Pros and Cons of Bringing Your Own Device to Work

The concept of “bring your own device” (BYOD) is a growing trend for business IT. There are a variety of benefits to allowing users to supply their own PCs and mobile devices, but there are also some concerns. Make sure you understand both in order to embrace BYOD with confidence.

It used to be that IT departments drove technology, but that has changed dramatically in recent years. The consumerization of IT revolution — sparked by the iPhone — has shifted the IT culture so that the users are the ones getting the latest, cutting edge technologies first, and they want to bring those devices to work.

Let your users bring their own device, but consider the potential issues as well.

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The Voice of the Customer Lies Hidden In Your Unstructured Data

Why is the customer’s voice so important?

First of all, you want to keep them as your customer. Secondly the customer has become your unpaid sales staff. It is called word of mouth. Happy customers will recommend you to others, and consumers tend to listen to their friends (especially millennials). Lastly the customer is a testing ground for your products and services by providing feedback on new offerings. You don’t want to believe that you are conducting tests on your customers but that is exactly what happens. Customer feedback is necessary for continual improvement, and continual improvement is necessary to keep pace with your competitors.

All the information we gather about our customer’s experiences is important when it comes to improvements, reputation and ultimately, the bottom line.

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Is There A Talent War?

Many sources say that although the economy is still recovering, and although so many people are still out of work, there is a disproportionate number of companies looking to hire people with specific talents, to fill analytic and strategic roles.

Is there a talent war? Or a talent disconnect?

If you missed our webinar on The Talent War, please visit our screencast, here: http://www.screencast.com/t/uZuxHyn88gd

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The Competitive Advantage of Doing More With Less

The great 18th century American statesman, inventor, diplomat, and author Benjamin Franklin instinctively knew what so many of us in the modern world have for­gotten: frugality and industriousness are the ways to wealth.

After the last set of business scandals and financial busts, many powerful interests, from governments to multination­al corporations, are exploring how to do more with less. Businesses and individuals are seeking a realignment of fru­gality and prosperity in hopes of regaining their balance and securing their futures. This need for competitive frugality impacts the near future value of your home, your family, your firm, and your shared future.

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Being Wrong Versus Being Confused

Which is worse? Being wrong or being confused?

Let’s start with some definitions. To make a wrong decision means you were mistaken and erroneous. Your decision was incorrect for the problem to be solved or opportunity that could have been realized. (There is also an immoral, unethical, and illegal connotation; but that is a different variation of a poor choice. To be confused means you are baffled, bewildered, and perplexed. You cannot be positioned to make a correct decision because your thinking is muddled and clouded.

Embracing analytics can resolve both conditions.

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One More Reason to Hit the Gym: You’ll Make More Money at Work

We don’t need a study to tell us that working out is good for us. But showing us that regular exercise is linked to higher salaries is a different matter.

In a new study published in the June issue of the Journal of Labor Research, researchers have found that employees who regularly exercise earn 9% more than their lazier counterparts.

What is it about exercise that will garner you the big bucks?

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When Will Two Trains Collide? (an Analytics Story Problem)

Two trains are on the same track 600 miles apart traveling towards each other. One train is traveling west at 50 mph and the other train is traveling east at 20 mph. How long will it take for the trains to impact each other?

8 hours, 30 minutes
8 hours, 34 minutes
8 hours, 42 minutes
The narrow correct answer is #2.

But an experienced analyst thinking out-of-the-box would ask (1) Who would ride on a train traveling 20 mph? and (2) Who would put two trains on a collision course?

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Treat Finance Talent as an Economic Asset

CFOs are telling pollsters there are problems in the talent pipeline. Why is this occurring? Why are people now so worried about future staffing requirements?

Most importantly, is there an inherent risk for companies who are short on their finance talent?

Author Mary Driscoll interviews Dr. Jonathan Schiff, a professor of accounting (Fairleigh Dickenson) who also happens to be an authority on finance leadership development, skills assessment, and the training program design for large organizations.

Dr. Schiff had three key observations.

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