Posts selected fromManagement Blog - Engineering Blog - Investing Blog and other blogs - Alternative Career Paths Attract Many Women in Science Fields
The challenge of how to maximize the opportunities for those interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and math is important to all economies. There are difficulties in doing this and so continued focus on this area is good. My personal belief is we focus too much on the gender issue. Yes, we should reduce discrimination. I think we have done well but still have further to go.
Most of the suggested changes in how things should be done help women and also plenty of men that are turned off by the old way of doing things. continue reading: Alternative Career Paths Attract Many Women in Science Fields - Steve Jobs on Quality, Business and Joseph Juran
 - Steve Jobs on Quality, Business and Joseph Juran
- Analysis Must be Implemented by People to Provide Value
 "The greatest statistical analysis is nothing if it can’t be implemented by people. But people learn in different ways." continue reading: Analysis Must be Implemented by People to Provide Value - Refusal to Follow Scientific Guidance Results in Worms Evolving to Eat Corn Designed to Kill The Worms
- Deming and Software Development
- Students as Customers
... I find that normally the "they are not customers" crowd (doctors, government, education) are not doing a decent job of understanding what they disparage.
It is true that it isn't appropriate for many providers of services to do whatever those who are paying want. That isn't what "customer focus" means.
... continue reading: Students as Customers - Kleptocrat CEOs and Their Apologists
"These CEOs act like kleptocrat dictators, taking what they can and challenging anyone to do anything about it. As with the kleptocrats they surround themselves with apologists and spread around the looting (from corporate treasuries for the CEO and the countries for the dictators) to those that support their kleptocrat ways.' continue reading: Kleptocrat CEOs and Their Apologists - Bako National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
 Bako National Park is a wonderful location less than an hour outside of Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo.
I only spent a day in the park. There are several intersecting trails. The “small” loop trail includes the Lintang trail and intersects with Pandan Kecil path, Pandan Basar path and more. I hiked through several trails and completely exhausted myself, actually. It was a wonderful hike. continue reading: Bako National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia - Kleptocrat CEOs and Their Apologists
CEOs, and their cronies, were well paid decades ago. As their greed about their pay got to be unethical Peter Drucker started to speak out against their ethical failures. As those abuses became more extreme he increased his objections.
...
I want a CEO that is paid well and seeks their reward not by taking from the corporate treasury but by providing great jobs, customer happiness and an improved society. continue reading: Kleptocrat CEOs and Their Apologists - Ex-Toyota Manager Consulting with Porsche in 1994
While respect for people is an important part of the Toyota Production System, the practice of former Toyota managers were often the "tough love" variety. Today, many people are often too timid, in my opinion, to call out things that need to be improved for fear of making someone uncomfortable. Where that balance properly lies though is based on the culture of the organization (and what needs to be done - occasionally there is a need to "shake people up" in order to make change take place more effectively). continue reading: Ex-Toyota Manager Consulting with Porsche in 1994 - The damage caused by "Management" by targets is much larger in dysfunctional organizations
The damage caused by "Management" by targets is much larger in dysfunctional organizations - they are also more likely to be given more importance by dysfunctional organizations, that is a bad combination. In a great organization with an strong understanding of systems, respect for people, no pay based on "performance," an understanding of data and variation... then damage managing by targets does is much smaller. continue reading: The damage caused by "Management" by targets is much larger in dysfunctional organizations - Manufacturing Outlook and History In the USA and Globally
 The USA manufacturing base is growing and far from crumbling (job losses are deceiving as they are global and not an indication of a USA manufacturing decline). China’s manufacturing growth is incredible. China and the USA are far away the top 2 manufacturing countries. continue reading: Manufacturing Outlook and History In the USA and Globally - Chart of Net Government Debt from 1980 to 2013 by Country
 Bloomberg converted the data to look at debt load per person (looking at gross debt – estimated for 2014). Japan has ill-fortune to lead in this statistic with $99,725 in debt per person (242% of GDP), Ireland is in second with $60, 356 (121% of GDP). USA 3rd $58,604 (107%). Singapore 4th $56,980 (106%). Italy 6th $46,757 (133%). UK 9th $38,939 (95%). Greece 12th $38,444 (174%). Germany 14th $35,881 (78%). Malaysia 32nd $6,106 (57%). China 48th $1,489 (21%). India 53rd $946 (68%). Indonesia 54th $919 (27%). continue reading: Chart of Net Government Debt from 1980 to 2013 by Country - Modified Cockroach Portfolio
I think something along the lines of this would make sense today for someone living in the USA (but I would vary it a fair bit depending on the person’s situation and it would change in different market conditions)
- 35% Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX)
- 15% Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX)
- 10% Vanguard emerging markets fund (VWO), or something similar
- 20% high quality “dividend aristocrat” type stocks
- 10% REIT Index Fund (VGSIX) or direct real estate ownership
- 5% bonds
- 5% cash
continue reading: Modified Cockroach Portfolio
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