In Business - technology developments in 2012

I have a feeling that the role of technology in business strategy is going to be a key topic for many business students and teachers in 2012, so this excellent podcast from BBC R4 Peter Day is well worth listening to…

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio/worldbiz/worldbiz_20111231-0030a.mp3

This is Peter Day’s annual look at the way business is likely to be changed by developments in technology. It takes the form of an interview with Mark Anderson

Some key points that I jotted down from my listen:

Steve Jobs legacy
Ability to integrate technology properly into products consumers value - he didnt really invent anything

Amazon:
Early to recognise that data-driven insights into consumer behaviour are immensely powerful
Now moving into content
Has a loyal, captive audience and understands what they want and like
The launch of the Kindle is the start of a new publishing model
Now selling more e-books than paper books
They have a plan!

Google:
Search engine is still their competitive advantage
But otherwise lacking a strategic focus
Product portfolio is too diversified
They “have no plan”

Tablets:
Everyone wants a piece of the action - lots of new entrants
The best-selling, fast-growing segment of the computer market

Television:
A product set for significant development - long overdue
Family of devices will interact with the TV
E.g. tablets will interact with the TV

Voice recognition
Apple’s SIRI system may herald a new generation of voice-controlled devices
Opportunities for personalised, customised assistance from devices
A way of humanising technology

Cloud computing
Use is already exploading
Originally focused on business use
Now the focus is on consumers (e.g. Apple iCloud +  SIRI)
Requires huge investment in data centres - big barrier to entry
but worries about data security and reliability - hard to protect intellectual property

A detailed look inside Apple’s Foxconn factory [24 Apr 2012]
Strategy - How Nokia was overtaken by Apple and Samsung [17 Apr 2012]
Apple under fire for e-book deals [17 Apr 2012]
Enterprise, Location and Culture - Inside the new Google Campus in London [14 Apr 2012]
Strategy & Technological Change - Whatever Happened to BlackBerry? [14 Apr 2012]
Sony - Hirai’s Turnaround Strategy - in Video Clips [13 Apr 2012]
Organisational culture, strategy and performance in fewer than 1000 words [9 Apr 2012]
Move over Apple, Samsung, Sony & Nokia. Here Comes China’s Huawei [7 Apr 2012]
Google and YouTube - a backward step? [2 Apr 2012]
Two Lesson Videos on Nokia - Will their Strategy Work? [13 Mar 2012]
Apple’s new CEO and a new iPad - A Change in Leadership [9 Mar 2012]
Google’s takeover of Motorola Mobility is given regulatory seal of approval [22 Feb 2012]
Video starter - Inside the iPad factory [21 Feb 2012]
Ideas not Hierarchy Makes a Business - Steve Jobs on Teamwork & Culture [13 Feb 2012]
The history of Apple’s product innovation - in 30 seconds [10 Feb 2012]
Strategic choice: What should Apple do for its investors? [29 Jan 2012]
The tablet takeover? [23 Jan 2012]
Investment in People - Google and Human Capital [26 Dec 2011]
Strategy case study - does Microsoft have a long-term strategy? [21 Oct 2011]
Meet the CEO of Dropbox - the man who said no to Steve Jobs! [20 Oct 2011]
Leadership video - A heartfelt apology from the boss [15 Oct 2011]
Can investment in R&D provide a competitive advantage? [31 Aug 2011]
Apple and Innovation - Iconic Product Launches by Steve Jobs [24 Aug 2011]
Leadership - Farewell to Steve Jobs [24 Aug 2011]
Smartphone market shares spell trouble for Nokia [17 Aug 2011]
Samsung seeks a ban on Apple products [30 Jun 2011]
CSR - Should Apple Pay More for its Geniuses? [14 Jun 2011]
Corporate longevity: the lessons from IBM’s 100th birthday [14 Jun 2011]
CSR - Apple: Big Profits but Dirty Data? [21 Apr 2011]
CSR - Apple audits the supply chain [15 Feb 2011]
CSR - Avoiding the child labour hotspots [15 Feb 2011]
Leadership - can Apple really be a one-man band? [19 Jan 2011]
Sectors of the Economy - Online is Worth £100bn [30 Oct 2010]
Microsoft - Competitive Strategy in the Post-PC world [30 Oct 2010]
Google, Profits and Diversification [16 Oct 2010]
Culture & Change - The Challenge Facing Nokia [27 Sep 2010]
Leadership & Strategy - “Welcome to Nokia” [20 Sep 2010]
Can new leadership revive Nokia’s fortunes [12 Sep 2010]
Fighting for a share of the fast-growth tablet market [11 Sep 2010]
When is a Ping not a Ping? When its an Apple [1 Sep 2010]
The links between Physics and Marketing [29 Aug 2010]
Does Nokia’s Strategy Need An Upgraded CEO? [30 Jul 2010]
The Dark Side of the iPad and iPhone? [26 May 2010]
Some facinating data on research & development data at Apple, Google & Microsoft [25 May 2010]
Global technology giants are hoarding their cash [26 Mar 2010]
Into the clouds - is this the end of the life cycle for pen drives? [14 Mar 2010]
Financial Ratio Practice Resource - Apple Inc [27 Feb 2010]
Strategy in a recession - cost optimisation not cost minimisation [25 Feb 2010]
Measuring labour productivity - Google revenue per employee [29 Jan 2010]
Google in China: Business ethics, business sense or both? [15 Jan 2010]
Google rival for the iPhone? [11 Jan 2010]
Crazy Tax Ideas Part 1 - Taxing Internet Searches [8 Jan 2010]
Advertising spend for four global brands [29 Oct 2009]
The new competitive threat to iTunes & Spotify - Google Music? [21 Oct 2009]
The Jenson Button Business Lesson [21 Oct 2009]
Are Cool Brands Really Cool? [29 Sep 2009]
Corporate culture: how a huge firm like Google tries to foster innovation [23 Sep 2009]
Video case study - Google and the smartphone market [20 Sep 2009]
This is potentially a great new resource for Economics & Business [7 Sep 2009]
Microsoft and Google compete head-to-head [9 Jul 2009]
Bing - the battle for search engine market share is on [28 May 2009]
Price war looms for music downloads [8 Apr 2009]
Social networking and the product life cycle [5 Mar 2009]
Is this a sensible strategic decision by Microsoft? [15 Feb 2009]
Video case study - Google’s Non-Financial Methods of Motivation [6 Feb 2009]
Apple overtakes Google as the new King of Silicon Valley [22 Aug 2008]
Breaking news - Virgin to Merge with Google [1 Apr 2008]
Would you be motivated by a wacky workplace? [13 Mar 2008]
Has the Google bubble burst? [10 Mar 2008]
Which business location is this? A simple starter activity [7 Mar 2008]

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