Hey, thanks. Those are great points -- and ones I'll keep in mind. But I was thinking more in terms of "we" the developed nations -- more in terms of our need to re-think our competencies and move into uncharted territory. For example, in Canada, our government has undertaken a long-term strategy to build national competencies in 10 areas of innovation. While I think this shows good foresight, I think the country needs people on board -- doers and dreamers. Canada is just one country -- and perhaps those 10 areas aren't even the right ones. If we look at the so-called developed nations that are (allegedly) losing ground to lesser and least developed nations, what can we do to stake out new competencies?
In Canada, phone companies are required to leave you unlisted (for free) and to block your phone number (also free) if you request it. They offer the option of using initials instead of a first name (thinly veiled gender). They ask you this when you register for a new phone number. You can also ask to have your address come up as "......." in the phone book.
India's profile as a non-originating technology centre is changing. I looked up innovation statistics for various countries. See the UNESCO report here. India's GDP is about 1/13th that of the developed countries, and it's share of published articles is not disproportionate. India now spends 1/4 of what the US spends on R&D per researcher, so one would think the country is well positioned to make strides.
Good points. However, the US, Canada, Australia and other countries started as sources of raw materials and widget factories. Most studies show that clusters of universities and even basic technology firms eventually lead to spin-off companies. Do you think this will be different for India? Surely the potential is there for India to move into other areas in time?
I followed your "work conditions" link, then wandered over to the job postings. There are 12 open positions in India, 2 in Japan, and none in Europe, the US, or Canada.
Interesting.
If this is reality, what are our options?
on
No Americans Need Apply
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· Score: 3, Interesting
While completing my (Canadian) MBA program last year, my professor pointed out that more and more jobs were going to Bangalore. He pointed out that most of these jobs were lower-skilled in the grand scheme of skilled jobs. My classmates seemed to take some comfort in the fact that these disappearing jobs were in tech support, QA, and other skilled jobs at the "bottom" of the food chain. (At least, the food chain that they were willing to consider. Anything that would ensure their middle class existence.)
However, I noted that Indian companies are building on these small projects, much the way that any start-up takes small steps before landing the "big" clients. In time, Indian workers will have significant knowledge of North American & European standards, procedures, and business cultures, as well as a proven track record. Then, Indian companies will be able to take on essentially any work that "developed" countries do.
My professor agreed, but said we could take comfort in that we would all be retired in 20 years. But I'll only be 49, and what about future generations? He said the answer was to climb to the top of the "skills" food chain. Bioinformatics and biotech were 2 of his examples.
So, that being said, what are our options, here in the so-called developed world? What are the next big skilled areas? Instead of fighting to keep jobs in our countries, what can we do to stake out competitive advantages? What can we learn to do before anyone else can jump in? How do we stay ahead of the curve?
And, perhaps more importantly, what options do people who just aren't university material have?
I agree. Method is also important.
However, during one of my MBA courses last year, I had to study the launch of GameBoy Colour. I easily found that the female market had been overlooked. In fact, looking back, Pokemon is what made GameBoy Colour a success, and it was because the game appealed to both girls and boys. (Girls also often buy accessories to add personality or communication capacity to things like GameBoy.) The Sims is further proof of the potential for the market.
Still, I am intrigued by the social proof concept. It seems to pick up on the idea of a "change agent", a key influencer who leads others to adopt a product. Geoffrey Moore of the Chasm Group has gained fame for his theories on change agents and technology adoption, but he actually picked up the concept from Everett Rogers' "Diffusion of Innovations" theory. Rogers based his findings on earlier studies of which farmers would use hybrid corn to seed their fields, and which Soweto women used solar ovens! At any rate, perhaps game companies need to start associating their products with women who form the target for 13-year-old girl's social aspirations.
BTW, does your response mean there are actually 2 women reading Slashdot?:)
I looked through the article, but I didn't see the question they asked respondents. Consider the difference between "Have you purchased a video game in the past 12 months?", "Have you played a video game in the past 12 months?", and "Have you played a video game more than 10 times in the past 12 months?"
The first question would garner affirmative responses from parents, spouses, boy/girlfriends, grandparents and aunts/uncles. If we consider that women make most "gift" purchases, then women should show a history of purchasing video games even if they don't play games.
The second question would get hits from women whose partners pester them to play the occasional game, as well as those with idle interest in playing the occasional game.
Only the third question would really reveal whether we are talking about gamers.
That being said, I'm a married woman who loves games. And I don't work in R&D -- I'm a marketer. My husband? A software architect who finds games geeky.
Same here. My elementary school report cards are filled with "needs improvement" grades for penmanship. It's a good thing I eventually learned cursive. I believe it is the sole reason I have been able to finish graduate school. My ability to ask questions, analyze, research, type...all that is merely incidental.
In all seriousness, though, my younger sister, who is in her mid-20s, learned to write on a VIC 20. When she got to kindergarten, we had a heck of a time convincing her not to print her name in all caps. And, to top it off, she managed to avoid learning to tell time on a non-digital clock until she was in her early teens. With a VCR (not flashing 12:00), microwave, stove, and digital watches, she never needed to learn how to read an old-fashioned clockface.
I just wrote out all my wedding thank you cards. I think my printing sometimes slipped into a semi-cursive style, but that's the closest I've come to long-hand in years!
Slashdot Mirror
(I'm a marketer.)
Good points. However, the US, Canada, Australia and other countries started as sources of raw materials and widget factories. Most studies show that clusters of universities and even basic technology firms eventually lead to spin-off companies. Do you think this will be different for India? Surely the potential is there for India to move into other areas in time?
Interesting.
However, I noted that Indian companies are building on these small projects, much the way that any start-up takes small steps before landing the "big" clients. In time, Indian workers will have significant knowledge of North American & European standards, procedures, and business cultures, as well as a proven track record. Then, Indian companies will be able to take on essentially any work that "developed" countries do.
My professor agreed, but said we could take comfort in that we would all be retired in 20 years. But I'll only be 49, and what about future generations? He said the answer was to climb to the top of the "skills" food chain. Bioinformatics and biotech were 2 of his examples.
So, that being said, what are our options, here in the so-called developed world? What are the next big skilled areas? Instead of fighting to keep jobs in our countries, what can we do to stake out competitive advantages? What can we learn to do before anyone else can jump in? How do we stay ahead of the curve?
And, perhaps more importantly, what options do people who just aren't university material have?
ASCII and ye shall receive Eliza. :)
I agree. Method is also important. However, during one of my MBA courses last year, I had to study the launch of GameBoy Colour. I easily found that the female market had been overlooked. In fact, looking back, Pokemon is what made GameBoy Colour a success, and it was because the game appealed to both girls and boys. (Girls also often buy accessories to add personality or communication capacity to things like GameBoy.) The Sims is further proof of the potential for the market. Still, I am intrigued by the social proof concept. It seems to pick up on the idea of a "change agent", a key influencer who leads others to adopt a product. Geoffrey Moore of the Chasm Group has gained fame for his theories on change agents and technology adoption, but he actually picked up the concept from Everett Rogers' "Diffusion of Innovations" theory. Rogers based his findings on earlier studies of which farmers would use hybrid corn to seed their fields, and which Soweto women used solar ovens! At any rate, perhaps game companies need to start associating their products with women who form the target for 13-year-old girl's social aspirations. BTW, does your response mean there are actually 2 women reading Slashdot? :)
I looked through the article, but I didn't see the question they asked respondents. Consider the difference between "Have you purchased a video game in the past 12 months?", "Have you played a video game in the past 12 months?", and "Have you played a video game more than 10 times in the past 12 months?"
The first question would garner affirmative responses from parents, spouses, boy/girlfriends, grandparents and aunts/uncles. If we consider that women make most "gift" purchases, then women should show a history of purchasing video games even if they don't play games.
The second question would get hits from women whose partners pester them to play the occasional game, as well as those with idle interest in playing the occasional game.
Only the third question would really reveal whether we are talking about gamers.
That being said, I'm a married woman who loves games. And I don't work in R&D -- I'm a marketer. My husband? A software architect who finds games geeky.
Andrea
When I do write in cursive, I usually just do stylized versions of printed capital letters.
Same here. My elementary school report cards are filled with "needs improvement" grades for penmanship. It's a good thing I eventually learned cursive. I believe it is the sole reason I have been able to finish graduate school. My ability to ask questions, analyze, research, type...all that is merely incidental. In all seriousness, though, my younger sister, who is in her mid-20s, learned to write on a VIC 20. When she got to kindergarten, we had a heck of a time convincing her not to print her name in all caps. And, to top it off, she managed to avoid learning to tell time on a non-digital clock until she was in her early teens. With a VCR (not flashing 12:00), microwave, stove, and digital watches, she never needed to learn how to read an old-fashioned clockface. I just wrote out all my wedding thank you cards. I think my printing sometimes slipped into a semi-cursive style, but that's the closest I've come to long-hand in years!