I recently had lunch with my former advisor who is now the dean of the school where I did my undergraduate. Having graduated from the school for so long, I asked my advisor about the current affairs at my alma mater. He said that he is getting really concerned about the quality of high school education in this country. He said that since I left the school, more and more freshmen in the Engineering department are being placed in the pre-calculus class. He continued to explain that these bright students who had obtained good grades from their high schools but they just haven't gone through the same rigor or level of advanced math as their predecessors did.

My advisor echoed many of the same concerns that many people have - that is the current state of education (especially in the science and engineering discipline) in this country. So far, I haven't seen or heard anything that indicates that the state of American is improving. As far as I know, all sources seem to indicate that the American innovation and education is falling behind. I still can't believe that the number 1 country in world in science and engineering can't produce enough students in these fields. What ever happen to the American competitive edge? But the bigger question is: do Americans care? Are we not investing enough in education? Has the education quality has declined in recent years? Maybe this article that I read earlier today may shed some light on those questions. While I think that the spew in this article is a little baseless and sensationalized, there is some truth in it.

10/11/2005 6:52:50 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [5]

Thoughts

I saw a post on Slashdot earlier today with a reference to a WSJ article about company executives getting more actively involved in communicating with their employees. Personally, I think that this is good trend and that every manager should adopt an "open door" policy. Speaking from my own personal experience, all the companies that I have worked for do not have such a policy. "My way or the highway" style of management simply doesn't work in corporate environment anymore, in today's competitive environment, open-communication is of the essence.

10/10/2005 9:29:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [2]

Business

This is a funny video of George Bush, who was then the Governor of Texas when he gave the camera a "One-Fingered Salute" before going on the air.

10/10/2005 11:56:36 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [2]

Humor

I went to the Sloan Convocation early today. The morning sessions were presentations/discussions of various management topics by Sloan faculty. But the highlight of today's convocation is the keynote addess by Morris Chang, Chairman and CEO of TSMC. Being in semiconductor industry myself, I find Chang's insights on business innovation and the semiconductor industry to be valuable. Here are the notes from the talk:

Chang on innovation, business models, and business model innovation

• Innovation often fails. Even when it doesn't, the benefits are often incremental.
• Practice aspect is important, an idea is not enough. You need to practice to gain benefits.
• Build a company infrastructure that rewards successful innovations without punish the failed ones. Failed innovators are punished enough by their failure and loss of time. Chang postulated that younger people are more innovative than older people because older people have less time to lose.
• Business model is a new term. No one talked about it in 80's. It only became popular in the late 90's. Back then companies link their business performance to products and services.
• These days, all we hear about in the business world is business model.
• Business model as defined by Chang as how a company conducts its affairs with its customers. Customer interface is an important element in today's business.
• Technology innovation has become too common.
• 50's to 80's were about technological innovation.
• Business model innovation dominates from 90's to present.
• Business model innovation is actually harder to emulate.
• Another good example is Starbucks, they basically make a $3 coffee out of a $0.50 coffee.
• Dell has no innovation in technology, but they have have innovation in business model.

Chang on TSMC and the semiconductor industry

• When the semiconductor industry started, every company share the same business model. They did the same design and production, and have the same customers.
• Semiconductor IC design is technology intensive but not capital intensive.
• Semiconductor manufacturing, on the other hand, is both technology and capital intensive.
• When TSMC started in 1987, foundry business was a new business model.
• A new business model, however, does not have a market - thus there's were no customers.
• Then in 1992, a number of startup design companies (or fabless companies in semiconductor lingo) surged and they became TSMC new customers. TSMC reputation became reliable and these new companies started pitching their business to VCs by mentioning their relationship with TSMC.
• In manufacturing, TSMC has to be competitive. So the company has to evolve. For example, today 1/3 of Ebay's business is not in the auction business. But evolving is difficult, because as you grow the company becomes burden with the old model.
• At TSMC, they don't evaluate their managers based on the amount of money they make (or in semiconductor terms cycle-time, yield, etc) but the level of customer satisfaction (how many problems they solve for their customers).

Chang on Leadership

• Chang has 2 simple principles on leadership
1. The leader needs to know what direction he is taking his followers. A leader who doesn't know the direction, leads in circle.
2. A leader needs to have a following.
• In politics, totalitarian usually works. But in business, totalitarian won't work.

10/8/2005 9:54:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [0]

Business

One of the perks of being a MIT student is that I get to attend many of the talks/lectures/seminars that are organized on campus. MIT Sloan, the Engineering department, and the Science department are active in organizing and getting speakers to speak at these events. By and large, MIT has no problem drawing speakers, who include successful alumni, industry leaders, scholars, and government figures. On the other hand, the speakers seem to enjoy coming to campus to speak and interact with students. There is always at least a high profile talk everyday at MIT. Just this week alone, we have the following events on campus:

• Monday - How Not to Work on the Wrong Thing: Lessions from Science and Business. Speaker: Greg Blonder, Partner, Morgenthaler Ventures.
• Tuesday - Business and Human Rights: Corporate Opportunities, Business Risks, and Entrepreneurial Dilemma. Speaker: Klaus Leisigner, CEO, Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development.
• Wednesday - Big questions after Big Hurricanes. Speakers: Various MIT faculty members.
• Wednesday - Nobel Lecture in Chemistry. Speaker: Richard Schrock.
• Thursday - MIT Sloan Convocation 2005 Day 1. The Passion to Action, MIT Leadership Center Launch. Speakers: Phil Sharp, Bob Metcalfe, Bob Langer, etc.
• Friday - MIT Sloan Convocation 2005 Day 2. Talks and seminars featuring industry leaders and Sloan faculty. Speakers: Ken Morse, Rebecca Henderson, Carly Fiorina, John Thain, etc.
• Saturday - MIT Sloan Convocation 2005 Day 3. Speaker: Morris Chang, CEO, TSMC
.

In my opinion, while MIT is excellent in organizing talks/seminar type events, we are absolutely terrible in advertising them. For example, I couldn't even find Morris Chang's talk on MIT Google page nor have I seen any advertising posters for MIT Sloan Convocation on campus bulletin boards.

10/6/2005 5:35:07 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [3]

School

Last week, Robbie wrote a blog about a talk by Henry Mintzberg, a professor at McGill University and a critic of today's MBA program. From the blog entry, Robbie reinforced one of Mintzberg's beliefs that "MBA programs should be part-time. The education should go hand-in-hand with your work experience."

But detractors abound. According to this blog entry from a fellow blogger, Ian, it seems that part time and even executive MBA programs are getting little respect. There is a stigma attached to students who attend part time MBA programs. Ian echoed some of my thoughts in his article; however, I am baffled by the fact that Executive MBA programs, too, receive little respect from recruiters. Also, I have to point out that most colleges that offer part-time education program in business or any other disciplines are not top or upper tier schools. I wonder how the others, especially recruiters, would perceive part-time education programs if top schools start offering them to the public?

10/5/2005 1:34:24 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [1]

Business

In last night's TDS:

In a footage showing a Senate Armed Services Committee session, a seething Senator John McCain asked Secretary Rumsfeld: "What is your answer in Iraq?" To which, Rumsfeld answered: "With respect to your question, it seems to me that the answer comes in 2 parts... First, The politic, the economic, and the security have to go forward together. To the extent of the failure of the economy means the failure of security ... (this went on and on) ... Now, that means there is no answer here."

Jon Stewart intervened and shouted "What? He said that there's a 2 part answer, and then 1 answer, and now there's no answer? Seriously, if he didn't want to answer the question, a lesser man would just say 'Screw you.'"

10/4/2005 11:54:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [0]

The Daily Show

Last night's guest speaker in Innovation Teams was Ken Morse, Senior Lecturer and Managing Director of MIT Entrepreneurship Center. As usual, Morse with his highly animated presentation style engaged the entire class with his pitch on successful entrepreneurship and sales in the hi-tech business. Here are some notes on entrepreneurship:

• One of the most important constituents in starting a company is the people
• Recruit people with ambition not ego
• Installed base is a barrier to market entry - consistent with the business adage "Find a niche, build a barrier (or FANBAB)

Notes on sales:

• Any important person is busy. The thing they hate most is wasting their time. So make economic use of their time with you
• Along the same note, always follow up with a "thank you" note but make it short
• Start with Mr. or Ms. and let them them decide to let you use their first names or nicknames
• 6 ways to make people like you:
1. Be genuinely interested in other people
2. Smile
3. Remember your customer's name
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves
5. Talk in terms of other person's interests
6. Make the other person feel important

10/4/2005 8:02:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [4]

Business

Last night's TDS was filled with satirical jabs on the former FEMA director, Michael Brown, for his mismanagement of the Kartina disaster relief efforts. This is the best piece:

"The chart below shows the cycle of disaster as presented by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Yes, it is really from their site and you should probably check that link soon. I have a feeling it will be gone within a day or two.

Let’s see…we start with a disaster, of course, then we go the response, recovery, and mitigation. All very good. Then we have risk reduction, prevention, fantastic, and then we go into preparedness. Excellent, I have a very good feeling about this.  This, then, leads right back to…disaster?

I guess we’ve had it wrong all along! Judging by this criteria, Michael Brown shouldn’t be fired, he should be given a raise!"

9/30/2005 12:24:29 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [1]

The Daily Show

As part of the TPP Leadership Development Leadership Lunch series, Prof. Newman had arranged a discussion-led lunch session with Partha Ghosh with the students last Monday. I have heard of Partha Ghosh before and was keen on hearing his view on leadership. But due to a time conflict, I wasn't able to attend that session. Fortunately, he has graciously agreed to another session that was held on Tuesday.

I am usually dubious about people teaching leadership in school, but I was struck by Ghosh's definition of leadership, to which he relates leadership as a personal journey that is fueled by one's conviction and faith in self. He also stressed that today's problems are getting more interconnected, complex, and uncertain. Being a leader today is more important than ever before. But to be an effective leader, one has to be multidisciplinary so that he/she can connect with others better. I also had a nice short chat with Partha at the end of the session. I found him to be wise, humble, and accessible. Being a big fan of MIT ESD, he said that he would like to get more engaged with the students in ESD. He said that he will return to lead a few more sessions on leading organization and creative solving. Finally, he revealed that was slated to participate in the SDM orientation program next January where he will give a lecture/talk on leadership.

9/29/2005 12:38:09 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [0]

School

I had the worst presentation ever in last night's Innovation Teams (i-Teams) class. I was nervous and couldn't articulate my thoughts clearly at the presentation. This was a far cry from a presentation on digital encryption that I presented earlier that day. Being familiar with encryption technology, I didn't even prepare for that earlier presentation and I breezed through the presentation by effectively explaining digital security to my audience.

I am still utterly disappointed with poor presentation performance last night - this has not happened since college. So what happened? In hindsight, I wasn't familiar with the powerpoint slides that I was presenting. My team prepared the slides while I presented them. I was totally out-of-sync with some of the animations on the slides. But what really made me nervous was the presentation of a subject that I don't know very well. With a high-profile audience making up of faculty members, VCs, PhD students, and other MIT students, all whom have a good understanding of technology, I was afraid that I didn't have the technical fluency to convey our team's ideas and technology effectively. It was an embarrassing moment for me. But this is no major setback as long as I learn from mistakes.

9/27/2005 8:59:54 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [2]

Personal

Last night's guest speakers in Innovation Teams were Sam "Bo" Pasternack, an IP partner at Choate, Hall & Stewart and Charles Cooney, Faculty Director of the Deshpande Center. They led a very interesting discussion on patents and other intellectual property (IP) issues.

Notes from the talk:

1. The patent does not give you the right to sell but the right to exclude others from selling or from producing. For example, if you are not awarded with a patent in Japan you can still sell in Japan as long as no one is excluding you from the marketplace
2. If there's a conflict of patent, the first inventor gets the patent not the first to file
3. In order to get a patent, the invention has to have novelty, usefulness, and non-obviousness (prior use or documentation).
4. Patents are issued for four types of inventions: machines, process, man-made products, and compositions of matter
5. In U.S., you get 20 years of patent rights from the day of filing, not the day of patent grant
6. The best approach to filing a patent is file first and then disclose
7. There's other instruments other than patent to protect and extend IP
8. Trade secret is one of them as long as the IP is kept a secret
9. Obviously, the biggest risk to trade secret is that the secret gets out. For example, some disgruntled employee decides to steal the trade secret
10. Worse, this disgruntled employee can file for a patent on the trade secret and prevent a company from using the trade secret
11. Someone in the class asked "But this case seems to violate the statute of granting patent to first person who invited the idea." Sam's response was: "The statute stands only if the inventor doesn't actively abandon and conceal the invention"

9/27/2005 8:20:52 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [1]

Business

At least according to Ray Stata, the founder of Analog Devices, in a recent interview with EE Times (registration required):

EETimes: Let's talk about the state of the engineer in North America.


Stata: For whatever reason, engineering as a profession has never garnered the kind of prestige [here] that it has in other parts of the world. There's a certain breed of people who get interested in math and science, but are there enough of them? Clearly, there aren't. In Massachusetts, had it not been for the in-migration of engineers from other parts of the world, the engineering population would have declined.

I don't think anybody has got it figured out. I went to my 25th reunion [at MIT], and they had a questionnaire: "Would you send your kids to MIT?" The answers predominantly came back "No." The [respondents would] say, pardon my English, "I worked my ass off when I was there. Why would I want my kids to go through that, when at the end of the day it was the lawyers and the Wall Street guys who made all the money?"

When you're studying it, you work twice as hard as anyone in any other classes, and when you get out you work day and night and you don't make that much money. So you have to do it for love, not for money.

The one place where we haven't lost it is the whole notion of entrepreneurship, creating companies and things that are new. There's a lot of excitement there.

9/26/2005 1:14:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [6]

Business