A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER: Is Electronic Consolidation Anti-Entrepreneurial?

Is Electronic Consolidation Anti-Entrepreneurial?

by Adam J. Kovitz

As an unabashed Science Fiction fan, several or my favorite authors/creators come to mind:  Isaac Asimov (the Robot Novels and the Foundation Series), Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek)  and Russ Manning (the creator of the old Magnus:  Robot Fighter comic book series).  A common thread between these and other sci-fi visionaries' views of the future is mankind's dependence (and ofttimes, over-dependence) upon technology and the various "comedies" that ensue.  One of the most popular is when a futuristic technical marvel goes awry or fails all together while the human population, which has grown either too soft or too ignorant over the years has to figure out how to survive.

This scenario is played over time and time again in various books, TV shows, video games and movies and (if done well enough) can spark one's own imagination - with one major limitation...


...that of the entrepreneur, and perhaps business, in general.


For example, in the world of Star Trek, there is a somewhat utopian world in which the characters live - money doesn't exist - it's an outdated concept and humans,  along with other sentient species of the universe have grown beyond the need for such things.  Power, homes, food and jobs seem to be aplenty in the future, provided that humankind has evolved to that point.


But what if technological development continues to expand exponentially faster than human beings evolve...what then?


This brings me to a recent article I read in CNNMoney.com:  The end of credit cards is coming, in which it is inferred that our own smart devices are becoming our wallets and that we will (in the near future) be able to pay for almost anything by "bumping" our mobile internet devices against each other.


I remember a simpler time when a mobile phone was simply that...a phone.  It was a marvel of technology that allowed us to be connected to one another no matter where we traveled...


...as long as we had enough "bars", that is.


As mobile phones evolved, so did the consolidation of functions:  texting, photos, music, movies, internet, games, apps, bill payment...and now wallets.


Aside from the consumer "convenience" of the many consolidated features of a smart device, who is really benefiting?  Is this consolidation of technology creating jobs or eliminating them?


Is it just me or does it seem like the only jobs being created are for the mobile service companies (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.), technology powerhouses that control the application platforms and chips used in the devices (Microsoft, Intel, etc.), the major internet/media corporations (Google, Time Warner, Comcast, eBay, Amazon, etc.), the major banks still left (JP Morgan/Chase, RBSC, Bank of America, etc.) and ultimately the energy companies that they all rely upon?  This is great for those who like working for large corporations - I know many people personally, who don't see this as a problem.


But what about the serial entrepreneur? Where are the opportunities for the small and medium enterprises?  How do they benefit from this?


I think of the small to mid-size businesses that are currently suffering or have suffered in this new economy and wonder if all innovation is to be gobbled up and assimilated by these mega-corporations, who will have nowhere to go but to merge with one another. 

Perhaps, then, those of us who have our own ideas how business should be conducted will stop and look at what consolidation is really doing to us.


For me, I certainly don't want to be the fuddy-duddy, "stick in the mud"-type curmudgeon that is opposed to technological advance, but I take pride in the fact that my own wallet has real money in it - whether the power is on or off.  It's made of leather, fashioned, no doubt by an entrepreneurial enterprise, some of which even make wallets out of nicer materials (provided by other smaller companies) and might even add an artistic touch to the design.  Sure...the wallet itself can be stolen from me, along with the cash and the many plastic cards that reside in it, but so can a smart phone.  And, best of all...the opening, accessing and closing of my wallet doesn't add minutes to my call plan, justify an additional internet charge or incur a fee of any kind!


Perhaps a little self-reliance is the key to ensuring human evolution while also slowing down the technical revolution.  Perhaps it's what made the "American Dream" of the 20th Century possible.  Perhaps its our salvation.


Now if you'll excuse me, I have a new killer app to install on my iPhone.


Moving on...please note that the editorial and production staff at TNNWC will be taking their fifth week of the month off next week and will return with brand new issues of The National Networker Weekly Newsletter and The BLUE TUESDAY Report on Monday, February 7th and Tuesday, February 8th, respectively.


February, 2011 is our birthday month and we will be celebrating six years of The National Networker Weekly Newsletter with a new Pavilion and a new writer or two.  Stay tuned, and enjoy the rest of your January.

All my best,

Adam

www.TNNWC.com
http://adamjkovitz.blogspot.com

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A NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER: Is Electronic Consolidation Anti-Entrepreneurial?

NET-TECH REPORT: Technology Tutorial - Introduction to Bluetooth Technology

The Net-Tech Report with Chris Kauza

We focus a lot on networking with other people, the technology you can use to reach larger numbers of interested people, and the power that can bring in growing your business. But did you ever wonder just “how” all of that networking technology works and connects you? Well, if you have an iPod, a wireless headset for your phone, or run applications that are “aware” of other nearby applications that they can talk to, you are probably using something that is “Bluetooth enabled”.

You might have heard the word “Bluetooth” thrown around a lot over the last few years, and if you think it has something to do with dental hygiene – think again!

Bluetooth is a wireless networking protocol that was designed to allow low bandwidth wireless connections to become easy to use so even those who are unfamiliar with wireless can use them. Version 1.1 of Bluetooth describes a low power, short range wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to send data at rates up to 720 kilobits a second.

The specification for Bluetooth provides for different classes of radio that allow transmission ranges of up to 100 meters by boosting the radio power. The technology of Bluetooth isn't limited to line of sight transmission since it uses directional waves that are capable of transmitting through walls, cars, buildings and other obstructions.

Bluetooth is an industry standard communication of wireless, meaning that it enables the connection of different devices such as cell phones, computers, digital cameras, and other types of electronic devices. The specification of Bluetooth defines a radio system and a 'stack" of protocol layers and profiles. The highest layer is the application layer, while the lowest layer is the radio.

The specification for Bluetooth eliminates the need for cables by providing a small form factor, low cost wireless solution that will link computers, cell phones, and other electronics. Bluetooth also allows users to connect many ranges of devices quickly and easily expands communications capabilities.

The small size of the Bluetooth radio ensures that it can be built into one or two very small microchips, and then integrated into any electronic device where wireless operations would be an advantage. This is what is known as a “Bluetooth enabled” device.

Bluetooth offers a robust link, which ensures that normal operating circumstances are not interrupted by interference from other signals that are operating in the same frequency band.

Known for its worldwide operation, Bluetooth radio operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is license-free and available to any type of radio system in the world. You can count Bluetooth working virtually anywhere in e world. Further, it has a higher level of electronic authentication between devices, providing more secure communications between your devices.

Bluetooth also boasts power optimization. The radio is power friendly and the software for Bluetooth is very configurable, limiting the power consumption of equipment. The actual radio itself only consumes a small amount of power from a cellular phone.

The Bluetooth Solution

Bluetooth technology takes small area networking to the next level by removing the need for user intervention and helps keep transmission power very low to preserve battery power. Each transmission signal to and from your cellular phone uses just 1 MW of power.

Bluetooth is a networking standard that works on two levels:

1. It provides agreement at the physical level, as Bluetooth is a radio frequency standard.
2. It provides agreement at the level of protocol, where products have to agree on when bits are sent, how many are sent, and how the parties in conversation can be sure the message received is the same one that was sent.

Bluetooth Wireless Networking

Bluetooth technology offers three different types of defined ranges, based on output ranges. Class 1 devices are the most powerful, as they can have up to 100 MW of power, with a regular antenna giving them a range of around 130 - 330 feet.

The class 2 devices are lower power, offering up to 2.5 MW of power. A regular antenna gives them a range of around 50 - 100 feet. Class 3 devices use even less power, up to 1 MW of power to be exact. With a regular antenna, they have an effective range of around 16 - 33 feet.

By design, Bluetooth technology is optimally designed for short-range communication. The short range characteristics reduce the chance of interference between your devices and those that belong to others who are nearby, and makes it technologically easier to provide more secure communications between devices.

Secondly, the lower power used for short range means a longer battery life. Most Bluetooth devices get their power from a battery, meaning that anything you can do to lengthen the battery life is very important. Bluetooth is most frequently used with wireless controllers, the internet, and even wireless headsets.

I hope you enjoyed this Technology Tutorial on Bluetooth technology. If you'd like more information on how to leverage technology to grow your business, feel free to contact me directly at ckauza "at" FettMarfketing.com or review our website at www.FettMarketing.com.

For more information, please visit Chris' TNNW Bio.





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NET-TECH REPORT: Technology Tutorial - Introduction to Bluetooth Technology

NET-TECH REPORT: 5 Ways To Be Less Social and More Useful On Social Media

Net-Tech Report with Chris Kauza

With all of the focus on the Technology of Social Media, many are people are still forgetting the "low tech" basics. Popular Social Media tools such as Twitter and Facebook are getting a bad rap from people simply dismissing them as a waste of time. The reality? As with any technology, these applications will more quickly and inexpensively scale whatever you put into it. “GIGO” - Garbage In, Garbage Out.

And you don't necessarily want a “large following” on any of these sites – you want a relevant following. Can you imagine what would happen to you Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaign if you had 10,000 people a day click on your ad, at $.20/click – and nobody bought anything? I don't know many businesses who can afford to advertise like that these days.

If you want to avoid this situation, here are 5 things you can do right now to get better results.

1. Be Relevant. How? Decide why you are using a particular tool, or participating in a particular community in the first place. Is it an industry trade group? Are you there because you have a particular passion for one of your hobbies? Are you there to learn? All of these different reasons require a different approach and dictate a different “voice”. There to learn? Then participate where it makes sense, try out different ideas and ask lots of questions. Part of an industry group, and want to enhance your expertise status? Be prepared to share specific examples with the community, and be willing to help (dare I say, “give away”) some of your advice or ideas for “free”.

2. Be Easy. Easy to read. Easy to understand. Why use a $5 word when a $.50 word will do? Unless you are writing for The Economist or The New Yorker, impress your audience more with your applicability and relevance of your information, than with your erudition and eloquence (that means watch your “smartness” and “wordiness” folks!).

3. Be Focused. Emerson and Thorough would have a tough time adapting in today's Social Media world. While their writings inspire, Social Media participants would be wise to remember what Shakespeare said in Hamlet: “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

4. Be Fast. Today's readers (on the Internet or otherwise) seldom have much time to read (what, with all of those Facebook Applications they have to play, people to poke – who has the time???). Use short titles. Use a bold typeface for emphasis, so your readers can get the main idea of your article. You can enhance this by using shorter sentences and bullets.

5. Be Illustrative. People are drawn more quickly to the images on the page than the words on the page. Using a relevant photograph or other image not only adds another dimension to what your are saying, but it also engages the reader more deeply.

Still need some help? For all of you who like analytics, try this tool on text readability. And don't forget – spelling and grammar still count! For the curious, here is how this post scored:

Have a Business-related question that you need answered? Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter, or take a look at the information on www.AskABusinessGuy.com. If you don't find what you need, just "Ask A Business Guy" and we'll get your question answered!


For more information, please check out Chris's TNNW Bio.



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NET-TECH REPORT: 5 Ways To Be Less Social and More Useful On Social Media

Reflections on the Rocky Mountain Angel Capital Summit

By Chris Kauza Technology Editor

First held over 20 years ago, the Angel Capital Summit has been attracting some of the most innovative entrepreneurial talent between Chicago and San Francisco. And this year was no exception! And with more than 650 people in attendances, the Summit offered two very well received keynote address by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (himself a successful businessman) and Anita Burke, a former Shell Oil Executive and head of the Catalyst Institute. The conference provided qualified investors and companies to meet one another, in a relaxed and professional manner. And if this conference was any indication, the Technology Industry is showing signs of strong growth along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains!

More than 120 business plan reviewers narrowed the 200+ candidate companies down to a final list of 43 presenting companies. While no specific industry was targeted in the conference, many of the companies I spoke with were related to Technology and Healthy Living were well represented. Interestingly enough, all of the companies had a variation on a common theme – Community. There were technology companies that helped create community as a core part of their business plans (Varvee, Xpressplay, etc.). There were companies that promoted lifestyle elements of a community, such as healthy living and there were even companies that targeted the needs of very specific communities, like deep water drilling. While the economic downturn was an obvious undercurrent to the proceedings (one presenter remarking that, "For an entrepreneur, it's always a Recession."), it was overwhelmed by a grounded optimism, characteristic of most entrepreneurs.

In a bold Marketing move, the Angel Capital Summit augmented their press coverage with 8 people reporting on the event using blogs and Twitters. It was the largest trending topic on Twitter that day, and also received very high Google search rankings – the “new media” pool made an impact! You can search on the conference proceedings by going onto Twitter or Twitter Search and doing a search on “#ACS08”. There you will see all of the Tweets of the conference attendees; scroll to the bottom of the page to go "earlier" in the conference. Many of the Tweets contain links to the company and presenters, for more information. If you want to follow any of the people posting the Tweets, simply click on the user name and "Follow". This was a great example of how Social Media tools can go from being an idle curiosity to force the promotion and awareness.

The point of the conference was to connect with like-minded individuals who could help each other, and that certainly happened. But how are attendees intending to connect and stay in touch after the big presentation? It turns out that most are using pretty standard channels – email and phone call follow ups. If there is determined to be a more substantive match, then generally a follow up face-to-face meeting ensues. To support this, conference organizers are leveraging Social Networking tools. They have created a private group on LinkedIn (by far, the platform that most attendees are on) where inventors and companies can meet with one another and develop more substantive relationships.

While I am not aware of any specific deals that were consummated at the conference, there were many interested investors. And while most of the companies did an excellent job of presenting their case, the one weakness I tended to see was when they tried to explain why they were better than their competition or a well-established / funded incumbent. And if there's one weakness I see in most business owners, it's “believing their own press” and under-estimating their competition.

Bottom line: it sounds like a worn-out phrase but people and relationships really are the backbone of your business success. Whether employees, investors, customers – you need to find ways to reach out and connect with people you are interested in and who may be interested in you. The Angel Capital Summit was a great example of how to blend traditional and new networking techniques to do just that!

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Reflections on the Rocky Mountain Angel Capital Summit

Facebook – The New Face of Business

By Chris Kauza
Technology Editor

According to Forrester Research, Facebook is the closest and fastest growing competitor to MySpace, with more than 60 Million active users (January, 2008). Earlier this year, Forrester predicted it will have the same number of users as MySpace by early 2009. OOPS! Somebody forgot to update the memo...

Who are Facebook users?

• more than half of them are past college, with their average age being 25 years old or older
• Facebook is the 6^th. most visited site in the U.S., with more than 65 Billion page views a month
• half of all active users return to it daily, spending an average of 20 minutes or more on the site.

Impressive, but can Facebook really help you be a more effective networker? It depends on your purpose...

I see Facebook and LinkedIn as two social networking platforms that should be integral to all of your professional networking. They help establish your credibility as a networker, and also serve as a platform to help others get to know you better – whether before or after an in-person meeting. It's fairly quick and easy to set up your profile, and you can be as active or passive with these as you like, and still receive lasting benefit.

I have also found the Facebook groups to be more active, interesting and diverse – yet focused at the same time; think of it as an example of “Long-Tail Economics”. You can be focused on your niche and simultaneously exposed to a global community. Granted, there is still the issue of what is and is not relevant information to you, but Facebook's platform seems to be more effective at helping users sort this out than MySpace.

As with LinkedIn, I have used Facebook to reach out to people and build new networking relationships. I have not only expanded my circle of influence online in these communities, but I have also been able to expand my knowledge and expertise as well; some examples:

• I have added an application that will help me learn Chinese
• joined groups that give me travel tips on various cities I have (or will) visit
• reconnected with old friends (reconnected with two high school friends in the last two weeks)
• I am able to “see what my friends are up to” with the real-time status updates & integrated online chat functions

I can be as professional as (and simultaneously a little more personal than) I am on LinkedIn. For example, I originally started out on Facebook as I did on LinkedIn page – open only to people I knew really well. But after joining a few groups and starting to expand my network, I started meeting new peopleand seeing a more powerful web application emerge.

One example of how I am using Facbook to promote a business organization and relationship creation, is through my work with a new non-profit that uses Facebook as a cornerstone in our Marketing plans. If you look at the Board Members page, you will notice that each of us has tiny little buttons under our pictures, leading you to our profiles on other social networking sites. This makes it easier for people to find out more about us, and thus promote better connections. Think of it as the electronic equivalent of being in a meeting room, wearing a name badge, extending your hand to someone nearby and introducing yourself. In most cases, the person will reciprocate and an interesting relationship can be created.

I think the Groups function on Facebook is one of its strongest networking features, and we will discuss that further in a future issue. For now, establish your profile on Facebook and take a look at who else you know is already on there (you may be surprised!). You can find me there – feel free to “add me as a friend” (Mention The National Networker in the invite). The National Networker fan page is there - you can become a fan by clicking here. Check out some of the other groups available for you to join. Don't find one that suits you? Create your own and tell me about it – we may profile you in an upcoming issue!

In the meantime, if you have questions about these or other technologies, feel free to email me at ckauza@soltusgroup.com or to connect with me on LinkedIn.

____________________________________________________________________

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free RSS feed, go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com.
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Facebook – The New Face of Business

MySpace: Open For Business?

By Chris Kauza
Technology Editor

According to Forrester Research, MySpace is the first social network in recent history to grow as big and broadly as it has, and it is the largest Social Networking site in North America, maintaining a growing monthly user community of 110 Million or more.

That's big, but is it really a Big Deal? Should you really pay attention to this one? Let's see:

• 20 Billion mails on the site total


• 50 Million mails per day (more than yahoo, Hotmail, or Google)


• 10 Billion “friend” relationships


• 1.5 Billion images


• 8 Million images being uploaded per day


• 60,000 new videos being upload to MySpaceTV each day
  


• More than 8 million artists and bands on MySpace Music Acts including Lily Allen, Sean Kingston, Arctic Monkeys, Dane Cook discovered on the site by users

...wow, that's a lot! But does this site really matter for your business? How does this translate into business or networking success? It depends on your business. And your purpose; as one user recently commented:

“Myspace is like a night-club for a younger crowd to meet whoever, whenever and ‘hang out’. Facebook is more like a casual dining restaurant suitable even for your grandparents. If we’re talking advertising dollars, the very same person may be interested in different things given the social groups they associate with on either site.“

If your business relationships require you to reach localized and / or a younger audience, then I absolutely think you should have a professional presence on MySpace. You should promote your page and it should be integral to your Social Marketing Plan (you do have one of those, right???). MySpace has become a web portal (not just a website) through which people get news and information on topics important to them.

In my experience, the most successful businesses that I have seen on MySpace have been those of bands or individual performers. It offers a great platform to showcase a performing artist's portfolio, and to have fans comment and share on the content – a fantastic way to build a community of interest around that particular artist. It is a great showcase for undiscovered or rising talent, and really gives independent performers an edge against the “big guys”, with users able to profile songs on their page. It has also become a successful advertising platform for new performing art content (think movies, concerts, TV shows, etc.).

In general, though, I would not focus on MySpace for business beyond the exceptions I mentioned above. It takes time to develop and manage a social networking profile, and I believe other sites (such as LinkedIn and Facebook) offer businesses and professionals a better ROI on their time. 50 million emails and 8 million images a day is a lot – but how many of thoise will your customers read or see, and how does that translate into more effective networking? The potential is there, but I think it needs more work. As of this writing, there are only 37 business-oriented applications available for download. Assuming a user is only part of one of these groups (not likely), there are approximately 59,000 users in these groups – the two largest being “Jobs” by Simply Hired Job Search Services (9,057 users) and Daily Despair by KlickNation (5,755 users). And these groups are free (but presumably lead to for-fee content).

To be perfectly candid, I created a MySpace page because it was an easy way for me to stay in touch with one of my cousins (who is 10+ years my junior) - or to check out new bands that he likes (we have similar tastes). Other than that, I don't log onto MySpace.

Facebook, however, is a different story, and we'll discuss that next month. In the meantime, if you have questions about these or other technologies, feel free to email me at ckauza@soltusgroup.com or to connect with me on LinkedIn.

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MySpace: Open For Business?

"Beyond Networking"

Contributing Writer

Strategy Twelve: Become Technologically Savvy:
Building the Techno Advantage

“The best way to have a relationship is to make it convenient to have one”.
Ron Sukenick

The on-going explosion of new technology shapes our ability to react and respond to the needs of others. It also shapes the future in building relationships. We are more and more technologically interdependent with our families, our friends, our communities, and our business partnerships. Think about the ease and speed of communication that takes place through the internet. How were any of us able to build or maintain relationships in the past? From on-line learning, to on-line family reunions, to on-line networking groups, to working on a project, to e-lawyering, we are able to electronically “meet” in the magical place of virtual reality.

We are able to make connections literally all over the world twenty-four hours a day. The Internet has radically changed the way communication takes place.

Considering the ease of being in business during this age of technology, we can thank our lucky stars for the multitude of communication forums that are available.

How many of us could say that our business would exist today if it weren’t for keeping up with technological innovations?

Why state the obvious so insistently?

Most everyone already knows this, right?

So what are we talking about here? In a world that has become so highly interactive, how we develop business partnerships and conduct business must take into consideration communication technology. There is a lot of discussion about the technology that is available today. In fact, in his article, Future Watch: An Overview of Trends, Lowell Wolff says that the rapidity of technological change will continue to accelerate. Get this—he says that the next three decades will bring two centuries worth of change! Two centuries! In other words, he says, that in the next seven minutes, the same amount of change will occur as did in the last thirty years!

Even non-tech people find this pretty exciting. It is also exciting to think of the potential of possibilities that arise from this phenomenon. As our possibilities increase, so does our need to increase our capability to better decide which technology will help support our business and our relationships. Being aware of the vast channels of communication and deciphering which of these channels to use in a given relationship and situation is also an important consideration.

This strategy reviews the major communication technologies present today, and provides thinking points for you to consider as you choose the communication channel that works for you and your business partner. Developing a presence, technologically speaking, calls for examining the communication channels. To be out there in the business world, we must do our technological work.

A Technological Presence

While voice mail and fax communication will continue to exist and be expected, consider the following.

• Web Presence
• E-Commerce
• Internet Services
• Virtual Offices
• Teleconferencing
• Digital Communication
• Expert Systems

Web Sites

In his book Net Future, Chuck Martin states that for most customers, what they see at a company’s web site determines their view of the company. A company is expected to have a web presence. While some companies allocate limited marketing dollars to maintain a minimal web presence, others are forging new relationships with their customers and redefining themselves for the on-line world. The web provides unprecedented opportunity for companies to interact with organizations and individuals all over the world. What a contrast to what was done in the past! Now, in addition to company brochures and annual reports as the major forum for promoting organizations, with a web presence, you are literally only a fingertip away.

E-Commerce

The World Wide Web, a virtual commercial district, is here to stay. Customers book air travel, conduct home-line shopping, and surf the net to conduct business around the globe. This has allowed organizations to drastically cut their investments in inventories, lower the cost of real estate, and create new opportunities every single day. Warren Bennis talks about the future of banks reducing support to: a computer, a person, and a dog. The person feeds the dog, and the dog is there to guard the computer. Fargo IBM is an example of this. Fargo IBM went from three floors of a downtown bank to three rooms according to Lowell Wolff in his Future Watch writings. With the ability to interact and the connectivity of interdependent technologies, this is just one example of technology’s revolutionary impact on an organization.

The Internet

If you had to choose just one characteristic of the Internet that set it apart from just about everything else, surely it would be its interactivity. Quickly, efficiently, and effectively you are able to interact with others around the world.

A few weeks ago, I was on-line emailing a colleague of mine. An instant message appeared before me from an individual from London whom I had met flying from Detroit to Paris a few years ago. He was in Sweden working with a client. I chatted for a few minutes with him, and then noticed I had two pieces of mail in my in-box. I moved over to my mailbox, and pulled up an email from a friend and business partner from New Zealand. The other message was from family in France. In just minutes, time and distance were truly an illusion. Our world is getting smaller based on the many communication and technological vehicles that are available.

Virtual Offices

We forecast that this trend will continue to grow exponentially. Information technologies make it possible to connect, to collaborate and to communicate easily from virtually anywhere—from your tractor if you are a farmer, from the restaurant down the street, from the airport, the car, and certainly from home. Voice mail, cell phones, teleconferencing, digital communication, and email make it possible to conduct business from wherever you are; making it even more possible to be there now as Ram Dass so wisely encouraged us to do several decades ago.

Just-in-Time Intelligence: Expert Systems

The very essence of a web search is that you can click on text or pictures and be transported instantly, or pretty quickly anyway, to somewhere else.

In addition, you can obtain expert knowledge in moments. Receiving information we need as we need it has become more readily available through computer-based applications that use a representation of human expertise in a specialized field of knowledge. According to the textbook Organizational Behavior: Foundations, Realities, and Challenges 2003, by Debra L. Nelson and James Campbell Quick, expert systems provide advice to non-experts, provide assistance to deepen your expertise, and serve as a training and development tool in organizations. Expert systems are used in medical decision making, diagnosis, and medical informatics. Anheuser-Busch uses an expert system to assist managers in ensuring that personnel decisions comply with antidiscrimination laws. Expert systems are on the rise as technology more and more meets up with the reality of our every day. To test this, go to your search engine now and key in expert systems. Enjoy your find. What a great tool to possess and to provide to others as they deepen their just-in-time-knowledge. Technology will increase your business opportunities, and we’re assuming that’s what you want. Technology will help you better meet the expectations for responsive-paced communication, information gathering, improved customer service, greater efficiency, and ultimately to improve your capacity and ability to get things done.

The good news is that if you are just getting started, or need to bring your technology to the next level, resources are literally all around you. Talk to people in your business network and within your educational systems. You will receive information about affordability and you will also find that people will want to share their skills with you. See Part Three for more information to guide you in your technological growth.

Diagnosing Communication Channels

We’ve spent some time on major communication technologies available today. Just remember that every seven minutes, three decades worth of new technology is born. Now let’s talk about how you choose to communicate with all the technology available. This section of the strategy emphasizes shifting from your own preferred style of communication when necessary to match your relationship partner when necessary.

The world has changed forever and as we deal with individuals one to one, we must consider negotiating and balancing between various paths of communication channels. Examples of various channels include from the still always effective one-on-one face contact, or telephone, to more recent advances in communication such as e-mail, electronic bulletin boards, chat rooms, and virtual meetings.

As you look at these communication channels, which mode to you most prefer? Does it change as you think about a specific relationship? Does it change based on the discussion you wish to have? Of course it does. Now, have you thought about asking your partner about his or her preferred mode? It is important to remember that each one of us has a preferred channel of communication. The willingness to shift as we need to while keeping the situation and the relationship in mind will improve the ability to “meet” in the real and the electronic world.

Thinking Points for Connecting Forward

• Are you aware of the vast communication technology available?
• Have you asked your relationship partner their preferred communication channel, and discuss what modes will serve both of you?
• How are you attending to and maximizing your potential through technology?

Summary

Thanks to the Internet, and the latest innovations in technology, the confines of time and space have disappeared. Communication technology will help you better meet the increased expectations for the ever changing market. Strengthen your personal and business relationships by diagnosing the best channel for the specific relationship. Part Three provides additional resources for increasing your technological savvy. We are lucky to live in this time!

Next month, we are onto One World, One Playing Field, a look at Strategy Thirteen, Becoming a Global Partner.

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Ron Sukenick is the Chief Relationship Officer and founder of the Relationship Strategies Institute, a training and Relationship development company that provides innovative, effective and relevant programs and systems for corporations, organizations, and associations. To learn more about the value of Relationship Development, visit his Web site at www.RelationshipStrategiesInstitute.com. You can reach Ron by phone at: 317-216-8210, or by email.

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