From a Ph.D. to the Business World by Dr. Anura deSilva CEO, Planmatics, Inc CEO, Care Systems, Inc

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From a Ph.D. to the Business Worldby Dr.
Anura deSilvaCEO, Planmatics, IncCEO, Care
Systems, Incadesilva_at_planmatics.com
Planmatics, IncRockville, MD(301)
987-7441www.planmatics.com
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(No Transcript)
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Your first industry job out of a Ph.D.

• Most likely, nothing will fit your Ph.D. topic
• Somewhat likely, if you are an OR Ph.D., nothing
  will fit your key interests in OR. If you are
  IE, its more likely you can find a job that is
  directly related
• Learn to be (institutionally) politically correct
• Learn to communicate well its more challenging
  than you think
• Read the strategic plans, departmental mission,
  etc.
• Find what your department or company wants to
  achieve, and align with it unless you see major
  flaws in which case speak up tactfully

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Misconceptions

• I wrote a Ph.D. dissertation so I can write well
• I orally defended my Ph.D. so I can present well
• Colleagues will respect my Ph.D. and give me the
  benefit of the doubt, wont challenge me if I BS
  a bit
• My innovative ideas will get me a lot of positive
  visibility
• My years working at the Ph.D. will be relevant
  experience
• Colleagues will always be supportive as they were
  in graduate school

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Good clues to succeed at work

• Take a technical writing course
• Join a speaking club
• Maintain good work integrity
• Learn to work as a team, give constant praise to
  your teammates
• Get your early reports vetted by a colleague for
  style
• Rehearse your early presentations
• Write internal technical reports, ask for
  colleague feedback
• Get Project Management certifications
• Learn about strategy, vision, mission, tactics,
  and what you need for day to day control
• Do the boring administration work you didnt have
  to do in grad school
• Support your colleagues even if they dont
  support you be the bigger person win them
  over
• FOCUS ON THE OUTCOMES FROM PROJECTS, NOT JUST THE
  TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

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Outcomes vs. Deliverables/Tasks

• Who is the customer? (Internal? External?)
• How can you make the customer look good
• i.e. what does the customer really want?
• What is politically acceptable?
• Does it meet the customer organizations vision,
  strategy?
• Be ready to revisit the outcome as customer
  challenges and environment changes
• Stay in touch with your customer
• Remember that the customer can change and you
  have to change with them
• Charge reasonably when change orders come

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Alignment

• Keep your project, group, or department aligned
  with the organizations strategy
• Your project or group outcomes must contribute to
  the organizations desired outcomes
• Consult with your boss, draw him or her into the
  discussion of the alignment question (he will
  draw his boss etc.)
• When you assign sub-projects, delegate/ contract
  outcomes alignment passes down the line
• You may need to oversee the tasks and demand
  deliverables that are consistent wit the
  outcomes

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Observations and Lessons

• The customer may not be always right, but one has
  to act most of the time as if they are, while
  tactfully giving them the best advice

• Even a good product will seldom sell itself - it
  pays to build relationships, talk of benefits to
  the customer, and have a champion in the customer
  community

• Dont expect the customer to understand his
  business from your point of view

• Data is always a problem

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Observations and Lessons (cont.)

• Nobody reads manuals so make sure the screens are
  simple and clear

• Best not try to explain optimization to anyone
  who does not have an advanced degree

• However, dont underestimate the intuition of the
  customer

• Powerful IE/OR techniques can be implemented in
  the real world and do make a difference