Friday
Tim has moved...
Ever since some site squatter stole my web site www.stealthisbrand (don't worry I GET the irony!) I've found myself disillusioned with this site...
So I've decided to move on, and relocate to:
www.timkitchin.com
There I will chat about social branding, social responsibility, social media and all things 'social'...
See you there...
(0) comments
So I've decided to move on, and relocate to:
www.timkitchin.com
There I will chat about social branding, social responsibility, social media and all things 'social'...
See you there...
Tuesday
The perfect retail experience?
This is the best piece of customer experience design I've ever seen - the imaginarium store in Barcelona...snapped last year at an LRQA conference.
I LOVE it.
Juts a shame the rest of the customer experience doesn't live up to the delight that this engenders.
Monday
SAP - starting to 'get it' on CSR
Over the past ten years, CSR has evolved into a core business discipline as companies increasingly strive to align a powerful long-term social mission to the interests of short-term shareholders.
This has been a no-brainer for those with a compelling problem to fix - the environment destroyers; water squanderers, Child enslavers and obesity-accelerators. Maintaining their license to oeprate has demanded action. Step forward Shell, Coca Cola, Rio Tinto, Adidas McDonalds and the rest...
But other sectors have lagged. ICT and telecomm's companies have historically lagged. They improve global dialogue and they have no negative footprint. They accelerate the move to knowledge-based competition and the transition out of manufacturing-led and cost-led economies. They expand our human horizons and eradicate waste.
These companies are belatedly waking up to the importance of their 'license to innovate'. ICT companies are in a position to enable this socially responsive organisation, and to provide the architecture for social compliance and mutual governance that we all require.
But first they have to show themselves worthy - and better understand how they can help.
SAP's new FeedingKnowledge site is a great start. And a brave move...
(0) comments
This has been a no-brainer for those with a compelling problem to fix - the environment destroyers; water squanderers, Child enslavers and obesity-accelerators. Maintaining their license to oeprate has demanded action. Step forward Shell, Coca Cola, Rio Tinto, Adidas McDonalds and the rest...
But other sectors have lagged. ICT and telecomm's companies have historically lagged. They improve global dialogue and they have no negative footprint. They accelerate the move to knowledge-based competition and the transition out of manufacturing-led and cost-led economies. They expand our human horizons and eradicate waste.
These companies are belatedly waking up to the importance of their 'license to innovate'. ICT companies are in a position to enable this socially responsive organisation, and to provide the architecture for social compliance and mutual governance that we all require.
But first they have to show themselves worthy - and better understand how they can help.
SAP's new FeedingKnowledge site is a great start. And a brave move...
Friday
Four seasons and one (perfect) day....
Stanley Moss offers an account of a perfect stay some friends enjoyed recently at the four seasons hotel in Canary Wharf at his luxury marketing blog: 'endless road'
You wouldn't really think of Canary Wharf as a 'destination' - but throw in a concert at the O2 and it sounds pretty compelling - particularly if you're from 'out of town'.
Some might find the levels of attention he describes a bit 'icky', but you can't argue with a hotel that comes to knock on your door when you sleep through your wake-up call...
The beauty of his anecdote is that it is that perfect thing that PR folk dream of - spontaneous, public testimonial.
The only thing that disturbs me in the account is the detailed photo record Stanley has acquired of their dirty weekend away...half way round the world.
(0) comments
You wouldn't really think of Canary Wharf as a 'destination' - but throw in a concert at the O2 and it sounds pretty compelling - particularly if you're from 'out of town'.
Some might find the levels of attention he describes a bit 'icky', but you can't argue with a hotel that comes to knock on your door when you sleep through your wake-up call...
The beauty of his anecdote is that it is that perfect thing that PR folk dream of - spontaneous, public testimonial.
The only thing that disturbs me in the account is the detailed photo record Stanley has acquired of their dirty weekend away...half way round the world.
Wednesday
Time for Privacy Protection Ratings?
Google's collaborations with the Chinese government have brought predictable censure in the past, and its virtual desktop aspirations have raised justifiable concerns among data-geeks.
However, you'd never have suspected that the innocuous Google Maps would stir up a privacy row.
It looks like its incredibly granular 'StreetView' maps are going to fall foul of local legislation around the world, and certainly fall foul of public opinion.
There are 2.5 million CCTV cameras in the UK...engaged in real-time scrutiny and recording of our lives. But at least you have some idea they are there. Google's eye in the Sky can see anywhere and enable data and behaviour capture of our lives without any permission..
It's no suprise that Google has started calling for harmonisation around privacy laws. Its ability to interpret browsing behaviour into new offerings; indeed the whole attention economy logic depends, ultimately, upon 'permission to invade'.
As the large corporations struggle to get their mansions in order, there is plenty of room for disruptive innovators to act on the side of the individual.
The insidious creep of Big Brother creates opportunities for new personal data sevices like Garlik but also for corporate-facing services like The Trust Index (TTI)just launched...
TTI is one to watch, I think...from the fertile imagination of database guru Iain Henderson
(0) comments
However, you'd never have suspected that the innocuous Google Maps would stir up a privacy row.
It looks like its incredibly granular 'StreetView' maps are going to fall foul of local legislation around the world, and certainly fall foul of public opinion.
There are 2.5 million CCTV cameras in the UK...engaged in real-time scrutiny and recording of our lives. But at least you have some idea they are there. Google's eye in the Sky can see anywhere and enable data and behaviour capture of our lives without any permission..
It's no suprise that Google has started calling for harmonisation around privacy laws. Its ability to interpret browsing behaviour into new offerings; indeed the whole attention economy logic depends, ultimately, upon 'permission to invade'.
As the large corporations struggle to get their mansions in order, there is plenty of room for disruptive innovators to act on the side of the individual.
The insidious creep of Big Brother creates opportunities for new personal data sevices like Garlik but also for corporate-facing services like The Trust Index (TTI)just launched...
TTI is one to watch, I think...from the fertile imagination of database guru Iain Henderson
Monday
Open Source Planet?
James Farrar, who leads SAP's social responsibility initiatives has just started a personal blog. It's early days, but 'Wisdom of Clouds' is going be an interesting one to watch (disclosure: SAP is a Glasshouse client).
Now, there are plenty of great blogs out there from environmental activists and CSR advocates...and even a couple of technology literate ones (! James Governor !) but very little of substance from the companies actually trying to live up to their efforts. It's going to provide a great window onto the realities of CSR. I really hope more corporate CSR and environmental officers will follow his lead and start to share their thinking.
SAP is off the radar for the general public, but their software enables the increasingly complex information exchanges that enable social and environmental accountability.
To parody their own advertising, the fact is: ' Planet Earth Runs SAP '.
While the industry has very low direct environmental impact, its indirect impact is immense. As CSR practitioners, we all have an interest in helping SAP, IBM, Oracle and the rest to account. These companies constitute our Global Resource Management infrastructure. Their systems can unlock transparency and sustainability through open source systems and networked accountability, or they can bury us in waste, secrecy and bureaucracy.
James's latest post addresses the question: "What should technology companies do to fulfil their social responsibility?"
If sustainability matters to you, I'd seize the chance to have your say...
(0) comments
Now, there are plenty of great blogs out there from environmental activists and CSR advocates...and even a couple of technology literate ones (! James Governor !) but very little of substance from the companies actually trying to live up to their efforts. It's going to provide a great window onto the realities of CSR. I really hope more corporate CSR and environmental officers will follow his lead and start to share their thinking.
SAP is off the radar for the general public, but their software enables the increasingly complex information exchanges that enable social and environmental accountability.
To parody their own advertising, the fact is: ' Planet Earth Runs SAP '.
While the industry has very low direct environmental impact, its indirect impact is immense. As CSR practitioners, we all have an interest in helping SAP, IBM, Oracle and the rest to account. These companies constitute our Global Resource Management infrastructure. Their systems can unlock transparency and sustainability through open source systems and networked accountability, or they can bury us in waste, secrecy and bureaucracy.
James's latest post addresses the question: "What should technology companies do to fulfil their social responsibility?"
If sustainability matters to you, I'd seize the chance to have your say...
Labels: CSR, environment, ERP, GRP, James Farrar
Thursday
Responsible Competitiveness: It's like CSR for Nation States
The logic of CSR says that companies must exercise social responsibility in order to be sustainable over the long haul...
But what about nation states? Is there a sustainability model for nations?
What does NSR - national social responsibility actually look like?
Is democracy a critical enabler of national sustainability?
What economic policies really affect sustainability?
Which policy instruments best enable long-term prosperity?
Is national sustainability even a meaningful concept in when the competitive threats to national competitiveness?
The search is on for the answers to these questions.
Some of the answers to these questions are starting to emerge in AccountAbility's celebrity-filled report: The State of Responsible Competitiveness.
The report essentially argues that strong social capital, global policy adoption (around rights and resource-responsibities) and conditioning a responsible business climate will enable sustainable economic growth....
At National level, the report advocate that politicians should begin to develop explicit Responsible Competitiveness strategies. This thinking chimes very well with the geopolitical interests of Andrew Kakabadse and Nada Kakabadse.
It'll be interesting to see how well this emergent meme sticks in the intrays of the great and the good...
(0) comments
But what about nation states? Is there a sustainability model for nations?
What does NSR - national social responsibility actually look like?
Is democracy a critical enabler of national sustainability?
What economic policies really affect sustainability?
Which policy instruments best enable long-term prosperity?
Is national sustainability even a meaningful concept in when the competitive threats to national competitiveness?
The search is on for the answers to these questions.
Some of the answers to these questions are starting to emerge in AccountAbility's celebrity-filled report: The State of Responsible Competitiveness.
The report essentially argues that strong social capital, global policy adoption (around rights and resource-responsibities) and conditioning a responsible business climate will enable sustainable economic growth....
At National level, the report advocate that politicians should begin to develop explicit Responsible Competitiveness strategies. This thinking chimes very well with the geopolitical interests of Andrew Kakabadse and Nada Kakabadse.
It'll be interesting to see how well this emergent meme sticks in the intrays of the great and the good...
Alternate Realities
Have followed the emergence of alternate reality games (ARG) since Dug first created one for James Bond back in the eary twenty-first century...
The latest highlighted by Karl Long is from avantgame and takes the form of imagining and exploring a future world without oil.
Check it out here at World Without Oil
Instead of a typical 'clue-hunting' format, following a prescribed script, this ARG is much more immersive, collaborative and unscripted...
The idea of bringing futures conversations into the here and now is a compelling idea...
(0) comments
The latest highlighted by Karl Long is from avantgame and takes the form of imagining and exploring a future world without oil.
Check it out here at World Without Oil
Instead of a typical 'clue-hunting' format, following a prescribed script, this ARG is much more immersive, collaborative and unscripted...
The idea of bringing futures conversations into the here and now is a compelling idea...
Monday
What's your Philosophy of luxury?
Glasshouse Partnership's favourite client, Isaac Mostovicz can seem obscure, even to me (whom Dug Falby once referred to as 'black-holian' !), but there is always a deep truth at the root of what he's communicating.
His Philosophy of Luxury is the latest example. I think it does have a profound truth at the heart of it...
Isaac thinks we need to move beyond 'What-based luxury' making decisions based on the attributes of objects; to 'Why-based luxury' - consciously using luxury to define ourselves.
When you remove all the 'Whats' of luxury - exclusiveness, scarcity, superfluousness, quality etc. that luxury offers, you are left with a gaping hole of personal meaning...
This gap gives us a strong clue as to the real 'Why?' of luxury. Luxury is not an indulgence. Quite the reverse. Choosing luxury is the basic exercise of freewill towards a positive purpose.
On this philosophical level a 'Why-based' Philosophy of Luxury has much in common with the concept of ‘Flow’ – doing what we are best at in pursuit of what matters most. And also of Ken Wilbur’s idea of higher consciousness - a continuous self—awareness at ‘all levels; all layers’ of human consciousness. And also with ‘Quality’ as explored in Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.
A Philosophy of Luxury challenges us in the here and now, to make the optimal use of instant we are living, but in the full recognition of our purpose in eternity....
If you don't believe me...TRY THIS THOUGHT EXPERIMENT...
(0) comments
His Philosophy of Luxury is the latest example. I think it does have a profound truth at the heart of it...
Isaac thinks we need to move beyond 'What-based luxury' making decisions based on the attributes of objects; to 'Why-based luxury' - consciously using luxury to define ourselves.
When you remove all the 'Whats' of luxury - exclusiveness, scarcity, superfluousness, quality etc. that luxury offers, you are left with a gaping hole of personal meaning...
This gap gives us a strong clue as to the real 'Why?' of luxury. Luxury is not an indulgence. Quite the reverse. Choosing luxury is the basic exercise of freewill towards a positive purpose.
On this philosophical level a 'Why-based' Philosophy of Luxury has much in common with the concept of ‘Flow’ – doing what we are best at in pursuit of what matters most. And also of Ken Wilbur’s idea of higher consciousness - a continuous self—awareness at ‘all levels; all layers’ of human consciousness. And also with ‘Quality’ as explored in Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.
A Philosophy of Luxury challenges us in the here and now, to make the optimal use of instant we are living, but in the full recognition of our purpose in eternity....
If you don't believe me...TRY THIS THOUGHT EXPERIMENT...
Tuesday
Who ate all the pies? Me
As much as I think carbon calculators are a load of old nonsense... I just couldn't help myself...On this estimate, courtesy of bestfootforward, I'm running at a '2.4 planet' living rate...
The fun part is turning the dial to see your changing patterns of consumption....
