First class mail at the USPS is down. In fact down from 104 Billion pieces in 2001 to 73.5 Billion pieces last year and is projected to go down to 39 Billion pieces in 2020. As a result the post office is cutting half its mail processing facilities besides planning huge cuts in deliveries andContinue reading “USPS to slow down first class mail: how the Internet affects your business”
Category Archives: Culture
Dow over 12,000: Globalization can work on the governance side as six Central Banks Co-ordinate.
That the Dow closed over 12,000 today is great news.The European debt crisis had cast a pall of gloom across stock markets worldwide and in the US things looked bleak till the news that six Central Banks of the world had come together to enhance financial liquidity in their respective markets. If the "Occupy Movement"Continue reading “Dow over 12,000: Globalization can work on the governance side as six Central Banks Co-ordinate.”
Supply Chain CSR: tracing child labor in growing cocoa beans for chocolates
Just as we get into the holiday mood and enjoy chocolates the focus is on where the cocoa beans come from that go into making chocolate that brings so much holiday cheer to the affluent- worldwide. The BBC Story highlights Nestle's efforts in trying to bring traceability to the labor aspects of the cocoa beanContinue reading “Supply Chain CSR: tracing child labor in growing cocoa beans for chocolates”
“Unexpected” is why the Justin Beiber Macy’s commercial is so successful
If you have seen Justin Beiber concerts on TV (NBC at least twice recently as one can remember) you wonder why the teenage fans seem to get so hysterical with the girls screaming loudly. In fact the "I can't understand this" look is obvious on the anchor's faces as they are with Beiber on theContinue reading ““Unexpected” is why the Justin Beiber Macy’s commercial is so successful”
What an 80 year old workforce means for organizations and innovation opportunities
Working till you are 80 years old is not a happy thought, particularly if you want to retire at 65 or 67. But 25% Americans think that they might have no other alternative. From an older worker's point of view not being able to retire is hard as is dealing with the stereotype of beingContinue reading “What an 80 year old workforce means for organizations and innovation opportunities”
Why is online holiday sales set to grow 15% in a slow economy?
With high US unemployment,nervous stock markets a volatile Europe and general uncertainty you have to wonder at the 15% growth estimates for on-line sales this year. Forrester estimates that this year online holiday sales will be $59.9B up 15% from the 2010 number of $51.7B. The growth rate and the sheer large numbers imply aContinue reading “Why is online holiday sales set to grow 15% in a slow economy?”
What bloggers,speakers and writers can learn from Andy Rooney
Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes CBS passed away on Friday, Nov 4, 2011 at 92.
[ Note: This post is from November 6, 2011. It was updated on March 25, 2021 with a video to get a sense of the iconic broadcaster Andy Rooney why may not have seen him on Television]
Affectionately called America’s “grouch-in-chief” and a “curmudgeon” Andy had a lot of contribution to the success of CBS 60 minutes over the years with his signature ending piece on “a few minutes with Andy Rooney”. He was able to put an interesting spin to almost anything from why you have cotton in medicine bottles to his famous essay on doors. Here is what bloggers,speakers and writers can learn from Andy Rooney:
Halloween snowstorm and the power outage
On Saturday night the north east USA was hit by a snow storm. Halloween was on Monday evening and there was no power, snow on the ground and a chill in every home and dark streets. Truly scary and towns advised that the festival which involves children going house to house to "trick or treat"Continue reading “Halloween snowstorm and the power outage”
Organizational routines are much maligned to hinder innovation but are critical for execution
Somehow organizational routines have got a bad rep (reputation) when it comes to innovation. "Not invented here" is that kind of view where "tradition" and "custom" takes precedence above trying to do something new or innovative. But guess what ? "Customs" bring us closer to being a tribe which is amusingly one of our basicContinue reading “Organizational routines are much maligned to hinder innovation but are critical for execution”
The 16$ muffin and understanding B2G and B2B buying and payment processes
The 16$ muffin has outraged Americans given that you can get a fairly decent muffin for about $2. In fact, Senator Chuck Grassley has asked for "heads to roll" and BBC has run a story of how impossible it is to come up with a$16 muffin. Given the B2B and also B2G focus of thisContinue reading “The 16$ muffin and understanding B2G and B2B buying and payment processes”