24 Aug
2001
24 Aug
'01
4:47 a.m.
Having worked in R&D most of my last 25 years, I've got to disagree about the
notion that it's a good place for "head-in-the-clouds" types. Generally,
R&D
has not only to develop entirely new technologies, but has to take the current
set of needs and cook up ways of meeting those needs with currently avaialble
technology and get the job done before the market window closes.
Head-in-the-clouds types may excel at basic research, but often don't fit in the
"get-the-job-done-now" environment that business demands.
The PhD is proof of little other than the ability to get a pretty sizeable job,
often research, done with a minimum of external hand-holding and guidance. To
get that done, a fellow has to be diligent, focused, and bent on getting from
one end of the job to the other. He doesn't have to be terribly imaginative,
terribly resourceful, or particularly bright. He does have to be a good and
determined worker, though. He's got to be able to take a set of requirements do
what he believes will satisfy them, then justify what he's done within the
framework of those requirements to defend the notion that he's done what was
required. If he manages that, they'll call him Doctor.
People like that are well suited to basic research, as they have the discipline
to adhere to a set of requirements and dig out the required information, then
present it appropriately. That seldom helps with product development where the
cycle is short and the goal is to apply currently available solutions to an
already-defined problem.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adrian Vickers" <avickers(a)solutionengineers.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 3:09 AM
Subject: Re: CBM 8032 SK
At 07:21 am 23/08/2001 -0600, you wrote:
[PhD's]
Actually, it's not as unusual as you may
think. Some folks don't know how
to do
anything useful, so they get more advanced degrees
instead. I know of
several
folks who have multiple PhD's, not that it
increases my respect for them,
but it
does indicate they've completed a major piece
of academic work with a
minimum of
supervision.
There is definitely an element of that, although R&D does make an excellent
outlet for the head-in-the-clouds types. Some of these people have designed
some exceptionally clever bits of kit; even if some of that kit verges on
the brutal. For instance, I know the chap who invented a thing called the
"Frit Welder", or "Fritter" as it's known. This repairs mains
(and higher)
voltage AC lines by connecting live directly to neutral for 1/2 cycle; the
resulting surge either repairs corroded joints by melting them (thus
reforming the joint), or blowing a hole in the ground so the engineers know
where to dig...
Apparently, the machine jumps when its used...
Cheers!
Ade.
--
B-Racing: B where it's at :-)
http://www.b-racing.co.uk