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I use high math (very high math — control theory, numerical analysis, theory of optimization) in my day job as I finish grad school. I believe the article is co

I use high math (very high math — control theory, numerical analysis, theory of optimization) in my day job as I finish grad school. I believe the article is correct in that I am one of very few in my office who actually employ this level of skill. I suspect that many enterprises are the same, in that a small number of technical experts are supported by a large cast of surrounding actors. But it is essential that the others share in the technical knowledge! How could managers evaluate my performance, make decisions about where to apply my skills, or understand my value if they knew nothing more than high school math? How would I remain sane with no one around to rubber duck proofs or concepts to, to commiserate or bounce ideas with? Sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic; deskilling of the workforce makes the black boxes even blacker. Every colleague may not know the precise details of my work, but that this remains a strategic decision and not a limitation due to their lack of skill is essential.

trashtester 4y ago
Managers who don't understand math is a huge limiting factor that has a tendency to infiltrate companies over time. When you look at the most successful startups of the last 50 years or so, it seems to me that most of them were founded by people with a strong STEM background (and math talent), even if several dropped out before finishing college. On average, I think these founders had at least a quite strong pre-graduate level understanding of math, if not more. I believe that level is roughly the minimum required to lead a team of highly educated tech workers.