When I asked the second student about her dissertation, she explained that the subject fell into the area of governance. I had seen that term on several paper titles, but the academic usage had not occurred to me. It made perfect sense, once she explained it, that governance was another word for leadership. Since leadership had been the first topic of interest to me when I first thought I wanted to become a professor, I was fascinated to learn that term for it. Apparently many research papers get written on how the leaders involved in the formulation and execution of strategies impact their success. Other aspects of leadership get studied as well, but that was one subject she and I discussed.
In short, I realized I could specialize in strategy and focus on the area of governance. I could examine the qualities of leaders that correlate most strongly to well executed strategy. I could examine the importance of leadership in strategy in general. More and more ideas come to my mind, and I realize I need to look back over the articles from the most recent conference to familiarize myself with current work on governance.
-- Robert
P.S.: Tomorrow - why I should turn down Harvard.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Best Fit - Good Advice, Part II
The second person I visited was the Dean of the Business School. She spent a lot more time listening to me than talking, but she still helped me understand the nature of research. Since the student I spoke to first had told me that strategy professors often develop research without actually compiling the data, I wanted to know how that worked in practice. She explained that because a lot of data was already available, many researchers accessed it to compare and analyze companies. Still, strategy research did involve some formulation of new data at times, and it was up to each researcher to decide how a given project might be handled in that way.
She also made sure I understood the importance of choosing a school that matched my interests. I had received that advice before, but it was nice to know that the people at this school were more concerned that I choose what was best for me than trying to get me to prove my desire to go there.
I got asked that same question a lot - why research strategy if your interests were primarily in entrepreneurship? I answered consistently with the truth. I felt that the area of strategy was a good basis for a research in entrepreneurship, and most of the great minds in the field of ENT had started in strategy. I saw no conflict in my interests because the two fields have a great deal of common ground. I just want to work with the best people who will help me get a great start in my career. I have more interests than just entrepreneurship, and I want to find a school where I can learn which area would be the best for me to focus my career.
I think the Dean understood my perspective when we parted.
-- Robert
P.S.: Tomorrow: I spoke to another student who helped me understand a particular research term.
She also made sure I understood the importance of choosing a school that matched my interests. I had received that advice before, but it was nice to know that the people at this school were more concerned that I choose what was best for me than trying to get me to prove my desire to go there.
I got asked that same question a lot - why research strategy if your interests were primarily in entrepreneurship? I answered consistently with the truth. I felt that the area of strategy was a good basis for a research in entrepreneurship, and most of the great minds in the field of ENT had started in strategy. I saw no conflict in my interests because the two fields have a great deal of common ground. I just want to work with the best people who will help me get a great start in my career. I have more interests than just entrepreneurship, and I want to find a school where I can learn which area would be the best for me to focus my career.
I think the Dean understood my perspective when we parted.
-- Robert
P.S.: Tomorrow: I spoke to another student who helped me understand a particular research term.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Boundaries - Good Advice, Part I
In the first conversation I had with a student at the school I visited last Friday rendered a great bit of advice. I asked him to describe the workload from his first year, and subsequent years. He told me he had set ground rules for himself early on, with his wife's encouragement, that he would only work Monday - Friday until about five or six. It meant he came in early each day, but it also kept him from taking his work home. He felt that if he started taking it home in his doctoral program, he would continue doing that once he became a professor. He considered his doctoral studies the beginning of his career, rather than a transition between his past life and the career of academics. I could definitely see his point.
I hope I can manage to set those ground rules for myself - my wife and I had already discussed similar ideas of separating work and family - but I cannot say how easy that will be until I delve into the first year. Still, like with any other career, a job can take every minute a person will give it, until there is no time left for life beyond. A career in research is certainly no different. The beauty is I can define for myself how I spend my time, and when I am going to stop for a given day or a given project. Certainly I will have to meet the demands set by others, but I will largely be able to set my own schedule and path in this new life.
-- Robert
P.S.: I will be recording my thoughts from the discussions I had with the people I visited with that Friday. Each had something important to share, even if they didn't intentionally do it. It may grow boring for anyone still reading, but I wanted a record of these thoughts for myself.
I hope I can manage to set those ground rules for myself - my wife and I had already discussed similar ideas of separating work and family - but I cannot say how easy that will be until I delve into the first year. Still, like with any other career, a job can take every minute a person will give it, until there is no time left for life beyond. A career in research is certainly no different. The beauty is I can define for myself how I spend my time, and when I am going to stop for a given day or a given project. Certainly I will have to meet the demands set by others, but I will largely be able to set my own schedule and path in this new life.
-- Robert
P.S.: I will be recording my thoughts from the discussions I had with the people I visited with that Friday. Each had something important to share, even if they didn't intentionally do it. It may grow boring for anyone still reading, but I wanted a record of these thoughts for myself.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Go West, Young Man
Friday, we will be heading west. Our original plan was for me to go for a long weekend to see my best friend, watch a football game with him, and visit one of the schools I've applied to, but now I will be going on with the rest of the family north from there to see family. I always love to see any of my in-laws, so it will be a good trip, but my main job will be to entertain the kids while my wife visits her father. I'll probably take them to the Planetarium, some of the malls, one of the parks in the area, and probably some other places I haven't thought of. I look forward to getting to spend so much time with my children. I'm not sure how much blogging I'll be doing while I'm gone, but from the lack of responses to many of my latest posts, the respite might be a welcome one to anyone reading. Hopefully I'll also get some time to read a book or two for pleasure. I just know I'm looking forward to the trip, even though it will involve a lot of driving and flying.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Writing On the Wall
Today's post is somewhat in response to Natasha's post. To be clear, I was not angry at her post; this is definitely not a rant at her. I just wanted to share some thoughts I've had in the past year or more about the economy.
First, based on almost any economic measure, 2006 was a better year economically than 1996. Lower unemployment, larger growth in the economy, and so forth. Yet, in 1996, the media described that year as "one of the best in decades" or "a sign that a new day is dawning in America." In 2006 they began talking about "economic downturn" or "signs of a recession." In 1996, Bill Clinton needed to get reelected. In 2006, the press was ready to start sewing the seeds that helped usher in another Clinton, or at least another Democrat.
Because so much was said about a downturn, people started buying less. A slowdown did follow, but the economy was still growing (not contracting, which is what defines a recession). Fuel prices continued to rise, and a bio fuel craze followed, throwing inflation into the mix not seen since the early 80's or even the late 70's. The consumer price index (CPI) did not reflect this true inflation, though, because it does not factor in the price of gasoline among the goods measured. Still, with the negative talk on the economy and the inflation making things cost more, the slowdown continued.
With slowdown, fewer people were buying new homes, so the housing market started to crumble. Builders had overbuilt dramatically. In 2004, though, Fannie Mae had made a big push to make loans more available, which spurred those builders to feel confident they could sell more homes. The congressmen in charge of oversight of Fannie Mae and the banking regulations turned a blind eye while loans went out that should not have. Bonuses were paid to Fannie Mae employees for production - production of loans which was either poorly generated, or actually not generated at all. Many congressmen still talk about the need to make homes more available and affordable. Well, now there are plenty to choose from...
Now, here we sit, complaining about the dire straits we're in. I've been bothered by the talk of the "writing on the wall" of a recession, which simply had no basis for many months. So the question will forever remain in my mind: was the media predicting a recession that truly was imminent, or were they creating the recession by scaring people about the economy so badly that the house of cards fell?
I know one thing: the American people will survive. People might lose jobs, stocks may plummet, and homes will get foreclosed on. Still, we will all persevere. I hope we will finally start learning from our mistakes again. I know it sounds terrible, harsh, cruel and mean, but I really wish we would let the people who have these horrible failures actually fail, so next time they can remember and avoid the pitfall. Bailing out should be for sinking boats, not corporations, banking institutions, or even social programs that are underfunded.
-- Robert
P.S.: I didn't even get into the bad wrap that adjustable rate mortgages got in all these problems. I wrote a post about that here and here, though. They can actually be a good instrument, if used properly to gain more equity. The people complaining about them either didn't understand that or made no effort to do what they needed to make proper use of the lower interest rate period.
First, based on almost any economic measure, 2006 was a better year economically than 1996. Lower unemployment, larger growth in the economy, and so forth. Yet, in 1996, the media described that year as "one of the best in decades" or "a sign that a new day is dawning in America." In 2006 they began talking about "economic downturn" or "signs of a recession." In 1996, Bill Clinton needed to get reelected. In 2006, the press was ready to start sewing the seeds that helped usher in another Clinton, or at least another Democrat.
Because so much was said about a downturn, people started buying less. A slowdown did follow, but the economy was still growing (not contracting, which is what defines a recession). Fuel prices continued to rise, and a bio fuel craze followed, throwing inflation into the mix not seen since the early 80's or even the late 70's. The consumer price index (CPI) did not reflect this true inflation, though, because it does not factor in the price of gasoline among the goods measured. Still, with the negative talk on the economy and the inflation making things cost more, the slowdown continued.
With slowdown, fewer people were buying new homes, so the housing market started to crumble. Builders had overbuilt dramatically. In 2004, though, Fannie Mae had made a big push to make loans more available, which spurred those builders to feel confident they could sell more homes. The congressmen in charge of oversight of Fannie Mae and the banking regulations turned a blind eye while loans went out that should not have. Bonuses were paid to Fannie Mae employees for production - production of loans which was either poorly generated, or actually not generated at all. Many congressmen still talk about the need to make homes more available and affordable. Well, now there are plenty to choose from...
Now, here we sit, complaining about the dire straits we're in. I've been bothered by the talk of the "writing on the wall" of a recession, which simply had no basis for many months. So the question will forever remain in my mind: was the media predicting a recession that truly was imminent, or were they creating the recession by scaring people about the economy so badly that the house of cards fell?
I know one thing: the American people will survive. People might lose jobs, stocks may plummet, and homes will get foreclosed on. Still, we will all persevere. I hope we will finally start learning from our mistakes again. I know it sounds terrible, harsh, cruel and mean, but I really wish we would let the people who have these horrible failures actually fail, so next time they can remember and avoid the pitfall. Bailing out should be for sinking boats, not corporations, banking institutions, or even social programs that are underfunded.
-- Robert
P.S.: I didn't even get into the bad wrap that adjustable rate mortgages got in all these problems. I wrote a post about that here and here, though. They can actually be a good instrument, if used properly to gain more equity. The people complaining about them either didn't understand that or made no effort to do what they needed to make proper use of the lower interest rate period.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Dreamweaving
I'm not sure I have ever experienced what happened to me Sunday night/Monday morning. I had a dream "sequel" of sorts. I have had many vivid dreams over the years, some so lifelike that I woke up and looked around expecting to still be in that world. The most common way I know (while still in the dream) that I am dreaming is when I begin flying. But none of the flying dreams have ever seemed sequential. I've also had a dream about waking up on the day of a final without having been to the class or ever studied at all - my Dad warned me about that when I was pretty young and I was glad to remember his story when it happened to me.
The dream I had on Sunday was different, though. I could tell that a dream I'd had before was somehow connected. Within the dream, someone said something that made my dreaming mind recall the earlier dream. It was utterly bizarre. That's the only way I can describe the disorientation I felt as I was able to remember the dream within my dream, and remember both as I woke up. Of course I didn't take the time to write down both dreams right away, and thus I have this rambling diatribe that makes no sense to anyone but me, I'm sure. Still, I wanted to make a note here, in case it ever happened again, or in case I figured out some deeper meaning from the two dreams. For now, I'm heading to bed, wondering if I'll be dreamweaving again.
-- Robert
The dream I had on Sunday was different, though. I could tell that a dream I'd had before was somehow connected. Within the dream, someone said something that made my dreaming mind recall the earlier dream. It was utterly bizarre. That's the only way I can describe the disorientation I felt as I was able to remember the dream within my dream, and remember both as I woke up. Of course I didn't take the time to write down both dreams right away, and thus I have this rambling diatribe that makes no sense to anyone but me, I'm sure. Still, I wanted to make a note here, in case it ever happened again, or in case I figured out some deeper meaning from the two dreams. For now, I'm heading to bed, wondering if I'll be dreamweaving again.
-- Robert
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Teatro - Some Very Talented Singers
The other day, I was listening to a YouTube video of Phantom of the Opera, specifically the song "Music of the Night" when another video showed up. I had never heard of Teatro before, but I was very impressed. Each of the men in the group has an extensive resume in musical theater, and they were brought together to form the first theatrical "group" (though the producer apparently had the Four Tenors in mind more than the Backstreet Boys). After hearing how well these four men sang one of my favorite songs together, I felt like going to buy their CD. Unfortunately, it is not available in the US. It's crazy to me that I can listen to their CD samples and watch their music video, and yet I can't purchase it even as a download off iTunes.
So here's hoping I can get a lot of bloggers to start a groundswell to get them over here so their CD will be available. I know I would rather listen to them than about half of what is on the radio today. For now, I'll have to make due with the samples off their site.
So here's hoping I can get a lot of bloggers to start a groundswell to get them over here so their CD will be available. I know I would rather listen to them than about half of what is on the radio today. For now, I'll have to make due with the samples off their site.
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