Category Archives: Rethinking
Finding Solutions in Unusual Places
Written on March 6, 2014 at 10:00 am, by Eric
Companies that look for solutions outside of their given field or narrow band of focus are often rewarded. UPS has developed new shipping containers made of a composite material called MacroLite, similar to that used in body armor, as well as an active fire suppression system. Tests show that these new containers which weigh Continue Reading »
The Costs (and Benefits) of Extreme Weather
Written on February 28, 2014 at 5:39 pm, by Eric
Extreme weather events and the resulting damage may be the new normal. These seemingly constant states of emergency are creating real costs for those who fail to prepare, and in some cases, these weather events are changing the ways organizations operate. Homeland Security officials have declared that failing to prepare for extreme weather Continue Reading »
The World We Are Creating
Written on August 2, 2013 at 9:08 pm, by Eric
We have suggested that in the deployment of technology, the means justify the ends – that is, if we can do it, then we should do it. With that perspective, humans will be forced to adjust to the presence of technology wherever they go and whatever they do, seemingly without regard to effects As Continue Reading »
Digital Efficiencies and Recruiting
Written on February 1, 2013 at 3:02 pm, by Inferential Focus
In 2012, the 500 member in-house recruiting staff at General Electric filled most of GE’s 25,000 openings, helped by LinkedIn and BranchOut. About 10 percent of the positions filled were executive and senior professional positions formerly filled by executive recruiting companies such as Heidrick & Struggles, Korn/Ferry and Spencer Stuart. The GE team completed most Continue Reading »
Water, Water, Everywhere…
Written on January 15, 2013 at 6:26 pm, by Inferential Focus
Water is obviously a vital resource. Is it too vital for markets to handle its pricing? In Texas, Allan Ritter, a Republican and chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, proposed bills that would withdraw $2 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to establish a water infrastructure bank that would lend money for Continue Reading »
Science 1, Leukemia 0
Written on December 12, 2012 at 10:07 pm, by Inferential Focus
Doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia reported this week that they had cured a 6-year-old girl of recurrent leukemia that chemotherapy had failed to treat. The doctors altered a strain of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), so that instead of giving the girl AIDS, it would reprogram her immune system DNA to fight leukemia on Continue Reading »
Postal Service Gets With the Times
Written on November 30, 2012 at 2:42 pm, by Inferential Focus
Starting December 12, the U.S. Postal Service will begin a test of same day delivery service for online shoppers residing in San Francisco – with additional plans to expand this program next year into Boston, New York and Chicago. Could such an offering eventually become the moneymaker the Postal Service needs to replace the Continue Reading »
Mailboxes and General Stores: What Year is This?
Written on November 19, 2012 at 7:00 am, by Inferential Focus
Are mailboxes and general stores new/old solutions for contemporary service? For one, the mailbox is answering the call for delivery of online purchases. Amazon is now teaming up with Staples, Radio Shack, 7-Eleven and Albertsons for its Amazon Locker Service. The physical retailers will install Amazon lockers in their stores, allowing customers to buy from Continue Reading »
Suburban History
Written on October 24, 2012 at 2:46 pm, by Inferential Focus
It doesn’t get much more meta than this. Kansas museum officials have proposed spending $34 million to create the National Museum of Suburbia in Overland Park. One of America’s quintessential (and economically successful) suburbs is going to build a museum of the suburbs. Is America ready to put the idea of “suburbs” in Continue Reading »
A Demographic Switcheroo
Written on September 25, 2012 at 3:33 pm, by Inferential Focus
Call rewrite! Bring in the editors! Marketing needs a redo. The movie and publishing industries, which have relied heavily on historical patterns to guide their market segmentation, have been taken by surprise, and they need to rethink their markets. First, for some time, the movie industry has targeted its filmmaking power at the young, Continue Reading »
