Globalization combined with an increasing population has sparked a huge rise in the consumption of our natural resources. As time goes on, the need for businesses and manufacturers around the world to invent, create and produce more ecofriendly products is becoming more and more imperative. The world population as of February 2008 was estimated to be 6.65 billion. By comparison, the world population in 1950 was believed to be 2.52 billion. Assuming the population continues to grow at a rate... Read Full Story
Most business leaders plan modest incremental growth each year. They set expectations that they are confident can be achieved. This way everyone can get a pat on the back when the plan is reached. Growth in revenue in line with the market at 5% and growth in profits of 6% is the sort of thing. Many directors would be delighted with this sort of result. The trouble with this approach is that it re info rces incrementalism. The easiest way to get 5% growth is by pumping up the... Read Full Story
We all throw around buzzwords, words that the mere utterance motivates a crowd and makes us sound so savvy, but what are buzzwords, do they really mean anything? Why, no matter how knowledgeable, no matter how educated and informed we are, do we insist on using buzzwords? What draws us to use buzzwords, after a day of buzzword heavy meeting with people whom I respect and feel are very bright, why did I leave these meetings wondering what just went on? The occasional buzzword, well placed can... Read Full Story
Innovation is kind of like the weather. Everyone talks about it, and most people who think they can predict it are really taking advantage of the fact that tomorrow's weather tends to be like today's. Unfortunately, for most organizations, attempts to foster meaningful innovation are a lot like rain dances. There's a fair amount of noise and jumping about, but you better have your excuses ready for when the rain doesn't fall. This Qlippit , On the Horns of a Black Swan takes a look at an... Read Full Story
I was doing some reading on innovation which is the process by which intellectual capital get created and then asked myself how come many traditional enterprises are failing at innovation... I wonder if IT executives (or business executives for that matter) ever ask themselves how many intellectual capitalists do we employ? A company can own many fine performers chock full o'competence, but how many innovative, creative problem-solvers are there? Defining the issue of what constitutes an IC... Read Full Story
One of the interesting things I saw at Microsoft yesterday, was an initiative they’ve started called Voices for Innovation . So what is it all about? It’s about influencing the ICT policy debate. The technology industry creates an environment that boosts and inspires creativity and progress, supports sustainable jobs in the global marketplace and enables people to share ideas and knowledge with others. Microsoft suggest that if this progress is stifled by governmental regulation, the... Read Full Story
3D Movies are back again - but this time they are better…..
We all remember the old red and green 3D cardboard glasses we used to love in the 80’s - you know the one’s they gave away free for the Jaws film and every other cereal carton as well!!!
The ones where you couldn’t really see the true colours of the film or any real details at all - and if you tilted your head to one side - you would see everything in double rather than 3-dimensional!
Well, they are a thing of the past - the... Read Full Story
Just like out of an old spy movie, the DragonFly - or the DelFly Micro to use it’s technical name - has taken to the skies!
Unveiled by the Delft University of Technology in Holland last month - it is the worlds smallest camera-carrying ultra-miniaturised craft (for now). More commonly called a nano air vehicle (NAV) it is made of ultra-light polymers and carbon fibre - and this one is just 4 inches across and weighs just 0.1oz!
So, this mini beast - about the size of the real insect... Read Full Story
I am listening to a podcast from the Harvard Business Review with A.G. Lafley. He is the CEO of of P&G and recently wrote a book about innovation. He is discussing innovation at P&G and how it permeates all the way through the business. It is far beyond just innovating product and extends to shopping experience, cost and supply chain. Of course, for anyone who has worked with P&G, this is very believable. I have dealt with their transportation people before and it showed clearly they were... Read Full Story
The Exoskeleton is here!!!!!!
No, that’s not the name of the baddie after new Spiderman - it the name of a revolutionary new piece of equipment that could help to improve logistics in difficult areas, and help save lives (and time).
Basically, it is worn by a human being over their clothes (hence the name exo -skeleton) and enhances their muscular ability as the hydraulic motors within the suit react to the body’s current movements - amplifying their effect.
Using this technique it has... Read Full Story
