Script Actions in ServiceNow

Script Actions :

• Events can be fired from most of the server side script elements for processing later. i.e Async processing.
• Script actions can be defined with the processing logic to process those events.
• Events are processed when the processing capability available. 
• Events are processed as user system. 
• Events may be processed in parallel if there is enough processing capacity.   i.e Schedule workers and semaphores.
• Events are defined on a table and script actions are defined on events.

Events can be triggered using, 

gs.eventQueue('procssed.load.event',gr, parmValue1,parmValue2);

Objects available in a script action: 

current  :  represents GlideRecord object of the record on which event is triggered

event : represents event parameter object.  two additional parameters can be processed to an event when it is being triggered and those parameters are accessed using event.parm1, event.parm2 in the script actions. 

Quick points: 

1.  Event and script actions can be used to develop event driven async integrations.
2.  Event and script actions can be used to defer the bulk crud operations processing to later point in time.
3.  Avoid writing lengthy script action scripts, call script includes instead.

Business Rules in ServiceNow

Business Rules :

• Business rules are the server side processing objects.  
• Can be configured to trigger on create/read/update/delete operations into a table.
• Can be configured to execute before/after/async of any of the the above operations.
• Before rules are generally used for data enrichment, validation.
• After rules are generally used to configure notifications, perform upsert operations into a related table.
• Async rules are generally used for outbound integrations, heavy processing logic which could  otherwise impact user experience. 
• Display rules can be configured to pass on values from server side to client side scripts to eliminate the round trips.
• Query rules can be configured to add additional default conditions to all the query statements performed on a table.

Objects : 

current  :  represents the current state of the record that is being processed.   Available in before, after, query, display, async business rules.

previous : represents the previous state of the record that is being processed. Available in before, after business rules.

g_scratchpad :   represents an object which can be loaded with key value pairs from server side to access at client side. Available in display business rules.

Avoid :

•  current.update()  in before business rules. Could lead to infinite loop of rule execution without  proper conditions. 
•  outbound integration calls in before/after business rules.  This impacts user experience.
•  writing lengthy scripts in advanced business rules . Use script includes instead.
•  Avoid global business rules. Use script includes where possible. 
• Avoid circular updates among related tables.  i.e Business rules on table A updating table B, and Business rules on table B, updating table A.

Stuck with ? :

Unique key violation detected by database :   Could be because of current.update() in before business rules, or circular updates.

Workflow execution order :  Workflows run before the insertion into table and after before business rules with order <= 1000.  so, adjust the order if needed.

Empty journal fields :  values of journal fields such as work_notes, comments are not available in an after business rules, use current.work_notes.getJournalEntry(1) instead. 

Activities being duplicated : Could be because of current.update() in before business rules, or circular updates between related tables.

Here are the related articles on ServiceNow

IT job market in Melbourne

IT Jobs in Melbourne, Australia: 

Either you are an experience professional recently migrated to Melbourne or student pursuing higher studies in Melbourne in the information technology, you will find this article useful if you are actively looking for a job or planning to look for a job in the near future. After having worked more than couple of years in Melbourne as an IT professional I am sharing my thoughts.

Job portals :

The best place to start is try and understand the demand for you field of expertise are the job portals. Australia best job portal Seek so do your research such as how many job openings you could see in a week or month.  

Meetups :

  Networking is everything,  start attending meetups.  Always look for an opportunity to present a session, Presenter gets the most attention,  Also you will get an opportunity to describe your current situation while introducing yourself.   

Volunteering :

If you are falling short of expectations in terms of local experience, consider working as a Volunteer. You will get to understand work culture as well as you could use references from this work place.  If you hit a jackpot you might a job from the same work place if they are impressed with your work.

Here is the portal where could apply volunteering jobs : Volunteer Jobs

Code repositories , certifications, technical blogs :

It always helps to have additional interest in the field that are you are working, Consider contributing to open source repositories or getting certifications in the technology that you are interested in.

  All the very best !!

Here are the related articles  Jobs

Most Common Interview Questions:  Interview Questions

The secrets of investing

The secrets of investing:

    This is one of the common question most people ask. Are there any secrets in investing ?  what are the mantras that successful investors must know, well in this article I will share my experiences and thoughts. 

Respect the money:

     Without compromising your lifestyle you could save money, you will have to choose your spending wisely. Buying luxuries such as expensive cars, jewelry, costly clothes on credit cards or loan eventually is going to create problems financially later.  Instead use that money to generate assets such as shares, real estate so you could buy those luxuries with your money down the line.

Once you have enough money to invest,  it is time to find the right investment so that money can work for you.  Opportunity is everything. 

Don't invest money alone:

         More often than not, most people invest their money because they have seen someone investing and they do not want to fall behind. Just alone buying a property or shares in a company is not investing. It is gambling !!. You could loose or win and as with any gambling the odds of loosing is more.   

    "Invest time and money.  More time and less money"

Sam,  John both earn $3,000 a month from 9-5 job, saves approximately $500 a month after  expenses. 

Sam left all his savings in the same bank account without any research and with the assumption that it is small savings anyway.  On the hand, John spent an hour in finding a bank with high interest rates and at the end of it, he found a bank that is offering 1% higher interest rate and he opened an account in that bank and started using for his savings. At the end of the six months, 

Sam with his current bank interest rate 4% 

Investment amount = 6*500 = $3000

Interest earned = $35

John with his current savings bank interest rate 5% 

Investment amount = 6*500 = $3000

Interest earned = $43.87

So, John has paid himself $13.87 for his 1 hour research over period of 6 months.  This may not be big amount but guess what it's real money and it is only over 6 months period with a savings of $500 a month. This will have compound affects on his wealth over a time period. 

Another example with capital risk which is where research is more important to minimize the odds in investing.

Sam,  John both earn $3,000 a month from 9-5 job, saves approximately $500 a month after  expenses. 

Sam started investing his savings into share market at the end of the each month, he invested in companies that are doing well in the current market conditions. He did not take into account market cycles and company fundamentals. 

John also wanted to invest in share market at the end of each month but he could not find the right companies to invest in every month so only he ended up investing 3 times $500 each for the 6 months period. At the end of 6 months, 

Sam, out of his 6 investments 

4 companies contributed to profits of 10% of each = $200

2 companies contributed to loss of 10% of each = -$100 

So, Sam's total profits  = $100

John, out of his 3 investments 

3 companies contributed to profits of 10% of each = $150, and he has potentially earned interest on the remaining money on his higher savings interest rate account.

So, John's total profits  = $150+

Your research and time has double benefits they will not only help you make profits but at times helps you limit losses.   

Here is another article that I wrote about Investing : Investing Strategies

Investing in shares - Strategies, Terms, Research

Investing in shares :

It is an absolute necessity for each and every individual to understand how money works.   Money inflows into your pocket and Money outflows from your packet.  If you have not worked out how much money that you could spare per say at the end of every month to invest , that is a first step to start.

Where is the money?

Have you have worked out much money that you can spare and, out of which how much you can invest in shares ?  After that, below is the quick checklist to consider. 

• Its risky :  Unlike other investment options out there, share markets investment is risky. You could loose your money if you invest in a wrong company or at a wrong time or even for a wrong reason. So, consider the worst case of loosing all that money and work out your financial situation based on that.
•  Its volatile :  Markets are volatile, you may not be able to cash out the money when you need it as pulling out the money at wrong time may come with  capital losses. So, commitment is required. 
• Brokerage charges :  Every time you buy  or sell a stock you will pay fee to the broker, so if you want to buy stocks for short term gains , leave enough margins to yourself.
• Taxes and regulations : Depending on the place you live in and the place of companies that you buy stocks from , you will be subjected certain regulations and capital gain/loss taxes.  So,  get an idea. 
• Managed funds: It takes lot of time for you to find the right company and understanding the fundamentals, past history and predicting future of the it over short, medium and long term. If you have do not have enough time for that, you could use the professionals to invest the money for you to start with. You invest in managed funds and they invest in the companies for you.  Win, Win.  

What is your strategy:

Steady income vs capital growth:

You could make money in two ways as an investor from share market. 

Some companies pay monthly or quarterly portions of their profits to the share holders.  Yes, I mean Dividends !!!.

Some companies will reinvest the profits back into the business to generate more profits through increasing their market capitalization i.e increasing their product, service offerings or even expanding the existing offerings to more customers.  This increases the company value and thereby the share price. so you can eventually sell the shares at a higher price than you bought.   

Generally, if you are in your 20's or 30's, then consider capital growth stocks over dividends.  After all, you need money at later stages of your life, so reinvesting the money that you would have otherwise been paid  in dividends back into the market make sense.  

That said, there are companies out there which can pay you dividends and as well as grow over the period.  Growth and dividend stocks for the mixture of both worlds.  

Short term vs long term:

When investing in share market , you must ask yourself how many days that you are willing to hold that investment.  

From the day traders: who buy and sell on the same day,  there are share holders holding the stocks for decades.  

Consider investing for the long term, that gives you peace of mind and you do not have monitor the share market every second.   However, re-balancing the portfolio is required at times to limit the losses but otherwise you buy and forget about it and let the market do the magic over a period. 

Here is another article where I wrote about investment: Investment Secrets

First Day at Work ?

First Day at Work ?

First of all, Congratulations on securing a job !! Well done. 

Preparation for the first day:

May be this is your first job or your changing job to new employer,  you will have to prepare for the first day to make sure you leave good impression on your employer. Below is the list of Items I would prepare for my first day at work.

Know when and where to report?

 This may sound obvious but it gets slipped through many occasions.   This is absolutely crucial.   From all the communications that you have had with the future employer, make sure you have got the details on where to go on your first day. and make sure you also have the details of contact person or person to report to on the joining day.   That last thing you want is showing up late on the joining day.

Prepare for awkward conversation:

For some people it is an easy thing to initiate conversion with new people and go in with it for hours but for the most,   It is hard to engage in a conversation with a stranger. That is when bit of mental preparation helps. You have to see yourself in it. Probably,  Practice few mins with a friend or just in front of the mirror, Your friend or other character of you being reporting person. 

Be confident and bold:

You have gone past all the hurdles to secure a job,  that means your employer wants you to work for the organisation .  Just remember that.  A Firm handshake with confident greeting will set the things for the rest of the day. 

Refresh your skills:

You will meet one guy at least who wanted to inquire and investigate  your capabilities straight on your first day.   So expect that and prepare for it. 

Sample ITIL V4 questions (Service, Service management)

1) [..........] is a set of specialized organizational capabilities for enabling vale to customers in the form of services?

A. Product

B. Organizations

C. Service management

D. Value

Answer: C

Service management is defined as a set of specialized organizational capabilities for enabling vale to the customers in the form of services.

2) [............] is a functionality offered by a product or service to meet a particular need?

A. Value

B. Utility

C. Warranty

D. Outcome

Answer: B

Utility is a functionality offered by a product or service to meet a particular need

3) Service relationship management consists of joint activities performed by a [.............] to ensure continual value co-creation based on agreed and available service offerings.

A. Service provider and Customer

B. Service consumer and Provider

C. Service consumer and Service provider

D. All

Answer: C 

Service relationship management consists of joint activities performed by a service provider and service consumer to ensure continual value co-creation based on agreed and available service offerings.

4) [........] is the perceived benefits, usefulness and importance of something?

A. Value

B. Product

C. Service Offering

D. Resources

Answer: A

Value is the Perceived benefits, usefulness and importance of something.

5) [...........] is a configuration of resources, created by the organization, that will be potentially valuable for their customers?

A. Service consumer

B. Service Offering

C. Product

D. Goods

Answer: C

A Product is a configuration of resources, created by the organization, that will be potentially valuable for their customers.

6) A person who defines requirements for services and takes responsibility for outcomes from service consumption.

A. Sponsor

B. Customer

C. User

D. All the above

Answer: B

Customer will be defines requirements for services and takes responsibility for outcomes from service consumption.

7)  'fit for use' is determines?

A. Service

B. Product

C. Utility

D. Warranty

Answer: D

Warranty is also determines 'fit for use'

8) [..........] is refer to possible events that could cause harm/loss, or make it more difficult to achieve objectives?

A. Risk

B. Cost

C. Output

D. Resources

Answer: A

Risks refer to possible events that could cause harm or loss or make it more difficult to achieve objectives.

9) Access is granted/licensed under terms or conditions; this sentence is related to which word?

A. Service Offering

B. Goods

C. Service Actions

D. Access to Resources

Answer: D

Access to resources means giving the access under terms or conditions.

10) Which statement is related to outcome?

A. Tangible

B. Result for stakeholder

C. Result of a user

D. None

Answer: B

An outcome is a result for a stockholder enabled by one or more outputs.

11) Which sentence is correct?

A. Costs removed from the consumer by the service.

B. Costs imposed on the consumer by the service, including charges by the service provider

C. Costs expressed in non-financial terms can be translated into financial costs

D. All the above

Answer: D

Costs are divided 3 types:

> costs removed from the consumer by the service

> costs imposed on the consumer by the service, including charges by the service provider

> costs expressed in non-financial terms can be translated into financial costs

12) Service is a mean of enabling value co-creation by facilitating [.........] that customers want to achieve.

A. Outputs

B. Products

C. Resources

D. Outcomes

Answer: D

Service is a mean of enabling value co-creation by facilitating outcomes that customer wants to achieve, without the customer having specific costs and risks.

13) [............] is the assurance that a product or service will meet agreed requirements?

A. Warranty

B. Utility

C. Service Actions

D. Goods

Answer: A

Warranty is the assurance that a product or service will meet agreed requirements.

14) An organization is a person or a group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities and relationships to achieve its [.......]?

A. Value

B. Objectives

C. Service

D. Product

Answer: B

An organization is a person or a group of people that has its own function with responsibilities, authorities and relationships to achieve its objectives.

15) What is Utility? 

A. fit for use

B. fit for purpose

C. Offering

D. All

Answer: B

Utility can be also called as 'fit for purpose'