The influence or the lack thereof

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Immaterial of the style of leadership, a consequence of a decision is that it has a lasting influence on the future, the person making the decision and service delivery.

The impact of decisions plays itself out everyday in the world where technology is essential for delivering or enabling service delivery.

Standards are defined and implemented to improve compliance and interoperability across multiple technology domains and organisation. Remember the transition / migration from C to Java when the promise of cross platform portability was realised? This is a good example where the weaknesses of C were exploited to position Java as a disruptive and alternative. This is a good example how standardised and portable technology has influenced the IT industry and business.

Today, Javascript is a newly discovered technology that is exploiting the weaknesses of Java presenting itself as an alternative development paradigm for delivering reliable solutions. Javascript’s computing requirements and characteristics allow it to extend into domains where the computing capabilities of the underlying infrastructure can be exploited.

We are at a point where disrupting technologies has became the norm. This constant disruption demands that we become adaptable and accepting of change. By embracing change we discover new means of achieving goals and maintaining or improving our position against our competitors.

Software solutions are developed by teams and lead by people that influence the product value realised in contrast to the investment expectations. This influence leaves a legacy that is ultimately reflected in the consumer’s adoption and acceptance of the service.

Furthermore, as technologists, our dogmatic approach towards service delivery influences our decisions and has a lasting impact on our solutions, consumers and us.

Knowledge of the past, wisdom, insight and the ability to decern the adoption of new standards and approaches to solve problems are essential for decision making and embracing change. Visionaries that influence change are not corporations, but individuals that have discovered opportunities and exploit problems to their advantage.

Embracing change will require an ability to lead the transition into an informed future driven by expectations.

The future of commerce

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The buzz is e-commerce competing with bricks and mortar establishments. My prediction is that using either model exclusively will fail in the end. Balancing trust and convenience requires that the role of large corporations be adjusted becoming more socially acceptable.

It must be clear to all that continuing on the current path we will theoretically end up with only one company financially larger than the accumulative finances of all governments. Sounds like a movie plot – just look at the trend.

Coming back to the problem of uplifting communities and finding a solution to the consumer predicament of trust and convenience. My proposed solution is:

  1. Bricks an mortar businesses must adopt e-commerce as part of their operating model
  2. E-commerce businesses must establish their bricks and mortar presence
  3. Businesses must localise in communities and build face-to-face relationships
  4. Thin large organisations and use then as product, training and marketing channels.

Not considering commodities such as books, games and music that are ideally positioned for e-commence.

We will soon learn that the human touch and emotion cannot be replaced by a relationship with a machine.

We all are consumers at some point, which makes us all responsible for the future and the consequences that our children must bear. From a corporate perspective, invest in a responsible manner and build a sustainable future.

More businesses mean more employment which improves security in general.

 

The Python Mission

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I am on a mission to learn Python programming. The need for learning Python is driven by the fact that I have just purchased a Raspberry Pi. I love the fact that a simple idea is the energy behind a revolution that can potentially be a major game changer in the IT industry. Just think about it – a combination of the ARM processor, Ubuntu Linux and Python – no junkware. There are similar devices that can practically do the same and more out of the box. Just like Apple, Raspberry Pi have captured the harts and minds of people.

By the way, it is those same kids from the 80’s that is the energy behind the revolution. Viva the children of the baby boomers.

In my venture to learn Python I came across MIT’s OpenCourseWare and the  recommended GreenTeaPress.

Links

Introduction

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What is Picky Packer?

My view on technology and predictions of the future.

We all consume services we love and hate. It is sad that big companies do not listen to their clients and then surprised when they fail. It’s incredible that arrogance is still a feature of the IT landscape. Just look at Microsoft. They succeeded through innovation and simplifying applications. Then, what do they do – spend billions of dollars simulating other inventions and products, then after all that effort and investment tell their clients how to work. You will pay the ultimate price if you let big corporates influence your decisions. Ask IBM and HP.

My general prediction is that smaller and simpler is going to drive the consumer market going forward. Ask Apple and Samsung.

I am not prepared to pay more than 100 dollars for software any more. By the way free operating systems and development tools are key to any success story going forward. Ask Google and Canonical.

The small guy eventually wins.