Alexis, all things to do with mba and life beyond

Celebrating Women in Science, Engineering & Technology

2010-02-28T21:46:00.024Z

We are witnessing the first signs of Spring in the UK, with Snowdrops popping up... and the coming weeks brings forth also the recognition of Women in the global arena: International Women's Day on 8 March 2010

Indeed, the ladies at Imperial College have seeded this celebration by organising an Engineering Open Day for young female students on 24 February (disclaimer: IBM sponsored the 'Open Day for Girls', and I presented in the morning session). This event saw over 80 girls (Year 10-11, aged 14-15) from 8 London schools visit the South Kensington Campus of Imperial College, they received a talk from Alexandra 'Xis' Fawkes on Social Media, participated in group activities, and toured several labs in the Faculty of Engineering of Imperial College - London

A day out from school must be a good thing! even better will be to have inspired the next generation of academics, and future industry leaders... This Open Day could help identify a new pursuit (or one rule-out!). I hope the school students appreciated the efforts of the WSET Student Society in constructing their visit.

This marks just the start to the season of WSET events

Head over to Tower Bridge (London), and in City Hall you will find a wonderful collection of photographs. The 100Visions100Women Exhibition is also a creation of the WSET Student Society of Imperial College. The professional portrait photos are the result of collaboration with Jackie King, and celebrates women in science, engineering, and technology. The portraits show women in various stages of their career, from students to professions - and across a wide range of science/engineering fields. Event info (imperial.ac.uk)

In conjunction with the portrait exhibit at City Hall, back on campus the university students were challenged to submit photographs that showcase Women in Academia. The We.Are.Science photography competition closed on 25 February 2010, and the winner will be announced on 8 March 2010 - with many of the submitted photos being placed on display at the entrance to Imperial College Business School (Tanaka Building) until 19 March 2010.

For future WSET events, including Robogals, check out their web-site:
bit.ly/ImperialWSET

bit.ly/100women100visions2010
bit.ly/SocialMediaWSET - presentation on SlideShare.net

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City Hall is open to the public: 8.30 to 18.00 Monday to Thursday, 8.30 to 17.30 on Friday. The portrait gallery is on display on the second floor.

IBM sponsored both the 'Engineering Open Day for Girls' and the 'We.Are.Science Photographic Competition'

Thank you Air France. No thanks.

2009-12-29T19:18:00.034Z

A few flights of fancy, that was all asked of AirFrance... and to be frank, it was not the accumulated delays on my two flights on Day1 that frustrated me... it was a little more the delayed luggage (containing festive gifts, a selection of British cheese, a haggis + clothes, etc), and it was most certainly the denied boarding on Day5 - thus causing me to miss a day with my fiancée ...and then having to purchase a new ticket at the airport to fly Day6. Drats, neglected to mention that the delayed luggage was eventually retrieved (by me) in a damaged state.

Then again, if I was to inform you that there were over 6,000 pieces of delayed/missing luggage at Paris CDG airport - that would be to skip ahead of the story. Sorry.

Sorry. A word that was only mentioned by Alitalia staff, and by one AirFrance member of staff (the one who finally helped me to obtain the missing luggage). Surely, dear AirFrance, it would not have been hard to offer help, even if it seemed painful to show compassion. Indeed, there was one AirFrance staff (senior ground-crew on the ticket sales desk for AirFrance at Rome Fiumicino on Sunday night, 27 December) who appeared to be requesting a change of job. Let me take you through my story. This will also help me to articulate my letter to AirFrance whilst also offering guidance to others who might be in need of similar information...

♠ ♣ ♢ ♡

Log of events:

Wednesday 23 December
✈05:15 NationalExpess coach service from Winchester to Heathrow airport, due to arrive 06:35
✈06:45 Just missed a Heathrow Express service to get to Terminal 4, waited 22 minutes for following train. Proceeded to massive check-in queues; checked-in around 07:40 (last check-in time being 07:50) and scrambled to get to the Gate
✈08:20 AirFrance flight London>Rome AF2081 due to arrive 10:50 in Paris, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) in FRANCE.Flight delayed more than an hour, for what I was told was de-icing, a very long de-icing (insufficient de-icing equipment at LHR?).
Folly: spent most of this 'extra time' on telephone to Priority-Pass and American Express, eventually identifying that my Amex Platinum Card was not the right Platinum Card to benefit from complementary lounge access. And there I was suspecting that I might end up spending a lot of time in airports...!
✈12:35 AirFrance code-share (flight operated by Alitalia flight) AF9846 Paris (CDG)>Rome, Fiumicino (FCO), Italy. Suffice to say that I was not expecting an easy ride, having arrived at CDG Terminal 2E at 12:30 and the next flight due to depart CDG Terminal 2F at 12:35. It was made worse by having a seat row 4 in an aircraft (ATR 72) that has only one exit at the rear. To my great surprise, the flight had not yet departed. Whilst I did reach the gate in time to board the flight, it was not quite as simple as one might hope: Terminal 2E and Terminal 2F, so close, yet so far away...
I was required to exit Terminal 2E, follow a walk-way, walk-up some stairs (escalators not working, CDG FAIL), and check-in once again. Curiously, on each of the electronic screens that I passed, my next flight was still indicated as boarding - and yet no delay was reported. This did not prompt any assistance from AirFrance staff. Indeed, on three occasions I sought the guidance of AirFrance staff regarding check-in, but was told to join the queue and wait my turn. When I eventually got to the front of the check-in desk, the lady that received my e-ticket was equally as surprised that the flight had not yet departed. After a lot of typing on the computer system (well, it seemed like a long time - but was perhaps only 3 minutes), all without looking up, she eventually told me that I could take the flight. I asked if my luggage would follow me onto the flight, and was quite trivially assured that this had been organised. (we will return to this topic later).
The security scan at CDG was a touch more demanding than LHR, this time I was asked to remove my Magnum boots (gift to my during my volunteer work for St John Ambulance, importantly they are steel-toe capped, and almost always set off the metal detectors, yet did not concern security at LHR). At the gate I comprehended that the flight had been delayed on its arrival into Paris, it was held back 1hr in Rome due to morning fog at Paris CDG. Additional delays ensued before took-off, whilst awaiting authorisation from air-traffic control.
Suffice to say that the expected arrival in Rome was considerably later than 14:40. Indeed it was closer to 16:30. Whilst longer than my earlier delay, I was to learn that this was nothing (no doubt others faced more serious delays over festive season).
Time now to return to a topic hinted at earlier: Checked-in Bags/Hold Luggage. Luggage in Rome has not been favourable to me. Same time last year, the Italian ground-crew were on strike - leading to 2 hour delay just to obtain my luggage! This time it was a more curious experience: some luggage arrived after 10-15 minutes, then some more 5 minutes later, and another batch several minutes after that. Alas, in none of the batches did I find my luggage. I was not alone in failing to find check-in luggage... the crowd in the Baggage Office made it evident that problems existed (flights Milan to Rome in most cases). I was joined by an American lady from my flight, waiting near the office doors. Behind us was something resembling a queue. In front of us was anything but a queue! The shouting, the gesticulations, the mess. Eventually the police were called, and the verbal+arm-waving exchange died quite suddenly. Lots of noise these Italians, yet apparently lacking guts.
Time: shortly before 19:00, finally I departed Rome Fiumicino airport - holding my letter declaring the loss of luggage (and a SkyTeam basic toiletry bag). Importantly this letter was issued by Alitalia, as the national carrier of the terminus (although operated by ADR). I was repeatedly informed (by Alitalia staff) that it would serve no benefit to contact AirFrance - it turns out that this is not quite true, as AirFrance do not share all their information with their alliance/partners (more later). Arrived at my final destination at 20:30, quite a lot later than the planned 16:00.
dreaming of AirFrance making travel easier...

24-27 December
✈Multiple attempts to obtain status update regarding missing luggage, at least once daily.
✈Asked again if I should contact AirFrance too, and was informed by Alitalia that there would be no benefit - as the information was shared. (later found to not be the case)
✈Purchased replacement clothes, including pair of trousers and dress-shirts. This is the festive season - and my smart clothes were missing/lost; and the clothes I had worn for travelling were going to need a wash!
✈Sunday, late morning, called Alitalia Lost Luggage service one final time - ahead of afternoon flight. Luggage still not found - apparently...
✈Advised by Alitalia to check Lost Luggage at Fiumicino airport prior to departure - just in case this was the location of my missing luggage

Sunday 27 December
✈Before 3pm, arrived Rome Fiumicino - 2hr15 before scheduled flight departure. Following instructions from earlier phone call with Alitalia Baggage Service, and headed directly to Lost&Found. Found in Terminal3 - also found to be closed on Sundays
✈Terminal1 check-in, retrieved electronic ticket from automatic check-in booth and then waited AGES to do "quick bag drop", some 30 minutes. The deposit of hold luggage was farcical, clearly AirFrance had insufficient staff at check-in (you would think they would have insider knowledge as to the volume of passengers expected, and could use their rather significant experience managing check-in flow) - it would have been faster to queue for regular check-in. Eventually an extra desk was added for the fast bag drop, after many people complained. When dropping off my bag, I asked the check-in staff (carrying AirFrance badge) if I had time to verify if the missing luggage had been found, I was advised "yes, there is time" and given directions through T1 Departures so as to access T1 Arrivals.
All subsequent activities were done under the direction of AirFrance or Alitalia staff.
✈Proceeded through T1 Departures, going through security scan with rather casual oversight by the Guardia di Finanzia (who did not check my Missing Luggage Declaration, nor did the security staff check for a boarding pass!), I descended to T1 Arrivals baggage area - so as to conduct a visual check of luggage (there was quite a lot gathered in the far corner of the lounge) and then into Luggage Service office once again (processed much quicker than first experience, less hand-waving). Also updated location contact details for the following days (which had been logged incorrectly). The Alitalia staff advised me to go to T3 Left Luggage for ticket-less luggage, at other end of airport
✈16:25, found that T3 Left Luggage was not the right indication - and was directed (by staff at T3 Left Luggage) to T3 Arrivals Guardia di Finanzia so as to gain access to the ticketless luggage office. Another security scan, this time with more scrutiny of the passport and paperwork.
✈16:30, arrived at the ticket-less luggage office and informed the staff that I had a flight departing at 17:15 and asked if I had time to check for a missing bag. Told to be quick. The room was surprisingly small, with shelves marked with dates for when the luggage had been found. There was very little luggage for 23 December, a rapid check of other sections did not identify my missing bag. Before leaving I asked if the gate could be informed that I was on my way. "Yes, sir..." was the response. I ran.
Indeed all this activity had been at a fast pace, between terminals, up&down the stairs. Rush. Rush.
✈In Terminal 1, I ran passed my waiting parents & sister and (again) through T1 security scan. Thankfully not many people. I got to the gate at 16:55, the digital display showing "Boarding".
And yet, the lady at the Gate did not look pleased to see me. She was shaking her head and said I was too late. Boarding had stopped, they had sent the bus at 16:30 with the other passengers who had checked in. That the plane was located away from the terminal. I asked if I could take another bus, or another vehicle - hey, I had run so much (I was sweating heavily) that I would have appreciated the run outdoors to the plane. No. Another phone call. No.
She asked where I had been, that they had made announcements for me. I informed her that I had heard no such announcements in neither T1 nor T3 Arrivals. She looked surprise, so I explained that I had been in Terminal 1 Arrivals, and had just come from Terminal 3 Arrivals - looking for the luggage that had been lost on my previous AirFrance flight, and that I had verified with the AirFrance staff at the check-in before undertaking this (fruitless) exercise. Could I please take another vehicle to the plane? No. Another phone call. No. What about my luggage? it had been removed at 16:30 when I had not boarded the bus to get to the plane. Is there another flight that I could take? No... you have to retrieve your luggage and go to the Ticket desk next to the check-in area. All said rather abruptly, certainly no empathy, making me feel more like I had made the lady miss her plane. I asked if there was another flight departing that evening that I could use, perhaps if we hurried I might be able to still get to my destination that night. Eventually she made another phone call. No, next flight tomorrow. Still quite abrupt.
My ticket was cancelled at 17.10, the flight took off with a delay. Yes, probably time for me to have caught it...
✈After 17.30 arrived in AirFrance Departures - at the sales desk, with luggage retrieved from a lonely conveyor belt (the flight I missed was now indicated on the digital screens as having departed). My primary objective was to get to my desired destination, given the circumstances I was expecting support with this - and ideally without additional cost. What I encountered was a mixture of half-hearted initiative (could get you to Paris, but then you could be stuck and have to work it out - oh, there is a TGV to Bordeaux that leaves Paris Montparnasse at same time that plane lands) and a blame culture (i.e. me/Alitalia, not the fault of AirFrance) - coupled with rudeness from a senior AirFrance representative that was best described by an unknown female passenger who said she thought the AirFrance employee “had been a bitch [to me]”.
Purchased additional ticket 475.05 Euro, departing Monday 28 December very early AM, with curious return to Venice a few days later (probably in quest to keep cost down, evidently this leg of trip would not be used)
✈Returned to my Rome residence for another night... yet more wasted time - Thanks AirFrance

Monday 28 December
✈Before 5am, arrived Rome Fiumicino for check-in for flight AF2305 Rome>Paris CDG, and proceeded through security and to the gate promptly - not wishing any repeat from the previous day. AF2305 departure was delayed, no justification was offered – eventually arriving Paris CDG after 10am. The extra time was spent chatting with Alitalia staff - from whom I learned insights into the rather lopsided alliance between AirFrance and Alitalia. Quite sad to hear the stories, yet matches on my own behavioural observations.
✈After 10am arrived Paris CDG. Connecting flight AF7624 to Bordeaux was due to depart at 13.10, I therefore obtained directions to the Baggage Service in terminal 2F.
✈From 10.25am to 11.30am I was at the AirFrance "Service Baggage", from whom I learned (after waiting in a queue quite some time) that:
   ✛bag did not leave CDG since 23 December
   ✛bag found by AirFrance on Sunday 27 December shortly before 8.30am in Fret1 – and that this was recorded on the Air France electronic luggage tracking system. (if this had only been communicated to me, it would have avoided stress, wasted time, extra costs, etc - thanks for nothing AirFrance!)
   ✛Advised to seek reimbursement from AirFrance for all extra costs, including postage of gifts
   ✛11.25am bag retrieved from conveyor belt outside CDG Baggage Service. My luggage had been damaged.
   ✛Obtained damaged luggage report from AirFrance "Service Baggage" – together with details for approved repair services in France and UK
   ✛Commend Estelle on handling my case. Indeed, she was the first to apologies on behalf of AirFrance.
✈After retrieving the "lost/delayed luggage" I rapidly proceeded out of 2F Arrivals and to check-in. I now needed to register the "lost/delayed luggage". Again, a long delay was encountered to check-in. Additional time was lost whilst staff verified that I could register two bags, as I now had two bags for the hold (a borrowed bag that was only partially filled, and the "lost/delayed bag" - sadly they could not be merged into a single bag)
✈After rapid processing by security, I arrived at the gate before the scheduled boarding time. Alas, the flight was delayed – no justification was given.
✈Flight AF7624 landed in Bordeaux shortly before 15.00 (scheduled arrival 14.25), luggage was retrieved 15.17 permitting me to (just) catch the awaiting bus service from Bordeaux Merignac airport to Bordeaux train station (next service significantly later).
✈SNCF train from Bordeaux to Libourne, and taxi to my final destination – arriving 18.30 on Monday 28 December, roughly 21 hours after my anticipated arrival time

♠ ♣ ♢ ♡

Result = wasted time, energy, & money:
Total costs incurred due to delayed luggage by AirFrance: 751.95 Euro
Total cost for damaged baggage: 35 Euro
Total : 786.95 Euro

♠ ♣ ♢ ♡

Email received from AirFrance on the morning 28 December 2009. Quite ironic really, given that it refers to the initial delay caused by de-icing... 1,000 air-miles for just over 1hr delay, so how much for 22hr additional delays?

Dear Mr BILLER,
I write to you further to the delay to your flight on the December 23, 2009. Please accept my sincere apologies on behalf of Air France for any inconvenience this delay may have caused. Let me assure you that the delay you experienced on this occasion was not in line with the high levels of service we aim to provide.

As gesture of genuine regret for the inconvenience suffered on this occasion, I am pleased to inform you that 1000 Miles will be credited to your Flying Blue account within the next few days.

I very much hope you will give us another opportunity to welcome you on our services and that your future flights with Air France will be to your entire satisfaction.

Yours sincerely,

AIR FRANCE
Customer Relations Department

♠ ♣ ♢ ♡

Related links...
AirFrance Customer Support - via online form, or using postal addresses

AIR FRANCE / Service Clients
TSA 60001
60035 BEAUVAIS CEDEX

Aeroports de Paris (ADP) aeroportsdeparis.fr Passenger Rights

European Commission's Air Passenger Rights http://apr.europa.eu includes national authorities responsible for
enforcing these rights.

Denied-boarding compensation system - Regulation (EC) No 261/2004

If denied boarding against their will... and
- confirmed reservation on the flight concerned
- check-in at the time indicated in advance

This Regulation does not apply to passengers travelling free of charge or at a reduced fare not available directly or indirectly to the public.

1999 Montreal Convention, aka Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage - specifies a compensation for the victims of air disasters.

However, the Montreal Convention has yet to be ratified by all states, and as such the 1929 Warsaw Convention, amended 1955 and 1979 still holds...

Warsaw Convention - regulating liability for international carriage of persons, luggage or goods performed by aircraft for reward
- claim must be made within 2 years
- limits a carrier's liability in terms of compensation using Special Drawing Rights (SDR) and includes checked luggage/cargo + hand-luggage
- and the carriers have to issue passenger tickets and issue baggage tickets for checked-in luggage

For EU Citizens, when all efforts to obtain your rights via the carrier - final sort is to write to "Geschillencommissie Luchtvaart", P.O. Box 90600, 2509 LP The Hague, The Netherlands or calling 31 70 3105326.

Wikipedia entries:
Aviation Law info
Lost Luggage

For anyone bumped, airsafe.com offers a quick reference...

Storytelling by a Geisha - a birthday treat

2009-08-19T09:09:00.012Z

I received a generous invitation to attend a Story-Telling event on a Japanese themed island within SecondLife (image on right from event notification on secondhanamachi.ning.com). As such, I found myself within a visually beautiful environment being serenaded by Yoshiwara Geisha and Yoshiwara Musume - in Little Yoshiwara - Home to Yoshi, Milarepa
secondlife coordinates (76, 49, 43)

the show

the audience

appreciating the artistic work

investigating the gardens and relaxing in the gardens, next to the lily pond

The guest list...

A brief technology insight is offered on a personal blog: geishakomayo.blogspot.com

It is not that I have spent significant time within SecondLife. Indeed, since my initial foray into this virtual world - my presence has principally been for virtually meetings. The group presentation is quite conducive for virtual environments, offering more than the visual and oral input that is achieved by joining an audio conference with the presentation foils on your local computer. Briefly, from my perspective, the benefits include the social interaction before and during the presentation (local conversation of private chat), which might offer new contacts with like-minded people, or simply identify individuals with specialist skills. Let me return now to the Geisha event -

Assessment of Professional Values in Education System

2009-06-09T15:19:00.010Z

I was recently asked for my views on the introduction of an appraisal of 'Professional Value' within university computing degrees. This to support part of a academic paper by a research group at the University of Southampton.

[Alas, the research team rather foolishly made the survey as a MS Word document - rather than a SurveyMonkey, or indeed a GoogleDoc web-form. This would not only have allowed easier community-sharing, but also would have made collating the results a lot easier!]

Back to the survey and my response. The academic work is "part of a wider study of the attitudes of computing professionals, academics and students to the assessment of professional values in Computing degrees". The particular emphasis was made on both the feasibility and the acceptability of assessing professional attitudes and values within a university degree programme.

Perhaps I should add a disclaimer... - as a chartered member of several professional institutions (BCS, EurIng, ...), I have signed a code of conduct. Indeed, the BCS have published their Code of Conduct online (together with the Code of Good Practice). My current employer also has a set of Business Conduct Guidelines, which extend into blogging and virtual worlds... - this might introduce an element of bias in my comments. That said (written), whilst accepting to adhere to these guidelines was a condition on being accepted as a chartered member (for BCS, EurIng) and a condition of my employment; I was quite happy to accept these terms - indeed, I might suggest that I adhere to even stronger (and constantly updated) values than those described in such documents...

Back to my feedback to the research team:

The judgement of character or professionalism is not at the heart of modern education systems. If it were, it might create a conflict between the morale upstanding of the teacher/academic and that ‘imposed’ by the Education Board. Yet, it is through the influence of the academic staff that students might be set on a pathway to professional conduct – and the education environment offers an excellent opportunity to debate professional standards and conduct (link to 70kB MS PowerPoint file, Virginia Tech). It is likely that the institutions, such as the British Computer Society, would lend their support to such a scheme - as it is very much in their interest to enhance the credibility and social standing of their professional members.

An approach that might be seen as a compromise would be to complement the education/syllabus with industrial placements, such that the student can function within a structured professional environment and thus bring back their experiences to discuss/debate with the learning environment AND commence to instil best practices and a professional conduct from an early stage. Mentoring scheme can also offer superb insight into professional dilemmas (for the conspiracy-theory activists, this might be seen to also serve as an early warning system for renegade students).

It might be noted that many great advances have been made in science, technology, and engineering (and indeed Medicine) by individuals and groups who have pushed what might have been deemed unethical or at least questionable research. To take but one example: Charles Robert Darwin and his theory on National Selection - his work was very much at odds with the ethical beliefs in the early 19th century. For this reason alone it would be foolish to impose a particular conduct on young people. Instead, reasonable direction and open discussion could serve a better pattern so as to enhance the professional conduct of those working in the industry.

Perhaps a strong impact could be had by allocating an academic supervisor (mentor) for the whole of the university degree, to serve as a sounding-board for idea sharing and personal development during the students' academic years. Instilling 'mentoring behaviour' into the academics then becomes the task, as not all staff are inclined to allocate effort outside of the domain of their research; it might also be a character attribute (and skill) that they are lacking. Why would they if their employment contract does not specify this? Would a great mentor be well revered amongst their peers? How would this social contribution be evaluated versus research performance?

Donald Gotterbarn made the following distinction:
- Codes of Ethics are "aspirational," often serving as mission statements for the profession and thus can provide vision and objectives
- Codes of Conduct are oriented towards the professional and the professional's attitude and behaviour
- Codes of Practice relate to operational activities within a profession

Evaluating good or bad attributes will necessarily require objective values to be defined. Yet, a professional code is based on behavioural characteristics and on an attitude by which the individual works within a social environment. This might be seen to force a common approach on the collective. One advantage: a customer might receive a similar experience when working with different members of an external company. The quest for conformity should not be at the cost of individual excellence. Instilling a rapid learning loop could bring best practises into the group approach, whilst allowing individual creativity and innovation to flourish.

There is most likely a far larger debate to be had on what might be the attributes of our education establishments in the future.
SmarterUniversities anyone?

Sunrise Sunset 2009 - Windsurfing 4 Cancer Research

2009-04-21T17:00:00.005Z

My friend Andy Gibbs is surfing to raise money for Cancer Research (W4CR): on behalf of a friend lost to cancer in 2008 and also for the founder of the event itself. Please consider contributing...

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/andygibbs

My family has also lost loved ones to cancer, and for this reason alone I am very willing to sponsor Andy in this activity; - he is also a great individual with a strong passion for those he holds dear and for causes close to his heart.

- - -

"Eddie would go, when no else would or could. Only Eddie dared."
- Eddie Aikau

my variant...

Undoubtedly Eddie would go; & you guys care

- in tribute to Eddie Aikau, to those who have suffered greatly with Cancer, and to those showing their willing spirit by surfing from Sunrise to Sunset!

Crowd sourcing for self-publicity

2009-04-06T14:21:00.016Z

Cunning idea by Scott Bourne, offering a single prize for people to link, twitter or follow his podcast, blog postings, or his tweets...

(as I protect my twitter entries, it would be foolish for me to even think of re-tweeting other comments about this marketing stunt ... that is if I wanted to be in with a chance to win! *)

This differs considerably to the home-brew marketing that has helped propel Coca-Cola to the top of the Facebook tree (ft.com). Indeed, in the spirit of collaboration this company opted to joint ownership so as to comply with trademark rules (i.e. facebook t&c) and thanked the duo creators by flying them to 'Coke HQ' for some filming!

Corporate or personal, the use of social spaces has certainly opened new avenues for influencing where we spend out online time, and perhaps how we do it too.
It remains to be seen if this can also influence our $£¥€¢₣ spending habits!

- - - -

* ... not that long ago I won an intriguing book by being 'participatory' when I commented on everydotconnects.com "why don't they get it" book competition - and as a result I received a free copy of: The Age of Conversation 2: Why Don't They Get It?. The book offers a collection of short articles that provide insight into the challenges of becoming a listening and open organisation - a participatory corporation. This is a sequel to The Age of Conversation - by Gavin Heaton, et al. Following the competition I received sweet messages from Sheila Scarborough - one of the contributors to the book... and who cheerfully dispatched the book to a pal in Belgium -

Which goes to show that immersing in web2.0 can offer all sorts of rewards... ;o)

Joan Woodward, a lady of the future

2009-03-24T23:57:00.009Z

Joan Woodward (1917-1971) is perhaps remembered mostly for her social studies - indeed it is in this field that Imperial College offers an annual undergraduate & post-graduate thesis prize, together with a series of memorial lectures. However, Joan Woodward also stood out for her pioneering research into how technology was influencing the behaviour and performance of organisations. At Imperial College she might also be remember for having been only the second lady to be made Professor (Professor of Industrial Sociology), which took place in 1970.

"...the most ambitious and stimulating comparative study using technology as an independent variable is Joan Woodward's survey of 100 industrial organizations" - Charles Perrow

In testament to her contributions to knowledge, her work continues to be referenced in renowned journals.

related links:
- en.wikipedia/Joan_Woodward (finally posted on 16 December 2009, see note below)
- Resource Centre for Women in SET (Science, Engineering & Technology)

- - - -

Note: the wikipedia entry for Joan Woodward formed part of my pledge for “AdaLovelaceDay”. This in turn was just one contribution from a community initiative that was initiated by Suw Charman-Anderson, with the aim "to draw attention to women excelling in technology":

I will publish a blog post on Tuesday 24th March about a woman in technology whom I admire but only if 1,000 other people will do the same.
— Suw Charman-Anderson

Mesmerising collaboration

2009-03-09T14:27:00.002Z

beautiful... now to find a way to emulate just a little bit of this in homecamp/currentcost projects! ;o)

Microsoft Office Labs view 2019 from antares500 on Vimeo.

Innocent vs Coke : The start of the Carbon Wars

2009-03-09T13:00:00.003Z

Which has a higher Carbon Footprint: Innocent or Coca-Cola?

Surprising perhaps, the answer is Innocent! - a Carbon Trust study has shown that 330ml can of Coke is equivalent to 170g of carbon dioxide, and the same sized Diet Coke or Coke Zero 150g; 250ml bottle of mango & passion fruit smoothie has a carbon footprint of 209g, and small bottle of crushed strawberries & bananas has 230g (guardian.co.uk). There are other aspects which can be considered, but this is quite a shocking statement for a company that prides itself on its ecological and social contributions... and I mean Innocent!

It might not yet be the start of a "Carbon War", but has already resulted in an exchange of words/marketing... It makes financial sense to reel-in many of the ecological costs, smaller and more efficient packaging means less storage space required, less transport costs, and less packaging material! both companies also get involved in various community activities, although it is not evident if this is primarily done as a marketing channel, or if it is meant mostly for social good.

In other news, it would also seem that Coke could obtain a minor stake in Innocent (brandrepublic.com)

MBA meets IBM ePredator in SL

2009-02-21T10:44:00.000Z

A personal account from second-life meeting with Ian Hughes, on leadership and evangelism in the metaverses by @abelniak, current MBA student at Babson

Topics covered: personal branding, "doing the right thing", leadership & evangelism

Thumbs up to Babson for getting the conversation started!

Bumping into Avatars in our daily life : Coca-Cola

2009-02-03T09:22:00.000Z

Whilst the SuperBowl might be over for 2009, the novelty advertising remains on youtube for our pleasure... and maybe a new experience... [Thanks to ePredator and Roo]

- together with a recognition that, in our different walks of life - we are already deploying different personas & avatars, and perhaps also hiding (from real-world) within our virtual environments

...it also serves to remind us not to judge people on appearance, whether in virtual worlds or real-life.

- - -

"open happiness" : how many get engrossed in their digital activities - to such an extent that they fail to recognise the people in their immediate environment? feeling as a person amongst people; vs feeling as the person amongst objects.

...anyone care for some augmented refreshment? courtesy of coca-cola once again

New Home, Slow Home

2009-02-01T16:05:00.005Z

This weekend I shifted into a new flat... it is a curious set-up, as it is really a B&B with a few long-term letting arrangements.

It was great to quickly tweet a twitpic using the free wifi, with reasonable security (WPA) even if the passphrase is a touch weak... Alas, when I came to testing the ADSL speed - it would seem that I will not enjoy the pleasure of 'blistering pace'. Will repeat the test several more times, so as to get a better idea of transfer rates + gain insight into local contention.

A second test, a short while later achieved 416 kbps down,
85 kbps up, whereas thinkbroadband.com reports 550 Kbps down, 185 Kbps up. I was hoping for more than 0.5 Mbps ...

Might seek to influence a change... local search via www.adslguide.com/uk/ or www.thinkbroadband.com

London from Above

2009-01-29T13:05:00.000Z

...click on the photo to see more

[re-posting from imperialftmba2006-7.blogspot.com/]

Getting Smarter : Ceres vs Ceres Power

2008-12-30T12:36:00.013Z

Having spotted a little mention on Andy Piper's blog, it got me thinking beyond the 'tech green' recognition on Ceres.org to IBM (survey "Corporate Governance and Climate Change for Consumer and Technology Companies").

Whilst Ceres.org is a coalition formed around sustainability - it reminded me of another group contributing to the quest for smarter energy use : CeresPower.com - fuel cell technology.

I was impressed by this company, having attended two presentations at Imperial College - the first several years ago, when it was still a fledgling venture with entrepreneurial pretensions; the second in early 2008, now with impressive content. Ceres Power has benefited from Design Council resources...

Indeed, their pitch is ever more compelling. The company is now able to articulate their offering in terms of a shared vision of deployment, which starts with the visual comparison with a standard domestic boiler - helping the 'user' comprehend the usage and benefits. This story draws good attention to the technology, before extending this with a wow-factor through modifications to suit different lifestyles. It makes the technology both accessible - yet also brings an element of fun {wish I could link to a public promotional video...}

The DesignLondon resources have been well deployed, this is a great example where British Engineering and Entrepreneurship is benefiting from British Design know-how. It won a Carbon Trust award (see Google Tech Talks for Carbon Trust - via youtube.com). It gave me pleasure to observe the evolution of this entrepreneurial enterprise, and I hope to trace their developments as they progress the R&D to fruition -

Naish Equilibrium in Belgium

2008-10-27T08:47:00.008Z

"Can divided Belgium hold together?" (news.bbc.co.uk)

It amazes me that a country with a population the size of Greater London can show such divisive facets. It also surprised me that it has three governments... 4 if you include EU!

I lived in Belgium for most of my youth, and during my very early days I recall stories of terrorist activities in local supermarkets, with separatists shooting in 'opposite territories'.

Whilst my family lived in the French-speaking zone, with hindsight my parents would have liked us to have lived in the Flemish-speaking zone... as their insight would suggest a greater community spirit amongst the Flemish, which would have been favourable for family support. This is not to suggest that we did not benefit from some great neighbours (we also encountered some rather deplorable characters, threatening our pets or damaging property - but you can get such people anywhere!).

Let's hope that peace can be brokered, and that focus can be placed on creating excellent chocolates and brilliant diamonds! oops, there goes the lack of stereotyping!

update from December 2009:
the first 'president of Europe'
...is a Belgian

Career goals...

2008-09-08T12:52:00.007Z

Following an article about Michael Diekmann, CEO of Allianz, I am now tempted to add a new one to my list...

- to take leadership responsibilities on each continent

...ok, I might forego the option in the deepest South of the Globe - although that is not to suggest that I do not wish to explore the region!

Why? the exploration of new cultural, the learning that will result - together with the application of experiences from one zone into another, with all the necessary twists and modifications... This is what I do with technology problems already -

All about perspectives...

2008-09-08T10:17:00.004Z

mindblowing 3d image interaction... with consideration of user interaction.

I was most interested in the elements of collaboration to achieve 3d rendering, and then also the application of their 'stable planar' tool for viewing a photographed object (seen in the last section of the video). Smart, useful and usable.

...for those wanting a simple solution to improve the quality of your DIY videos? using high quality static images to complement video footage of the same area.
For who are tempted, here is a download location

Other interesting tools:
- VideoTrace: scene modelling from video source
- Unwrap Mosaics: video editing

x5 French Driving Habits I won't miss...

2008-08-31T23:17:00.007Z

Observations formed after a lifetime on the roads: either as a kid passenger as we wore down the tyres across European motorways - or as a licensed road-hazard in the making. Naturally, it would be wrong to stereotype a whole nation based on biased observations. Equally, I recognise that I am no road-angel - although I do try to learn from my wicked ways...

1. indicators (any) : is it just laziness or arrogance? it seems many French drivers think we can read their minds and fail to indicate their intentions on roundabouts, motorway exits, and other junctions

2. joining a motorway: you clearly were granted a birth right to join a fast-flowing major road, without a care in the World for whoever else is present - just like your other compatriots. Oh, the give-way sign was not intended for you...?

3. exiting a motorway: if you are going to indicate after you have started to move off the motorway (onto the exit gangway), then to be honest I would prefer you do not indicate at all. Your mind is evidently not focused on driving correctly, so I would rather whatever part of your mind is aware that your are driving be focused on road safety. Indicators serve to communicate your driving intentions, it helps the other drivers accommodate your change of speed and/or change of lane/position. On some roads you can use your position in the road to communicate this - but on a motorway, with the higher speeds, it is generally a better habit to indicate some 300 metres before you actually make a move.

4. indicators (overtaking) : ok, you want to overtake - I saw you a long way off and already 'read' your driving style, save yourself the 'tick-tick-tick' sound of your constant indicator. I am at the maximum speed (more, rather than less) and already overtaking, you just have to wait your turn.

5. overtaking (bis) : no, driving up the edge of my bumper will not make me shift out of your way any faster (if anything it might tempt the opposite). I understand very well why your Citroen, Peugeot, and Renault vehicles have so many damaged front wings + why a few drivers might be tempted to touch their brakes (so as to show their brake lights) to frighten you into receding to a safer distance... {such driving habits should not to be condoned, just a shame the road-cops are focused on speeding tickets rather than overall road safely}

...and I am not suggesting for a moment that these driving habits only exist in France. There are different tendencies that can be observed on the roads across Europe, some better than others... some comical, many downright dangerous.

(I should perhaps add that I am a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which includes a minimum 90 minute road exam, in the company of an advanced traffic cop examiner...)

Minimum Power - Please

2008-08-28T08:52:00.005Z

a new home can only mean new projects...

...the shower curtain is installed (it was strange to realise that it was the first time I had installed wall-plugs - a widget that I found rather smart when a little kid)
...get to drill more holes to put up pictures, including our little pleasure from Kenya (await image link)...

surprisingly, we are still awaiting our first bill!
these have tended to be amongst the first items to arrive in the post in previous residences - but not this time, we have a post-redirect service in place - so the first items were actually from our old address. Guess there is still time for the first directly addressed item to be a bill!

Anyway, bills to services - and in particular energy. We only have electricity to pay for in our new home - this is a good thing in light of all the price increases. The budgeted monthly cost for electricity alone is 45 Euros. We will see if we can sustain a lower usage rate...

Now to the gadget/tech part! a few months ago some friends at Hursley included me in a collective initiative to deploy a monitoring tool: Current Cost. Eventually data may be published online (and form part of a wider home automation project), but for now we wish to see if the accurate recording and displaying of usage can influence our behaviour in our use of electronic devices at home.

A few initial remarks. The monitor has two parts, a display and a current meter. The data exchange between the two is achieved via wireless communication. Configuration is simple, and we soon had the device displaying Euro/cent values (instead of Pounds Sterling/pence), plus had entered peak/off-peak values. The meter itself was a little more tricky to install, but only because the electrician who set-up the mains electricity box (and mains meter unit) had protected the cables - and the space to introduce the clip/jaw was rather limited. Perhaps there will be a need to review this 'jaw point' : as it does not quite surround the live wire (this explains the slightly erratic data feed). It would seem that our energy supplier permits us to select the hours we wish as our designated '8 hours of off-peak use' (yet more info here). Perhaps this will be more obvious once I spend more time on the EDF.fr website!

...we have already changed the light bulbs for ones which are more energy efficient. We don't have a TV, but do have a small washing machine - the usage will most likely be timed to coincide with the off-peak hours. The hot water also needs to be configured to match the off-peak hours. The end game: reduce our energy cost - both financial and our personal footprint.

Time to open up...

2008-08-01T18:28:00.004Z

...and let the tide rush in

Well, for a number of months I have been a 'blogger in hiding' - allowing only authorised readership. There was a justification for this. Indeed, at first I used the entries to record private&confidential TODO lists! these lists have been re-written or removed, together with other incriminating data, so that I now wish to liberate access - and return to the way it should be... just me, and whoever cares to pop by

I seem to recall that when I last had 'open access', the track map feature indicated that within a few hours people in Holland, Thailand - and two well known corporate locations in the USA, had viewed the site. From a message received the next day, it was clear that one of those hits was from a bot - which did an impressively fast job at context assessment. Now to see what happens...

...and to also allow comments from OpenID users

YouTube : the ones you should not miss

2008-08-01T18:11:00.000Z

Top spot for YoutTube views, plus top spot for being marked as 'favourite'...

#1 - The Evolution of Dance, by comedian Judson Laipply

#2 and #3 are professional productions for singers, you can find out about them here - I don't care to offer more publicity for them...

#4 - great guitar work... with Queen-like moments

Good on you William : of LBS credentials

2008-07-26T11:28:00.004Z

Sometimes it is good to hear from 'the London competition'
Valuable lessons outside the classroom (ft.com)

William McKenzie has expressed sentiments that I not only strongly agree with, but which also reflect my experience, albeit from my 1-year MBA at Imperial College (Tanaka)...

Yes, the course did deplete my financial resources; it took over my waking & sleeping hours; and it tickled my brain cells into activity. Although, to be honest - the real physical and mental drain took place in the months leading up to starting the course, when I was working 18 hour days for BigBlue (sometimes more) to complete a project on time... and allow me to head off to business school with a feeling of satisfaction of a job completed as requested

I did not hold the MBA as a key to success. It was more about strengthening my existing thoughts and capabilities, and learning how to articulate ideas more succinctly. Most of all, to learn methods to understand and communicate risk. My career objectives are not financially motivated - I seek positions of responsibility which expose me to the front-end strategy, dialogue with the customers - for long term trust-forming, and (maybe) for hi-tech delivery. Upon completion of my MBA studies I was quite prepared to make a move into another industry, to continue to forge my competencies and to deploy & hone my business acumen. This is what I was expecting -

The delivered results did not match. At least not yet, as I continue to seek new deployment roles.
However, I did take away experiences in mentoring, leading and consulting around new business ventures - these are fantastic for me personally, but also valued by those I touched during the year. The most poignant moment of the year may well be when a MSci student approached me on graduation day - thanking me in front of all present, and asked if he could have his photo taken with me. It is amazing what a 'thank-you' can do to your spirit - I am still smiling as I write about this...

It would be great to think that these network forming activities might return to reward me at later times too. Indeed, it was only last month that I had the experience of someone offering to use their network of contacts to help me in my quest for a new job. Previously I had been the one to offer such help - so to receive this comment was a tonic to the soul -

William, I wish you well at your new post at Bechtel - enjoy the new environment, no doubt quite different to that which you experienced during your 2-year MBA studies!

Time : how do you value it?

2008-07-24T08:25:00.005Z

During my MBA year I came across a new venture that I deemed of interest: match-making service for short-term employment (per hour/per task). I offered my help as I had previously considered this field...

The team obtained a runner-up prize in an internal business school competition, they did a great job at portraying the business model. Whilst I did not get involved in their business plan, I see now that there is competition already out there: peopleperhour.com (amongst others). It will be interesting to keep track of how the team progresses their idea in the rather busy marketplace of recruitment!

To more fun. Do you know Clay Shirky?
well perhaps I can offer a brief introduction to you via his ideas of 'cognitive surplus' and 'collective bender'? take a peak at the recorded presentation at a Web2.0 conference.

- - -

as for hacker stuff, I think it is time I modded the Canon digital camera as per these instructions: The Canon Hacker's Development Kit, aka CHDK

Because Women Play too

2008-06-26T13:08:00.004Z

It is fantastic to see that this market segment is now being more dutifully addressed. Games is a fantastic platform from which to offer a ready audience with more targeted resources, including greater freedom of educational resources. There remain large groups of women, distributed throughout the World, who are not granted equal access to Education. It is well overdue to change this situation.

link: womengamers.com

...and whilst mentioning handy websites, take a peak at :
the Telegraph Top101 websites

smile, it is only a 'new paradigm'

2008-06-16T09:50:00.002Z

With a year of hearing this ever so frequently at b-school, it made me smile when I read the title of a Financial Times article: "When you hear ‘new paradigm’ head for the hills" (ft.com). The content was a little different, which lent onto the lending problems in the financial markets. The expression, though, has become one of those over-used "sentence-stretchers".
Back to basics please: KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid!

Business School Businesses

2008-06-09T08:15:00.003Z

When it comes to one of the most prestigious public services, the railways often comes high on the list. It is also one that creates resentment in the user community (cost, poor service, delays...) which is particularly evident in the face of increased fuel costs and government gobbledygook about the need to become more green.

Additionally, following my London Underground experiences (mainly 1998-2002, 2006-2007), I often found myself contemplating a model to enhance the various functional and stakeholder requirements. For example, building additional track with a backup locomotive might ease problems when a train breaks down. The options should be quite feasible to model, taking into account resource deployment and costs.

So it was with considerable joy that I learned about a logistics project at RSM Erasmus University in Rotterdam, supervised by Professor Leo Kroon, a specialist in Quantitative Logistics. The project sought to offer an enhanced scheduling rota for the Dutch railways!

The results? Passenger demand up 15% on some lines. Passenger satisfaction up. More trains arrive on time. Netherlands Railways profits rose by €40m ($61.8m, £31.6m) in the first year of the timetable, with more profit growth expected down the line.

Read the article on ft.com

Talking of smart business school activities. I pleaded with Tanaka Business School (Imperial College, London) to establish a consulting arm of their MBA activities, with idea of creating a pipeline of projects on which students could contribute but also one which they could, in turn, use to obtain (cheaper) consulting when alumni establish their own businesses.

One particular idea was quite different. To create a company that the students would run, not just to learn the theory in the MBA classes - but to apply it and act as custodians of a real operating business. This might be a fund management, or even a niche management consulting group. At Imperial College there already exists an external company for knowledge transfer for start-up companies and licensing (Imperial Innovations), and there is a project management/resource hiring company too (Imperial Consultants); so a distinction would be needed between this MBA-student activity and that which already exists.

...so again, it was not a surprise to read that the School of Finance and Management in Frankfurt, Germany, has established a novel financial company spun out of academia. It is positioning itself as a niche player in "the esoteric but growing world of microfinance to speed economic development in eastern Europe". So it is benefiting from the opening up of eastern Europe, together with access to special funds for East and South-East Europe. Smart people: they get funded research, train their paying students, deploy the students to manage assets, prepare the students to take on roles in developing zones... and the cycle might continue through re-investment options. Smart people - yes, I already wrote that. Shame Tanaka could not stomach the concept.

again, their exists an Ft.com article for you to read

...then again, there exists the loan system "by Alumni for Alumni" : prodigy finance
Insead showing how to instil alumni networking and profit sharing!
They claim to have methods of determining risk associated with future income, perhaps significantly influenced by the data collection from the rather large volume of students who pass through the Insead system each year... something that works in their favour, but is still remains an easily replicated venture - particularly when coupled with an institution with a risk management research group (such as Tanaka, hint hint - perhaps protègé-finance will be coming to a business school establishment near you...)

Noise Maps

2008-06-06T09:01:00.003Z

Thanks to one of those EU decisions (EU Directive on Environmental Noise) you can now get a visual view of the noise in your neighbourhood : http://noisemapping.defra.gov.uk

Nb: UK only

Technology brought to you by IBM - who else?
...using Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) - what else?
...delivered in line with the Common Architectural Approach (CARA) infrastructure - what?

CARA is a Defra methodology for sharing common components to achieve economies of scale

- - -

Desire something different?
Wimbledon starts soon. The relationship between IBM and All England Lawn Tennis Club dates back to 1990. Take a peak at the official website, www.wimbledon.org
There is a little application you can install on your computer to help you keep track of live scores, this year it comes with an interactive map widget...

No regrets, but IESE strikes a chord once more

2008-06-01T21:51:00.004Z

Why is it that there are interesting events going on at IESE, seemingly all the time?

most recently I read of their Entrepreneurship discussion with well-presented attendees, each reinforced my perspective that I do not strike to make money - indeed my MBA was not intended to be point for salary negotiations. Far from it! instead I am seeking the roles and responsibilities that engage me on my personality and capabilities. It may well be the case that such roles will be remunerated well - but it is not my focal point.

New Entrepreneurship Forum, in Evian ?

2008-05-27T20:48:00.005Z

To contend with the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland - it would appear that some smart alecs in Lyon business school (EMLyon) have tabled a new annual meeting, this time taking place in the French Alps...

To be honest what I like about this idea is the coupling with the Junior World Entrepreneurship Forum earlier in the year (location: Shanghai, in July) - this offers the opportunity for fledgling new thinking to be percolated up the younger group before being thrown at the elders!

...what I don't like is that their website is in French and US ENGLISH!
(on the positive, the US English version is still being developed)

www.world-entrepreneurship-forum.com

- - -

For those seeking a special mix of entrepreneurial MBA education:
I bring you the tripartate of EM Lyon in France, Babson College in the US and Zhejiang University in China. Starts Fall 2008 for a Masters in Global Entrepreneurship.

read about it here

Ethics in the b-schools

2008-05-21T12:02:00.005Z

It was not long ago that I was considering my options for MBA studies. At least it does not seem that long ago, and yet I graduated last week from Imperial College (Tanaka Business School) - London, so clearly it has been over a year!

Prior to embarking on my full-time MBA studies I had to gather information and make several choices. Some simple ones were to undertake these studies within Europe, and to do it as a full-time student. Top candidates includes INSEAD, IESE, ESADE, IMD, SDA Bocconi... curiously London Business School, together with other schools in UK, were initially put to one side - as I had spent sufficient time in UK already (and in London in particular) whilst also holding a desire to emerse myself into a new culture and environment.

From all the knowledge gathered, IESE was top institution in my mind. This might relate also to it holding an early advantage - as I had kept a FT newspaper cutting from years ago, which described the ethical behaviour that was well recognised within this institution (a student rejected a business deal as it would have reversed a personal pledge made earlier in the negotiations). I cannot help it, it is my nature to bring technology and business needs together - it is also in my nature to do so in an ethical manner (or at least seek to be ethically upstanding). Therefore it was appealing to consider a leading business school, and for it to match on additional attributes which I hold dear. I certainly did not find the competitive characteristics that I heard from feedback on LSB. Sadly the 2 years at IESE was too costly for my personal circumstances - and could not be justified (I was not able to secure a scholarship within the timeframe of my application).

It is therefore with some humour that I read during my MBA year that certain students in business schools had been found to have cheated or acted in dishonest manner (see ft.com article). It was also with some sadness that I heard last week that there was at least one case of plagiarism within my cohort. There will be justifications for which I am not privy to, just like the reasons for positively recognising certain students for academic achievement -when during the year they hardly indicated particular merit. The difference is that what might appear to be misplaced meritocracy can generate mild humour, it can also create spite and resentment. There are other battles to fight that these wobbles must be put to one side. This is not to forget, but rather to operate within the sphere of influence so as to create the feeling of satisfaction and positive contribution.

Back to business schools. If I were placed in same situation I suspect I would make same choices in many situations. In selecting the business school, Imperial College appeared as a good choice. Within budget, application timing/course length, anticipated quality of cohort, match with future career pathways, and good institutional reputation. It would have been highly relevant to have investigated HEC Paris, particularly given my subsequent relocation to France (post MBA studies) together with a closer look at ESADE. Time was of the essense at time of gathering data and making choices - with work commitments sucking 17hrs per day out of me, this was hard to come by... Perhaps this is one of the reasons why I have accepted to mentor a number of future MBA students - to help make the decisions and to help ask the candidate ask the key questions to themselves.

During my MBA studies I had the joy of attending a short course run by Prof Anand Narasimhan "Leadership" (Anand is now at IMD). This was perhaps the closest that Tanaka got to offering a personal insight/ethics course (the Public Policy course didn't get anywhere close). Evidently there is a place for such content within a MBA programme - but few have shown the initiative to communicated this to the market. An exception in London might be observed in the visiting professor of organisational ethics at Cass : Roger Steare (see brief ft.com article)

Recommended B&B near Manchester Airport

2008-05-18T07:00:00.002Z

Rylands Farm : located close to Manchester Airport, yet appears to be within rural Cheshire countryside. Cute outbuildings offer comfortable accommodation.

Breakfast is served in the conservatory, looking out onto paddocks with ponies or horses. It has won a handful of guest house awards, albeit in 1994-1996 period.

2008 prices :

£49.50 for single occupancy (twin/double)
£56.50 for two (twin/double)
from £80 for family
car parking £29 per week, £45 per two weeks

Located: Wilmslow on the Altrincham Road
Motorway waypoints: Junction 20/19 of M6, and junction 6 of M60

Tel: +44 1625 535 646
Website: www.rylandsfarm.com

International SMS : free

2008-05-03T14:32:00.006Z

These are my short-cuts for accounts that are set-up and ready to use:

twitter : UK, Belgium
voipcheap : Italy

voipcheap allows user to write the sms directly into the browser URL, using the format : https://myaccount.VoipCheap.com/clx/sendsms.php?username=xxxxx &password=xxxxxx&from=xxxxx&to=xxxxx&text=xxxxx

As for voice, in order of increasing call costs (see comment for cost table):
VoipCheap < Gizmo < Skype

Call cost is not the only decision factor, quality of service and ease-of-use also play a role too. I tend to launch Skype only when I intend to make a call - using GTalk as my preferred instant messaging client. Skype's unlimited EU landline calls require ~200 mins of calls each month to pay-off (vs PAYG).

Arbitrage & Substitution in the Metals Market

2008-05-03T08:09:00.001Z

Did you know:
161,000 tonnes = amount of gold that has ever been mined
161,000 tonnes = amount of steel created every 60 minutes

83,000 tonnes = amount of gold that goes into jewellery, each year
29,000 tonnes (18% of total stocks) = currently held by the world’s central banks

oh, read about arbitrage and substitution impact on the metals market here (ft.com)

...and why farmland might be a good idea, if you don't mind lack of portability - and it things go pear-shape, you can always grow your own crops!

Underground Reading

2008-05-01T17:53:00.000Z

For those who still suffer the pleasure of Transport for London services... this one is for you: london-underground.blogspot.com - it is up for a bloggie award!

Examples of freeconomics

2008-04-25T07:07:00.000Z

The Rise Of Freeconomics. Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business (March 2008) : core argument is that the fixed IT costs are spread over a wider audience, thus the marginal cost tends to zero (there are a few economic notions that are embedded within this document). Offers examples of Gillette's cross-subsidy, Ryanair as a travel agent - not just an airline, Google advertising and processing capabilities; together with Freemium (Fred Wilson, VC) for subscription model to acquire additional 'pro' services, Banda Calypso in Brazil allowing their music to be copied and sold on the street ahead of their concerts, value creation through labour exchange (I suspect the value is most likely from advertising and possible click-through sales, but could also be from demographic data collection, sadly the comment lacks examples to backup the argument), and zero distribution cost - where your junk has value for someone else, who will come and collect it from you...

Freeconomics: The Danger of Free (January 2008) : the implications of not having to pay for something. Examples include IBM giving away an enterprise programming tool (an IDE), Eclipse; the Google sphere of influence that arose from an esteemed search facility; and the high expectations on free services and for free services. The author states there there is no free lunch and that the cost is recovered elsewhere. Personally, I don't find the content that well presented - the Eclipse/IBM example fails to realise the implications of Open Source and the benefits that are realised from accessing more contributors outside of IBM. It is not as simple as offering a free tool. The article has good comments, so I enter it here as food for thought so as to provoke additional consideration.

Beware of Freeconomics (February 2008) : assesses the economic model for monopolistic markets and complex transactions. The story goes that Yahoo offered a good free email, with extra storage for a fee, and that Google (with Gmail) entered with free email and loads of storage so as to disturb the market. Whilst certainly competitive, it is not necessarily monopolistic - both services are supported by advertising streams, they share some similarities in their business models, and therefore could replicate the services. There does exist the sticky issue that new entrants to the market for email now cannot compete on price alone - it is free, and one could argue that this has an impact on innovation - as sources of funding are tricky when you don't charge the users a rental fee. This is also an opportunity for more entrepreneurship - to find ways to offer a service that meets the needs a certain user groups. In the mean time I think we can expect more consolidation, whereby competitors are acquired for their complementary services and revenue streams - thus positioning for an upturn in the market and also erecting more barriers to market entry. There is an interesting impact on the free/almost-free services, often this service is offered at cost (or perhaps illegally below cost!) but that it is the additional paid services that bring the profit. A studious user might take a snack on a Ryanair flight, thus avoiding the high cost of an in-flight sandwich. The article remarks that the cost complexity is increased in such situations and raises the number of small revenue channels. Those who desire all inclusive can purchase the services of other companies, but if you are astute you can reap the advantage of the cheaper no-frills opportunities - just set your expectations at the right level before buckling your seat belt!

Free to be Commie: "Freeconomics" as Market Communism (February 2008) : the economic theory of Communism in the Freeconomics world. A good read that relates the Freeconomics perspective with the Communist Theory: free goods, public ownership, and consumption that matches needs/desires. Public ownership is not advocated, instead private enterprise distributes the services at (almost) zero cost to the consumer. The article then explains how Freeconomics circumvents the 3 problems that Sherman presented against pure communism:

1. Zero price, infinite demand, therefore lack of supply
2. Zero wages, Man is lazy, therefore lack of incentive to work
3. No rational prices, inability to plan, therefore inefficient system

1) Human psychology will lead free services to be taken for granted. Wasted services do not hurt the supplier (how many use the complete Gmail storage? how many have uploaded files into drafted emails for easy access at a later time?)
2) Creative products appear not to suffer from the indolence factor. How many bloggers are paid to create content?
3) Market corrections can occur more rapidly in the Internet World

The author then goes on to relate freeconomics with partial communism, and that the difference between the original Sherman proposal is an exchange of ratios. Partial communism offered mostly free services, whereas freeconomics expects more services to be priced by the market - and that a smaller percentage will be free. The article ends with a quoteffrom the original Communist Manifesto: "The feudal relations of property became no longer compatible with the already developed productive forces; they became so many fetters. They had to be burst asunder; they were burst asunder".
A good article, certainly worth the read; the comments less so.

LoveMarks : Future Beyong Brands

2008-04-24T12:41:00.000Z

for all those softie marketing folks out there, I bring you lovemarks.com

well, actually saatchi & saatchi bring it to you
think of it as the web2.0 for marketing, or at least an online community that cares about communication and branding

read more about it in the big book by Kevin Roberts & Co

“The Inspirational Consumer has started a revolution - and only companies that have reached Lovemark status will survive.”
- Kevin Roberts

or perhaps you need something more British? try Sir Paul Smith

Futurologist/Analyst Principles, according to Intel guys (CIA)

2008-04-22T14:57:00.002Z

• Analysts must have a “duty of curiosity,” and the analytic process must encourage and reward a deep and meaningful understanding of the phenomena under investigation;
• Analysts must be responsible for defining knowledge needs and, therefore, collection requirements; to do this effectively, they must understand
collection capabilities and be sensitive to their limitations;
• Analysts must be active participants in developing integrated strategies for collection and analysis, seeking information instead of being merely
passive recipients;
• The primary purpose of analytic effort is “sensemaking” and understanding, not producing reports; the objective of analysis is to provide information in a meaningful context, not individual factoids;
• The knowledge discovered and the expertise created when an analyst researches a problem is at least as important as “finished intelligence” products that may result;
• Learning is an activity that is valued highly by both analysts and the organization;
• Not all forecasts need be immediately “actionable;” informing decisionmakers and enhancing the quality of the decision process is a critical objective;
• Intuition and creative thinking, including positing hypotheses to be tested, are as important to analysis as evidence-based inductive approaches.

Extract from Cooper, cia.gov: Chapter Four: A Program for Transforming Analysis. "Pathways to Improved Intelligence Analysis," 2005

espresso accessibility in the home

2008-04-21T06:59:00.004Z

Practical technology finds personal favour with me.
Perhaps it was the geek in me that was curious to read about the espresso machine hack, but it was the application and implications of such modifications (mods) that grew my interest. Consider coffee addicts who suffer from Parkinson's disease, impaired dexterity or indeed vision, people with amputations or disabilities...

There are many ways homes can be made more friendly, where thoughtful design can facilitate access. Perhaps it is time for such a service to be made available for technology gadgets. There might be two channels for such a service offering, gaining knowledge (moving down the learning curve) through the early adopters - the geeks who desire additional wow and ease of use; whilst also consulting on services suited for those with impairments.

Would this be a line of activity I would pursue as a career? yes
...I have a wonderful physio to advise on the ergonomics, and a plethora of technology advocates to work on novel and inspiring projects...

Primates at Business Education : Harvard

2008-04-08T10:53:00.000Z

MBA - Mediocre But Arrogant
MBA - Master of Brainless Axioms

HBS continues to do well, but it seems they at least get their well-paid (and academically acclaimed) members together to work hard at keeping their international standing (read full article on ft.com).

In the year that sees HBS reach the centenary mark it is good that they are looking to deploy their $2.8bn endowment (£1.4bn, €1.8bn) to position themselves for more years of b-school dominance. They might find it increasingly difficult, with the top schools in USA and Europe rapidly catching up on various elements of FT ranking. It is also interesting to see how the various schools are responding to the "but how do you measure your success" - and have sought to write case-studies in true academic fashion (sadly our access is no longer valid for academic journals - a real shame).

The car analogy of a car: in their previous jobs, incoming students had concentrated on one aspect of the business – the windscreen wipers or the tyres. An MBA opens the bonnet and shows how the whole engine fits together. Yet the MBA does not teach implementation. You don’t come out as a mechanic.
Neil Courtis, INSEAD Graduate of December 2007

All this, yet companies still queue up at certain business schools to hire...
Once I get a fixed abode, I intend to subscribe the the HBS Business Review - as they at least manage to include some practical concepts for once - to keep in touch with the useful academic rigour/content/thinking

Read the second ft.com article here

too serious, need some R&R : take a venture into go-karting within SecondLife

In need of Shades?

2008-04-07T08:01:00.003Z

Recommended online source: www.opticbytel.com

The family that run this site also own many opticians throughout north-west France. Their physical stores have done well, the online presence is run by their son - Aymeric, who is a personal friend. Prices are competitive.

Whilst I have no experience in purchasing via this site, I am told that the service is rapid. My confidence is high and would welcome any feedback. No, the sunglassses are not like those pictured - the snap is used for humour alone.

don't take the stairs

2008-04-07T01:25:00.002Z

...if your name is David Belle

Parkour (aka freerunning) has been on my visor for many years, yet it has sprung up once again due to recent marketing activities (typical you might think, having just completed MBA studies!).

Toshiba advert - to with to lead requires a passion, an insatiable appetite to go into the unknown, to find new space to go beyond yourself

ubisoft included it in Assassin's Creed on Playstation

Maurice Lacroix has recently downgraded Federer, the tennis player, for their preferred ambassador Mr Belle (see ft.com article). This got me thinking about how marketing may have altered the way we perceive not only our purchases (clearly for luxury goods the air of prestige, limited availability/affordability, and excellence all comes together) but also the way we are willing to receive the marketing and the impact it can have on us as individuals and within our social groups. Aspirational are one thing, aspirational activities quite another... The uptake of parkour, an extreme sport which requires no specific tools - only an inventive mind and perhaps an urban environment -

the scene from the District B13 film can be found here
...some might prefer the Nike love advert : on youtube.com

read more about parkour on the official blog of David Belle : sportmediaconcept.com/parkour
or the Parkour TV channel
those keen to start should join the foucan forum (who can? you can?)
statistics are sparse, but here are some stats for parkour uptake in the USA

The best part of falling is getting straight back up again
David Belle, 2006

May Be in London

2008-03-30T17:31:00.008Z

Monsieur Steven Vandamme, this one is for you too:

Travel

Steven : Eurostar?
- Nectar points for Eurostar
- IBM Employee Rewards (UK) rewardgateway.co.uk
- saynoto0870.co.uk - to get international number, instead of special rate number
Alexis : Ryanair on 13 May into Stansted (from Pau) arriving 10.30
Easybus to Baker St for roughly 12.30

Accommodation

Holiday Inn Regent's Park
Carburton St, London W1 W5EE

Eating Ideas

Lunch @ Belgo Restaurant (the one next to Covent Garden)

What's On

Graduation, Royal Albert Hall : Wednesday 11am onwards
London Design Museum - because it is simply far too interesting
This is what will be on over the summer (Richard Rogers). He was involved in the Pompidou Centre (see image)
Take a look at this online expo
(Tate Modern too, and a walk along the South Bank of the Thames)
Thames Ferry-link to docklands?
Thursday evening : Southall for clothes : Sari : Marilyne with Nimisha (for wedding in Kenya)

Venture Capital & Wine

2008-03-26T13:21:00.000Z

As budding entrepreneurs you are not doubt feeling dumbstruck by the exit of 3i from the early investment market!

The recent report by Lord Sainsbury, Race to the Top (pdf), refers to the need to make UK companies the best in the world, but many will now find it hard to get out of the starting blocks.

Fear not, public-money should be used instead (ft.com)! (edit: there is a new ft.com article on the topic that links with Nesta) no doubt Tanaka will come to the rescue too, although not necessarily through Design London (google-search "Nick Leon" if you don't know the story yet), but rather the Rajiv Ghandhi Centre - this centre seeks to help Indian companies step up to the plate (and may finally bridge the gap that spans across Imperial College departments). Unlocking the thought-process to take an fledgling idea from concept to market leadership is surely what this story is all about!

...just leaves me to ponder, would any of the folks at Tanaka Entrepreneurship have had the courage to support the novel wine-making developments in India? (read about it on ft.com) I would think that this story would make an excellent case for Marketing, Strategy (even Breakout Strategy!), Public Policy - and Entrepreneurship! (which course have I left out?) ;o)

Indians drink about 10ml of wine per capita each year
compared with 400ml in China and 50 litres in France

coffee art

2008-03-26T10:29:00.001Z

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/88475/coffee_art/ - just needs to be saved for future reference!

delayed voice of the short-haul passenger

2008-03-10T20:17:00.004Z

Following over 2 hour delay with Ryanair it might be useful to register a complaint. Then again, it might not... it might simply be a waste of time.

The delay was in part due to weather conditions (heavy winds), complimented by the need to replace a navigation device that had failed.

The process described online is as follows:

Send snail-mail to specified address
Include booking reference, flight details (date/route) and passenger names

For EU Cancellation and Delay Complaints
EU Passenger Compensation Dept
Ryanair Head Office
Dublin Airport
Co Dublin – Fax +353 1 8121230

I see that the low-fare airlines have ganged together to create an association... (elfaa.com) - although something tells me that I could get a lot more handy information from a consumer support organisation, or indeed from the Air Transport Portal of the European Commission

kwari : cash 'n shoot-em

2008-03-07T16:51:00.000Z

So you think money cannot be made in the virtual worlds? some people are proving this view quite wrong, with first SecondLife millionaires... and now there is the first-person shooter game kwari.

Gives a new meaning to:

"You're Fired" - Alan Sugar

something related, yet different - to get in touch with your feminine side Mr Norgate : TeamEstrogen.com

something un-related : one with special mention for those who undertook the Tesco IMP project... you can now get a laptop encased in bamboo - perhaps suitable for you, Matt?

tech corner : ruby on eclipse

2008-03-07T11:29:00.002Z

ibm-dev-works : ruby on eclipse

something different : ft.com subs

More or Less interesting numbers

2008-02-28T12:04:00.000Z

Some intriguing reading from Time Harford of the FinancialTime, he has his Economist Undercover blog and a complimentary podcast "More or Less" on BBC Radio4

Even Tanaka gets a mention, with old Bill Perraudin getting in on the quants story... Shame I didn't read/listen to this before we got our guest lecture at the start of our MBA year... it might have provoked even more interesting Q&A

sex sells - here are the economists comments regarding the rise of oral sex

something a little different: financial management meets strategic investment decisions

and very different, Goodwood & The Experience of Business?

More or Less interesting numbers

2008-02-28T12:01:00.000Z

Google : myLocation (beta)

2008-02-28T08:08:00.000Z

Now the irony is that back in the period 2000-2001, I proposed such an idea to Imperial College Entrepreneurship Challenge... We were cut down because the judges did not believe in our numbers - namely that SMS use would increase significantly on mobile phones. Uses include finding local amenities, tracking your kids, tourist resources, or simply vicinity info to help your chance meetings with friends whilst out-and-about in town!

The funny thing is that I got to remind one of the judges about this when we started our MBA. It briefly took the smug look off his face when I told him how much money had been invested in this technology. My lesson was to run the distance with the ideas I believe in.

something very different: do you chumby?

on the geek topic, news from Japan just in

IBM releases game to teach math, science & ecology?

2008-02-26T15:15:00.000Z

A new multiplayer video game from IBM Corp. encourages teenagers to save the planet by playing a video game - and learn science at the same time. The online game, called PowerUp, is part of IBM's TryScience initiative. It will be rolled out at high schools around the USA as part of National Engineer's Week 2008 [this week].

It is all about boosting recruitment. The aim is to enhance the interest among teens in pursuing maths and science careers...
Additionally, it helps keep the story moving around 3D Internet - where many people know of SecondLife (but there are others). I had my first interview in SecondLife last week - quite a strange experience... anyway some links for you:

Download it from the PowerUp Website: powerupthegame.org
Watch it on YouTube

Beware of the Force : The Tool of Satan

2008-02-26T11:11:00.001Z

If you believe in the Force, you will go to Hell.

God help all those British citizens who claimed to be members of the Jedi religious community in the last national censor...

to save your souls, use the finger-force to walk on over to ToolOfSatan.org

disclaimer: members of this forum are free to hold their own beliefs
but they can still have the mickey taken out of them for it...

Tool to Evaluate your Fruit

2008-02-26T09:26:00.000Z

open the kimono (v. phr.) to reveal something new and bold, usually to a client

some more serious comment regarding "outside the box thinking"

MBA Lounge Hogs

2008-02-22T07:28:00.001Z

Some tools for your travels

For those of you who find yourselves on the move far too often....
tripit.com - for managing your WW itineraries

...and for those not travelling business class
kayak.com - for finding cost efficient travel options (plus hotels if you desire)

- - - -

and if you need something to read whilst waiting in the airport lounge:
Purple Cow : Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable (Paperback)

and another flight finding service : farecompare.com

Falling in love with a business

2008-02-14T00:01:00.002Z

In regards to new business startups, according to business consultant Marguerite Moore Callaway, from her 2006 book The Energetics of Business, for example:

"in business, as with any intimate relationship that is genuinely satisfying, great chemistry is vital. To have an affinity for an idea, a strong match must exist between a business owner's built-in aptitude, personality, learned skills and the underlying business purpose."

To succeed in business, according to Callaway, one must fall in love with its potential. I don't recall us receiving any lectures on 'falling in love' during our MBA ...

unrelated link: something different for those who care about time

The Return of the Apprenticeship

2008-02-12T16:58:00.001Z

It gives me pleasure to read that UK Plc is again returning to the positive view regarding industrial placement schemes. As a participant in the Year in Industry Scheme (Royal Academy of Engineering) I continue to voice my support for such interactions with young people...

It is also a super way for the students to seek financial sponsorship during their studies. This is something seen far more often in other Continental European countries, whereby a degree is undertaken that is inter-woven with real work. Yes, it takes longer, but the reward is skilled workforce that is applying the education in a constant learning cycle, a rapid loop that should benefit both the education curriculum and the industrial sector. Note that care needs to be taken that this doesn't become a replacement for job-specific training - this might also reduce the university degree to only offer skills that address the current role requirements, and not those for the near future...

Read the article on Ft.com

Tech Update

2008-02-03T16:34:00.001Z

Things sometimes evolve. After a cute walk along the waterfront in Bordeaux (Hangars 18 to 14) we popped into see the Tourism Expo. On the tram we had been completing the 50% discount form when a fellow passenger offered us tickets for free entry... Thank you Mr Sitting-Opposite-Us-On-Tram (his wife had a stand at the show, hence free tickets).
We passed on our second free ticket to some friends... so these little acts can continue their cycle.

Anyway, nice walk around show followed by a little exercise on the climbing rock that the mountain rescue police had erected just outside. They seemed to be fiddling their thumbs, so I asked to go up - and this seemed to set the necessary precedence for others to follow - there was a queue when I completed my second level climb! We purchased two items from the SEB factory-outlet, that was located almost next door (and which we stumbled upon by chance as we took the tram 1 stop too far earlier in the day) - so took home an electric grill (that my dear lady took a HUGE fancy too at first sight) and an electric hair-cutter - which got first use that evening! I think I got away with a reasonable first attempt with both the new gadget + first hairdresser experience (and no, she is not standing over me watching what I am typing). ;o)

Now for the technology. I mentioned that the opening times of the local cable-telephone shop was now until 7pm, which had result of us jumping into the car with our old cable modem and shifting gear to get there in good time. As chance would have it they were showing Liverpool vs Sunderland on Canal+, so I really didn't mind waiting (the score when we left was 0-0, the game ended 3-0 to Liverpool). We wanted to know if we could have the telephone number associated with our cable set-up, so that we could receive call. Answer = no. We would have to pay 10 euro extra each month for phone to be added, and this would also renew contract for 1 year. Also asked if we could have wireless modem. This was not just to have wireless, but rather to have router capable of sharing the internet connection with several devices (we currently have 1xpc, 1xlaptop - and desire adding more). Were told that there is fixed extra costs of 40 euro for the wireless, which we were not expecting. Given that the unit is on loan against a deposit, this did not seem attractive. However, when I quized my network setup the sales rep (a nice chap we had seen on previous visit) chatted with the other 2 chaps - as he didn't think my setup was feasible (cable modem, single ethernet - attached to basic switch that then shared internet access with other devices, but curiously didn't allow local devices to interact)... and the end of which his boss authorised us to have wireless for only 15 euros. This was more acceptable - even if "free" would have been better. We accepted.

Gadget : NetGear Wireless Cable Voice Gateway CVG834G

So the Tech Update is only to say that now we have encrypted wireless in the small flat. Honestly, we didn't need wireless - I have a long enough ethernet cable to do me. The local network though was more annoying, any time we had a problem it required a reboot of the cable modem - and a prayer. I am much happier with this technology deployment - as it allows me to play

With the new modem setup, thought I might test the Internet speed we are observing:

With the IT complexity reduced, seemingly in conformity with the CIO strategy article, I am set to respond with greater agility to my IT growth...

What next? well I just learned about Dvorak keyboard - thanks to an ubuntu blogger : ubuntu-tutorials.com/dvorak, dvzine.org, The story of the Curse of Qwerty

Blogging elsewhere...time to stop

2008-01-31T13:13:00.001Z

For those with access, you can see my contributions on this restricted blog : imperialftmba2006-7 @blogspot
(access for MBA class only)

But, there are personal tasks that I have set aside for far too long now - so time to get on and complete them!

VirtualBox on Win XP, guest Ubuntu
- handy forums : forums.virtualbox.org, ubuntu-tutorials.com, help.ubuntu.com (VBox)

...and from here the unbit resources for various web domains to create

Mind maps - taken a step beyond

2008-01-30T09:09:00.002Z

During our MBA year some of us might have spotted a young doctor amongst us taking his first steps into mindmapping...
note: a free version is available on sourceforge.net

Now, take a peak at this 3d mind mapping tool for use in virtual words (e.g. SecondLife) : spatialmap.org

for more whacky virtual-world thinking, take a peak here

Disruptive Innovation : zipping nano

2008-01-21T18:18:00.000Z

No, nothing to do with software nor Apple iPod Nano...

“Gandhian engineering” combining irreverence for conventional ways of thinking with a frugality born of scarcity.
Or, as Indian auto executive Ashok K. Taneja describes the philosophy, “When I need silver, why am I investing in gold?”

check it out, it will be on the syllabus shortly :
Tata Motor unveils 1 lakh vehicle read about it here (innosight.com)

for matters closer to home, Streetcar and Zipcar seems to have flying under the visor of the incumbent rental car firms - that said EasyCarRentals did a u-turn with their A-class Mercs in cities, and then partnered with a larger car rental firm... (innosight article/posting)

anyone keen to sign up to streetcar? get a special discount by mentioning my name and "Blue Car" in your sign-up, simple
(I believe you get weekend drive, and I get a few hours for free)

Gaming technology helps Medicine

2008-01-18T14:14:00.000Z

3d Medical imaging has leaped forward in recent years... now take a look at some of the recent news where a new computer processor, designed for the computing industry, has shown x100 performance increase on CT scan images (looking at changes between 3d images).

Report on Mayo Clinic & IBM collaboration here ... and an IBM press release here.

But I guess you prefer to see your news...

although for a little more fun - take a look at the blu-ray / HD video:

- - - -

something different : Deadly Cute : worth1000 Photoshop Contest

HBR Video - Transforming Giants with Prof Rosabeth Moss Kanter

2008-01-14T00:03:00.001Z

The video might appear rather formal, perhaps this is an indicator of the presentation style at HBS - not like Tanaka...

Summary:
Changing internal processes based on corporate social responsibility - and making money as they do it... and getting the marketing points as they do it.
Values-driven approach, with defined processes, that instil innovation on behalf of communities, acting to generate new products that are sold for profit.

Business values that trigger innovation achieved through:

common purpose
flexible HR teams
motivating individuals across extended groups and lifetime of employee

>video link

Lordy Connections

2008-01-07T02:03:00.001Z

Using the New Year as a signal to re-establish contacts and my own presence in the minds of those I know (and those I don't via online resources), I took it upon myself to have a look for new connections... a look for St John Ambulance on Spock produced a startling family link : a lady (Moyra Brown) I chatted with when undertaking volunteer work at the London District HQ of SJA is no other than the sister of Eric Bessborough, a friend of my father - and with whom my parents made a business excursion to China some 30 years ago! Moyra came over as a delightful individual, with whom one could chat endlessly... and someone who cared about the mission and members of the organisation.

If only I had realised this when I shared her office (I spent somewhere near 100 hours undertaking administrative tasks for Links, the student wing of SJA)... it would have been delightful to complete the circle of friends, and recount stories of exploring their stupendous family home (perhaps the first to have an automated lift). Time to re-establish this missing link!

related link : Alexis on Spock

Finding things on-line...

2008-01-04T08:08:00.001Z

Recent tech news reports that Yahoo have greatly enhanced their web-search tool. This may have something to do with their collaboration with a large tech consulting firm like IBM...

That said, Google continues to offer handy resources... gmail, blogger, maps, i-google that help keep users returning to Google search. This is clever business strategy, creating free tools for their users - and always gathering personal data.

Did you know that Google now offers a blog search tool? blogsearch.google.co.uk
with option to search for pages updated within a certain time-frame. Neat idea...

advanced awareness of upcoming search tech, just maybe - track: cuill

- - -
for those keen on productivity tools here is a quick list of handy links for free resources (for personal use):

Virtual Windows (open source)

GIMP for Windows (open source) - for those who cannot afford PaintShop or PhotoShop, and wish for a legal option

7-zip for unzipping - another free option that is well built

Need for speed? take a look at the free primer for speed-reading

Building on a innovative platform technology

2008-01-01T12:30:00.000Z

Smart design can make a real difference (businessweek.com).
Those who liked Annabelle's platform technology strategy might see that one way Apple has enhanced its profit is through the accessory market for the Apple products, for iPods there exists a plethora of add-ons. Yes, it sells music through iTunes - but it is the sale of the units and the accessories which I believe will really help enhance the annual figures for Apple...

For a little humour, what would have happened if Microsoft designed the Ipod?

The Art & Savagery of Nature

2007-12-25T22:16:00.001Z

I often thought it would have been useful to own a Praying Mantis, to rid my bedroom of mozzies - but I would never have realised this small insect could challenge a bird : Mantis vs Hummingbird
(birdwatchersdigest.com) - no I am not a member

Our family doctor wouldn't say that, would he?

2007-12-24T03:12:00.000Z

Doctor slang is a dying art
(bbc.co.uk)

although something tells me that my good Radiologist friend may actually be able to assist with this list, or indeed write a book on the topic!

no doubt there are new terms coming online with medical procedures done remotely or virtually (that sounds like NHS gimmick - you will be virtually better...)

Connectivity : Positive Blues

2007-12-10T16:38:00.001Z

Blue 1 : I am now a registered Voice Suite user!

This means that I can make calls from my laptop to colleagues in the UK, across the globe... and even local calls in whatever country I find myself. Excellent.
This makes up for loss of Siemens Hicom telephony option, and allows me to remotely operate - taking my office with me with my laptop and internet connection.

The lack of Siemens Hicom from IBM Bordeaux was poor. The phones are there, but without being able to login I couldn't join some conference calls. I ended up using my personal mobile to receive business calls. Thankfully I am online always online, and so people didn't notice that I was not at the end of a telephone - they would contact me by instant messaging (Sametime) instead.

Blue 2 : I cannot request a headset until 2008, due to end of year financial restraints. This did not stop me investigating how to setup my personal bluetooth headset! This did not work with the latest Lenovo-supplied drivers, as Windows XP did not fancy using my Plantronics M2500 headset as a supported headset/gateway. After hunting around I found different drivers, which appear to work for this function - and for connecting to my Nokia (6310i). This is exactly what I desire, even if the Bluetooth drivers do seem to fall-over during certain configuration steps...

The Plantronics Bluetooth headset has two faults. It is not fantastically comfortable, nor does it offer crisp sound quality. Both of these would make long conference calls rather more demanding on the body&mind. It is also important to realise that when receiving a call, you already need to have headset and laptop settings configured as needed - you cannot then decide to switch it on and turn the microphone and audio listening to Bluetooth. Thus charging the unit becomes important (daily) task, together with the alteration to the tool settings to switch between default and Bluetooth device options. Naturally, the headset has its place - the car or walk-about use connected to the Nokia is a good example... but I don't see myself using this as my ideal partner for my VOIP business calls. I may therefore yet take a look at the options for a USB headset.

Recognising a mighty person : Randy Pausch

2007-12-04T23:06:00.001Z

If I could even be just part of the man that is Randy Pausch

Last Lecture, Carnegie-Mellon : September 2007

a lasting recollection of his contribution to inspiring young people in the Sciences shall be the Alice Project - the computer game that seeks to introduce children to computer programming through storytelling - what a wonderful "head fake" (as Randy would say)

just one of those wonder stories

2007-12-03T00:07:00.000Z

a boy with echo-location : link

Cable internet speed-up

2007-10-25T08:46:00.001Z

Before

After

perhaps I should change back and see if there is an improvement?
then again, this makes use of a shared resource : the fibre-optic cable that heads out of the building... perhaps someone started a HUGE download between my tests? it is also the case that in the second test I have a secure connection to work going on - which will also reduce the observed efficiency of internet test results

Next day (bright and early, no VPN)

Better, but still not quite what I was expecting. I was wishing to see something closer to 20M than bordering on 10M. We are supposed to be on 30M, with fibre-optic upgrade due later this year...

Our family connection in Belgium (ADSL max. 6144/640 but locally only 3Mb download available) registers following speed:

Following the right path : follow the passion

2007-10-25T08:08:00.003Z

My goals have been redefined in recent months. Or rather, the expression of my goals has been redefined. And this is done in 'opposition' to the pathways that many cohort members, and close friends and family have followed...

I have stated that I wish to bring my private life to the front of the queue, and to meld my professional life around this.

Symbolic reference to stones, pebbles and sand in a glass container (do a google search) would probably get the point across quite well. However I have opted for a quote from The Great Booch on career advice :

I've mentored six people in IBM, so I do this a lot. What I say is follow your passion, because if you don't you won't have any fun and if you're not having fun you should be doing something else.

JMS specific

2007-10-24T13:08:00.001Z

As I am renewing my acquaintances with JMS in MQ I thought I should keep track of where I have been on the 'net... to leave behind some breadcrumbs for when I get lost - again

Starting from scratch requires a simple JMS-WAS application and other articles by Saket

real starting points might be to read the JMS specification, but a brief idea can be gathered from wikipedia.org
wikipedia also describes a specific implementation here, which is handy for detailing the difference queue manager bindings and client connections (bindings connection is via direct software communication, whereas client connections use network). As always there is a pay-off to be had between speed and flexibility.

Handy links on developerWorks offered at foot of this XMS guide
When things go pear-shaped, then a WAS trace guide might be handy

More things specifically French

2007-10-24T13:04:00.001Z

There exists a youth organisation for providing young people with business experience. This is one that has escaped my attention even though it is close to my heart. So the following links relate to Junior Entreprise

I shall seek to establish links within the local area of France to see what help I can offer...

If you get a chance - go see this

2007-10-24T10:13:00.001Z

Walking the Digital Dog - by Roo Reynolds

Roo is a great speaker, and serially enthusiastic about metaverse technology
I wish I could attend...

Jobs & Comments

2007-10-23T17:50:00.001Z

Ubuntu : I adore you

and even more after seeing your mild humour that springs out from your employment pages. In a recent job posting asking for certain language skills, with preference for French and Spanish to Klingon and Esperanto. Although honestly, your business activity and methodology of operation is appealing.

As for Sophia-Antipolis, or rather the recruiters seeking to coerce a contract in the region... you are a little early! Yes, I would love to work in the area - it has magical reviving natural light, it offers sun, sea - and more importantly for me... mountains! the culture is great - and I would even accommodate the annoying tourists (and some locals) who execute stupendous parking manoeuvres up to a few km from the beach. To be honest, I would prefer to live slightly retreated from the sea, ideally on the hill-side that offers a superb view out over both countryside and water. The timing for this might be 2-3 years, to allow for some local acclimatisation (Bordeaux, France) and to permit my lady to undertake her first footsteps into her professional life ~ holding a job offer at a prestigious institution. And this thought-process is not influenced by the particular institution being located in the vicinity of a highly prestigious wine-making region of France!

For now, my desire is to find a role that offers me the opportunity to display my skill range - perhaps taking on a little more risk for the reward of greater experience. My current status permits me to look outside of my employer, although I am also very much investigating what is feasible internally too. A rapidly growing new business opportunity, a fledgling organisation, a new venture - these may well seek a variety of skills that will need to expand (and retract) with the evolution of the group. A monolithic arena may be appropriate if the mandate permits change management at a deep level --- in the style of the Italian card game Machiavelli - well at least the way I play it!

LOIC Syndrome Diagnosis,{aka PMS : Post MBA Syndrome}

2007-10-23T07:37:00.000Z

LOIC = Lack of Imperial College Syndrome, has the following symptoms:

Constantly need to login to see your Imperial email
You open your sleepy eyes in a dim room and you think you are back in the lecture theatre studying accounting...
Physically going through the motion of swiping your card next to a door as if gaining access to TBS next to the ground-floor lecture theatre

sign-up for the TBS Alumni card - and it will let you in (but foolishly not into floor 1 to see careers; but at least you can go to the coffee bar and steal paper from the print room - great)

Missing library resources such as RefWorks - for citations, or EBSCO - for analyst reports...

don't worry, you can still log-in to these for now
check out this other citation tool (it's free)

Feel a need for more learning...

online courses available here and here

Task list

2007-10-19T13:03:00.001Z

external

View presentations on BCS SIG Consultancy
and a method to track the Joint Consultants Forum
3d internet pranabsharma.com and rooreynolds.com

Concept Healthcare Island of the Future
check which extreme blue project was of personal interest

another

internal

Drool over (and learn from) Enterprise Architecture in 3d internet

Agora on webahead
orientation event
Florence Tressols - La Gaude
Rick Reesen - Montpellier

Promotion case guide and examples
Connect with

Lisa Innovative Technologies Offering Development Lead - Global Innovation Community

another

All things Digital

2007-10-17T07:57:00.002Z

Tasked to evaluate the options for Internet for flat in France.
Currently using cable service provider, with the following vital statistics:

Note: this was via VPN connection to work, and running a number of applications - so does not represent maximum rate for either upload nor download.

Must admit, the ADSL dependency on a telephone line does make the cable option seem more attractive - from a financial perspective. Being slightly tech-driven this is not the only issue at stake; a chat with a sales person from Numericable informed me that we should be getting an upgrade to fibre-optic shortly, and that from late November there is a new modem on offer (with deposit) that will solve our WiFi needs too.

The Cable option costs less, offers greater speed, and potentially will grant us wireless facility. It is not rocket science... but poor customer service - the charged an extra month when service was not available, have previously lied about contract details (3 month offer reduced price package, with option to change down to cheaper tariff at end of 3 months), costly customer service who speak with North African accent... etc - now less clear

related link: numericable.fr

And for those people in Belgium, take a look at the telecom comparison site of speed.be. With offers for reductions for subscribers.

In who do we trust? UK government IT projects don't have a particularly healthy track record, so it will be of great interest to follow the Stork Project, a proposal to validate the compatibility of different EU ID papers.

Odd-ball link: A website that serves to publicise new web-site launches. launchfeed.com. Certainly offers mild entertainment to see what people are creating...

GSM/Mobiles in France

2007-10-16T09:27:00.001Z

Conclusion of personal market analysis:
Auchan "A-Mobile : Hyperlibre"

Why? simplicity of costs, including reduced international SMS charges.
How? Initially through online listing of options prepaidgsm.net, then individual costing verification based on intended usage.

Now to explore the 9 ADSL options...

Handy links:
Tech Shops : Planète Saturn, www.RueDuCommerce.fr

Sadly, from the experience of family and friends, it would seem that PhoneHouse.fr is not up to scratch in comparison to TheCarPhoneWarehouse.co.uk that I know from my years in UK. The customer service is shoddy.

Lessons and investigations...

2007-10-15T09:43:00.002Z

Lesson 1 : do not hoover your laptop with the domestic vacuum cleaner.
Why? because it will suck up one or more keyboard buttons leading you to open up the bag and search for the missing pieces.
Oops - learnt from experience. At least I have a slightly cleaner laptop now...

End of lessons. Although today I also learnt something else - what could be seen as a .Net variant of the EU Provenance Project : networkedplanet.com. An ex-colleague has gone out to create their own company, with this as their core product offering. This appears to present a more database schema view of the data - rather than tracing the origins of the data, and what actions have been taken on the data itself.

Investigations include Project Zero (www.projectzero.org), to renew my professional and personal attachment to Eclipse activities... together with exploration of the ongoing development of IBM WebSphere products. That reminds me: JMS on WMQ, must search brain for existing knowledge... and perhaps give pointers to others

Job Applications. Seeking to work in Europe? then why not take a look at the Europass CV templates?

side-note: lemonade.com reminds me of quest from Hardip for self-sufficient business model...

Would have made for a great MBA project on novel technology...

2007-10-09T12:03:00.001Z

Solar's Day in the Sun (businessweek.com)

(and there I was thinking it was something to do with The Sun newspaper...)

For those curious to know more about the technology, check out www.ausra.com.

First taste of France: booking train tickets

2007-09-23T17:35:00.001Z

OK, it is not fair - this I can admit, but it is not good when you try to book train tickets and the error message at the last stage is not helpful!

The SNCF website appears to suffer from a bug. Selecting to receive tickets to a foreign country is not recognised by the system - so once you have found the ticket (which no doubt goes up in price as you struggle to book a ticket) and you proceed to check-out... sadly at the end you are told you have selected a delivery address outside of France, so must start again. Tried Firefox, IE - even registered for a SNCF web-user profile - but all to no avail. Sadly there is only a premium rate number to call, which is quite poor really.

Thankfully I was able to locate a ticket using the English site for RailEurope - so paid in GBP with £5,- charge for recorded postage of tickets. Will look forward to "next day delivery" on Monday or Tuesday.

Future Task: to evaluate the use of the Carte Escapade for 25-40% off journeys over 200km from SNCF

So my journey continues...

Handy Links:
Money exchange saving ideas : Fool.com Travel Money and Fool.com Discussion board posting

Time for a new era

2007-09-06T20:10:00.001Z

My time at Imperial College is coming to an end.

The return for MBA studies has been highly beneficial, it has sparked new avenues of activity that I had not considered fully before - taking me to new lands, and into new passions

...I suspect this might not be the last time I see the sun set behind the Queen's Tower - although I do hope this is the last time I have to write a @$*^% thesis!

Thesis related tasks

2007-08-14T17:23:00.002Z

Make a survey : surveymonkey.com
For statistics on education in higher education hesa.ac.uk
BCS Developing the Future (snippets of tech talent) bcs.org link
Article on FT.com is MBA curriculum correct?
Ft.com Business School - put house in order
MBA Gym mbagym.com
European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) wikipedia.org, efmd.org
AACSB wikipedia.org and aacsb.edu
Assessment of AACSB from mba-courses.com
US view on EU MBA mba-courses.com
FT rankings ft.com
The business school in a busy world article link
RAE assessment rae.ac.uk

Creating the Entrepreneurial University: The Case of MIT abstract link
Babson entrepreneurship babson.edu link
Capability definition debate link to paper
Government goals and entrepreneurship education – an investigation at a Grande Ecole in France link to paper
European Academy of Business in Society eabis.org Governance
Strategy as Practice community link
Strategic Planning wikipedia.org
Strategy definition tutor2u.net what-is
GMAC gmac.com
GMAT mba.com
IESE Leadership GURU on iese.edu
IESE Faculty learning on iese.edu

Quote
Charles Handy - organisation culture (first definition using Greek Gods) link
Cervante's Don Quixote, "Ladran, luego Cabalgamos" - "The dogs bark because we are advancing..." Even more appropriate when the dogs in question are toothless. from: comment on ft.com

Extra

MBA Sports: MBAT Games

Second Life / 3D Internet / Projects - to learn from...

2007-08-14T17:22:00.002Z

External
- Law at Harvard blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone
- Jazz jazz.net
- Project Zero projectzero.org/wiki

Internal
- Virtual Universe Community : wiki pages
- V team offerings: Getting Started, SL Sampler, Primer, Active Worlds, First Build Help

Personal Interest - tracking TODO

2007-08-14T17:21:00.001Z

Building a performant computer, thanks to thefreegeek

Ft.com offers a take on volatility and risk analysis
Leadership development from mindtools.com
RAEng education sponsorship... (a little late now for sponsorship)

Efficiency measurements using isixsigma.com/library for 6Sigma & TRIZ

(internal company link) ExtremeBlue - previous projects, and curious (non-working) provenance link

David Seah thoughts on resource planning and task planning

Blog Visitors... mapped

2007-07-09T01:00:00.000Z

will find a home for this... one day

visitor map tool from gvisit.com

St Paul, frolicking with Federico

2007-05-19T21:51:00.000Z

awaiting interview for University Challenge...

After the quiz (40 questions with 5 seconds to answer each) we opted for a walk along the Thames... over the Millenium Bridge, and up St Paul !
watch out for the guy behind you with red eyes!

dizzy heights...

long way down...

oh, shortly after the next image was taken we were scolded for taking a picture by the 'don't take photos' sign! oops!

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

on the way up we met Lauren, she was the 'naughty' one who took the photo of us standing in-front of the 'don't take a photo' sign!

enjoy the views... (of London!)

you might be working here from this Fall/Autumn

what goes up... must come down...

probably the most attractive Pret in London

choices, join this church... or the Scientologists?

let's think about this over a jar or two...

the wrong decision could be costly...

a pretty way to end a Friday night

Ultimate thesis procrastination...

2007-03-07T11:00:00.000Z

Challenge yourself to online lemmings!

MBA abridged

2007-02-27T11:00:00.000Z

Since starting full time studies in September 2006, things have moved on through the core courses and into specialisation electives! but there are a few items to share from this period...

There have been many a late night working on syndicate group activities (see early morning picture of Royal Albert Memorial, taken when walking across Hyde Park after working on Marketing presentation with Andreas - it was early enough that the park had re-opened for a new day...)

The first term was filled by core course topics. I could bore you with some description, but it is water under bridge now - perhaps my coursework and exam marks will offer suitable indication of how I view each course. ;o)

Sadly none of my photos remain from period as at this time some computer demons decided to play with my laptop hard-disk - which became "a little unavailable" (ok, to be honest - I formatted the first 7Mb of the boot partition in error - oops). A rebuild later and we are back up and running...

It might be fun to share some images and videos from exam study... watch this space

MBA Christmas Dinner was funny event...

ok, so I arrived a touch late - sorry Matt!

For some reason Matt & Co thought that Miss N was with me... (the reality was that I had been helping some ladies a little earlier and hence was running a little late, but Miss N was elsewhere)

picture on right was taken as I ran from bottom of Regents Street to Covent Garden, as the bus had decided to stop moving forward! I arrived a touch after the starters had been served...

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year...