Business Geek - Comments

Simon: Specialisation vs generalisation

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:59:03 -0700

There is also a "human nature" aspect to specialisation. Whenever I see a company get really specialised, they then trend to wanting to cover a broader segment of the market. Conversely, companies that have wide spread of offerings often start to divest themselves of offerings (and then go back again a few years later). I think this is part of a broader human foible of "if I am doing A, I probably should be doing B" and vice versa.

Specialisation also has strategic ramifications when your specialisation depends on the specialisations of others that may cease to be available. The pre WWI world was a good example of on where certain countries were the only ones that manufactured certain goods. Once hostilities broke out - there were dramatic shortages as the means of supply were cut and alternatives were unavailable.

Simon: Twitter - 144 characters but little money

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:18:42 -0700

Twitter is just and echo chamber for the next generation of "dot bombers" in San Fran. Then again, when the big one comes, there won't be whole lot of twittering going on as it all slides into the sea!

Simon: The power of "No"

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:20:25 -0700

This is tough issue in the "go go noughties". But I think the key is not just saying no - but helping to find someone else to do the job (or pushing it back to the person who SHOULD be doing it).

Now...BACK TO WORK!!!

Simon: Statistical (un)reality part 1

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:34:05 -0700

I think the other issue with statistics is that 75% of them are made up on the spot!

Seriously though - the GURU when it comes to the use of visuals to display information (and to obfuscate it) is Edward Tufte http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/

His works are simply incredible!

Simon: Personal economic responsibility

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:08:11 -0700

The wonders of human nature, coupled with the ever-sophisticated engines of marketing and advertising and you have a world of suckers bent on mass-consumption.

'Buy now - nothing to pay for 5 years"!!!

Or people who complain they cannot find a house to buy affordably and then say "Well, it needs 3 bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms, a media room and a 3 car garage - oh and I want it 5 kms from the CBD".

If you spend 10% less than you earn - you will always be rich!

Simon: The value of an inclusive executive

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:03:17 -0700

I would have two key comments to this issue. Firstly, in terms of Executives - I think their situation proves "it is good to be the king!". If you do well - you do well, if you fail - you do well!!!

The other aspect is that Motorola has been "processed" out of the market. I remember a number of years ago when the Capability Maturity Model was the "six sigma" de jour, Motorola was always held up as a poster child. "oh, they have CMM level 5!!!". Well, that just about squeezed out all the creativity, flexibility and serendipity from the design process, and leaves Motorola the most "uncool" of brands...

Simon: Not a definitive win for Blu Ray

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:07:22 -0700

Never has a format war been so "meh". Video tape gave us something we did not have before. DVD made it digital and of higher quality with Random Access.

Blu Ray has none of these key "kickers". More lines does not cut it!

I will cheerfully buy my Blu Ray player when I can buy it from the local electronics shop for $60.

Simon: Will the prisoners dilemma kill Facebook?

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:35:32 -0700

I think that facebook and other social networks take the saying "Hell is other people" to a whole new level!

Simon: Moving towards the semantic web

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:03:53 -0700

In short - it ain't going to happen.

Humans are more adaptable than machines - so we need to leverage our own adaptability.

The best example I have seen is that for years people tried to do "palm-like" devices that would recognise handwriting. It never worked and always consumed vast amounts of processing power for a poor result. The Palm Graffiti model changed all that - have the device understand a defined set of gestures and have the human learn the language. This simple shift in processing focus changed the way you would use and design these devices.

Until we develop computers with human-like processing ability - the semantic web will not happen.

Simon: Managing an online identity

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:48:32 -0700

The worst thing about people revealing "cross purpose" information is that it lives on the net forever!

Simon: The Music industry appears to see sense! [update - ..then snaps out of it]

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:03:12 -0700

Didn't happen and won't happen. Why? Because of the lawyers and accountants in the RI - they run the show. You can make numbers say anything, and lawyers are loathe to give away rights to ANYTHING. So that is that - done, over - just hype.

Simon: Apple stocks back to reality

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:31:06 -0700

It must be hard being right all the time '-)

I think the real "hit" was when the release the "air" and people said "looks great - but is a crap laptop". This kind of translates to Apple as a stock - looked great on the outside, but the fundamentals are just not there to justify the price!

Is Apple going off the rails? I wonder. I give them 12 months for another "smash" product or they are going to start down the slippery slope during the US recession....

Simon: LG V Quanta is a big deal for two reasons

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:22:11 -0700

The whole world of patent law is murky at best and supremely corrupt at worst. I think the only viable option at this stage is to set up a company called "troll-u-like" and feast on the bloated carcass that is IP law in the technological age!

Simon: Artificial barriers cause real business loss

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:09:20 -0700

You are spot on! How crazy is it for companies to impose arcane geographical boundaries on a medium that is revolutionary because it transcends those boundaries!

Again we have a company STOPPING a customer from GIVING them money!!!

How does this "add to shareholder value" again?

Simon: $600 Apple share price: Beyond irrational exuberance

nospam@example.com (Simon) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:05:23 -0700

I think an interesting study would be the correlation between inflated stock projections and sales of illicit substances to those making those projections!