Scarcity, Prestige, and Function

On some reflection while studying for the CFA, there's something quite wrong with the programming and software design culture at where I'm working in at NUS RMI. Well, maybe it's not that there's anything wrong with it, but that it doesn't even exist.

Programmers and hackers (outside of mathematics) don't seem to exist there. The problem, of course, is that the work there is perceptibly deeply involved with software engineering.

Because of this, it seems like I enjoy a little more prestige than the average intern (although, still being an intern, that prestige is non-material). However, I can only justify it as being the one-eyed-man among the blind. Too many mistakes in architectural design, too much trial and error, too many inappropriate problem definitions. It's slowing down my work.

As a saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. An organization without expertise in an area wouldn't consider its importance.

The source of prestige, scarcity, compromises function.

Taking CFA a mistake

CFA is on Sunday, today is Wednesday. It is usually at times like these, within reach of a goal, when I ponder and reconsider the goal.

In hindsight, registering for the CFA and taking it so soon is a mistake. Elaborations after the exam. Luckily, even if I skip or fail it due to reallocation of efforts, the opportunity cost is only 1500 SGD (never taking it again) or 600 SGD (retaking it at a later time).

Why did I register for it? Probably an insufficient and incomplete decision framework at the time of choice. Seems like I've grown wiser, wise enough to refute my past decisions with the confidence of reason.

Notepad: two links about philosophy

The blog might merely become a little online notepad for me. So, I noted two links about philosophy.

http://www.paulgraham.com/philosophy.html
http://jsomers.net/pg-philosophy.html

And as a note to a group about meaning:
http://groups.google.com/group/internalism/web/description

Youtube Videos Again

A real partnership!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mvQgl1IgPM&feature=related

Book Review: The State of Innovation in Singapore

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The Book:

The State of Innovation
at firm level
in Singapore

Findings, Rcommendations and Case Studies

2008 Dr Hitendra Patel and Eduardo Chakarian
Publication of the IPS

It has the logos of IPS, Monitor Group, LKY SPP, NUS on its cover.
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It was a rather uninsightful book. In spite of the academic credentials of its authors and contributing organizations, the book did not frame their findings as part of any model or reasoning process.

About 10% of the book is dedicated to the results of qualitative surveys, with no references to the actual survey done, and survey methodology is excluded. The other 90% went to a narrative on case studies of other countries or firms (30%) and recommendations with no justifications (60%): the justifications were perhaps expected to follow from narratives of executives' experiences.

One can only hope this isn't the product of the top talents which fills Singapore's bureaucracy.

Models and Economics

I read an essay on model building. It wasn't new, but it was applied to development economics.

THE FALL AND RISE OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
http://web.mit.edu/krugman/www/dishpan.html

Mathematics in Education

I met my professor teaching International Economics, and he explained to us his philosophy of using mathematical reasoning in his module. There seemed to be two claims: that mathematical training is useful in analyzing things and solving problems (whether used directly, or as rigorous training of that particular part of the mind), and that a university education serves to educate, instead of only teaching things that are useful for a career.

Although the justification of such claims are often long and complex (it is also an old issue, with many books and scholars on it, closely related to the development of reason), I hope they live up to his claims. Having used mathematics as a hobby, I for one doubt the value of its instrumental use. In fact, any industrial or business process comprises of many other tasks, and without the division of labour, mathematics might not be worth the investment. The majority of university graduates from NUS, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, probably do not end up in those specialized roles which require mathematics (I have not empirically verified this) .