Welcome to the first class blog. In this space, we will bring forward the IT issues of the day to relate our classroom discussions to emerging real-world topics.
Our focus during the first week of class has been the profound changes that IT can enable. Over the past few days, we have seen a series of reports about how firms are embracing these changes to go downstream and get closer to the customer. These changes range from the marketing of products [WSJ article] to location-based services [CNN article]. What do you think - how has the emphasis on moving downstream and closer to the customer changed how you shape and work? What else can firms do to move more downstream?
Meanwhile, the mobile market is heating up. Microsoft is betting $1 billion on their new mobile O/S in an attempt to fight against the Droid and the iPhone [MSNBC], while Blackberry rules the corporate market, maintaining an impressive 70% market share [CIO]. Our class has been talking about the importance of location shifting and moving power to the handheld device - these stories point out how we are just getting started in the mobility phase. What do you think of the mobile market - how should we think about "work" differently now?
The last series of stories over the past few days deals with Google's jump into the talk market. The new app appeared with gmail earlier this week and is now live, with over 1,000,000 calls placed in the first 24 hours [Tweet from Google]. Yet, analysts argue that Google will not compete with Skype [Business Week]. What do you think - how will these evolving firms alter the competitive landscape of the telecom market? How will this change how we collaborate in the future?
OVERLOAD
ReplyDeleteIs getting "connected" causing us to "disconnect"?
For some, the advent of "Twitterings", "F'book Statusing", and "Blogging" may be idle musings informing others of what is going on in their lives at that moment. The world, for these, is truly becoming/(has become) a smaller place. Is there a point, however, when the thoughts of others cause us to detach ourselves from the reality we live in, and instead, cause us to vicariously live in the virtual thoughts of others, rather than actually experiencing life beyond the computer screen?
I will be the first to attest to the success of IT in bringing people closer together. A international conference meeting over satellite literally closes the expanse of oceans, yet has technology been able to duplicate the handshake?
And for those dear classmates of mine - the immortalized Class of 2000 - I say that though you have not picked up the phone to see how I am doing, what successes and failures I have had in life, nor asked about my dying mother, grieving father, or about my brother's baby's momma - "because you followed me on Facebook" isn't what I consider an excuse. We live in the same town, yet are apparently millions of miles away in our digital worlds. Are we disconnected yet?
Perhaps this Blog is my own musing, my own complaint, or merely my own observation. Perhaps it is a mute voice, only spoken to receive assignment credit - or perhaps there are those amongst who really do feel this technology has provided the framework for someone without a voice in class, and to sidestep virtual overload.
Tucker,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. As a non-Facebooker (yes, I'm almost sad to admit), I think that the line between users' "Facebook friends" and "real-life friends" has become blurred. Keeping up with people has a whole new meaning.
One thing that is completely mind-blogging, um, boggling, to me is the connection between the "public" and celebrities. Nowadays through Twitter, Facebook, etc., we can now keep up with our fabulous friends and their everyday activities. It's crazy to think that I can get a recipe tip straight from Bethenny Frankel at the same time as I can hear about Drake's pretend marriage to Nicki Minaj.
I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it's definitely different. The mentality of living a private life when you're not making a movie or performing at a concert has gone out the window. We used to hear about celebrities taking refuge at their home in the mountains. Not anymore.
I think this blog is more my own observation. I can't say yet if this idea will bring good or bad, but hey, I'm not a celebrity.
Thanks for listening. I've got to go make a phone call via Google.
HERE COMES MICROSOFT, MAYBE.
ReplyDeleteIn an attempt to increase market share, it seems Microsoft is releasing a more "Windows 7" looking phone OS. Google has the Droid, Apple has the Iphone, and BlackBerry has... business. A good friend of mine swore up and down that he "had to have a BlackBerry to take care of business" and that iPhones were toys. After throwing his second BlackBerry Storm against the wall (seriously), he bought an iPhone and subsequently swore he would never buy anything else. He then spent $2000 on an iMac.
Is iPhone and iOS the best out there? Not important. What is important is that the software giants are starting to realize that a truly innovative OS capable of satisfying customer needs in all facets of their lives is key. The article points out how BlackBerry enjoys 70% of the corporate market share. It also points out that BlackBerry is essentially the mandated phone/OS combination for many companies. It's hard to believe this will continue if employees are given a choice. Companies like Google and Apple are providing many more quality applications for everyday users than Blackberry. BlackBerry's business savvy technology, however, is indisputable . Microsoft, on the other hand, may have a good head start. They have been in the smart phone arena for some time with windows mobile, and their Microsoft Exchange Server provides collaboration along with seamless integration with their dominating Microsoft Office Suite.
Integrating all parts of the customer's life is key. Once businesses begin providing the means for employees to use their smart phone of choice, all aspects from application development to company wide integration will be changed. The importance of cross-platform capability will be at an all time high. And who knows, there may come a day when the technology allows us to get back to carrying ONE PHONE.
With things like Skype and Google calls we might even be heading to a time when all of our computing, collaborating, and work is done on one device about the size of a Kindle or iPad. Too big to keep with you at all times? I remember how small my Nokia was in 2001, and now I can't imagine giving up my bulky iPhone.
It's unsurprising that firms are using technology to move downstream and get closer to their consumers: it's relatively cheap to do and provides significant value.
ReplyDeleteThe question that draws my attention, is do we want firms moving more downstream? As major companies move more downstream (or consumers move upstream, such as cloud services), the company learns more about the individual consumer. I like that google can find me on maps, that's helpful. By the same token I don't want local companies to be able to find me on maps, that's creepy. However, companies could definitely claim that location information helps them provide a more "customized" experience. It's a tradeoff we're just starting to see with emerging technologies. Where is the privacy line drawn?
As an Apple fan, I don't intend to use Microsoft's mobile OS. That being said, the new mobile OS is a very good thing for all consumers. Competition provokes innovation. Blackberry has the business market, and most IT departments won't even consider apple products, but Microsoft has credibility with those departments. If nothing else, it could open the door for mobile choice in some businesses, indirectly spurring industry-wide innovation.
This is slightly off subject, but it is nice to see that in a world with a nauseating number of Face book and I-phone apps allowing you to see where every person you remotely know is at any given time, some people are using these technologies to make kids safer. A suburban Chicago School district is attaching GPS to kids’ backpacks: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/GPS-palos-heights-school-district-128-zpass.html
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that some of the companies discussed in the WSJ article are investing in so much hardware. It would seem a better use of their resources to simply create apps for smartphones, especially considering that most now have GPS tracking which would enable the app to know when you are in one of their stores. Also, many phones can now use their cameras to scan barcodes, so there's really no need to supply handheld scanners like Stop & Shop is doing. But maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself. The majority of Americans still don't have smartphones and so maybe my approach simply will not be feasible for another five years or so. But is the investment in hardware worth it if it will only be used until everyone has a device capable of running apps. Only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteThe main objective of a firm is to connect with people. Technology is playing a key role in helping them do so. If firms can use the new marketing strategies and location based services and figure out a way to reach the customers on a more personal level, in terms of acquiring feedback on their products, it would greatly increase productivity and help them move more downstream. The information can also be used to design future products, modify existing ones and help them become more consumer driven.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is an integral part of today's work environment. Earlier work required people to be physically present, now work means staying connected wherever you are. The Smart phones and PDAs facilitate people to stay connected on the go and be more productive. Employees can access emails and stay in touch with work at all times, thanks to Technology. (continued..)
Technology is also responsible for the major shake-ups in Telecommunication industry. The evolving firms like Skype and Google are changing the economics of communication, by providing a free environment for phone calls , and extremely price sensitive new services. Considering the number of Skype, Gmail and Android users, it is quite obvious that the telecom market is headed for a drastic change.The online services are forcing telecom companies to rethink how to better their competitive advantage and remain profitable. It looks like a successful integration of telecom and online services will be how we collaborate in future.
ReplyDelete@Robert Stuart, regarding school kids GPS: I read your comment and was instantly intrigued. A school is putting GPS locaters on their students? I feel like this is changing the boundaries of schools' authority (I'm not sure if it's really authority that I'm questioning but it's the best word I can come up with right now).
ReplyDeleteReading the article clarifies that it's used in conjunction with the child's travel on the school bus, which sounds a little less invasive. It also sounds like strictly a safety measure, but really how often is this little tracker enhancing safety? How many years have students ridden school buses and how often is a serious danger encountered? Maybe it is a large percentage and I'm just not aware... but I don't think so.
As of now it sounds like a lot of money is being invested in a technology that, disaster/tragedy/strange occurrence barred, will not be making a huge difference.
It's a great idea, but can't that money go into improving educational technologies?
IT has certainly enabled profound changes in all of our lifestyles, for better or worse.
ReplyDeleteFor starters, I agree with Tucker's comment. The explosion of social media and technology has made it tremendously easy to follow the daily routines of everyone we know, though I would argue it's changing the depth of our involvement. We scratch the surface of more relationships.
As it was said in "Funny People," it seems like the more facebook friends you have, the less friends you have in real life.
I'm not anti-IT, I just prefer to take a conservative approach to it all. I think there are tremendous opportunities involved in advancing technology.
I would love for my favorite retail stores to remember my specific preferences. I would have more time to get other, more important things done rather than trying on new dress pants. However, we are already saturated with media and advertising, and new technology is further enabling that force. We are willingly giving more power to retailers.
Finally, I don't think I'll buy into the idea of tracking devices. Call me a paranoid conspiracist, but I would prefer that some people (bosses, colleagues, government, potential stalkers, x-girlfriends)not know where I am at all times. It's not that I am doing something that would call my character into question, sometimes I just value privacy (call me crazy).
As Robert said, it's great to see technology being used in positive ways. Though it is important that technology be used responsibly. Can you imagine school kid GPS in the wrong hands?
While technology will undoubtedly continue to improve our daily lives, we as consumers must be the watchdogs who ensure that the power of new technology is not exploited.
Scratching the surface ...
ReplyDeleteThese IT now 'necessities' of life, i.e. facebook, twitter, youtube, and tigerdroppings (had to throw that in) have created a different society. Yes it is different from the old days for better and worse, but that is not what I am going to discuss.
I am instead going to discuss how these facets of life will continue to grow and become even more dominant of people's lives with the growth of wireless interent.
My brother said the other day, "they oughta come out with wireless internet that runs down the entire interstate." I looked at him like he was an idiot ... then, droid came out with. this http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/motorola-droid-2-debuts-3g-mobile-hotspot-1ghz-cpu-qwerty/17016.
Now with the increase in availability of wireless internet, not only will these IT facets of life become more dominant, but opportunity for other IT businesses will exist.
Technology in the 21st century is landscape that changes daily, including changes in the telecom market. This change is clearly evident in the 1 million calls placed in the first 24 hours of the launch of Google’s new talk app. People like free stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat's why individuals choose to use the internet to communicate over landlines and in some cases cellular devices. As discussed in lectures this week, communication over the Internet, via outlets like Skype, are both convenient and inexpensive. These two attributes place the customer in control of how and when they use certain technologies in the telecom market.
And some companies are staying on the forefront of this new communications frontier. Just today, Apple announced a new version of the iPod Touch, with FaceTime Video Calling and HD Video Recording, the new iTunes 10 with Ping, the iPod shuffle and iPod nano, and the new Apple TV with commercial free HD TV episodes. Technology is evolving telecommunications as well as every other outlet of media. In order for companies to create a competitive advantage, they have to stay ahead of the pack, such as companies like Apple.
While I agree that Apple's technology is cutting edge and ahead of most, I feel that they are loosing ground in the smart phone market. I think the technology that the iPhone has is amazing, but I think they are severely limited by AT&T's network. I think all the technology mentioned by Erika are great, but what if Verizon accepted the original iPhone contract?
ReplyDeleteIn class we discussed how mobile technology is cutting edge in the tech world, with a vast untapped market. However, I find that the main function of the iPhone, the actual phone service, is horrible. I feel that the iPhone has much more potential on Verizon's network. As an iPhone user I am constantly annoyed and frustrated with dropped calls and poor service. I feel that many people, including me, neglect better smartphone options and instead choose an iPhone even though it is on an inferior network.
All very interesting comments!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that the companies are using technology to help me find what I want easier. I'm just not sure that I want everyone knowing exactly what I want or where I am all of the time.
First off, this idea of moving downstream to be closer to the consumer...can be and sometimes is really invasive, especially as the business tries to adapt itself to my personal wants and desires. Don't get me wrong, the click-and-buy options that the Internet provides save us time and energy, but sometimes i feel like I know what I need or want without the business telling me what I need or want.
And with regard to smartphones, I almost miss the days of the original Blackberry that provided minimal functions for business and life without "having an app for everything". Don't get me wrong, I am about to succomb to the smartphone world myself with an Android phone, but I have to agree with Tucker (posted above). As technology advances, we get farther and farther apart. As a society, we are losing touch with one another, because our phones and laptops can do everything for us. Then once we find ourselves in need of someone for something, who do we text...our facebook friends? I mean...do we really need an app for everything?
Finally, I appreciate that the school district is helping to keep kids safe, but is this really a problem? I mean after all, if kids are having trouble getting from inside the classroom, onto a bus, then back home again...we should probably keep them in school longer. I'm just not a fan of GPS systems on people. And if it is more of a safety issue with kids being kidnapped or something, then I take more issue with the safety of the system in general, and think that fare more than a GPS system needs to be looked into.
I just keep remembering the videos shown in class about the change in technology from 2008 to 2009. And the one thing that keeps coming back to me is that the more technology changes, the more we continue to isolate ourselves so that we can become a world of one.
I have to admit that todays & tomorrows technological advances are jaw dropping and awe inspiring. I also have to agree with most of the students and especially Tucker that IT is a great way to expand business and networks, but in reality it is causing all of us to "DISCONNECT".
ReplyDeleteI can’t tell you how many times I have been out at a social gathering and a friend of mine is updating his status, uploading a new picture, or scrolling through facebook to see what others are doing. (Ex partners) It is also mind boggling that people care that others are just waking up/ taking a shower/ or preparing for a great night. Why does anyone want to read what you’re doing? If I'm your friend I should know what the plans are & if I'm not your friend, well I probably don't care.
No longer are people “connecting” with one another. Instead of calling to see how a weekend went they check out facebook pictures, instead of seeing what friends are doing tonight/tomorrow/this weekend, we check their twitter and facebook status. I miss countless events because it was "posted on facebook". CALL ME!!! We’re still friends right?
Maybe it is just me, but I think the amount of time wasted on these sites or even on our phones is ridiculous. This is off topic, but what would happen if people put their phones down and hit the gym or spend time with their families? Do you think some extra quality time would spare our families? Maybe healthcare wouldn’t cost so much if we were all a little healthier.
The attempts by companies to venture further downstream and get closer to consumers have been astounding so far. We are well on our way to "a cellphone in every hand, internet in every home, and microchips in everyone's head" (ok I made that up but whatever). The major benefit in my mind that we derive from these ventures is the ability to do all that we want, when we want with the push of a button or the click of a mouse. I can order take out, get a movie and have flowers delivered to my date without actually leaving the couch. This sort of seamless service has enabled us to chug our beers, scarf down a lot of fatty foods and grow the ever annoying pot-belly.
ReplyDeleteNow don't get me wrong, i am grateful to be able to write on this blog for credit for class. But how much of a benefit are these technological advancements? We automate, upgrade, download and update (that rhymed) all day long as a lot of you have said at the expense of inter-personal communication. Take for example Apple. IPods are all the rage now, to the point where you can walk around with movies in your pocket and never be bored again. When was the last time you walked on campus and stopped to talk to someone while you weren't listening to your iPod? Now compare that to the number of times you did when you were listening to your iPod. Have you ever walked down the street and as someone made eye contact with you they pulled out their phone and started to thumb through, only for you to pass them by, look back and see them putting it back in their pocket or purse?
The downstream march of companies and their attempts to put their products in the hands of the customer provide excellent service and enhance the satisfaction of the customer which allows them to remain in business and profit. But we are sacrificing the confidence to speak to others and deal with different people the more we retreat into the world of 0101001110010101110101010111....... We as managers will have to communicate effectively with different people. Presenting to a potential buyer over Skype is an easy way to connect and save travel costs, but it is no substitute for the ability to effectively communicate and sell yourself along with the product.
Now when Apple manages to make i-Negotiate, or i-Presenter, I will eat my words and sit in my cubicle, never to utter a word again. Till then, off to update my Facebook status.
I agree with Andrew that people are getting "disconnected" by IT. People do not have as much face-to-face contact as they used to. I don't think that it is ruining human interaction, but it is definitely changing it. I might not see my close friends as much as I used too. But I now am able to keep friends that live very long distances away. Skype, web cams, facetime. etc. all help us to better manage relationships we would have never been able to follow in the past.
ReplyDeleteOff topic but as an example that IT is helping to connect people that never would have connected before...I was amazed watching that video of how IT is changing the world, I think it was 1 out of 3 (or something around that) couples meet online. That is crazy to me. I grew up hearing never put your name on the internet, don't tell people where you live, don't give away any personal information at all! I guess those days are long gone.
As for the question of how mobile phones are changing the work environment, I think it is wonderful. I love it that while I am at work 40% of my tools are on one tiny device. I use it as my calendar, my email, and my communication, etc. I think that they should stop calling them phones. My phone service could completely disappear from my phone and I am not sure I would notice.
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ReplyDeleteThink about just how vast technological advancements have been in our parents’ short lives. Our parents’ generation, aka baby boomers, only form of social networking back in the day was a stationary telephone call, a hand written letter, or a face to face conversation. Wow! Times have changed. Our parent’s generation did not have the handy smart phones, computers, or social networks of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Blogger that have consumed our generation. Majority of our parents understanding of what technology is, how technology is relevant, and why technology is essential stems from the direct result of our generation educating them.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the technological advancements in the last thirty years? Is it possible that IBM, who created the first personal home-use computer, had any pre-notations of the role that technology would play in shaping the business, social, and academic foundation of our future society? With all the advancements in our technology, we must ask the question: do the advantages have more benefits or harm? My fellow colleague pointed out a major asset that our technological advancements contribute to our everyday lives; that is our ability to communicate boundlessly all around the world. Communication that ranges conversation with friends on our social network such as: Facebook. No more phone calls are necessary to keep up with old friends. Business to business communication such as: conference meeting calls via Skype to conduct international business. No more business trips to present your idea, product, or consultation. Business to consumer communication such as the WSJ and CNN article elaborated on. These technological outlets have allowed business to get closer to their customer by the ability of emailing them a monthly newsletter, text-messaging the latest promotions or discounts, and interactive dressing-room mirrors that create a virtual image of how the customer would look.
Yet, are our private lives being invaded through these technological advancements? Can we separate our private lives from our business lives? Have you ever thought about the repercussions of having a social networking page that distributes your information vital to you worldwide 24 hours a day?
ReplyDeleteThese technological advancements in the social networking world allow everyone from relatives to friends to those you do not know such as potential employers or potential stalkers access to all your personal information in just the click of a button. Information ranging from your current location, gender, home address, places of work, relationship statues, and etc.
Do you really want everyone in the world to have access to your personal and private information?
For example, the other day my sister was expecting to have a baby boy. I had talked to my parents over the phone that afternoon and was informed that my sister had gone into labor around six o’clock that evening. As the night progressed, I never seemed to be able to reach my parents or siblings over the telephones that were at the hospital. Eleven o’clock rolled around and I knew if my sister had not had the baby yet it would be any minute. Knowing my sister my whole life, I knew she was an avid Facebook user and keeps her status up to date. With this knowledge I decided to check her Facebook. Sure enough my sister status was updated. Updated, informing the whole world with Pictures and birth information of their new baby boy. That night I finally got to speak to my sister on the phone and I asked her why she updated her Facebook status of the news instead of calling everyone. She said, “Because it was the most efficient way to reach everyone.” You want to know something, she is right!
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that technology has truly changed everything and continues to change how our society interacts. Technology contributes to the way we communicate, stay in touch with friends, and to the way we conduct business. Are these technological advancements good or bad for our society?
That’s up for you to decide!
I can definitely see both sides of the argument here. On one hand, technology is helping to bridge many gaps that were existent before (e.g. instant knowledge/feedback and easier communication with others, just to name a couple). Technology clearly helps to save time when dealing with communication. However, it also does lead to less personal interaction with people, which is clearly a negative thing. I believe that everyone's personal touch is very important, and some of this is lost through technology.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I do not like the lack of personal communication that sites such as Facebook or Twitter promote. As Zack said, it is much easier to keep up with many friends, whether they are best friends or just casual ones. However, now instead of calling or actually seeing the person, we can simply get our "daily updates" through these sites.
Another technology that has greatly taken away from personal communication something that almost everyone does daily (including myself): texting. We used to call people if we wanted to talk to them, but couldn't see them in person. Now, people text instead of calling. While I know that sometimes the only way that people can communicate is through text for whatever reason (in class), many times people simply text because they simply don't want to talk on the phone. Instead of having a 5 minute conversation on the phone, they have a 1 hour chat through text. This has always baffled me.
Overall, I love technology and how easy it has made it to keep up with people. However, I do not like how much of the personal touch we are losing. Is having more breadth of knowledge better than having more depth of knowledge?
Where to begin?!?!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thanks to Tucker for kicking off what is turning into a great series of reasonings and debates. I agree with your original blog about social networking disconnecting people. Actual face-to-face meetings are a thing of the past. As a society we don’t even like to call people any more. Instead, we just text…it’s actually kind of pathetic isn’t it? And I’ll admit I’m one of the worst in that category. Think about the amount of time you spend on your respective iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, etc. How many times to you check your e-mail or a text message while in the middle of a conversation? Better yet, how many times have you had someone do the exact same thing while speaking to you? It’s ridiculous that even when we are having face-to-face interactions, we screw them up because we have to “stay connected”. Something drastic changed within the last twelve seconds and the world WILL end if you don’t check this e-mail by 4:37:54…55…56… As much as I love my iPhone, I wish I were not so overly consumed by it. I will say that I never want a tracking device placed in my phone or anywhere on my person. It’s unnecessary for everyone I know to be able to find me at a moment’s notice. If you really want to know where I am, just text me. Or heaven forbid, call me!
I never had a MySpace, and I despise Twitter (I honestly don’t care how many people follow Ashton Kutcher or who Drake married or didn’t marry…although the fact that Twitter could affect the Iranian elections is impressive). But I did give in to the Facebook craze as so many of us did. I love that we’ve even begun to label people as Facebook stalkers. When you think about the connotations of such a statement, it’s quite shocking. If there is a single free moment, people will check Facebook on their smart phones. It’s become second nature. Well if everyone is checking at every available moment, then of course there will be FB stalkers. My mother frequently calls or texts me (yes, my mother texts) just to ask what my Facebook status means. “It means that I’m hungry and want a pizza, mom.” This statement obviously means that I’m underpaid and underfed and she should make a trip down to Baton Rouge straight away and have a word with my supervisor. Or something like that. Thank you, Facebook.
When it comes to the move towards downstreaming, I would love to walk into my favorite store and have a kiosk help me pick out an outfit. As Zack said, it saves valuable time that could be put towards something like blogging or Monopoly…
These companies higher up in the supply chain trying to get in touch with customers has created a bombardment of information for consumers. Now not only do stores advertise for their products, but the manufacturers do too, and sometimes in direct competition with those stores. This form of advertising is usually meant to entice people to buy online and bypass retailers, and to be honest it works on me. I'd much rather sit at home and look through prices and products on my computer than go to a bunch of stores, and I feel like I usually get a better price, and all I'm sacrificing is getting the product a few days later.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that blackberry still dominated the corporate market that way, and I'm a bit surprised it still has it so cornered. It seems like the iPhone has tried to break into that market as the instructional videos always have a section that is geared toward that market. Mobility in general though is definitely the way forward, and for good reason. The amount of time it saves is irreplaceable, not to mention money on travel costs trying to get people together. Even more than those though, the ability to carry around real-time information on your company and the world in our pockets is the most important aspect of this movement. It has changed the way we make decisions and the way firms compete with one another.
As far as I can see, the advancement in the mobile market is contingent on a lot on many aspects but the most interesting one to me would have to be the way mobile devices affect our decision making in a business or personal environment. I remember reading some statistics (and I’m mad I can’t find them, so I’ll have to paraphrase) looking at the time it took to make military decisions and how the time it has taken has shrunk with the speed that we get information. During the revolutionary war, generals would takes weeks coming up with an all encompassing battle plan and hope it worked while today, decisions and revisions can be made several times an hour. Technology is causing us to be more reactionary then planning and a mobile company that keeps that in mind will have a lot of business in the future.
ReplyDeleteDown streaming the product and attempting to make the product more purchasers friendly had led to two major changes:
ReplyDelete1. The products will evolve continuously to meet the consumer requirements. Unlike the olden days where the product version was not that dependant on customer views. This will not only increase the customer satisfaction, but will also act as a platform to increase the customer base for a given product.
2. The power of purchasing a product, unbiased solely lies in the hand of the customer. Hence, products which are not user friendly will be eradicated from the market, as there is no room for false advertisements that might lure the users to purchase it. This is possible because the user now has the advantage of reviewing the product before purchase. Be it in terms of feedback given by other buyers or the critiques posted by subject matter experts online.
Thus, the focus is now making the products more customers friendly. In any given organization high priority is given for customer satisfaction. Retaining the older customers and at the same time engaging with newer customers.
A few steps that firms need to take towards down streaming of their products could be:
1. Providing internet access to users within their stores, and having some kind of discounts for people who provide feedback about the product online.
2. Providing incentives to user who introduce the products to other consumers, online.
3. Give a recommended list of items whenever the consumer either visits the store or logs into the product website. This should be based on the previous history of similar purchases made.
4. Ability to buy or sell used products within the vicinity of the organization instead of using 3rd party systems such as e-bay. This will not only increase the market scope for the product but also will provide assurance to the costumers about the re-sale value of the product. Therefore, gaining customer trust!
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ReplyDeleteDefinitely, IT has changed everything, from personal lives to professional lives, from service industries to manufacturing industries, infact everything around us. It’s hard to imagine a company, which is trying to compete, is able to do so without the help of technology. From a small store (gas station) to big organizations like financial institutions to five star hotels, have their customized software to keep a daily track of their business operations.
ReplyDeleteChange – is a huge factor. Companies those are able to adapt to the ongoing changes are the ones to succeed. Those who fail to change, fail in the real business world too. Hence, being able to change and adapt to the constantly changing “world of technology” has become probably one of the top three priorities of every business organization.
A business would not be a business without customers. Hence, with having “adaptation to the technology changes” in the priority list, the other one would be the two most essential factors - acquisition of new customers and retention of the old customers. We can find so many examples of companies investing such huge amounts of money just to be able o reach out their ultimate customers in the most effective manner.
In response to the changing face of technology our culture has adapted to the capabilities and integrated IT into everyday life. I agree that it is scary how much technology has learned about us as consumers (probably because we are all too eager to offer information in exchange for access to a new app on Facebook). Although this new technology wave is pervasive, there are many cultures and societies who are left behind. Ever since the discussion in class of how many people around the world are not connected to the internet I have been wondering just how universal IT penetration has become.
ReplyDeleteThe technology our culture cannot seem to live without (Skype, Twitter, Google, Facebook...) has not invaded the majority of our world. Although advertisers are able to strategically target their campaigns based on the analytics that have been gathered through these IT sources, just imagine if the sample size was more than 40%. I understand those who are not participating in our technological culture are not the target customers for the advertisers collecting data, but I have to wonder how different our world would be if the breadth of the technology bubble was larger.
I like that companies are trying to move downstream and get to know consumers better but, in a way, it scares me. Amazon knows way too much about my purchase and shopping history. Google knows way too much about my search history. If I want to play Hello Kitty Online, I don’t want Google judging me! To me, at least, it feels like our lives are becoming less and less anonymous. Suddenly, there are these giant data warehouses that know more about me then anyone I actually know. Suddenly, Amazon knows that I will like this book before I even hear of it. I agree with Christopher; where do we draw the line?
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Katherine and Tucker, Facebook helps you connect with friends that you may not see every day but perhaps you would try a little harder to see them in person if you didn’t cyber-stalk them. I just recently upgraded to Motorola Backflip and I was amazed when I went to call home and ALL of my Facebook contacts had been pulled into my phone. Even more disconcerting was that many of these contacts (that hadn’t been in my phone previously) had phone numbers, birthdates, and email addresses attached to them. Suddenly, I knew more about my friends then I had before. We don’t even realize how much information about ourselves is out there.
As much as I love the increasing convenience and personalization, I fear that we are giving up too much. I think that the price of privacy is letting go of some of the ease of use and just doing things the old fashioned way.
@ Lexi: I agree with you that many countries have not been involved in IT world. The role of IT in globally communication is so bold where people can share their messages with the world. For instant people who experience a tragic natural disaster like earthquake can share their need of help; or as we discussed in class, Iranian people shared their feeling about their government to the world by twittering their demonstrations. However, many governments try to stop IT developments in their countries by filtering the Web, but I believe they cannot stand against IT pervasive power.
ReplyDeleteMobile technology is changing rapidly. It wasn't all that long ago that car phones were considered a luxury, but now I see 10 year old kids walking around with their brand new iPhones. It is no surprise that companies are moving towards advertising on our cell phones. Cell phones are the one item that most people have close to them at almost every moment of the day, so what better place to advertise? I see it every day on my iPod. Every time I open a new app I see the latest plug for Microsoft or the newest safety standards that Toyata has employed. I think we are only seeing the beginning of this new form of advertising, but one question I ask is how far will they go? Am I going to be awakened in the morning by a text message from Samsung? Will I have to look at an ad before I can use my phone's features? Mobile advertising is brilliant I only hope it doesn't get out of hand.
ReplyDeleteOh how the world is changing. It cannot be understated how technology is creating a homogenized planet, allowing people from across the world to communicate and interact in unprecedented ways. That this is entirely a good thing, however, remains to be seen.
ReplyDeleteCertain retailers are using the fact that the majority of marketable people utilize a hand held device of some sort to "get closer to the customer." Emails on sales, discounts, and offers seem to be popping up everywhere. The fact that I am being profiled based on my digital fingerprint is alarming, and more often than not, is off the mark. I can appreciate the fact that businesses are doing there best to mold to what they think are my preferences, and in many ways this does make shopping easier, but sometimes I feel that I would prefer a less invasive method. The WSJ article is interesting in the lengths that some stores are going to in order to make store shopping a continued practice, but online shopping is so much less of a hassle that at some point it may not be worth the amount of time and money spent on the technology. If a mirror could tell me my exact size for a certain garment and profile other clothes I might be interested in, then that might be an idea that I would be interested in, especially if it would reduce the need for terribly harassing salespeople. On the whole, this movement towards an experience that is closer to the specific shopper is inevitable and positive, but I hope certain precautions are taken before going too far.
As far as having an app for my phone that tells people my location, I am powerfully against it. While this does seem novel and useful, I really don’t want people to know where I am at all times. It is somewhat scary to think that we live in a society that has an app that can tell where you are. How much control can we give technology? It may seem like a Hollywood fantasy, but how unfeasible are ideas like terminator and the Matrix? If technology is given such increased control, who is setting the laws on where it stops?
My final rant is on how technology is homogenizing the world. I am all for the continued advancement of communication. Google and Skype have now made it cheap and easy to talk around the world. This is great, but at some point it will aid in the loss of specific culture that will cease to exist with a smaller world. A bad example of this is specific regional accents. When a specific person lives in a society with a vastly different accent from their own, they gradually lose their unique accent as they begin to pick up on the phrases and sayings of their new surroundings. Is this happening to the world as it becomes such a smaller place? You might think not, but I think it is a tragic inevitability to these advancements. How much farther down the road will it be before we have an app that acts as a perfect voice translator for talk between two otherwise non-communicating individuals because of a language barrier? I believe as the need for a second language continues to rise in the world today that this is closer than we think. I look forward to the possibilities of increased communication on a global scale, but hope that it does not do so at the cost of what makes each specific person unique.