A wiki is an open-source application that allows any user to submit and edit content. The most popular and famous wiki to date is Wikipedia, an open-source web-based encyclopedia written entirely by volunteer contributors. Wikipedia has grown rapidly to become the largest reference work ever published in the history of mankind. The popularity of wikis has not gone unnoticed by the business community. Companies are beginning to recognize the transformative nature of wikis and are using them...
Management Challenges for the 21st Century
In February 2008, the National Academy of Engineering proposed 14 grand engineering challenges that represent the biggest opportunity for human improvement in the next 100 years. Well, if the engineers can do it, why can’t we in management and leadership determine the greatest opportunities for human advancement through the profession of management? In May of 2008, a group of business leaders and academics met in Half Moon Bay, CA to do just that — identify the biggest challenges facing the...
To Twitter or Not to Twitter
A few weeks ago I reluctantly jumped on the Twitter bandwagon and claimed the address: @seanpmurray. For the un-initiated, Twitter is a communication and networking tool, similar to blogs, that allows you to broadcast short (140 characters or less) messages to followers. The technology puts a premium on being both concise and witty. My initial impression (like just about everyone else) was to view Twitter as another annoying technology bent on disrupting my day and reducing my productivity. ...
Zappos: Bribing Employees to Quit
One of the more interesting companies to debut on the 100 Best Companies to Work For list in 2009 is Zappos, coming in at 23. That makes Zappos the highest ranked new comer to the list this year. What makes Zappos, an e-commerce retailer, so unique, especially among start-ups, is an early commitment to defining a culture, and then designing systems and processes that support that culture. Take one of their Core Values, “Deliver Wow through Service.” This is an extremely customer-focused...