That Accountability Thing

SocGen and the French Way – The French way for many years was business and political elites to dance together. But, as an editorial from WSJ asks, has the business elite found some new dancing partners?

product

Tech – The Thin Man – Well, what is wrong with the new ultra thin Mac laptop? The main problem, as Rory Sutherland from Spectator points out is that no one needs a laptop that is so thin --- except if they have an obsession with being cool. Take that Apple! Damned if Rory does not have
a point there!

The Platform Age

Tech – Platforms – Long ago it seemed that e mail would be the “killer app” that allowed seamless linkages from anyone to anyone. Then Google demonstrated new potential to link people together creating a network of web sites through search. Social networking sites are the latest rage. It does seem that we need web “platforms” that draw like people together (we don’t just come together naturally) Take a look at how Giggaom (a tech business blog) is evolving into such a platform --- very interesting in how it merges info exchange, analysis, video and fun. The key to its success is its ability to draw in talented people who provide new energy to its network. Welcome the revolution!

Nokia's Love Story

Business – A Tale of Two Companies – A short article in NYT tells a big story. In the 4th quarter Nokia profits surged by 44%. Motorola profits fell by 86%. Why? Which company loves its product line?

Shall we Over Do it Tonight Again Dear?

Business – The Peculiar Market for Luxury – As Knowledge at Wharton reminds us, there was a time when luxury products were only for the few. But now we all want our Armani, Calvin Klein, and on and on. Is it still luxury then? Maybe not, but it is still extravagant. This point was slammed home by Karl Lagerfeld when he constructed a 75 foot model of a Chanel jacket as the centerpiece of a fashion store. It seems that Karl understands the value of overdoing it.

Apple's Fun Times

Business – Apple’s Great Moment – Apple’s share price may have fallen slightly, but its prospects seem to be getting better and better. As Dave Pogue reports, its surge in market share for hardware is producing new software, which makes the product more attractive, which … well you know.

Frames verus Power

Management – The Value of Conflict –We think of the decisive leader as the person who takes charge, and with bold decisions gets things done. But is this the best model? Perhaps an equally valid model is one where a leader empowers persons to develop contrasting perspectives on what should be done so that options can be tested over time. According to Knowledge at Wharton, the old John Wayne style of leadership might be consigned to the dustbin of management history.

E Bay's Nervous Transition

Business – E Bay’s Transition – There was a golden moment when many thought e bay would revolutionize retailing. With e bay, anyone might be able to sell or buy anything, anywhere at low cost. But, the buzz has worn off and e bay has stagnated. Now, NYT reports its CEO Meg Whitman has decided to cash in her chips and retire. What went wrong? Unlike Apple and Amazon, e bay does not seem to love its own product. So can the e bay “deep management team” rekindle that love? Or are they now romancing a beached whale?

Getting grumpy?

United States – Economic Forecast – The mood around the global village is just a tad grumpy these days. Is the sky falling? Well, maybe, and maybe not. But amidst the panic, there does appear to be a trend. If US stock and real estate prices sit at uncomfortably low levels for a while, consumer spending is likely to stagnate. Yes, that sounds like a period of low growth and possibly a recession. The attaché NYT piece by Dave Leonhardt makes the argument.

Murdoch's Way

Business – So What Does Rupert Murdoch do in his Spare Time? - Rupert Murdoch did not get rich by being stupid and nasty. Yet because he rarely tries publicly to explain or justify what he does (in contrast to Warren Buffet) he may seem that way.

But to get a glimpse of the true Murdoch, take a look at the attached NYT article about his relationship with Chris DeWolfe at MySpace. Back in 2005 (when Murdoch paid $580 million for the site) Murdoch was one of the few who saw the potential value of MySpace and DeWolfe’s vision for growing it further. And damn if it might not prove to be a great investment because of the way Murdoch empowers Mr. DeWolfe to be bold.

An interesting side bar – DeWolfe has set up a connected company to incubate new ideas – a very nice quote from the article is worth thinking about - “We firmly believe that it’s very hard to create a disruptive technology within a larger organization.” This thought may apply to disruptive anything, yes? Yet, are there times when disruption may be needed.

Collaboration Tools?

Tech – New Collaboration Tools – While raw materials prices are skyrocketing, costs of collaboration between innovators across distance are tumbling and will likely tumble further. Internet? Well, yes but not just internet. Internet based software platforms are developing (going beyond Facebook, My Space etc.) that promote collaboration. Makes you wonder whether your collaboration skills may also need some buffing up. Gigaom profiles some new software packages that are blazing trails into this area.

Introduction

Why follow this blog? We have this insane idea that we can learn from business trends. Learn what? Well, our main interest is how an entrepreneur can move from being a "lone wolf" to become the "life of the business party". So we track business stories from major media to produce a few "lessons learned", "best practices" and great innovations that entrepreneurs can use. Who knows, we might even have some fun.