Getting Back to this Blog...

Over the last four months, my students and I have been blogging around many themes related to IT Strategy. The course blog is here. I designed the course around how IT transforms business operations and what lessons can we learn by looking at strategies of a set of technology companies such as Microsoft, Apple, IBM, Sony, Amazon, Facebook, Google and others. We also took a look at a set of sectors that are undergoing transformations now--automotive, healthcare, media and entertainment, retail, financial services and telecoms. It was interesting to see a mix of rapid shifts in some sectors (media and entertainment) and slow changes (e.g., automotive). Teaching the course has allowed me to develop better clarity on some of the challenges of crafting strategies in a network era. It has energized me to do more writing this summer. And, needless to say that I will be using this blog as a vehicle to get draft ideas out.

Zune Phone?

I read this column that there will be no Zune phone at CES. I am not disappointed because I was not expecting a Zune phone..

It got me thinking.
Why would Microsoft launch a Zune phone and cannibalize its Windows Mobile OS? It is better off not launching the phone in this crowded, competitive market and capitalize on the network effects of third-party developers licensing Windows Mobile. Has Microsoft--which practically wrote the book on how to set up third-party ecosystems to win with Windows and Office--moves away from what has made it successful so far? I doubt that Microsoft seriously considered launching Zune phone because it will be counter to their playbook. But again, who said that strategy is always rational?
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How will newspaper industry transform for the network era?

I think the newspaper industry is about to be transformed in some radical ways. Here are some good overview data from NAA that can serve as raw material for research. Also, I found this blogpost to be well written and timely. I will develop a more detailed analysis of the transformation underway in the media and newspaper industry in due course.
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GM versus Toyota

Who could have seen this in the beginning of 2008?
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Today, the stock market levels could not be sharper. Toyota is worth about $ 97B and GM is worth about $ 2 Billion!
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I think it is time to rethink not only the car industry but also the overall transportation systems and patterns of use in the US. So, I do not support the bailout if the money is to be used just to rectify past mistakes but if it is to be used to jump start the new (transformed) auto industry. It will be interesting to see how it evolves and shapes up in the coming months.

Making Search Personal, Social and Dynamic

I think this is a useful feature to make search personal, social and dynamic.

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Nice feature!
For more details, see this link.

WiFi in the Car

GM may be in trouble but that does not mean that technology developments pertaining to auto industry are slowing down any dramatically.
Here's an update on Autonet that Walt Mossberg reviews.



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I see this as a starting point. I also wonder if GM OnStar should have partnered with them. Autonet could learn so much from OnStar.

GM CEO Goes to YouTube

Here's an interesting move by GM CEO, Richard Wagoner to go direct to the public about GM.. It's stock is at a 50-year low in the midst of the current global financial crisis.


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Effective? Desperate? What's the purpose..??
Just wondering.... what GM may look like by 2010..