Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Class #13 -- Our enterprise

This entire class was dedicated to an entrepreneurial challenge. The class was split up into groups and each group had about 40 minutes to come up with a new idea/concept that would integrate technology (somehow)...the idea had to be presented in 3 slides to the class. The catch is that each slide would advance in 40 sec. The pressure was on.

My group came up with an application that would project out the benefits/risks to your body of certain types of behavior. For example, how would it improve my health if I ate an apple everyday for the next 6 months? How about if someone quit smoking -- what would his/her lungs look like? The concept is designed to be informative for sure, and also could be a motivator for people looking to improve their health, lose weight, etc.

Initially the app would be offered direct to consumers for a fee, but eventually we would partner with a company like Jenny Craig or Lifetime Fitness...that's where the big $$$ would surface.

The class had some good ideas, but our team won. So apparently the class liked the idea. Dorothy seems very interested in making this idea happen, so I look forward to using it someday if she decides to run with it!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Class #12 -- Did you know?

Lots of crazy facts and figures tossed around during this class. I have to say the quip about knowing the temperature after counting cricket chirps was the most intriguing. When Doug gets into the numbers about data and information (Moore's Law) in today's society, I am always in shock. As information multiplies right before our eyes, the people that can harness it and manage it will win in the end. If you can't manage the amount of information in this world, it won't help you.

The class is winding down now. One more class Tues and then the final on Thur. The final is shrouded in some mystery at this point. Not much information on how it will be structured or what to expect. Oh well. You do your best and move on. The class has been rewarding and informative...and fun to attend. Can't do better than that.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Class #11 -- Security

Well this class was certainly a grim topic. While we're all out blissfully cruising the internet without a care in the world, there are "bad guys" all over the info superhighway trying to make life miserable for the law-abiding citizens just trying to buy a book on Amazon. As with any other endeavor in life, there will always be criminals that impede on an otherwise enjoyable experience. The sad part is that these bad guys often stay just a few steps ahead of the authorities trying to catch them...oh well. Some things will never change.

On the topic of internet security...one positive that has surfaced is for companies like Symantec...big $$$ in keeping people confident and safe. Most people don't have the expertise (or sometimes common sense) to keep their private information private. That's where Symantec or Norton steps in with their service. And as the bad guys get more sophisticated, net security companies will continue to cash in. So that's one positive.

The class is starting to wind down now. I have really enjoyed the "unscripted" aspect of the class and the anti-textbook sentiment that Doug created. Life is truly more than a textbook/case study, so I'm glad he has stepped out of the box. The inputs from the class day-to-day have been very thought provoking. Now for the test -- guess we can't avoid having one of those. Doug was very vague on the test content, so who knows what we'll get. He's not out to fail us, that's for sure.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Class #10 -- Facebook and Albums

I think I may have been vilified in this class a bit, but it's all good. Doug shared a relevant article I sent to him last week about the Facebookers of the world. And, like we always do in this class, I had to defend these narcissistic Facebookers against an opposing viewpoint. My defense of Facebook was not good -- not articulate nor logical, because I didn't really have a defense for it. Facebook is clearly a rising star in the world of the net and the social fabric of the information superhighway, but I still think the concept is a sad commentary on who we are (as a population) today. The fact that we are all too busy to write a letter (some kids don't even know how to read cursive anymore -- or write it) or make a phone call seems a little surreal to me. I imagine my grandmother is rolling in her grave since she loved postcards and letters. Oh well. Sign o the times?

The more compelling question Doug asked us was what 3 albums would we have with us if stranded on an island with no hope for rescue EVER? That question has been eating at me a bit, and I don't have a final answer. I do have one of them:

Full Moon Fever -- Tom Petty

I'm sorry, but Petty is probably the best mix of rock and laid back roll that you can get. That album is timeless (aren't all the good ones?) and I have many many memories associated with that music.

I'm thinking of adding Counting Crows -- August and Everything After but I can't push myself to do that just yet. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Class #9 -- Actual application

So I was at a car dealership in St Louis Park yesterday and, as usual, the experience was ok. The moment I walked in the door, I felt like I was entering some sort of prescribed "process" that you really don't have much control over. But I was bound and determined to be the master of my own fate, so maybe I came across a little defensive.

Anyhow, I was proud of myself when these sales guys started talking about all the customer service aspects of their dealership and how they integrated it into the car buying experience...I found myself thinking back to this class as I told them, "Look, after I buy this car, I won't ever see you guys again (esp since we're moving to CO next year). I don't need any customer intimacy from you. I don't care if you're total A-holes, I just want a fair deal on a car. I want an efficient transaction."

As it left my mouth, I realized that Doug's intimacy vs efficiency had worn off on me and that I was actually using it and thinking of it in real life application! What a deal.

Anyways, I didn't buy a car and they seemed to let up a little on the used-car schtick, so it helped. Thought I would randomly write about that in the blog from Thur's class (I was a bit late with this one). The speaker last week was good...interesting insight on the world of e-commerce.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Class #8 -- Service Oriented?

Like most of the class, I spent the latter half of this class trying to digest Doug's explanation of SOA. It was actually entertaining -- a group of fifty half-way intelligent people were trying to get a grasp on Doug's topic. Not easy. Especially considering Doug's background and career are immersed in the latest IT topics.

But I tried. It's all tied back to information and (I hear this all the time) trying to get rid of the ubiquitous "silos." Different steps in a process require different amounts/types of information and nobody can seem to get what they need. Enter service-oriented architecture. I could write all day on this, but I probably wouldn't do it justice.

We had some good articles on trusted info as well. With all the information we've created (and has yet to be created), you knew a whole career field would pop up related to this topic. Proving once again, all these newfangled systems and advanced information systems are only as good as the content inside them.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Class #7

So class #7 was all about services. Defining a service and figuring out how it all fits into today's big picture. It's funny...as Doug was talking about service, I immediately thought of my role in the Air Force. Talk about service -- I guess my current situation is about as "service oriented" as you can get. I don't tend to think of me flying around the world as a providing a service, but it is. Go figure.

As we put service into the context of this class, Doug's slides pounded home the point that we are all service providers and service consumers. As time goes on, the world will be more and more about service versus physical assets. It's definitely a more abstract way of thinking about business. I have to digest this topic more before I come to any sort of conclusion.

The next point I wanted to make was an article I found on the role of the CIO. Talk about a changing of the guard...CIO's are the new, chic position to be in! They are not put in a windowless office and ignored. CIO's are hip and sexy! What a sign of the times. Doug emailed the article, so maybe the class will be able/interested to view it.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Class #6 -- Efficient or Intimate?

I would be remiss if I didn't blog about business models and the optimal balance between efficiency and intimacy. I was surprised at how passionate some people got when Doug posed this classic question about conducting business.

I didn't chime in at the time (b/c I was trying to figure out how I really felt), but now I have my head around the concept...and even though Doug hates this answer, it really DEPENDS on what product or service you're talking about. And I really believe this is where most people sit on the subject. Doug won't let us answer with "depends" so you don't hear that in class too much.

So let's talk examples. The guy who picks up my trash -- I really want a high level of efficiency with that service. I don't care about intimacy at all. In fact, given a choice, I don't want any intimacy with my trash hauler. He/she is there to do a job (remove my trash) and that's what I pay for. I have zero expectations that my trash hauler will come to my front door with a cup of coffee to chat by the fireside.

Now let's talk about something like a medical provider. Clearly, intimacy is much more desirable when you're talking about health. I want some level of efficiency (i.e. don't take 3 months to cure my common cold), but intimacy is probably just as important. Medical care is inherently intimate (in more ways than one) and you can't simply remove the human element from medicine like you can with hauling trash.

In the end, these are obvious answers. The truth is that I think people want to know and understand the people behind the Blackberrys. I think there will be a backlash against the "gotta have it now" concept that seems to dismiss the intimacy/human element that technology has provided to us. We are all human and intimacy will always be important...more important to some than others, but relationships will continue to be paramount even as IT expands beyond our own visions.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Class #5 -- Mortenson

So Class #5 was a welcome change of pace...we had a presentation by the CIO of Mortenson (major player in construction industry in MN and across the nation).

He was an entertaining guy and (I think) had a good story to tell. I like the fact Doug brought in a "real life" person in an under-represented industry to the Carlson School to talk to us. Being the CIO of a major corporation, this guy carries like 3 laptops and 2 PDAs at all times. He detailed how technology can help (or hurt) Mortenson in huge projects like the new Twins stadium.

What I found most fascinating was Mortenson's dedication to cutting edge technology...it seems that the CIO is an integral part of daily operations instead of a consulting position when it comes to decisions within Mortenson.

I think Doug's purpose in bringing in Mortenson's CIO was to drive home the idea that technology is more than just lip service...the bottom line is impacted by technology...and it's so easy to forget that. Most rank-and-file employees are happy as long as their email works and they can access the internet. Cole's speech revealed that information (and the appropriate use of it) is so much more than just email and internet.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Class #4

Most of this class was spent on what the future looked like...what does the enterprise of the future have in store for us?

It was funny watching each group come up with their thoughts. With 50 students in the class, we probably had 50 different ideas on what the future enterprise would look like. If I had to pick a common thread among them, it was the concept of speed AND information.

Information and learning is a hot topic these days -- and rightfully so. Doug has stressed day in and day out that the world has essentially become one big blur. Books are outdated the moment they hit the shelf, data/information management has become it's own industry...and somewhere in between the deafening sound of everything becoming obsolete in record time, humans sit at their desks and try to deal with the breakneck speed at which life comes at them.

I had a get away this past weekend with my old high school buddies and (as usual) the group had different thoughts and opinions on the speed of life. Some of the guys refused to wake up everyday wondering how they would lead the pack...they were happy just being in the middle. Some of the guys insisted they had to be on top or at least well on their way. And a couple others were indifferent. We all agreed on one thing though: information and what you do with it (how you use it) is the new game changer in this world. Resisting the cell phone/internet age is useless...you're powerless against it. I hate to say the world is flatter (a cliche waaaay overused now), but it's just so true. Can't deny it.

It's funny, but the MBA experience has almost tended to confuse my world more than organize it. I now see (or am at least aware) of the "real world" of business...as much as an MBA student can be aware anyway. In business, if you're not leading the pack, you're probably bringing up the rear. Ironically, they two HS buddies that couldn't understand why people woke up everyday to compete were teachers. Different dynamics between public education and private sector business, that's for sure.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Class #3 -- Global vs Local

I am starting to think the globalization phenomenon has reached "crazed fad" status. We are discussing the "flat world" concept in one of my other classes and, as you can imagine, another brilliant mind has formally challenged Tom Friedman's assertion that our planet is now flat.

Go take a look at Pankaj Ghemawat's website (www.ghemawat.org) and you will find his calculated response to Freidman's ideas. The problem I have with these big global/non-global ideas is that the concept (to me) is difficult to quantify and measure. At what point does semiglobalization (Ghemawat) become a truly flat world (Friedman) and vice versa? Our world flattening out shouldn't surprise anybody...the natural progression (intersection) of technology and innovative humans was going to happen. The fact that the flattening happened as fast as it did may be a surprise to some. But again, are we overreacting to all this? Are we giving too much credit to Friedman for articulating (in a book) what we already knew was taking place?

The bottom line -- nobody can deny that technology has changed the world and the way you and I (as small fish in a very large pond) can impact lives. Like Doug said, we are in an unprecedented period that will continue to expand and progress. Amazing capabilities (in tech) now exist and will continue to evolve. I think the real question for our generation is whether we are truly prepared to harness these capabilities into a worthwhile cause...

Sunday, January 25, 2009

2nd Class -- Value

The 2nd class...lots of thought-provoking stuff. I have to be honest, I was stoked to see what Doug had in store for his encore (2nd) appearance. He clearly built up some expectations, at least on my end. No textbooks and a spattering of "current" articles was his mantra. Would it work?

At this point, I think it has. The biggest take away (for me) from Thursday's class was the laundry list of foundational and leadership competencies discussed. This class is clearly designed for us to step back and learn more about ourselves instead of facts and figures out of a book. And I like that. As the saying goes...don't let school get in the way of your education. I don't think the class was ready to be called on individually, but stage fright is common for everyone. Doug is very unassuming and low threat for sure -- a definite requirement as the instructor in this course.

Back to the competencies. More than anything, I was surprised how my answers/beliefs did not jive with the "approved" answers Doug revealed in his presentation. Like he said, there isn't necessarily a right or wrong with those characteristics, but it definitely made me think. Everyone is in this MBA to improve themselves in one way or another. Part of that process is being honest with your strengths and weaknesses. Strengths tend to be easier for people to identify, but most people hate to discuss weaknesses in our society. I like to think I'm honest about my downfalls...and Doug's list kind of kick started my motivation to keep working on those traits. He suggested printing off the lists and keeping them visible to stay committed to the effort, and I think I will do that. We'll see what happens.

Again, the organization of the class and the fast/quick pace from subject to subject is working well for me...looking forward to Tues.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

It was inevitable...

Try as I might, the idea of setting up a blog can no longer be avoided.

One of my instructors at the University of Minnesota (http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/) has tasked me with posting my thoughts and rants/raves on a blog site. Truth be told, I actually look forward to maintaining a site like this...and always have, but I simply never got around to it.

In my view, there are two big risks in blogging:

1) Taking the time to maintain the site while keeping entries pertinent and up to date. Nobody wants to log onto a site and see the most recent post was written 6 months ago. Let's face it...your blog site's organization and accuracy is ultimately a reflection of the organization and accuracy of your real life. I guess that can be good or bad.

2) I think there's an inherent arrogance in setting up your own blogsite. I'm not sure why (since the internet explosion) millions of people feel the need to spew their thoughts onto a webpage...the fact that most people think the rest of the world cares about their random thoughts really seems comical to me. The additional fact that most of these bloggers have zero credentials/authority to speak about anything beyond the day-to-day weather is also entertaining. But that's the trend in our information-saturated society I guess...idols/heroes change as often as the weather in this country. Who knows, maybe my blog will get its 15 minutes of fame sometime during this semester.

Maybe I'm wrong on all this -- the blogging trend has apparently caught on and so I will try to join the bandwagon for the time being. It was either this or Facebook. Either way I will probably spend a disproportionate amount of time updating this site over the next couple months. It will be interesting to see how many hits I get.

As long as I have the forum, I will try to chronicle my MBA experience as close to real time as I can get. I'm sure I will be borderline paranoid with making sure my postings don't get too dated. Even though I have small expectations on how many people will actually tune in, I look forward to going off on tangents to see where my mind takes me.