by admin | Oct 2, 2014 | Innovation
London Fashion Week might not have quite the prestige of its European rivals in Paris and Milan, but it does lead the way in digital innovation, with 90% of shows streamed live, according to the British Fashion Council. British label Burberry was the first brand to live-stream a fashion show in 2010, and is still leading the way in high-tech fashion experiences. During this week’s show, which took place in Kensington Gardens (right next to the royal residence of William and Kate), Burberry became one of the first brands to use Twitter’s new “buy” button for in-tweet purchases, U.S. customers were given the opportunity to buy a limited number of the new spring/summer 2015 nail colors as soon as they appeared on the runway. Read more about it...
by admin | Oct 2, 2014 | Innovation
It’s easy to recognize innovation when it comes in the form of a sexy new gadget with an abundance of media buzz. But sometimes, innovation can be small improvements that have a big impact, says Dan Debow, senior vice-president of emerging technologies at Salesforce.com. “People think innovation is high tech,” says Mr. Debow, a judge for The Globe and Mail’s Innovators at Work contest. “It’s got to be either a group of hackers or something that’s being done in clean rooms with lab coats. What we forget is that innovation is often incremental improvements in the practical realities of normal businesses.” Lonny Thiessen A prime example of this kind of innovative thinking is the “Whale” tanker trailer devised by Mr. Thiessen, president and chief executive officer of Western Manufacturing Ltd., and an Innovators at Work winner in the Natural Resources category. The Whale is a 230-cubic-metre tanker trailer, designed to double the hauling and heating efficiency of mobile tanks used in the energy sector. The supersized tanker trailer – which is mostly used to transport water and other liquids for use in fracking – boasts an improved heating system and is about as big as Department of Transportation regulations allow. It’s innovative because Mr. Thiessen took a traditional mode of transport and found a way to improve upon it, says Mr. Debow. Read more about innovation...
by admin | Oct 1, 2014 | Communication strategy
Several weeks ago, Microsoft created quite the media uproar. If the news that 12,500 Microsoft employees worldwide would be losing their jobs wasn’t shocking enough, the way it was handled didn’t help matters. Microsoft’s executive vice president Stephen Elop’s announcement came in the form of a 1,100-word email chock-full of “management speak” that only mentioned the layoffs in two sentences buried deep within the text. There’s no doubt that laying off thousands of employees is a harrowing task for even the staunchest of managers, but the way these types of changes are communicated says a lot about an organization’s culture. That being said, there are a few things that other companies can learn from the way Microsoft handled this situation in terms of how to communicate sensitive changes. Read more about it...
by admin | Oct 1, 2014 | Communication development/evaluation
Sustaining a high level of success in a company as it matures can be the most challenging part of building a business. Whether starting a company from the ground up, stepping in to revive an existing brand or managing a department inside of a large corporation, momentum is typically gained by having clear and concise messaging of a company’s core philosophies. When these core philosophies and best practices are transferred successfully to every individual in an organization, that is when the true identity of a culture is built. Read more...
by admin | Sep 30, 2014 | Communication strategy
For the entrepreneur, the art of communication is a key to inform, inspire and engage investors, employees and customers. Communication is where change begins. Culture is where movements are born. When you focus solely on the how-to of communication (“7 Social Media Essentials!”) and neglect the foundation, you miss an opportunity to create a culture of communication. 1. Be strategic to communicate purpose. Stephen Covey declared: “Begin with the end in mind.” You’ve got the long view and the big picture. Be certain everyone else knows how you plan on getting there. Vision aligns your purpose and mission. Culture aligns your vision and values. Remember, the clarity of your purpose is realized by the directness of your strategy. Strategy and focus tell your team and customers that you know where you’re headed and how you will get there. People want to belong to a cause, join a movement and work toward a vision that has clearly defined purpose and actionable strategy. Read more about these 4 dimensions of communication...
