What Microsoft’s “racism” teaches us about ourselves
The ether is alive with enraged twits, tweeting and blogging on about Microsoft's racist blunder. If you've not heard the buzz, it has to do with MS photoshopping an advert as it transported it from the US (where it features a white woman, older black man, and an...
Be the Change You Want to See
Watching last night's Champions League play-offs proved to be a disheartening experience for one particular incident I witnessed. It was in the game between an impressive young Arsenal side and that of Celtic. The game loaded in Arsenal's favour following their 2-0...
The world is changing cell phones
Once upon a time cell phones changed the world. They arrived when we didn't expect them, and allowed us to do things we never imagined possible. We can quite safely say that our world today (where cell phones have had an influence) bares scant resemblance to the world...
Motivation: Harvard's 'powerful new model'
Harvard Business Review's 'summer reading' (their big summer edition) has a big piece on motivation. This is obviously because motivation can take a big dip during an economic downturn, when the pressure is on and the incentives are low. They trumpet a "powerful new...
Seeing the world through your customer’s eyes – your key to growing your business
I regularly write articles for magazines and journals. Some of these really strike a chord, and just "work". Here is a recent article that has been getting a lot of comment, and has been helpful to business leaders trying to cope with the economic downturn. See the...
Competing rights and freedom claims
In a world of increasing complexity, we will continually need to deal with competing claims and rights (and the flip side, too, of responsibilities). America, as the sole superpower, must currently find a balance between "bringing freedom to the world" and protecting...
The future of the global economy – see the encouraging trends
The New York Times website recently carried an amazing interactive graph showing the last 40 years of economic indicators from the OECD countries. It's fascinating reading.... er, watching. The key point they're trying to make is that industrial production usually...
The increasing bankruptcy of 24 hour news media
I enjoy Jon Stewart's Daily Show - the satirical news program from the States. Sometimes puerile, sometimes just dumb, but quite often genius, it is an (irreverent) look into US politics, culture and media. This past week, Stewart once again poked fun at the US media...
Challenges – and solutions – to Work-Life Balance
A recent report from the Corporate Executive Board was summarised by Brian Kropp on the Talent Management blog. Read it online at their site, or an extract below: Challenges to Work-Life Balance by Brian Kropp The uncertain economic environment has placed tremendous...
How (not) to do business like Jack Welch
Since leaving GE, Jack Welch has refused to retire gracefully or quietly. He has continued to stay vocal and keep his profile in the media, especially by writing and disseminating business advice. I suppose one shouldn't begrudge him this - after all, he was branded...
Nine Reasons Why You Must Improve the Environmental Performance of Your Business
Whether or not you’re convinced by science and media reports on global warming, there is no doubt that our planet is under pressure at the moment. Things must change, and the governments of the world – not to mention increasingly vocal activists - have started to put...
Barrie on Talk Radio 702 at 2pm this afternoon – 11 August
Join Barrie Bramley as he is interviewed by Simon Gear on Talk Radio 702 this afternoon, 2pm. The subject is social networking - not a new subject as we've been networking since we first spotted each other. It’s the mechanisms we use, the rules of engagement and...
What makes for good learning?
We have all been in ‘the classroom’. For some a refuge and brief respite from the turmoil of the office; for others a world they have never left for the reality of the outside world; and then for many, a world escaped and to which they have no intention of very...
How to motivate talented people in tough times – a story from Time Warner
Harvard Business Press is releasing a well timed book called Top Talent: Keeping Performance Up When Business Is Down by Sylvia A. Hewlett in October 2009. I've been able to gain access to an excerpt from the book which provides and example of what Time Warner is...
A changing global landscape
The RBS Economic Unit in conjunction with The Economist have just completed a report on 'Exploring the Changing Global Landscape for UK Companies.' This is an independent report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, providing you with insight into the latest trends and...
Affirmitive Action is Dead in South Africa – or is it?
Sipho Ngcobo wrote an interesting article on Money Web this last week, reflecting on the reality the African National Congress (ANC) faces around service delivery, or lack of it, in South Africa currently. He suggests that the pressure the ANC is under for 2011 local...
The Bruno Movie – unhelpful cultural analysis
OK, so maybe the title of this post is a bit over the top. But the new movie from Sacha Baron-Cohen (aka Ali G, aka Borat), which portrays him as a gay Austrian television presenter, has the stated aim of providing cultural analysis. His goal is to shed light on...
Secrets of success in The Emotion Economy
The industrial economy was based on 'make and sell.' Take, for instance, the massive production of Henry Ford's cars and his dictum, 'you can have any colour you like as long as you like black.' But, back in Henry Ford's time there was little regard for the customer....
88 years old and mayer for 30+ years
Today is Nelson Mandela's birthday. An international icon.But this is not about Madiba. He's never been mayor. He has been President of South Africa, and leader of the African National Congress (ANC), but never Mayor.This is a video interview worth watching about...
Jim Collins on why companies fail
Jim Collins, author of the best sellers "Good to Great" (buy at Amazon.co.uk or Kalahari.net) and "Built to Last" (buy at Amazon.co.uk or Kalahari.net) has now turned his attentions to failed companies (he does have a lot to choose from right now). Anyway, his new...