Archive for January, 2007

Easy Open Source Deployment From JumpBox

SmartBiz RSS FEED January 24th, 2007

Washington, DC – Recovery Consulting – Consulting Resource Group, Inc.

Jobster.com: Latest jobs matching: consulting January 23rd, 2007

City not disclosed, DC Position Level Experienced Position Type Full Time Salary No Information Given Benefits/Compensation Package Benefits We represent major consulting firms with locations in all major cities. We are looking for experienced profes

The Era of Talent?

richard@tompeters.co.uk January 23rd, 2007

What comes to mind when you hear the word "talent"? A favourite musician or top fashion designer? Maybe the British football (soccer) icon David Beckham as he sets a new U.S. sports earnings record with his transfer to the L.A. Galaxy in what will be the swan song of his playing career?

Back in 1997, Tom boldly pronounced in The Circle of Innovation that "Everyone is a Michelangelo." But how many people who run businesses today really believe that, or more importantly, where can we see this thinking profitably in action?

In my experience, Frederick Taylor's Principles of Scientific Management still dominate most organisations. The senior managers I meet can all make great speeches on the need for innovation, but observably spend most of their time managing compliance. A recent conversation with a supermarket executive was illuminating. He was talking with a group of senior managers about how to get staff in their stores to be more willing to try out their new ideas. "They should try doing what they are told for a change," he quipped, "That would be something new round here!" Forced laughs all round.

In our high wage economies, exploiting the talent of our people is critical, and yet a small elite, maybe the output of our best universities or business schools, get the privilege of being treated as if they have "talent" when they join us. How many companies would have spotted the talent of an Eric Clapton, a Stella McCartney, or a David Beckham if they were lucky enough to have recruited them? How would their multi-million-dollar talents have blossomed in this so-called "Era of Talent"?

Posted by Richard King | Comments?

A Need to Be Heard

richard@tompeters.co.uk January 23rd, 2007

There seem to be two blogging camps—bloggers who allow comments at their sites and bloggers who don't. Tom has always welcomed the opportunity to participate in conversation with his readers. For some bloggers, the drawbacks to maintaining the conversation outweigh the benefits, and they decide against using that feature. Jason Kottke is one of them. His audience, however, decided that what they had to say was too important to keep to themselves. Biz Stone, author of Who Let the Blogs Out (a great beginner's guide to blogging), pointed out the Kottke readers' site: Kottke Komments. They republish Kottke's posts and enable comments. This is a fascinating development in that we've been hearing so much about people creating websites to discuss their favorite products or brands, and now it seems a bit like the camera is being aimed at the photographer. How will this affect Kottke's blog? Will readership decline? What if a decline in readership of the original blog impacts ad revenue? If this new site is successful, would it inspire Kottke to try to take control of the situation by opening comments at his blog? Here at tompeters.com, we're familiar with the challenges of maintaining a comment feature, and so respect a blogger's choice on the matter. That said, what do you think?

Posted by Shelley Dolley | Comments?

Systems plus Passion

madeleine@tompeters.co.uk January 22nd, 2007

An Impossible Dream?

Just how do companies manage to get the economies of scale needed to be competitive today, and yet provide memorable customer experiences in their day-to-day interactions? The ideal scenario is that the systems take complexity out of the way of employees, leaving them free to deliver personal service. And yet the reality is often far from that. It seems to fall to the customer to find their way through systems, often having to work out for themselves how to get the service that they need. ... I well remember the frustration of one former client, who, on introducing a highly efficient CRM telephone system found that although performance efficiency improved, customer satisfaction plummeted. Although customers previously had to wait to get service, when they eventually did get through, they felt well treated. The new system made them feel "processed"!!

Interestingly, I read a report in Saturday's UK Guardian newspaper [01.20.07] that describes what one UK Insurer (More Than) is doing to respond to customers' frustrations around impersonal call centre handling. Their solution is to provide every customer with their own personal customer manager. This manager will be personally accountable for their own customer accounts. It's good to see that they are at least attempting to find a way through this minefield

Is this likely to improve things for the customer, or is the problem they are trying to solve much more deeply rooted? The future shape of organisations is being created by those companies who really are getting to grips with challenges like these. Where are the companies out there who are consistently delivering great experiences, and how are they managing to do it?

Posted by Madeleine McGrath | Comments?

Countdown …

madeleine@tompeters.co.uk January 22nd, 2007

Foot of Market Street, San Francisco

I can already feel the withdrawal symptoms making their way toward my consciousness. In two hours I pack off my computers ... speak to the Inc. 500 25th anniversary gathering here in San Francisco at the Fairmont ... and then head to New Zealand. And 3 weeks later (12 February) I surface again.

No computer.
No computer.
No %^&#$)@ computer!

Hooray!
Ye gads!

I've been wondering when I was last computer-free for this long. Surely in an earlier millennium. As I mentioned before, Susan will conduct an inspection that will put the TSA to shame. Only my camera—and her iPod—is/are allowed under the category labeled "electronics." Even the ratio of non-fiction to fiction books will be assessed. No sport coat. No ties. ("But what if we go to dinner in a nice place?" "Tough.") I am considering an audio Blogpost or two—assuming I don't get caught—maybe while Sergeant Sargent (as in Susan Sargent, spouse) is in the shower.

Well, I will truly miss our communal gathering—hold the fort until I return. And a heartfelt thanks for making this a useful and exciting community!

(I had planned some pithy observation about business & management & life as we know it as sendoff Post. In the end ... I had too damn much packing to do.)

Cheers ...

(The photo is of the fabled San Francisco Ferry Building, once home base for the Port of San Francisco—it's at the foot of Market Street.)

Posted by Tom Peters | Comments?

The Best Marketing Mix: Old and New

SmartBiz RSS FEED January 22nd, 2007

The emergence of the broadband Internet has paved the way for new marketing technologies. More subtly, it makes using the old standbys-radio and television-more flexible and affordable. The result: A richer mix of approaches to customers and prospects.

Time Is Money, Part II

SmartBiz RSS FEED January 22nd, 2007

Technology used to track employees-to make sure they are working when they say they are, among other things-is evolving rapidly. In the second of a two-part series, Judith Katz looks at how the key approaches stack up on security, convenience, cost and functionality.

Dell, NFIB Looking For Winners

SmartBiz RSS FEED January 22nd, 2007

ContingenZ For Small Businesses

SmartBiz RSS FEED January 22nd, 2007

Excellence in Motion

tjpet@aol.com January 22nd, 2007

powered by Audioblog.com

Tom talks about "a gorgeous exhibition of Excellence" in the loading area at Ralphs supermarket in L.A.




MP3 File

Posted by Tom Peters | Comments?

Tom Wears Them Out in SF

tjpet@aol.com January 21st, 2007

Our Cool Friend Robert Scoble was in the audience at the Inc. event and met Tom for the first time yesterday in San Francisco. Tom wore him out. Read Robert's account of his time with Tom.

Posted by Erik Hansen | Comments?

Boston, MA – Account Director – Marketing Consulting – Consulting Company- TheLadders Client

Jobster.com: Latest jobs matching: consulting January 21st, 2007

Job Description More Jobs From Company- TheLadders Client | Send to a Friend Company- TheLadders Client Job ID: 738557 Location: Boston, MA Position Type: Full Time Date Posted: 1/19/2007 Account Director - Marketing

Boston, MA – Account Director – Marketing Consulting – Consulting Company- TheLadders Client

Jobster.com: Latest jobs matching: consulting January 21st, 2007

Job Description More Jobs From Company- TheLadders Client | Send to a Friend Company- TheLadders Client Job ID: 738557 Location: Boston, MA Position Type: Full Time Date Posted: 1/19/2007 Account Director - Marketing

Boston, MA – Account Director – Marketing Consulting – Consulting Company- TheLadders Client

Jobster.com: Latest jobs matching: consulting January 21st, 2007

Job Description More Jobs From Consulting Company- TheLadders Client | Send to a Friend Consulting Company- TheLadders Client Job ID: 738557 Location: Boston, MA Position Type: Full Time Date Posted: 1/19/2007 Account Director - Marketing Consulting

Boston, MA – Account Director – Marketing Consulting – Consulting Company- TheLadders Client

Jobster.com: Latest jobs matching: consulting January 21st, 2007

Account Director - Marketing Consulting This candidate will be responsible for overall marketing client relationship development & growth along with overall revenue and profitability measures. Candidates must have financial services, telecom & /or In

Event Slides: Inc.

cathymosca@tompeters.com January 20th, 2007

Tom's in San Francisco, which he calls the World's #1 city. The event is the 25th Annual Inc. 500 Conference. If you would like to download the slides, you can get them here:
XAlways, Inc., Final Version, San Francisco
XAlways, Inc., Long Version, San Francisco

Posted by Cathy Mosca | Comments?

Valuation Consulting – Consulting Resource Group, Inc.

Jobster.com: Latest jobs matching: consulting January 19th, 2007

City not disclosed, PA Position Level Experienced Position Type Full Time Salary No Information Given Benefits/Compensation Package Benefits We represent major consulting firms with locations in all major cities. We are looking for experienced profes

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