Posts filed under 'Wikinomics Report Card'
 |
|
July 28th, 2008, 03:09pm
|
Can Wikinomics Create a Fifth Street Corner?
This week I will profile the Seattle based coffeehouse giant Starbucks. In case you missed my last report card on De Beers; you can find it here. You can now find all my previous entries, and posts relating to them on the new Regular Features tab on the top left side of the page. Like all my previous entries, I will be evaluating Starbucks on the Wikinomics principles of being open, peering, sharing, and acting globally.
Read More »
 |
|
July 24th, 2008, 02:38pm
|
A few weeks ago, my colleague Ben Letalik wrote about the MLB in his weekly Wikinomics Report Card. This Tuesday, the MLB announced that it began installing IBM software “to exploit the next generation of the Internet.”
“The IBM WebSphere Portal software architecture allows us to consolidate information from a variety of sources. It enables collaboration within our user community and provides a strong platform for future growth and development,” said Mike Morris, Vice President of Application Development and Program Management for MLB.
The immediate use of the software will help umpires officiate the game better by providing insights on player behaviors, weather conditions, statistics, and other key information.
“Major League Baseball has vaulted into the Web 2.0 era with powerful collaboration technology that puts the power of the World Wide Web and technology specialists into the hands of the baseball experts,” said Bob Picciano, General Manager, IBM Lotus Software.
I am hoping that, with the introduction of IBM’s software, the MLB becomes more transparent on issues concerning the game such as steroids and the idea of having instant replay. I can see how umpires will benefit from having player statistics and behavior tendencies instantly given to them. Maybe later when the software is integrated into the MLB culture, the umpires well have the opportunity to receive instant replay on a screen, so that human error can be reduced. It’s good to see that such a large part of American culture is beginning to understand the need to collaborate, especially such a large multi-billion dollar business.
I am interested to see if the NFL, MLS, NBA, or NHL decides to follow baseball’s footsteps.
|
|
July 12th, 2008, 12:16pm
|
Can Wikinomics transform blood diamonds into a girl’s best friend?
This week I will profile the South African based diamond company De Beers. I case you missed my last report card on Blizzard Entertainment; you can find it here. I would like to thank Will Runyon for suggesting this week’s topic and directing me to this excellent Wall Street Journal article. Like my previous entries, I will be evaluating De Beers on the Wikinomics principles of being open, peering, sharing, and acting globally.
Read More »
|
|
July 4th, 2008, 03:02pm
|
Can the unstoppable gaming juggernaut continue to WoW with Wikinomics?
This week’s edition of the Wikinomics Report Card will profile Blizzard Entertainment, the creators of World of Warcraft and one of the world’s most profitable gaming companies. In case you missed my last report card about General Motors, you can find it here. Like my previous entries, I will be evaluating Blizzard on the Wikinomics principles of being open, peering, sharing, and acting globally.
Company Background: Blizzard Entertainment was founded as Silicon and Synapse in 1991 by three UCLA students and after a number of name changes, settled on the name Blizzard Entertainment in 1994. That same year, Blizzard broke though when they released Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and solidified Warcraft as its flagship franchise the following year with the release of Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. In early 1997, they revolutionized the industry by offering a free online gaming service, Battle.net, to go along with their new game Diablo. Read More »
|
|
June 28th, 2008, 02:01pm
|
Can Wikinomics Keep the 77 Year Streak Alive?
This week’s edition of the Wikinomics Report Card will focus on General Motors Corporation (GM). In case you missed my first report card about Major League Baseball, you can find it here. Like last week, I will be evaluating GM on the Wikinomics principles of being open, peering, sharing, and acting globally.
Company Background: GM was founded in 1908 and is the world’s largest automaker and leader in global sales for the last 77 calendar years. It manufactures cars and trucks in 35 different countries under the brands Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, and many more. Under the strength of Alfred Sloan’s revolutionary corporate structure and leadership, GM was once one of the world’s most profitable companies peaking in the early 80’s with a U.S. market share of 45%. However, the legacy costs and complex accounting systems associated with the Sloan era have hindered GM’s efforts to create a more lean manufacturing process. Stiff foreign competition from companies like Toyota and poor strategic decisions like focusing on SUVs and light trucks in a rising fuel market has led GM to one of its weakest points in its history. Yesterday, its stock reached a 53-year low after Goldman Sachs changed it status to “sell”. GM is hoping that it can weather this storm long enough to introduce its new line of alternative energy vehicles like the Chevy Volt and reclaim some of its former glory.
Read More »
|
|
June 20th, 2008, 03:43pm
|
How Does America’s PASTime Fare in the World of Wikinomics?
Hello Wikinomics blog readers! I’m a new summer student with the Wikinomics team. I have decided to do things a little differently and profile a different business each week and grade them through the Wikinomics Report Card™. I will try to focus mainly on older businesses and organizations and analyze how they are utilizing the wikinomics principles such as being open, peering, sharing, and acting globally.
Background: Major League Baseball (MLB) was originally founded in 1876 and the current structure of the American League and National League has existed since 1903. Baseball is a game ingrained in American culture, and is frequently referred to as America’s pastime. Although attendance has grown steadily since the league’s inception (ignoring strikes and lockouts), the game is slowly fading away from the public consciousness.
Read More »
