...Balliol to Bay Street...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:55:00 +0000

Some good summer reading...

Need some reading material for the cottage this summer, checkout the following reading list.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 17:26:00 +0000

Analysts urge BCE to focus on the basics...

I couldn't agree more with this Globe and Mail article that highlights the fact that BCE should start to focus there efforts on their bread and butter businesses (i.e. landline, wireless and internet). I'm not sure where they going? Is BCE still playing the "Content is King" play?

I would recommend that they start to focus their efforts on their core revenue generating businesses and also increase efforts in and around customer experience. From what I hear on the street, people are leaving in droves because of very poor customer service. And I'm one of them.

...Lets get back to basics and please do not forget customer experience, as Ma Bell is no longer a monopoly.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:07:00 +0000

What can 1 Red Paperclip buy?

Although this post doesn't really fit my blog, I figure it's disserving... ...really disserving.

Check out what one guy can do with some viral marketing and one red paperclip.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:12:00 +0000

Does Apple really need Geniuses to service iPods?

As I am a long time PC user, I haven't had the pleasure of using Apple's Genius Bar to get my computer problems solved... ...that is until my iPod recently broke.

All though the two times that I have gone into my local Apple Store to use their Genius Bar have been fairly pleasant from a customer experience perspective. The problem with the service is, Apple really doesn't service iPods. They’ll replace the iPod if it is under warranty, but it's not under warranty your pretty much out of luck.

So my question is, why are they offering a service at the "Genius Bar", if all the Geniuses can do is look blankly at the iPod and say, "it probably cheaper to buy a new one".

Things Apple should know… …“Customer Experience” is more than being friendly with customers, it should also include a fulfillment process... ...including post acquisition processes.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:02:00 +0000

AOL's Next Move...

Is Jonathan Miller's (AOL's Chief Executive) plan to cut AOL's 17-year-old Internet access service really going to solve the company's financial problems? I don't think so!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 13:00:00 +0000

An Intersting GE Microsite...

A very intersting General Electric microsite that seems to have the right stuff for some great 'word-of-mouth' advertizing.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 13:01:00 +0000

Business Strategies...

I am always amazed at how companies incorporate restructuring or operational effectiveness (i.e. layoffs) as part of their strategy. It is my belief that a strategy's purpose is to ensure that the company has a unique and valuable "position", involving a different set of activities. The success of a strategy depends on doing things well and integration among them. The goal of a business strategy document is to develop a business plan that is not easily copied by the competition.

How to Marry Strategy and Operational Effectiveness:

"...Strategy is creating fit among a company's activities. The success of a strategy depends on doing many things well -- not just a few -- and integrating among them. If there is no fit among activities, there is no distinctive strategy and little sustainability. Management reverts to the simpler task of overseeing independent functions, and operational effectiveness determines a company's relative performance.

Improving operational effectiveness is a necessary part of management, but it is not strategy. In confusing the two, managers have unintentionally backed into a way of thinking about competition that is driving many industries toward competitive convergence, which is in no one's best interest and is not inevitable..."

Michael Porter

If this is true (which I believe it is), why do companies like Nortel always seem to include operational effectiveness as part of their strategy? Are they esentially saying that they do not have a competitive advantage?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 18:18:00 +0000

Google Map Mashups...

Two questions that are yet to be answered?

1) Google Maps and Google Earth... ...business strategy?

2) Google Map Mashups... ...business strategy?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 15:16:00 +0000

Sacred Cows...

Are most companies too serious about themselves to take on
Mitel's way of thinking?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 13:29:00 +0000

CEO pay at "dangerous levels"...

According to the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think-tank in Washington, D.C., in 2005 an average worker's annual salary is just under $42,000, while the average CEO brought home almost $11 million.

Is the pay scale tilting in the CEOs favor a little too much? Or is in line with their work load?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:18:00 +0000

The 5th Annual Fast Fifty...

Seems to me that Fast Company accidently left off Tom Peters in their 2006 Fast Fifty...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:16:00 +0000

Never Eat Alone...

Everyone in business knows relationships and having a network of contacts is important. Keith Ferrazzi, the author of "Never Eat Alone" provides a real-world guide to how to create your own high-powered network tailored to your career goals and personal style.

Also check out his blog...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:18:00 +0000

Two Beckham Brand Questions...

1) How does David Beckham's free-kick winning goal against Ecuador affect his overall brand value? Does his brand value surge past Brazil's Ronaldinho, becoming the highest brand value amongst the world’s most successful football players?

2) Should brand evaluations models (e.g. BEVA model) incoprorate factors to allow for this type unique circumstance? Do some models already do this????

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:01:00 +0000

Constomer Immersion Experinces...

"Inside P&G", an interesting Strategy Magazine article that discusses P&G's recent transformation with Jim Stengel, P&G's Global Marketing Officer. I was particularly interested in their "Customer Immersion Experiences" practice. It's a relatively simple and logical practice and certainly not a new idea. But it got me to wonder how many of the Fortune Magazine's Most Admired companies have a similar practice as part of their business strategy? And conversly, I wonder how many of the Fortune Magazine's Least Admired companies have a similar practice as part of their business strategy?

I bet I could take a pretty good guess...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 12:51:00 +0000

Proper Product Management...

I came across this article in the New York Times that discusses a new cellphone ring tone that can not be heard by adults. The ring tone was the offshoot of an invention called the Mosquito, developed last year by a Welsh security company to annoy teenagers with an ear-splitting 17-kilohertz buzzer designed to help shopkeepers disperse young people loitering in front of their stores while leaving adults unaffected.

The article clearly highlights the fact that it is crutial for companies to do their homework during all phases of the product life cycle to ensure that the potential revenue generation is maximized.

Note: the Welsh security company that originally developed Mosquito missed out on the additional revenue as they did not develop the ring tone.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 20:23:00 +0000

Is this a tactic that could be used to manage unprofitable customers as well?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 19:51:00 +0000

With yesterday being Fathers Day, I though it would be appropriate to quote Tom Peters and Keith Ferrazzi in my first post.

"If you don't like change, you're going to like irrevelance even less"
Tom Peters

"Build it, before you need it."
Keith Ferrazzi

We are living in a much different work world than our fathers lived in.