INFORMS Open Forum

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I consider whether you should take a job at a ‘big data’ startup company.

Big Data and Tulip Bulbs

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Robert Rose
President
Optimal Decisions, LLC
Franklin Park NJ
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Having started my own company as well as been part of several other startups (some more successful than others), there is an energy in firms that are chasing the latest and greatest that is difficult to find in legacy firms. It was fairly common to ask yourself if the <insert whatever boom/bust you want here> would last and to hear the response something like "I don't know but I'm going to enjoy the ride while it lasts." We are taught to buy low and sell high, yet this argument seems to forget the sell high part and says don't participate at all because at the end the ride will be over. Is this environment for everyone? Of course not, but for others this is exactly the environment they want to be in. --Kevin