While it is possible to create a portfolio website using the stages in System Development Life Cycle, it is cheaper to create a portfolio website using free websites where others can easily find it. A portfolio website requires visibility. It helps other internet users to locate you easily. It also gives links to other internet places that a person and/ or an organization can be found. Google-sites are one of the popular websites used to create a digital portfolio. Use of Google sites is easy since it is preprogrammed to accept changes and links that will help in generating the portfolio. This is also a safe tool since access is secured by use of username and passwords. For a person who uses Gmail Google allows Google sites to be embedded to the email.

b) Images: development of portfolio website is enhanced by use of icons that internet users can easily relate to the larger picture that the portfolio is intended to portray. For example, use of images for pop culture designs helps the internet users to identify the specialization in a certain culture in design. The images can be sourced from different areas. First, the links to other websites automatically develop icons for such sites. Also, the developer of the portfolio website may upload images as he wishes.

c) Presentation software: presentation software comes in handy in arrangement of the items in a manner that they are comprehensible. Presentation software used must be compatible with the site where the portfolio website is being developed. My choice of Goggle Sites was aimed at enabling me use Microsoft PowerPoint which is compatible. Presentation program converts the links, images and texts into a narrative that the internet users can follow and lure them to other internet places.

d) Internet access: development of portfolio website is partly dependent on the convenience of the internet provider. The internet access helps in fast uploading of data and images. It is also crucial in the constant management of the portfolio to include features that were not included at the development stage.

e) Server computer: the development of the portfolio website requires a primary working area. The main server may be used to develop the initial images to be put on the portfolio beforehand. Also, any further maintenance and upgrading of the features require an initial working area.

Components of the portfolio website

Twitter and facebook

Twitter and facebook are the two most popular social media sites. These two sites are important to me since they help in facilitating the contact with the external environment. First, the sites are used by most of my friends whom we have been in contact with even before I started business. In order for such persons to know that I have a new trade, I required a place where I could get in touch with all of them with minimal cost. The social media websites have been vital also every time I have designed a new item. Advertisement through social media is simple and helps the organization to have an international platform. As shown in the presentation diagram above, I have directly linked both facebook and twitter accounts such that any update ion facebook account is automatically updated in twitter account and vive versa.

One of the main disadvantages of the social media usage is that it is easy for the competitions and other persons with a malicious intention to trail the steps of the organization. This has been thoroughly considered in the development of the portfolio. All the official communications thus are done using other features as explained below.

Yahoo mail

Yahoo mail is the site that is use to hold my emails both personally and for the design organization. The email is used as the primary feature for the official communication. This is a safe method of delivering information fast. However, the convenience of this means is partly based on the measures that the recipients or other persons whom we converse with through email have on the other end. I normally use the email to confirm reports with customers and other stakeholders like investors and the agencies within the design industry.

Google Docs

Google docs are components that are mainly used for personal recording, storage and/ or presentation preparation. Google docs are convenient and reliable in ensuring that power breakages do not affect work in progress. I can always access my documents from any remote location without risking the security of data contained in the documents. Google docs are embedded on my alternative email Gmail and thus I access them using my alternative email. Use of alternative email helps me to differentiate between official and other forms of communications.

One main advantage of using Google docs is their ability to be used to send emails. The documents are easily convertible to emails and this makes sending of email easy and fast. Google docs contain features for most personal use website like; WordPad, worksheets, publisher, presentation, and communication based features. This makes the Google docs a central point of making the presentation preparations.

Linked in

Linked in is a feature that contains the general information of the design organization. Linked in complements the portfolio since it summarizes all the features that the portfolio has. However, it is not as expounded as the portfolio website. The main link that the linked in feature gives is the link to the portfolio website.

Part II

Echoing Chu and Lo (2011) business analysis is one of the most important aspects in any organization. The optimal goal of formulating a business analysis is to strike a balance between the returns and the risks that are exposed to the company. In addition to this, a business analysis enables an organization to gain a competitive edge in the industry by formulating a strategy that effectively copes with the existing competition and further enables it to develop products and services that are of a higher quality compared to their competitors (Chen, & Leydesdorff, 2014). This treatise will carry out a meticulous analysis on a portfolio analysis of the Reed Music School and culminate with a discussion on the professional networking opportunities that are available to the institution. The main network opportunity that the organization operates in is Local professional organizations

Details of different professional networking opportunities in my area

As noted above, the main professional networking opportunity is the local professional organizations. The success of Reed Music School is partly dependent on the ability of the organization to partner with other organizations within the industry. This helps in ensuring that Reed Music School is actively involved in the development of standards within the music industry. Also, this helps in comprehension of the standards by the management. Being part of the professional organization places the organization at a strategic position that boosts the competitive advantage.

The other two networking opportunities that the organization has are local volunteer activities and local trade shows. Local volunteer activities include the participation of the students and staff in activities within the community through corporate social responsibility. The school runs a program where students and staff members have free shows for the local community which is aimed at improving cohesion among the communities. Also, the school participates in different competitions among the music schools in the area (Chu, & Lo, 2011). This gives the audience a chance to rate the output of the lessons that are taught in the school.

Identify and provide a rationale for the opportunities you plan on pursuing for this course

By the end of this course, I expect to have created a bond with the local community that will enable me to hold annual music shows. I plan to use the volunteer programs that are provided by the school to ensure that the platform is well set (Chu, & Lo, 2011). I will use social media platform in two ways; first to analyze the music needs in the community and to identify prospect partners in this endeavor.

Describe how you will approach the opportunity

After identification of prospect partners, I will create a rapport with them and seek to create a personal relationship. As part of the plan, I will sacrifice my free time to bond with them and carry out a preliminary study on the viability of the idea. I will ensure that all the events that are organized by the prospect partners get my backing; first by being volunteer artists in them and secondly by boosting them through social media. I expect the partners to pay back by backing my idea. Their support to my program shall be vital for the ranking in the local professional organization. Having most likes in social forums among activities within the local professional organization is a key factor to the success of the actual events.

Describe the opportunities that other classmates located for their professional networking list

One of the common opportunities that is being listed by other students is the promotion of local music through professional opportunities. The main aim of this opportunity is to be seen as the face of local music by both the residents and the local administration. This has been done through promotion of local music genres through digital portfolio layout. Also, articles describing the origin, value and future of local genres have been used to promote the local genres. These have been praises especially in the events of local trade shows where the indigenous theme is maintained.

Add at least two other opportunities to your own list

An opportunity that I am pursuing (as addition to the main opportunity) is the development of a network program of seeking local talent that is not necessarily trained. This would not fit for the professional organization but would be included in the local trade shows. Another consideration opportunity is to seek sponsors for local talents (Chen, & Leydesdorff, 2014). The sponsors would be sourced from the connections made through the professional organization with an intention of giving back to the society. Events where sponsors and beneficiaries would meet would be arranged and promoted through a website developed specifically for that course (Chu, & Lo, 2011).

Consolidate all opportunities in one list of professional networking opportunities

The three opportunities above can be actualized through a hybrid system. The system shall include the following steps;

· Identification and bonding of partners

· Collaborating with local partners in seeking local talent

· Showcasing local talent through local trade shows where professionals are invited as guest audiences

· Sourcing sponsors through professional social sites by broadcasting the local talent

· Ensuring that this cycle is repeated annually.

· Creating sustainability of program by creating electronic payment systems for download of the local talent (Chen, & Leydesdorff, 2014).

References

Anderson, P. (2013). Technical Communication. New York: Cengage Learning

Frayer, A. (2011). Playing with Media: Simple Ideas for Powerful Sharing. California: Sage

John, D. (2010). Web Portfolio Design and Applications. London: Sage

Katherine, C. John, R. & Peggy, E. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use. New York: Willey

Warner, J. (2011). Web Sites Do-It-Yourself. Mason: Cengage