06.21.06

Learning

Posted in Cognition and Learning at 8:19 am by ngkaboon

I must have written a lot of times on this topic but I am fascinated by it, especially from a scientific point of view.

My current belief is that learning happens when

1) there is a clear reason for new knowledge/skill aquisition

2) there is safety for making mistakes

3) there is constant repetition and mistakes making

4) there are interactions in terms of mimicking of actions and exchange of ideas.

5) regular guidance

(it is from most important to least important.)

Between (3) and (5), I tend to believe more in (3) because learning is easier if it is self-taught because you know best what is best for you. (That is a big assumption by itself.)

 

06.13.06

Working for a startup

Posted in Corporate Life at 2:31 pm by ngkaboon

As someone who has worked for BOTH a startup and sizable American MNCs, I think I am in a position to clear some misconceptions.

1) Start-up hours are not necessary longer than MNC hours.

2) Both start-up and MNC can offer you a large variety of work, including dirty work. 

3) Start-ups do not necessary give you more freedom than MNC. Dress down in MNC can be quite relaxed.

4) MNC welfare is better than start-up welfare. Pay, for example, is paid regularly.

5a) A lot of time is spend on talking in an MNC vs a startup.

5b) A lot of time is spend on doing rather than talking in a startup.

5c) Neither is really good.

6) There are less policies in a startup. Your notebook is as close as it get to become your private asset.

7) The level of technical work in MNC is ridiculously low. Most of the problems deal with people.

8) The amount of technical work in a startup overwhelms until it becomes uninteresting.

9a) I left MNC to join startup to have more say in the work I do

9b) I left startup to join MNC because I thought I had more say in the work I do in an MNC.

9c) Finally, I realized, your say is dependent on your relationship with your boss and the influence of your boss.

10) You do not need to be in sales/marketing to prepare slides to communicate with people in an MNC (I included this one…because I like making slides :-) )

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