I've often encouraged executives to pay attention to the customers' complete consumption chain rather than focusing just on what they do, sell or make. One of my colleagues forwarded me a fascinating article from the New… Read more »
Opportunities
Six Sigma is Deadly for Innovation - But then I’ve said that before!
Every so often, doubtless in a doomed bid to make the whole process of growth and innovation more predictable, some bright spark comes up with the idea of trying to apply six-sigma quality controls to… Read more »
Six Sigma is Deadly for Innovation – But then I’ve said that before!
Every so often, doubtless in a doomed bid to make the whole process of growth and innovation more predictable, some bright spark comes up with the idea of trying to apply six-sigma quality controls to… Read more »
Jigsaw – creating a market for contact information
Anne Ferguson, my assistant, drew this one to my attention. The company in question, Jigsaw, is trying to create a market for contact information, using a variant of the ‘free labor’ theme I’ve written about… Read more »
Enraged customers will create opportunities in the wireless space
Business Week recently described the sad state of the art of wireless phone services in the United States. Wireless companies, it seems, generate more customer complaints than any other industry. Even more than airlines. Wireless… Read more »
Social Trends among the younger generation – opportunities?
I was recently at the Microsoft Global Accounts Summit, which is a high level meeting for the company’s top customers. Among the fascinating agenda items was a presentation by Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft’s entertainment… Read more »
Second order effects of sub prime about to land on insurance
Apparently “the insurance industry is bracing for an increase in arson among homeowners who see setting the house afire and collecting the insurance payment as an alternative to foreclosure”. This according to the January 21… Read more »
Emerging Enrager – Too Many Unwanted Catalogs and other unsolicited outreach
BusinessWeek, in its December 31 year-end issue, reported on the activities of an activist website called “Catalog Choice” which promises to help people opt out of receiving unwanted catalogs. Apparently, so many people are irritated… Read more »
GPS Technology to end car crashes
Wired magazine features an innovative use of new GPS technology that I thought could be the harbinger of all kinds of opportunities. The system is called “StarChase Pursuit Management System” and it works like this: … Read more »
How one industry was nearly undermind by its own success – Cycling
Imagine, if you will, that your industry received global attention for many years, had a popular and charismatic heroic character for people to look up to, and sparked waves of interest and enthusiasm among all… Read more »
Opportunity Idea: A financial product that would help those crippled by credit card debt
People that owe a lot of money on credit card balances would just love to have a lower-interest loan that would help them get that monkey off their backs. WIth some people getting hit by… Read more »