Management Blog

The internet: everywhere and on everything?

Here's a prediction that will either scare or inspire: futurists claim just about every object we see and use will be connected to the internet sometime between now and 2010, The Age reports.

According to the article, domestic appliances, clothes, books, cars and even farm animals will be assigned a unique IP address that enables them to 'communicate' with each other and humans.

The concept already has big name corporate backers with Cisco, Ericsson and Sun forming an alliance to establish standards for 'smart object' technology.

Pundits say the technology has important green uses. For example, IP enabled lights that accurately turn on and off in response to room use could save tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Public speaking scares many more than death

Seriously? A recent Newspoll study suggests nearly a quarter of the Australian population fears public speaking more than death, Smart Company reports.   

The study found 23 per cent of 1,206 respondents said speaking in public was their greatest fear. This phobia was second only to death with 27 per cent saying dying was their greatest fear.

It appears income is no barrier to a fear of talking to groups. The study found people on higher incomes were equally afraid of public speaking as those on lower wages.

Differences in education levels were found to have an impact. Fifteen per cent of respondents with a university degree said public speaking was their greatest fear while 28 per cent of people with a high school education feared presenting to groups.

Disclosing a disability at work

Should disability issues be discussed at work?

Yes, according to workplace experts who claim employers are generally more open to discussing the topic than many disabled employees might think.

And with nearly a quarter of the Australian workforce experiencing some form of disability it's a topic that warrants discussion, a recent news.com.au article argues.

To help workers talk about their disability - when and if they feel it is appropriate - the following tips are offered:

1. Have written support from a health professional to outline the extent of the disability
2. Practise your conversation; this process will help you decide if disclose is right for you
3. Describe your strengths and achievements to highlight your ability to complete your job
4. Bring a trusted colleague or career counselor with you into the meeting for support
5. Be honest about the extent of your limitations

Move and shake your way to the top

The first step towards becoming a CEO is to be sure that it's a position you actually want, a recent Times article on how to climb the corporate ladder explains.

Other steps potential CEOs might like to consider include:

Move around - it's claimed many CEOs have made it to the top by showing a willingness to move roles, companies and countries

Use your emotional intelligence - CEOs need to be good at reading situations and people

Think abundantly - future CEOs prove themselves by thinking ahead and spotting issues outside their company or department

Be passionate about what you do - show your drive but be careful not to be display boorish or bullish behaviour

The rest of the article's 10 tips can be found here.

Corporate blogs don't have to be boring

The majority of corporate blogs are dismal failures because they do not offer content that people actually want to read, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The article cites a study by Forrester Research that found the majority of B2B blogs are 'dull, drab and don't stimulate discussion' with 70 per cent only covering business or technical topics.

The survey also found 56 per cent of company blogs merely rehashed company press releases.

To make a blog more readable Forrester advises businesses to consider topics such as the musings of the CEO, stories on how a product decision was made or a funny story from around the office.

'Instant On' predicted for new Windows

Having to sit idly by as your computer goes through its start up cycle may soon be a thing of the past.

According to ACP magazine, the Windows 7 operating system may allow users to access productivity bolstering 'Instant On' software as soon as they hit their computer's power button.

The software enables users to instantly access certain features, such as the internet, multimedia and video chat, while the rest of the computer comes to life.

According to ACP, Windows 7 is due by the end of next year; it will be the successor to the much-criticised Vista operating system.

Gaming ads enter the political arena

In another sign of the growing importance of the gaming world to advertisers, the Obama '08 campaign has purchased adspace in online video games, Marketing reports.

The ads, which will appear in Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming environments, encourage the youth of America to enroll to vote and visit Obama's voteforchange.com website.

US technology research firm Gartner Inc says in-game advertising is a beneficial way to reach the 18 to 34-year-old male demographic.

Gartner claims male gamers in this age group are particularly difficult to reach as many do not read a lot or consume large amounts of television.

Profiling Australia's business owners

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) researchers have developed a profile of the typical Australian business owner, The Advertiser reports.

According to the ABS, this person is generally a family man who has completed Year 12, works on a full-time basis and puts in long hours at the workplace.

Researchers also claim this typical business owner is not as concerned about global economic instability as you might think.

The ABS study says business owners are generally optimistic about their future with 96 per cent saying they will still be in business in a year's time.

Gen-Y entrepreneurs get social

Members of Generation Y could be the best business owners during an economic downturn. Why? Because they understand how to use social networks to hook customers, The Courier-Mail argues.

The article cites marketer Adam Penberthy who suggests Generation Y have the potential to use their tech savvy pedigrees to develop innovative marketing techniques.

Research undertaken by Penberthy has found Generation Y entrepreneurs are more inclined to adopt emerging and new marketing concepts than older business owners.

Social media platforms like Facebook and MySpace as well as mobile phone marketing are suggested as key methods of connecting with Generation Y consumers.

Prada turns to film

Luxury brand Prada has joined the growing ranks of companies that are morphing into online content providers by launching a series of short films, The Guardian reports.

The Italian design company has called on some of the world's most wanted film directors to help launch its new fragrance Infusion d'Homme.

The development is part of the 'content marketing' trend in which companies produce content that is not directly related to the product itself, i.e. not an obvious advertisement.

Prada has employed Pietro Scalia, who has edited the films American Gangster and Black Hawk Down, to oversee nine short films that also work together as a feature film.