July 2013 – STIMS Institute

New ASME Press Book Provides Career Advice for Technical Professionals

New ASME Press Book Examines Transformational Skills for Tech Professionals
Thriving in the 21st Century Economy: Transformational Skills for Technical Professionals is available in a paper back print edition or as an e-book, each priced at $44 for members, and $59 for non-members. The book can be purchased through ASME.org, at http://www.asme.org/shop/books, or by contacting ASME Customer Care at (800) 843-2763 or (973) 882-1170. For more information, contact Mary Grace Stefanchick, ASME Press, at (212) 591-7962 or by e-mail at stefanchikm@asme.org

Learn to swim against the tide of Binary Economy

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thriving-in-the-21st-century-economy-k-subramanian/1115191210?ean=9780791860168

https://www.asme.org/products/books/thriving-21st-century-economy-transformational

It is an undeniable axiom of globalization: anyone in any job or profession has to be better than anyone else who can do the same job from a pool of workers across the globe. Conversely, those who can do a job in a similar manner to others around the globe will be rewarded for their effort at the lowest value at which the work can be procured from anyone else across the globe! Every worker will fall into one of these two extremes. Anyone in the middle will be ultimately swept to the low-labor-cost pool.
While there will be a natural tendency to be swept into the lower-wage pool, it will require a special effort to swim against the current to be associated with the limited few in the high-wage, high-reward pool. Swim against the stream and reach a high place (of New Solutions with identifiable impact) or be swept away into the global pool of low-cost resources (needed for Replication Solutions) is the true paradigm of globalization. There is little or no opportunity for treading water in this paradigm. This constant struggle to swim upstream and against the current is what is perceived as the volatility and uncertainty in the workplace. Suggestions such as higher education, higher SAT scores, and more grit and perseverance are all means to the same end. But as we have detailed in our book – see the links below – all of these have to be formatted toward identification, development, and exploitation of New Solutions using Transformational Skills as the means to this end.

http://ebooks.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/book.aspx?bookid=657

Low Interest Student Loans – Is that enough?

Recently I wrote to Senator Elizabeth Warren, thanking her for her efforts to keep the student loan interest rates as low as possible. It is a very important effort and we hope the senator will succeed.

But, I need to call to attention to an equally if not more serious issue (i.e.) the kids who borrow money and go to college, do not have enough jobs when they get off school. This is not just a matter of bad economy. It is a serious evolution happening world wide. We call this as the Binary Economy as outlined in my recent book. Please see the materials attached.
THRIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY.FA_Subbu&Srini_Foreward plu Intro.

Book Flier 07 10 13

What we need are initiatives to create new STEM jobs and in large numbers. While this happens, the students should be smart to create their own jobs as outlined in our book, through Transformational Skills.

Industry will create such STEM jobs only when they need them and they can create most of what they need outside of USA (at lower cost). What we need are initiatives to create new STEM jobs, inside the USA, simply because they are needed to employ all our kids who graduate from colleges. We need Wind, Solar and PV and other jobs not because they will be economical some day – which is for the industry to start out – but simply because we need STEM educated kids to go to a job, have decent living and and pay off their student loans. Same goes for oil and natural gas jobs, High Speed Trains, Improved Infrastructure, Space Exploration, Medical Research, etc.

Government can not and should not choose the side among companies or industries. But, Government MUST choose side with educated kids and their long term living standards, since they are the future of the nation.

So, while the senators and congress fight for keeping the loan interest at low level, they are also required to fight for STEM jobs, so that the educated kids pay off the very same loans. Otherwise it is better to let them not borrow so much money, since they will only find low wage jobs with which they will be burdened with their loans for their life time.

Please don’t get me wrong. I want low interest student loans for education. But, we will be doing disservice to these kids showing them a rosy path, if we don’t create the necessary jobs available at the end of the tunnel.

Until that day comes, it will be smarter for the students to learn the Transformational Skills and for the parents help them with such education, to chart their own path for jobs and careers and avoid the pitfall of large student loans for an education that does not and will not get them decent jobs.