Why is it hard to engage your organization in social media content creation?

How to engage your organization in social media content creation? is a challenge for most organizations. Call it the legacy of the old industrial world, you joined a large organization and hoped to keep your job for life. The formula was ” keep your head down” , “keep your mouth shut” , “stay out ofContinue reading “Why is it hard to engage your organization in social media content creation?”

Why does physical service lag behind online service?

Online service that precedes physical service seems to be always better. OK Amazon.com is an exception which is able to physically deliver to a consumers' delight.  There are numerous examples of this "sure to disappoint the consumer" situation. A recent example from a top  hotel that  sends you an email asking you to check-in onlineContinue reading “Why does physical service lag behind online service?”

Sustainable innovation in the supply chain: over 2 kilos of trash/person/day

According to the EPA in 2010 each person in the US put out Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)- popularly known as  garbage/trash  equal to 4.43 lb or  over 2 kilos per day. If you look at the number of garbage cans on the weekly trash collection days- you know that the number has not decreased andContinue reading “Sustainable innovation in the supply chain: over 2 kilos of trash/person/day”

How the Internet affects business: top of the sales funnel and an instant reference- “value” check

Most organizations that are not pure-play internet (like Amazon.com) do not seem fully understand how the Internet affects their business. The  top of the sales funnel and an instant reference- “value” check are two ways the internet affects your business: Internet can fill top of the sales funnel: And this can be huge. Between searchContinue reading “How the Internet affects business: top of the sales funnel and an instant reference- “value” check”

Innovation and US jobs: two types of opportunity- of iPhones and frozen yogurt

Given the substantial interest in previous posts about how innovation creates jobs here are some more thoughts on exactly how these jobs can happen. But first about innovation which is at its most basic level is: doing something new. The newness can be huge like when the iPhone was introduced or can be just openingContinue reading “Innovation and US jobs: two types of opportunity- of iPhones and frozen yogurt”

NASA Curiosity lands on Mars and creates high tech US jobs

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover landed on Mars today and started sending back photos to great celebration at NASA, the US and across the world. Particularly encouraging is the news that much of the leading technology was developed and supplied by US suppliers.  Here are some innovators that need congratulations apart from the NASA team andContinue reading “NASA Curiosity lands on Mars and creates high tech US jobs”

US Textile Industry and the outsourcing of US Olympic team uniforms by Ralph Lauren

The outsourcing of US Olympic team uniforms by Ralph Lauren to China seems to cause a great deal of angst among US politicians as you can see in the Wall Street Journal video alongside. The reality is that if you checked out any clothing or home furnishing at the apparel section of Walmart, JCPenney orContinue reading “US Textile Industry and the outsourcing of US Olympic team uniforms by Ralph Lauren”

What jobs are not outsourceable in the US? Going global in Agriculture,Manufacturing and Services

What jobs are not outsourceable in the US will be a question on top of mind as the Presidential election campaigns gather steam.This as globalization and technology moves forward at an ever faster pace.  A useful way to think about the challenge for young and mid-career Americans is as follows: Agriculture: Only a tiny 0.7%Continue reading “What jobs are not outsourceable in the US? Going global in Agriculture,Manufacturing and Services”

Steps in Engineering Outsourcing : What goes out – must come back

Given the interest in an earlier post on engineering outsourcing its timely to think about the steps of engineering outsourcing and keep in mind that what goes out must come back! Here are the most basic steps of the engineering outsourcing process: Core competence: As discussed in several articles innovation and intellectual property is bestContinue reading “Steps in Engineering Outsourcing : What goes out – must come back”

Mayors Innovation Challenge for US cities from NYC Mayor Bloomberg

The Mayor's Challenge for US cities from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a great idea. The rationale for the Mayors Challenge is explained in the video alongside and  details of the competition are available at the Bloomberg Philanthropies website. Mayor Bloomberg is personally funding the effort and it is available to all citiesContinue reading “Mayors Innovation Challenge for US cities from NYC Mayor Bloomberg”