categories
HOT TOPICS
- The Accelerator Conundrum
- The Startup Velocity Question
- Platform as a Service
- Man and Superman
- Web 3.0 = (4C + P + VS)
- The Future: End of Capitalism
- Capitalism 2.0
Role Model Interview
The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 9)
Our discussion now focuses on a key element of the ‘learning by doing model’: mentors, and evolves into the root of education – the process of learning. SM: Right now what is happening is at a very low level. There is no “methodology”, just a connection with a tutor who knows the material, sort of
Turn Around Series: Jerry Rawls, Finisar (Part 10)
More on the strategic decisions and cost-cutting measures taken. SM: How did you do that? Did you change materials, did you negotiate your supply contracts? I mean 70% of material costs is a lot of material costs to shave. JR: The way we did it was we bought a laser fab in Fremont to make
The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 8)
In the next segment, we discuss how Raj’s model could be applied on a global scale. When thought of in these terms, it could become a revolutionary methodolgy and change the concept of education throughout the world. SM: So Raj let me explore a different thread with you. Kind of like an evolution; let’s assume
Turn Around Series: Jerry Rawls, Finisar (Part 9)
Essential to the turnaround of Finisar were decisions which were much different than those being made by competitors, and different than prevailing popular trends. Ultimately, these decisions were also the right ones for Finisar’s survival. SM: And there were lots of process innovations along the way? JR: Exactly. So sharing all of that with a
The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 7)
Raj continues discussing his new education program, and the key benefits it provides. SM: So this is going to be a state funded program? RR: The scaling can be anything, I can take a million people. This particular program scales because everybody gets their own computer. It is a wireless network campus, so all I
Turn Around Series: Jerry Rawls, Finisar (Part 8)
After confronting the realities of the new market, difficult decisions needed to be made. Here the “engineer” in Jerry proves very helpful as he tackles the issue, at least in some ways, as an engineering problem. Cutting costs and establishing new operating procedures required far reaching changes. Also, I find it impressive that Jerry did
The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 6)
How do you take a new educational model, fund it and successfully convince students to enroll in your school? Raj answers all of these questions in this segment. SM: What is the model of Gurukulam? Is it foundational support? How are you financing the project? RR: The financing is very interesting; it is what we
Turn Around Series: Jerry Rawls, Finisar (Part 7)
Dramatic changes in the market had forced major fiber optic giants like Lucent into tough decisions. The market also proved to be volitile and unpredictable. Nortel, in desperation, offered Finisar its optics business. SM: Nortel had interest in survival. JR: Yes. We spent two weeks in Ottawa trying to figure out how we could assume
