A look at how service jobs are changing the nature of US workforce. In Dec 2019, there were more women than men in the workforce in the United States. I briefly ponder why this is the case.
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I’ll begin with a story that is one of my favorite essays, from Essays in Idleness (Tsurezuregusa) by Yoshida Kenko a world-wise Japanese monk from 1331. Kenko writes:
When I went to see the horse racing at the Kamo Shrine on the fifth day of the fifth month, the view from our carriage was blocked by a throng of common folk. We all got down and moved towards the fence for a better view, but that area was particularly crowded and we couldn’t make our way through…
Leave a CommentAmazon is a “pure” Operations company if there is one such firm. Using Amazon as an example, one can think of how Incremental Improvements compound to pay significant dividends.
Leave a CommentA re-look at Amazon in NYC a year after the HQ2 debacle.
Leave a CommentAn economy that has grown beyond belief is the e-commerce delivery market in China. It has become so central to modern Chinese life that the “food-delivery” has been dubbed as one of the 4 great inventions of modern Chinese civilization. For instance, Luckin Coffee (second only to Starbucks in China) has grown on the legs of its delivery business. No other product, not even pizza, exemplifies the need for exceptionally fast delivery need than hot coffee. […]
Leave a CommentTo understand China, its growth and society, its trade, outsourcing and manufacturing relationship with the US, it is imperative to understand its history. In this article, I discuss books, films, podcasts and web resources that helped me begin my journey of learning more about China. First in the set of notes from a long China trip.
Leave a CommentWhile brick and mortar retail is facing the biggest challenge in years, retail stores as a channel are not going away. The key to running a successful brick and mortar store lies in executing a careful trade-off between high efficiency and high customer experience. An excellent work by an operations colleague Kesavan shows that “treating your employees with stable schedules” does not have to be a trade-off.
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