My people's concept
Kai-fu Lee
Talents are far more than one industrial society in a information society. the reason is simple. In a industrial society, a best, most efficient worker may produce 20% or 30% more than a general worker. However, in an information society, a better software R & D personnel can make 500% or even 1,000% of work than a general person.
Since the announcement of the Microsoft China Institute announced, the most common problem is why we have to set up a research institute in China? I have always answered: "Mainly China has a group of outstanding talents." "Talent" is so important to Microsoft? "
Talent importance
Talents in a information society far exceeds in a industrial society. This is very simple. In a industrial society, a best, most efficient worker may produce 20% or 30% more than a general worker. However, in an information society, a better software R & D personnel can make 500% or even 1,000% of work than a general person. For example, the smallest Basic language in the world is written by Bill Gates. The Windows that brings huge amount of profit for Microsoft is only made from a research team.
In a research institution, talent is higher, because research and development have considerable differences. A researcher "think" is more important than "do". A great researcher (such as Ai Di)'s achievements is that the general researcher cannot be compared. With an example of a computer world, between 1970 and 1980, Xerox Parc is a small laboratories with only dozens of people. But according to my friends working in Xerox, Alan Kay said that dozens of people have "terrible talents." This "terrible talents" brings a number of inventions that have a large computer world: laser printer, Bitmap white display, with mouse GUI (image user interface), image type text processing software, Ethernet and object-oriented technology. These six inventions inspired Microsoft, Apple, HP, IBM, Sun, Cisco, and other companies, finally brought these technologies into mainstreams after ten years. Today's human beings can enter the information society, and the dozens of researchers in Xerox Parc can't.
Assumed example
Because of the valuable talent, Bill Gates often mentioned that the biggest challenge to Microsoft is to continue to quickly discover and hire people as good as their current employees. In response to research, he has also said that the success of the study is completely talent, so Microsoft follows talents to China.
In 1991, when Mr. Bir Gates decided to create a Microsoft Institute of Microsoft, he invited a number of speakers (including Mr. Gordon Bell, who led VAX team in DEC, Mr. Nathan Myhrvold, Microsoft, Mr. Nathan Myhrvold, spectrom to the United States At the University of Carnegun, Binzhou invited Professor Resti Professor Rest (i.e., my current boss). After six months, Mr. Gates, Mr. Gates, San Gu Mao, Professor Resti finally joined Microsoft.
Dr. Rectine added Microsoft, as well as the highest sincerity and infinite patience, inviting the most achieved experts in the computer world to participate in Microsoft, and create a future. Some experts mentioned above (such as Gary StarkWeather in Xerox Parc Invention Laser Printer, Charles Simonyi, Xerox Inventive Writing Software, Butler Lampson, led software research in Xerox, Chuck Thacker, is made in Apple Out of Finder's Steve Capps, invented VAX's Gordon Bell, there are hundreds of world experts in other ways, in these eight years (or earlier), after the lobby of Dr. Rest, add Microsoft. I personally also succeeded in the success of Microsoft Research and the opportunities of these experts. They were touched by Dr. Rest, and finally decided to join Microsoft. But I can also give an example of non-Soft. On the second day of joining Microsoft, I accidentally received the long-distance call of Shifjobs, president of Apple Computer. He found me in China and told me that after I left Apple in 1996, he used to find me back to Apple. But he did not find him to change his work. He wants to convince me to consider returning to Apple. Of course he didn't convince me, but I am very grateful to him, and his love is also worth admiring and learning.
Excavate talent
Since talent is so important, how does Microsoft Research Institute discover talents?
First, we have to find leaders with outstanding results. These leaders, some are famous experts, but sometimes the most capable people are not necessarily the most famous. The outstanding results of many computers are often created by a batch of behind-the-scenes research. Whether it is a professor in front of the Taiwan, it is still the behind-the-scenes research hero. As long as they apply for a job, we will spend a lot of time to understand their work and lobby them to consider the Microsoft China Institute.
In addition, we have to find the most potent people. In China, because the information technology starts late, the outstanding results and world-class leaders are much less than the United States at present. However, the smart talents, mathematics foundation and creativity of young people (such as master's or doctoral students) are never lost to Americans. So, with it is said that we are coming to China to find an expert, but we are coming to China to find potential. For me, the potential includes: intelligence, creativity, learning ability, love and investment in work. I think this kind of "potential" is more important than professional experience, grades and recommendations.
How to judge these capacities? In Microsoft, we have a relatively special interview method. Every interview usually has a number of Microsoft employees to participate. Every employee has to assign a good task in advance. Some will have a mental issue. Some will test the speed of the response. Some will test the ability to creative and independent thinking. Spirit, some experts will understand the problem of research in the field or development capabilities. When interview, the questions we ask are particularly creative. For example, when testing independent thinking skills, we will ask this kind of question:
Please evaluate the human-machine interface of Microsoft's elevator. Why is the cover of the waterway? Please estimate how many gas stations in Beijing? These issues do not have a correct answer, but we can measure a way of thinking and independent thinking.
Every employee interview will make his opinion and decide (must hire, hire, hire, weaken or not employed), and recommend the direction of the following employees to explore, using email notifications all below Employees.
Finally, when all the interviews are over, we will collectively summarize and choose new employees. We usually hire a person after getting all agreed. But even if all agrees, we will still ask applicants, classmates, or other opinions that may recognize applicants. If everything is very positive, we will hire the applicant. Such strict organizations, cautious attitudes and in-depth interviews represent our attention to talents. After this strict process, Microsoft China Institute has been cautiously hired more than 40 employees.
Attract, retain talents
Many people think that the key to hiring talents is treatment. More people believe that Microsoft came to China to "buy the best talents in high salary." Everyone should be properly treated, and in Microsoft China Research Institute, we will also provide competitive (but reasonable) )treatment. However, for a researcher, more importantly, the environment should be studied. I hope that I can open a particularly attractive environment, including:
Full resource support, let everyone do not have worries; the best research team and open, equal environment, let everyone have a chance to learn from each other, learn from each other; benefiting human opportunities, let everyone can study for their own research The product inspired; long-term vision and attractive research topic, let everyone love their work; understand and support the leaders of their own research, let everyone support, in the big direction of the company At the same time, there is still enough space and freedom to develop your own talents, pursue your dreams.
So, I think if it is just a high treatment, maybe it can be attracted to some people, but there is only a particularly attractive environment to attract, and keep all the best talents for a long time.
In Microsoft's global research institutes, our talents lost less than 1% (US Silicon Valley's loss rate is around 30%). When I was in Microsoft Interview, the biggest feelings were found to find that everyone is very happy, especially love and cherish his work. Therefore, I have given my own goals in China, which is to build a good research environment, let everyone can pursue their dreams in Microsoft China, to help Microsoft's development important technologies, and further help China. Development of boundaries.
