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3 days ago
This is an article excepted from one of the recent Business Week special coverages <original link>. Can't believe that Wistron indeed went for recycling, despite the huge difference in the market size estimate with my figure of $8b 2.5 yeras ago with some wild assumptions and Wistron's of $1b for now. I still doubt the likelihood of successfuly launching brands for these Taiwanese companies especially it's simply an uneasy strategic intent that requires huge monye while it's always reachable to improve margin through various operational approaches. To the best of my knowledge, not many companies made it at both strategic and operational fronts, except Samsung. Also, I'm not sure if the idea of "the business is hitting the wall" is correct or not - although one of my bosses made this comment. :)) Taiwan's New Tech Dreams As the PC business declines, Taiwan's top tech players are shifting out of low-margin businesses and into smartphones, solar-power ...
3 days ago
看來拍馬屁還是有用的。 最典型的惡霸老闆非美國漫畫《白朗黛》（Blondie）中的躊躇先生（Mr. Dithers）莫屬。他是女主角白朗黛的丈夫白大梧的頂頭上司，為人刻薄小氣，時常怒氣沖沖發飆，把部屬當出氣包。 這部漫畫刊載70逾年來，讀者對白大梧的同情仍有增無減。調查顯示，美國有37%的員工（5,400萬人）深受惡霸老闆荼毒。 為什麼這些職場暴君如此普遍？根據研究，權力並不是導致他們頤指氣使的唯一因素，權力夾雜無能感才是他們情緒失控的主因。 南加大和加州柏克萊大學兩名學者進行了一項實驗來證實上述理論。首先，他們從全美勞工資料庫中，徵求不同行業的人接受心理測驗，目的是評估他們隱藏的情緒，例如不適任感、無能感和攻擊傾向等。 同時，學者也蒐集參與者的背景資料，了解他們的職場位階與權力，以分析權力和不適任感交互作用，是否會讓老闆變得令人難以忍受。 實驗結果顯示，感到能力不足的人，只在掌權時才有虐待傾向；而有權有勢的人只在缺乏自信時，才變得刻薄與激進。這代表唯有權力和無能感結合，才會讓老闆變成討厭鬼。 為了證實這項理論，學者做了另一項模擬職場動態的實驗。他們請參與者寫下過去感到最有權力的時刻，以及工作表現最傑出和出現不適任感的經驗。學者並運用不同類型的聲音，衡量參與者對陌生人發怒的程度。 結果再次顯示，權力和不適任感交互作用，會加深一個人的虐待傾向。學者認為，這兩股力量在職場上更強化，因為掌權者會以高標準自我要求，導致不適任感更常出現。由於自尊受到威脅，他們變得充滿防衛，而這些感受通常以羞辱他人或更糟的形式表現。 要如何阻止這種循環惡化？在其他類似實驗中，學者刻意讚美某些參與者的領導才能、提高他們的自我價值。結果顯示，權力和不適任感仍是引發攻擊傾向的關鍵，但獲得讚美的人卻能排除怒氣。心理科學期刊本月也曾報導：「一點讚美就能抹除老闆的怒氣和攻擊傾向。」 這對深諳拍馬屁重要性的員工來說，一點也不令人意外。但學者警告，阿諛奉承雖能暫時增加老闆的自尊、減輕他們的虐待傾向，但最後情況可能愈變愈糟，導致無能的上司和現實脫節。
4 days ago
Interesting - 10 things that mobile phones have made or will make obsolete Phone boxes - I agree Wristwatches - Uh... probably not, especially for high-end watches Alarm clocks - If I was asked two year ago, I would disagree, but now after looking at iPhone and how others smartphone work with docking stations, I start to see this trend. MP3 players - Very possible now. Landline home phones - Less likely Compact digital cameras - Not in 5 years. Netbooks - Nope Handheld games consoles - Nope Paper - Definitely not. Thinking – Disagree. People think about other things while using their mobile phones.
