Technology is not a "Choice"

Evidence of failing institutions is everywhere: the financial "crisis", for instance, our failing "health care" system, or our crumbling "education" system. These trends are symptomatic and evidence of how many institutions attempt to retain their relevance in the world with a command and control mindset established on 19th century paradigms in which much of the 20th century was spent perfecting. It is this "thinking" that rationalizes technology as a separate piece of the puzzle: a tool that is used to continue the old paradigm and values.

In truth technology is not a choice. It has created another world; a new environment that is rapidly undermining old ways and creating new paradigms. The solution to our many problems is to let go of the past and embrace this new world. The video below addresses how this relates to the education system.

Education - Broken Institutions Must Change Their DNA

Nowhere is the evidence of institutional breakdown clearer than in education. For the first time in US history, Americans ages 25 to 34 are less likely to be "well-educated" by traditional definition, than the generation that preceded them.

College tuition and fees have risen three times as fast as the median family income. The National Center for Public Policy and Education reported this month that tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007. Median family incomes rose by just 147 percent during the same time. At private universities the price tags and increases are even higher.

Hanging on to all outdated means and methods of "delivering" education, the solution proposed by most educators is to provide even more funding to this broken system. As Greg Whitby notes, educators have spent the 20th century perfecting a 19th  century model. The DNA of education is still founded on command and control tactics largely centered on irrelevant assumptions of the industrial revolution. We have to change that DNA and when we witness the disconnect off affordable education, it only proves this point.

Athletic Business Conference Presentation on Technology

Last week I presented at Athletic Business regarding technologies impact on the fitness and wellness industry. The bottom line is rapidly advancing technologies, a shift in values resulting from a maturing culture and traditional organizations failures to adopt collaboration as a key strategy, have contributed to the fitness and wellness industry largely failing to meet the opportunity of impacting obesity and promoting wellness. Look at the facts, thousands of new facilities and endeavors yet the same number of  people exercising and more prevalent obesity. Because of financial pressures related to soaring health care costs, new business models will emerge with many encompassing direct to consumer components that bypass traditional gym or fitness facilities. Some traditional facility competitors in the fitness business will use this as an opportunity to distiguish themselves based on the experience economy, providing more engaging and meaningful experiences through unique program solutions offered by strategic partners (an adoption of orchestration strategy). As with many industries designed around past paradigms, the fitness and wellness industry should prepare for an approaching upheaval that will leave many of its participants irrelevant to the future of wellness.

The Era of Advertising is Over

This relevant slide show reflects an obvious truth - the era of advertising is over. Promotion and marketing is not a separate function per se - its all about the product and service and how that integrates features which satisfies customer needs. From there the customer will evangelize the product or service for you.

What's Next In Marketing & Advertising

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: digital strategy future thinking)

The Newspaper Business - Going, Going, Gone

Many organizations today simply are not embracing the tools available to compete effectively. Maureen Dowd's recent op ed piece reflects moves by one newspaper to embrace global orchestration strategy. More organizations should look closely at this means of driving down cost while enhancing outcomes.

Here's the opening quote: "I visited the future, and it was wearing a bow tie and calling itself “Thomas Edison.”

The newspaper business is not only crumpling up, James Macpherson informed me here, it is probably holding “a one-way ticket to Bangalore.”

Check out the NY Times and read for yourself.