Portfolios allow Mindgrub Technologies to make informed decisions about new vendors and can provide an expansive view into a prospective employee's capabilities.
by Site Staff
April 26, 2009
Portfolios show the breadth and depth of company or individual performance. They also allow companies to make informed decisions about new vendors and can provide an expansive view into a prospective employee’s capabilities.
Mindgrub Technologies — a Baltimore-area company specializing in the design and development of information display and instructional systems — uses portfolios in several ways, including showcasing work to clients; as marketing material on its Web site; and making informed decisions about marketing, recruitment, employee development, peer review and knowledge management.
As a small, young company, new business development is critical to Mindgrub, and it uses portfolios to present its work to prospective clients and employees. It recently presented a portfolio of social media sites to Mario Armstrong, a technology contributor for National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition,” and was selected to partner with Armstrong’s company to develop the TechTechBoom social media portal for 13- to 19-year-old math and science enthusiasts.
Mindgrub also displays a portfolio of past and present projects in the case studies section of its Web site, documenting its work with USAVotes2008.com, StockMaps and EdInfo.tv. Voice of America contracted Mindgrub to help develop USAVotes2008.com, an interactive Web site that offers access to information about the U.S. election process and candidates. GeoNova, a Discovery Communications company, utilized its expertise in rich Internet applications to design and develop StockMaps, which gives users the ability to find maps and geographic images. In partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Mindgrub launched EdInfo.tv, a portal that focuses on providing real-time access to information on workplace learning.
Mindgrub also requires potential new hires to supply portfolios for reviewing their qualifications in interactive media and design. While a resume provides bullet points of a candidate’s expertise, a portfolio offers an in-depth view of his or her potential. This same approach of evaluating an employee’s professional portfolio also lays the foundation for conducting performance appraisals and making decisions based on data.
Students often are required to put together portfolios of their work in individual classes as a demonstration of their acquired knowledge. While these portfolios are a display of a student’s expertise, their use often ends with the end of the class. Mindgrub’s EdInfo.tv site offers students a way to continue showcasing their work. Members of the community access and contribute to the information found on EdInfo, allowing students, teachers and other users to showcase their work and knowledge that might otherwise sit in a folder on a flash drive. This project embraces the opportunity for professionals to submit their work samples for peer review to a worldwide audience.
Mindgrub believes collaborative work efforts help spread information and benefit the company and the community. It utilizes portfolios as a way to grow ideas into a successful business solution that delivers benefits to individuals and other businesses.