Steve Jobs was an icon. He typifies the tech visionary, entrepreneur and businessman. His achievements are nearly unparalleled in the world of Internet technology: iPod, iPhone, iPad and iTunes as a media distribution platform (encompassing 317 patents). He eclipses almost everyone in the modern technology business, and served as the premiere spokesperson for the value of great product and user interface design. Who could possibly hope to accomplish everything he did? Continue reading
History is littered with great ideas that either failed or never even saw the light of day. Despite this fact, some people still seem to think that having a great idea is enough to succeed (however you want to define success). Continue reading
"In theory, there’s no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is." – Yogi Berra
It’s clear that digital ecosystems offer benefits for businesses, but it’s not all wine and roses. It takes effort to design and maintain these ecosystems, which is why many businesses wind up with a more fragmented approach to their online (and offline) activities. After all, a bunch of people randomly doing their own thing is a lot easier than trying to get them to play a symphony.
So what does it take for businesses to move beyond this siloed approach, to operationally deliver on the promise of digital ecosystems? Continue reading
With a clear definition of the term digital ecosystems, the obvious question to ask is, Why bother? What are the benefits for business to strategize and execute this way? And are there drawbacks? Continue reading
The digital world has gotten complicated. Really complicated.
Between web sites, smartphone and desktop applications, and a menagerie of social media platforms and services, it’s hard for many businesses to sort out where to focus their efforts. Thinking about all of these elements as part of a broader digital ecosystem can bring some clarity.
The term digital ecosystems has been used (and abused) by others previously (see NOTE at the end of this article), but I have never found any previous definitions sufficiently tangible. Most are technical, abstract, or abstruse; they’re just not that useful for real businesses trying to develop digital strategies and execute online.
In an effort to simplify, I propose the following definition for digital ecosystems (see diagram below):
The digital ecosystem of a business is the combination of all relevant digital touchpoints, the people that interact with them, and the business processes and technology environment that support both.
Read on for more detail about why I believe it’s important to think in terms of systems, the relevant elements of digital ecosystems for business, and the critical role that people play in these systems. Continue reading
The sands of the digital world are relentlessly shifting. Content gets old, businesses evolve, interaction design patterns are refined. New online businesses are cropping up like mushrooms, and the technologies and platforms that power them change every few months. Couple that with rapidly changing social norms around the use of technology, and you’ve got an explosive and exciting mix, rich with opportunity.
But with great opportunity comes great peril for many businesses online. Continue reading
People have a lot more free time than they used to, and while we used to fill it almost exclusively with TV, things are starting to change. We now have the means, motive, and opportunity to do something different with our time, to tap into a great cognitive surplus that allows us to pool our cumulative resources and creativity. Social media tools and platforms allow us to produce things, share information, and collaborate in groups outside the forces of market economics or traditional mangerial structures. Many may only be creating lolcats pictures, but that’s just one point on the spectrum of creativity, the other end being creativity used for not only public good, but also to drive significant (if not revolutionary) social change. Cognitive Surplus is a brilliant analysis of these social and technological advancements, and of the human behaviors behind them. Continue reading
The time has finally come for South by Southwest (SXSW) 2011 Hordes of technorati, cinephiles, and music fans are descending on Austin like a pilgrimage to Mecca, only instead of the Kaaba Stone, SXSW attendees will have the AT&T Convention … Continue reading
It’s rare that I cross-post to my personal blog, but some occasions call for extreme measures. Please check out the following: In Memoriam — Alan Nathan Yost (1972 – 2010).
Linchpin is an impassioned plea to release the artist inside, free yourself from being a cog in the industrial machine, deliver great work, and be indispensable. While it’s inspirational at times, and thought-provoking, I ultimately found it overly idealistic and unrealistic about the world of business. Continue reading
I show businesses how to succeed in the digital landscape. For over 12 years, across numerous industries and companies in the Fortune 500, I’ve been a strategic thinker, leader, designer and technologist.
