This is a nice bit from Larry Ellison the CEO of Oracle,
He talks about Cloud Computing term as a new name for the same internet everyone has used for years.

Wiki calls it:

The term “cloud” is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on the cloud drawing used in the past to represent the telephone network, and later to depict the Internet in computer network diagrams as an abstraction of the underlying infrastructure it represents.

He objects to the absurdity of the term cloud – since it is the same server-based service that was always there and is connected to the internet – the same OS, service, Database etc…

I agree heartily with him – ever since anyone of us joined the first web-based email service or web hosting,
we all have used the cloud.

What do you think?
do we have now a different cloud computing then we had ever since the internet started working?
Please post your thoughts in the comments …

Technorati Tags: Cloud Computing, Internet, interviews, Solaris

The whole list is about 1 hour to watch.

You can view the Supply Chain Management as 1 playlist in this post.

Module 1: What is Supply Chain Management? [8:05]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi1QBxVjZAw

Module 2: Buy It: Managing Supply [3:46]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYbtZ0x9_SA

Module 3: Make It: Manufacturing and Operations [4:23]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncli94xodm8

Module 4: Move It: Transportation and Logistics [3:45]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZpHiMTwOdM

Module 5: Sell it & Service It: Retail Considerations [3:39]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUO2EaJnb-w

Module 6: Supply Chain Integration [4:41]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_yMW2b0kNk

Module 7: Global Supply Chain Management [4:07]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuQ200JAViA

Module 8: Socially Responsible Supply Chain Management [4:33]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdbKvXh6sLU

Module 9: Business Processes [4:13]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUInjQvzIkE

Module 10: Measuring Performance [5:17]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4HPYYR5iLw

Module 11: Quality Management [3:20]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJNVrY_Z2NM

Module 12: Supply Chains and Information Technology [3:53]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXDvHgjRNDQ

Technorati Tags: inspiration, Management, Online Tools, Online Training

A very nice initiative from Volkswagen -
of course a successful Viral positive publication initiative as well - and yet very charming.

Volkswagen tested some theories of how to make people co-operate on tasks which usually get lower support,
by making them fun for the participates.

Here is a short example of how fun makes people prefer going through the harder way up

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw&feature=player_embedded

Gaming at work

Another interesting example of this idea is how fun at work improves the working day,
the worker contribution to the work place and productivity,
a couple of articles that I found interesting about this are:

Research proves online gaming at work is good for you – and for your boss

and

Does Gaming at Work Improve Productivity?

Technorati Tags: fun theory, games

inspiration can be found in many places,

this short movie has won the second place at a contest called “U @50″

Its worth the watching time:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA&feature=player_embedded

Technorati Tags: inspiration, Management

Technorati Tags: funny, Management

Here are a few I liked the most:

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity

About this talk:

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses –
and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius.
It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

About Elizabeth Gilbert:

The author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert has thought long and hard about some large topics.
Her next fascination: genius, and how we ruin it.

Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action

About this talk:

Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle
and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers –
and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling.

About Simon Sinek:

In 2009, Simon Sinek released the book “Start With Why” — a synopsis of the theory he has begun
using to teach others how to become effective leaders and inspire change

The Ted webpage is available here.

Technorati Tags: inspiration, leadership, Management, ted talks

This Link will lead you to this social-networking-map in full size,
which is a lovely Data Visualization which i love,
you can see in this post here about Management Data Visualization all kind of samples of Management related Data Visualization images.

The issue I want to raise here besides my appreciation for the designing of this concept,
Is the fact I didn’t find ICQ in there.

Now I have a special place in my heart for ICQ,
and since they still have many millions of users, I think they should have ben represented in this image,
But all I could find there are some “receding glaciers of AOL” and “AIM Tundra”.

I think ICQ was the Origin of the internet socializing idea, and some kind of a relic at least should be in it,
although ICQ is still alive and kicking, and in the process of changing ownership – ICQ Sold to the Russians.

So, My question for the day is:

Can you Find ICQ in the picture, Boys and Girls?

Technorati Tags: funny, network, Social Network

From Wikipedia:

Visualization is any technique for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message.

Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly^[1], such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education.

These are techniques to deliver a large amount of data in a simple and quick way which will be easy to grasp the amounts of data involved.

The Concept seen above is the Microsoft’s Education Competencies representation,
It is showing the full set of skills a successful manger should hold,
The PDF can be found in Microsoft’s Education Competencies Website.
The Wheel lists all the different area a new manager should be trained for.

Periodic Table of Data Visualization

The Periodic Table of Data Visualization,
segments the different areas where data visualization has been efficient so far:

• Data
• Information
• Concept
• Strategy
• Metaphor
• Compound

Data Visualization collections

Some more good resources online about data visualization:

Smashing Magazine Data Visualization collection
A beautiful collection of modern approach to the subject, with many samples.

Gapminder Statistics Visualisation
The Gapminder stats tool can show you how your data changes inside a time frame

Creating your on Visualization Tools

Wheel-Like Data Visualization With MooWheel
MooWheel is a mootools based script which visualizes data and connections between items like a wheel.

TouchGraph google browser
free Java application to explore the connections between related websites

Technorati Tags: dashboards, Management, statistics