bTechSharp - Affordable CompuFiciency

Robots – The New Middle Class?

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:25:02 +0000

This very provocative article discusses the economic and social impact of robots in the workplace. Naturally, how you view robots depends upon which side of the fence you live on – happy and richer owner? or displaced worker? But in either event, as consumers we benefit from improved quality and reduced prices made possible by robotics. So, how should we process this revolution? What are the ‘big picture’ views we should hold? The jury is still out, but the conversation must begin.

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Putting a price tag on knowledge

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:05:39 +0000

A familiar scenario goes like this: The huge printing presses of a major Chicago newspaper began malfunctioning on the Saturday before Christmas, putting all the revenue for advertising that was to appear in the Sunday paper in jeopardy. None of the technicians could track down the problem. Finally, a frantic call was made to the retired printer who had worked with these presses for over 40 years. “We’ll pay anything; just come in and fix them,” he was told.

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Why Everyone Should Learn to Code

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:32:51 +0000

I read an article this week that said, ‘Soon there will be two categories of workers, those who tell computers what to do, and those who computers tell what to do.’ While this may be a bit extreme or far removed, for now, the underlying notion is essentially correct, namely, that virtually all work in the very near future will involve computers in almost every aspect of employment. Workers on the ‘tell computers what to do’ side will fare far better than the legions of workers whose lives will be directed almost entirely by computers.

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Mystery Shopping – Competitive Intelligence or Corporate Espionage?

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:35:35 +0000

Few would argue that meaningfully employed competitive intelligence practices may enhance a company’s ability to compete within their chosen market. The question is where to search for intelligence of actionable value, what to do with that knowledge, and where to draw the line between intelligence (ethical and competition-enhancing) and espionage (unethical and competition-eroding).

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Knowledge Management Mind Map – A High Level View

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:58:40 +0000

Mind map of knowledge management I maintain that no single explanation or view can entirely explain KM. Consequently, I employ many different tools and media to explain KM concepts, values, and merits. The mind map is one such tool. I came upon this one at the NASA Federal Knowledge Management Working Group site.

Technology Disrupts Entire Markets – Are You Next? Prepared?

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:37:08 +0000

This web service is something every financial advisor should study with wary respect. Heed my warning if you will; ignore me at your own peril. See longer article here. Many realtors think home buyers and sellers will never forego one-on-one relationships with a trusted realtor. They are dead wrong. These late-to-adapt realtors will soon find themselves replaced by an online one-stop-shop service whereby sellers can list their home, county property records and tax history are automatically linked to the listing, appraisals and assessments are derived via automation using real time data, and bankers bid for loans which users initiate by inputting their own data and documentation (bye-bye loan originators)…

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To Learn – an Action Verb

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:39:13 +0000

A graduate program classmate requested that I clarify something I wrote (see relevant snippet). My lengthy response follows – and I’m glad I took the time to crystallize my thoughts. Where am I headed? I am asking each of us (FEW though we are) to deliberately and conscientiously add an extra dose of effort, to scratch a little deeper for insights and intellectual connections in our discussion posts. That is when real learning can happen. Seek to wow or challenge someone else, and in so doing you will challenge yourself! If there is value in the peer-to-peer feedback–and there is–then let’s strive to amp it up with intelligent insight, comment, and feedback we all could benefit from.

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Life Long Learning–Preparing for the Knowledge Economy

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 23:03:59 +0000

If you are not familiar with the term ‘knowledge economy’, please become so. We are not suffering from Obama or Bush economic policies, but from shifting economic eras. It is convenient and tempting – but WRONG – to attribute current economic woes to one political party or another, to outsourcing or to off-shoring.

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Learn to Conduct your Business in 3D

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:46:46 +0000

Successful modern businesses must compete in a faster-paced environment than ever before. The old tools just don’t get the job done, so businesses have gone from the desktop PC to the cloud, and now to mobile technology. However, each change adds another level of complexity and frustration, often making problems worse not better.

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No multitasking for teams either

brian@bTechSharp.com (Brian T Mickley) — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:06:32 +0000

No multitasking for teams either – The Knowledge Lens - Original source of this great post. May 19th, 2011 by Jack Vinson.

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