Active Voice

IBM GIO Afternoon Recap

The IBM GIO event is wrapping up and its been a day of interesting discussion and thought provoking ideas.  Nick Donofrio reminded the audience that many questions will be discussed without clear answers - we shouldn't expect a quick answer to these issues. 

During the afternoon sessions panelists discussed innovations for the environment, transportation and mobility.  The panelists offer a diverse perspective and engaged the audience in a healthy debate of what doesn't work today and what may work tomorrow.

With regard to the environment, here are some interesting takeaways:

-  Aluminum in land fills could have an economic proposition if we discover an innovative way to recycle what's in the land fills.  Think about the land fills near you.  What's on top of them? Homes, golf course, community parks, etc.  How do you recycle the aluminum in those land fills without disrupting the ecosystem that's been build around and on top of it?

-  Is it worth it to recycle? Or does it cost too much.  It's not an easy answer.  It's worth it to recycle metals.  Paper products are worth it most of time.  Other products aren't worth the effort to recycle the firs time, but if they are continually recycled over time there is clear value.

-  We must also pay attention to the front end of the equation - innovation design.  We should infuse our labs with the innovation in design that will help the environment in the first place.

-  Conservation will not sustain the environment.  It that model, the environment will always sit behind the economic paradigm.

- Take a look at building design.  If we applied all the technical innovation available today we could cut building energy consumption by 50%.  Soon, buildings could be self sustaining with regard to energy consumption.

With regard to the environment:

-  Limited water resources will affect water quality.  Limited availability will cause health implications.

-  China is the fourth largest country with regard to water supply.  80% of Chinese lakes are polluted.  Some large rivers don't reach the ocean.

- The ski industry is a big proponent of energy/climate innovation.  Why? There's no snow! Which means less run-off and less water...you see where this headed.

- Interesting point from the audience: Where is the ocean in all this discussion about water? Oh yeah...the ocean....

With regard to transportation:

-  Some have suggested the idea of privatizing the freeway system.  Where would the proceeds go? Can we soak the rich who would drive these freeways and spend the proceeds on other initiatives?

-  The losers in congestion are the poor, not the rich  The rich can choose when and how to get somewhere.  That is the problem outside the U.S.

- When cars are smarter than the driver, it doesn't help congestion

- There's always a fool smart enough to fool a fool-proof system!

- Americans are committed to their cars, not the fuel that powers them.

So..................

Heavy stuff, eh? My brain hurts just writing it down let alone trying to wrestle these problems but it's great to be thinking about them.  I had some fun conversations with people about the digital age we live in and perpetuate.  Many of us are responsible for the products that are creating more information, spreading that information or playing/presenting that information.  Personally, I love it.  I gravitate toward the tools and gadgets that allow me to consume more information, but where does it lead? Do we running around finding outlets to power our gadgets to get more stuff on them pretending to have enough time to consume the information they hold? And if so, when do we have time to stop and think about the issues discussed at this event? Something to think about...when you have a minute....

One point that was made made me feel better - as one of the people who run around filling myself up on gadgets and information.  We are all presented with dozens, perhaps hundreds or thousands, of choices each day that affect things like the environment, energy and mobility.  Turning the lights off, taking public transportation, recycling.  I do some but not enough.  Even if I work a few new habits into my routine - little things that may not stand out on a macro level - they will, if combined with everyone else's "little things," have macro effects that we can point to at the next GIO event - GIO 3.0.

Here's a great closing thought that someone offered: From a Chinese proverb - If you do not change direction you will end up where you are going.

GIO Morning Recap

IBM's Global Innovation Outlook event has begun.  Paul Horn, senior VP, research, IBM welcomed the attendees with an overview of what we can expect during today's discussions.  I'm a communicator and my ears listen for interesting soundbites.  Horn had a funny way of comparing the GIO to his background in research.  Science without practice and application is mental masturbation.  His point is that the GIO explores topics and its our job to carry out the ideas and test the theories with practice and application.

Nick Donofrio, executive VP, innovation and technology, IBM then joined Geoff Moore, Valley guru and author to discuss innovation that matters. 

Geoff Moore to Donofrio: Innovation is like mayonnaise, it makes whatever you put it on taste better.

Innovation happens through an open, global, multi-dicipline, collaborative environment.

Donofrio in explaining a headline from a talk he gave last week in Singapore where he was quoted saying there is not "next big thing"" There isn't one next big thing, there are hundreds and thousands of next big things.

Moore on the difference between 20th and 21st Century business:  The business game in the 20th Century was played on our home court, we had the best education, the best market and the best thinkers.  In the 21st Century business game is an "away" game being played all over the world.

Moore: Education without risk doesn't work.  We aren't taking chance with out curriculum. 

Donofrio: If you are forthright, I will be forthcoming.

Next up: Ginni Rometty, senior VP, enterprise business services, IBM...

GIO Findings So Far

A recap of this morning's IBM GIO discussion on energy, transportation and mobile innovation.

It's never been easier to get somewhere, and it's never been harder. Global shipping is the backbone of global shipping around the world.  The industry is expensive and drowning in data and paperwork.  How can we fix it?

Over the last 20 years the amount of time we (Americans) spend in in traffic has gone up 250%.  The answer is not more roads.  The answer is how to move better, how to improve the system. 

On energy and environment: 50 million tons of electrical equipment waste every year. It's not cradle to grave, it's cradle to cradle.  There is more aluminum in American land fills then there is left to find in American mines.  So, should we begin to mine the land fills?  The poorest nations in the world are those with the scarcest water resources. And those with abundant water supplies waste it.  Will water supply issues stifle China's growth, for example? Should it be a free market commodity?

Some things to think about...

Global Listening Arrives in SF

I just returned from an opening cocktail reception and dinner to kickoff the IBM Global Information Outlook (GIO) event in San Francisco.  Before I dive into what I've experienced so far, let me give you some background on the event and its objectives (from the website):

The nature of innovation is changing rapidly -- it's happening faster, it's much more open and collaborative, and it’s increasingly multi-disciplined. That’s why IBM started the Global Innovation Outlook (GIO), an ongoing worldwide dialogue that examines the changing nature of innovation in areas that could generate the greatest benefit for business, society and technology.

There a couple of things that strike me right away.   While the intent of the GIO is to examine the changing nature of innovation, I find the fact that IBM is behind this program to be extremely innovative in its own right.  When you work in the Silicon Valley and the tech community you can't help but meet people who either currently work for IBM or have worked for IBM.  They're everywhere.  Talking with them tonight gave me a new perspective on what it takes for a company as large as IBM to remain innovative.  You can't just talk about it, you have to live it.  IBM has a full day planned tomorrow, but even after three plus hours of beginning to understand what this event is about, I've come to appreciate the significance of a company like IBM engaging its community to tackle a set of global issues.  The themes are environment, transportation and mobility.   No, not PCs, servers, global services and mainframes - perhaps what you'd think a company like IBM might discuss at its own event.  I suspect that everyone will participate, one way or another, on the innovation taking place in the areas of environment, transportation and mobility.  You'd better hope so...

Another thing that strikes me is the location of this event.  Right here in San Francisco - next door to, or in the middle of, depending on your viewpoint, the Silicon Valley.  How's that for a wake up call?  Let's hold an innovation summit in the "capital" of technical innovation.  Where did the sun go? Oh, it's dipping behind the Oracle towers in Redwood City.  Hey, does this hotel have wireless broadband? I don't know but the black box in the corner says Cisco.  Call them and have a technician dispatched from their HQ down the road.  My laptop is slow.  Really? You could probably get someone from Intel to take a look.  Drive to Santa Clara and look for the big buildings on the left side of 101.  What's that song I hear? Oh, that's an iPod on Apple's Cupertino campus.  How do I get to San Francisco? Have you tried calling Yahoo! in Sunnyvale or Google in Mountain View for directions? Thanks, I'm headed to San Francisco to join a group of people assembled by IBM to talk about global innovation.  Where? Who? What? When?

What you'll sense from this post is my excitement for the day ahead.  I'm a child among giants.  I'm here to absorb and watch innovation unfold in front of me.  I'll do my best to document what I've learned so we can share it and learn together.  This is a terrific example of a large organization making time to listen.  We talk about participating in conversations.  How online communication programs are reshaping the information sharing process.  That information is presented, discussed and shared faster than ever before.  The first step to all of this is listening.   You've got to listen and learn before you can discuss.  I get a sense that listening is a big part of this event.

I've also got to meet as many people as possible so when I'm done absorbing what is being discussed, I can process it and share it with others.  And I'll sound a lot smarter if I don't share it with people who were actually here.

Shel Graces CNBC

I want to throw some props to my buddy, Shel Holtz, who woke up so early it was still last night to appear on CNBC's Squawk Box show this morning.  Shel discussed Wal-Mart's news to reach out to bloggers in hopes of improving its public image, and he represented our profession in fine form.  Shel includes a great summary of his interview here.  Great job, Shel

PR Week Awards

Several Vocians stormed the PR Week Awards last week in NYC.  The Voce Nation has a post from our president, Richard Cline, with one of the best blog headlines ever written.  Richard and Stacy also look great in the picture and that's important.  As I've been taught, you have to look good to feel good and from what I can tell, they felt very good that night. 

It sounded like an interesting event.  I've never attended but hope to in the future.  It's nice to see PR folks clean up and get together to recognize a year's worth of outstanding work. I've been reading about the category winners and our profession produced some powerful campaigns last year - many of which incorporated online communication vehicles to help carry the message. 

NCF Wrap Up

There are a ton of posts from folks who attended last week's NewCommForum.  All I can add is that I'm grateful to have participated in a panel discussion with several industry experts (Brian has a nice summary with pics here) and to have finally met some people I've followed and talked to for several years.  It's funny to me to see how groups broke out during the event.  You've got the folks with decades of experience who have become online gods and goddesses who hang together and then the folks like myself - the 30 somethings who hang out and mix it up and make fun of one another and get a little loud - drawing looks from the other group or from Shel and Neville who are trying to tape a segment of FIR hoping that my cackle doesn't make it onto the show.  All in good fun, right? You can't take yourself too seriously in this business - especially if you are trying to blaze the NewComm trail.  A sense if humor is an essential ingredient.  Once you start judging your peers and chopping off the heads around you so you stand taller, it's all over! Thank you to Elizabeth and Jen for a great event. I learned a lot and feel privileged to walk among communication giants.  Now...I'm off to steal their ideas so I sound as smart as they do :)