One of my favorite books is Robert Pirsig’s classic, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values. In it Pirsig states that many times when we are faced with what appears to be a dilemma, a choice between two mutually-exclusive paths in which neither is optimal, the best course of action is […]
Read more "The Engineer’s Dilemma: Options for Graduates"I’m an engineer. For as long as I can remember I have loved to build new things and take old things apart. As a kid I had an electronics kit and a chemistry set and preferred reading the encyclopedia to playing football after school. I taught myself how to program our Apple II+ while I […]
Read more "The Engineer’s Dilemma: Introduction"For the majority of STEM graduates who end up working outside their chosen fields of study, the seeds of the Engineer’s Dilemma are sown in their university experience. But they are nurtured and come to full fruition as graduates begin their post-university employment. Employers exist to create profit, and with good reason. Profitable companies have […]
Read more "The Engineer’s Dilemma: Employers and Planned Obsolescence"The majority of US college graduates who hold STEM degrees no longer work in their fields of study. These millions of career changes create significant costs for STEM graduates and their employers, and they hurt society as experienced workers move on to new careers and are replaced by less-experienced ones. To understand this problem we […]
Read more "The Engineer’s Dilemma: The Role of Universities"Regarding my last post about carving up Microsoft, here’s a Twitter conversation with a good friend that merits some elaboration: @zmortensen Oh, and spin out Xbox separate from consumer? Crazy talk. — Jason Sherron (@cheapredwine) September 10, 2013 I believe that Xbox is not immune from the please-your-best-customer plague that afflicts the rest of Microsoft and kills […]
Read more "What to do with Xbox?"A lot has happened since my last post about Microsoft. There has been rampant speculation about who should be the next CEO. The company acquired the mobility business of Nokia, perhaps signaling that Stephen Elop is the man to beat for the top job. But an article in today’s New York Times offers a perspective […]
Read more "It’s Time for Microsoft to Break Up"Today Microsoft announced that Steve Ballmer will retire from the company within the next 12 months, a move that the market applauded. It is hard to imagine Microsoft without him. Steve has more energy and passion for the business than anyone else on the planet. He’s a consummate salesman who loves his products so much that […]
Read more "Steve Ballmer: In memoriam"Mark Zuckerberg, do you have a minute? Why don’t you step into my office and close the door. Please, have a seat. I need to share some news with you. I met with the Board last night and we’ve decided that we need to make a change. Mark, we’re terminating your employment effective immediately. I […]
Read more "Firing Facebook"Looks like HIStalk picked up my recent post on Epic over the weekend. I’ve been an avid reader of Mr. H since 2004, so to say I’m excited about the mention would be an understatement. To all the folks clicking through, please feel free to weigh in with a comment or even subscribe! Mr. H […]
Read more "Picked up by HIStalk"Mr. H posted the following yesterday: From Barry: “Re: Epic. A market research report suggests that Epic is backing off its push for inpatient installations and going with an ambulatory-only sales approach to plant the seed for future inpatient sales.” That was reported by two consultants quoted in the report, with an additional consultant saying […]
Read more "Why Epic Might Refocus on the Ambulatory EMR Market"
Zach Mortensen 