The consumption of information via modern media affecting the processing within knowledge management?
Bernard Stiegler describes the change/evolution of information provisioning and its related awareness and opinion building over the period of last 400 years. Reading that book I recognize some parallel developments within the processing of knowledge. This likeness is more or less evident, because we (the global society) deal with the same participants within both influential processes (knowledge and information consumption). In the area of information provisioning Bernard Stiegler points to some dramatic mental changes and relates them to current violent behavior in society. Answering the question about similar effects in knowledge might lead to surprises as well. Sep. 24, 2009
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Global energy demand predictions
McKinsey published its study regarding the energy demand expectations using different parameters to describe economy, effectiveness of energy production and consumption, etc. This survey is presented in an interactive picture. The study covers the years until 2010 and distinguish between developed and developing countries. Resume is very simple: reduce the over-consumption and increase effectiveness of energy consumption at all levels in business and private life most possibly drive greater impacts. Jun. 5, 2009
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December 1st, 2008: get more sustainability in our society
December 1st, 2008 is a remarkable day. In Poszan (Poland) the European UNEP conference starts with discussions on an operational plan to execute earlier agreements regarding climate change, carbon footprint reduction, etc. December 1st, 2008 is also the begin of the “year of the gorilla”. Last but not least it’s the world aids day. What interlinks these very different topics: the financial crisis. Dec. 1, 2008
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The recovery roadmap (1): after the surprise
The current financial crisis hits all corners of business and social life. This isn’t a surprise knowing magnitude and structure of this crisis. Two months after first business announcements, society gets more familiar with the expected change. The question in the main street is still the difference between natural and alternative reasoning.  Nov. 21, 2008
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Insights on the Downturn
At a SAP-sponsored CEO-forum last week SAP colleagues had the opportunity to discuss actual business and to get insights from the participants. This event was cross-industry.  Nov. 19, 2008
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Business models and the financial crisis
Every day the financial crisis is the number one item in the news. Most messages are either “we are affected as well” or “we need support”. Almost none of current news articles describe the way to overcome within realistic scenarios. The national economies as well as the industries change their business models boundaries only marginal. This approach doesn’t suit to the type and size of the impact by the financial crisis. In parallel we “already knew” that our world is limited and we stress already sustainability in considerable dimensions. The recovery needs other business models and scenarios. Nov. 12, 2008
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Sustainability and CSR: SAP TechEd 2008 recordings (assembly)
Although words like “sustainability” and “corporate social responsibility” are often used by a large variety of people, the difference between both and how they are related to each other isn’t generally known. In two audio supported presentations we tried to put some lights in there. In the last session the adjacent discussion strive to some other aspects like “social” and “political responsibility”. Nov. 9, 2008
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Ethanol, biomass, and fast food: about sizes and relations
Last week I got a newsletter of FT.com pointing to an impressive interactive graph on biomass & ethanol boom. Some parts of that information pointed to stocks, investments, subsidies, and profit. In the course of elections politicians put alternative energy sources on the top of their daily awareness agendas. This raised somehow the impression that our energy issue is resolved, but we should know better. I put a couple of information resources together to enrich the discussion with background on actual research to get the numbers in a more adjusted perspective. Nov. 7, 2008
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The Reach of Change
The US president election became a great event for several people within the US as well as in other parts of the world. This election drove strong expectations regarding changes in social and economical environment in connection with foreign affairs. Do we expect impacts pro sustainability? The recovery of the financial crisis will force changes as well. Will these social and economical dimensions amplify each other? Nov. 5, 2008
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Preparations to run the after-recovery phase.
Based on Darwin’s rules, biological entities try to recover from a crisis. This isn’t only with people, but also animals and plants. Also due to Darwin, recovery might imply a change in DNA. This biological DNA change needs “a couple of years”. In the context of current business, society, and nature, recovering is key and next to that, we have to prepare the phase after recovery. No science fiction, but real necessity. Oct. 11, 2008
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TechEd sessions on GRC, and on “CSR and Sustainability”
The acronyms GRC and CSR are often used, but still people asked us about the vision, and focus of these domains. Sustainability is that often used, that it seems to become a “non-differentiator”. Putting CSR and Sustainability together in one phrase is forcing the question “What is the difference”. These sessions try to put some light, such that discussions get more lively, and exchanges of minds and thoughts become more fruitful. Oct. 10, 2008
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TechEd sessions: skill pool on cross industry expertise supporting emerging markets
The pace of IT industrialization be increase, once the FS crisis is mentally overcome. The world of tomorrow will not be a logical extension of yesterday’s world. Increase the IT industrialization for emerging markets imply an increase in demand on expertise and get enough knowledge and expertise in time. This is the great opportunity to collaborate and to challenge capabilities in changed environments. It’s probably easier to learn the “industry flavors on top” compared to the “business architecture and business suite capabilities on top”. Oct. 10, 2008
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SAP Banking Congress demonstrates Eco
Yearly, between mid of September and mid of October, SAP Banking Congress becomes a sync point for SAP Banking IT professionals from German speaking European countries. This year’s event had the focus on the actual FS crisis and the new business scenarios affecting the bank/customer relationship. Oct. 9, 2008
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GRC, road traffic regulations, and soccer
Along the preparations regarding TechEd Berlin I came across the blog by Dennis on his slot on “GRC and the financial crisis”. He mentioned regulations, compliance and auditing as natural consequences. Thinking about the “beyond” activities I recognized some equivalences in normal live like traffic and soccer. Oct. 7, 2008
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My prep for Berlin: struggling with technics
The industry sessions in the clubhouse of SAP TechEd 2008 Berlin are intended to be recorded with a camcorder instead of a webcam. But still I face some issues. Using SAP (Adobe Enterprise) Connect with a camcorder as video feed-in is the current challenge I have. Oct. 3, 2008
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Banking business on change: payment processing
Banking business is adapted to local commodities regarding commercial and retail customer behavior. Changes in regulations and customer behavior affected the value position of payment processing. The need for high volume processing initiated discussions about platform, applications, interfacing, and flexibility. Details about first customer success regarding SAP payment engine are disclosed.  Oct. 2, 2008
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People and IT behind the question “Financial Services becomes victim of its own strategy?”
Financial Services produced many headlines in the media and it’s expected more to come. Reasoning of current FS crisis goes back to subprime, according to the different articles in the press. Is that the only reason or are there other impacts as well? What went wrong in history and what will be the future of Financial Services industries? These are among the key questions beyond of the daily shocking news. Sep. 19, 2008
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Alternative sources for our energy demand
The summer on the northern hemisphere comes to an end. Most holidays are spent and the year is getting to its end. So, some of us started to look forward. This happened also in the energy sector. Two articles in business week stress this topic with remarkable complementary considerations: hydrogen provisioning network in Europe and bio-fuel in Africa are the topics. Sep. 15, 2008
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SAP Banking at Sibos in Vienna (1): we are there
This year the Sibos conference stops in Vienna. SAP Banking discusses connectivity of bank to its corporate customers, a survey on visions regarding future banking, a customer success story on its payment engine. Booth topics are high-volume payment processing, bankers dashboards, corporate banking including services to handle operational risk management. Sep. 14, 2008
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Communities facing the knowledge sharing opportunity
Communities share knowledge. This is often heart, but what is meant? Why is this obvious advantage impacting other elements of our society and business? As we went to base school, we all received the constructive messages about learning, but some of today's ticker information seem to contradict with these older guidelines.  Sep. 3, 2008
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Communities embedded in societies
Communities are assemblies of people with a common target, with a personal commitment regarding their investment size, and an understanding about cost/benefit. Communities are part of larger communities, some communities have overlaps and others complement each other. The largest community, we are part of, is the society. Society and community can't be split from one another. The public perceived value of communities is different, depending on culture, ethic and religions, and political social development. The development of virtual communities will use this diversity of perceptions and values. Therefore virtual communities will become diverse as well (although some of use believe internet will uniform society).  Sep. 3, 2008
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Communities: the difference with Web 2.0
Currently there is a large variety of discussions regarding communities; partly these conversations are also in the internet. Interesting, these discussions have a lot in common and the building (starting up) phase of “to-become community” follows typical patterns. Especially regarding the elements affecting virtual communities, people associate real communities as their building blocks (and as well as their only base of expertise). Communities are also highly dependant on culture and politics. From this perspective “communities might differ, in reality as well as in Web 2.0”. Sep. 3, 2008
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Business Architecture (5): big picture and roadmap
Changing business process models and sync these with appropriate IT platforms is by far non-trivial, but it becomes the differentiation among all market participants. The development of these capabilities will determine about the value generation by a network of business partners. This implies that in future single (individual) players will have reduced impact. This process is already in place for some of the matured industries. How can emerging industries profit from these new market dynamics and how can they get their current IT environments prepared to tomorrow’s market demand? The transformation to business networks will be the key-driver, where the networks will have specific focus and will also develop over time. In any case trust and control will determine future market developments. Aug. 19, 2008
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Business Architecture (4): beyond BPR towards BNT
To open business to other partners raises itself the question about the IT platform, providing services across companies and industries. This cross application stack needs to be provided (only) once on the link between the “other” business partners. It might be provided by the business partner instead of the bank, or even by a third party. This level of trust could open the acceptance for cross-industry IT expertise to build and implement business architecture for FS industries.  Aug. 18, 2008
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Business Architecture (3): BPR and Lean Operations
BPR on top of the implementation of ERP applications or suites disclose the value of “interface descriptions” and “clear commutations” between supplier and vendor. Although logical, but not acknowledged: “from an historical viewpoint, achieved knowledge and leadership attitudes are not natural and easy transferable”. In this contribution, the historical development of IT & organizational processes within engineering industries is projected towards current challenges for the IT of FS industries.  Aug. 13, 2008
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Business Architecture (2): IT-industrialization of the industries
Sometimes construction architects dream to build their cathedrals or shopping malls, but due to the demand and the market most have to execute on “repetitive” business. This, with high quality standards and a niche for creativity. What about the business architects? What’s their dream and what’s real? •Is there some reason for them to stay away from “copy & paste”? •Can "lessons learned" be migrated from one to another industries? This to increase the pace of business architecture modeling within emerging industries? Back to history, discovering repetitive behavior in IT.  Aug. 4, 2008
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Business architecture(1): likeness
In business architecture, we need common understanding to exchange expertise across different industries and application suites. Besides, of attempts to homogenize, the willingness for sharing should be by far stronger in relation to the attitudes to differentiate. Most current differentiations are perception driven.  Aug. 1, 2008
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Importance and relevance of events: measurements in the light of sustainability
In the production processes of professional services the provioning and exchange of knowledge and expertise play an important role. Comparing this "production process" regarding energy consumption with the chenistry industrie I suddenly realized the "forgotten lessons learned from 7 years ago". Or: do we need that carbon footprint in assembling knowledge and expertise? Jul. 31, 2008
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How financial services industries interact with the development of sustainability
A couple of days ago I mentioned a German book by Klaus Gabriel on sustainability. The second part of that book describes the application of financial instruments to support sustainable industry processes and corporations from a capital market perspective. Especially the research on stock indices and the outcome on the balance among the three pillars (ecology, economy, social) indicate still a long way to go. The remarks on education of our next generation could initiate a separate domain on sutainability. May. 28, 2008
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Sustainability: a fundamental introduction
I like to draw your attention to an excellent book describing the fundaments of sustainability including the interaction between business models and ethics. Its geo-coverage is Germany, Switzerland and Austria and it's written in German.  May. 23, 2008
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Additions to Grumpy Old Man's SAPPHIRE blog
Yesterday Eddy de Clercq wrote his blog on visting Berlin SAPPHIRE. Eddy pointed to some serious topics of sustainability. Although this event is business his comments are useful in the context of forward thinking. With this contribution I like to complement his contribution. As I included several links, it wasn't easy to get this posted as comment to Eddy's blog. May. 20, 2008
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one nature one world our future
Today May 19, 2008 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties) is started in Bonn/Germany. Along the different discussions we have regarding energy strategies, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility, biological diversity is the umbrella. May. 19, 2008
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Snapshots of Banking Industry (1)
Two different reports by SAP partners discuss impacts on future retail banking business. Harmonization (as by SEPA) and cost-containment ask for fundamental (different) future business models. Different comparisons among banks and countries clearly indicate urgency to manage business requirements for enablement of future banking business. The reports are from Capgemini (March 2008) and Celent/Oliver Wyman (April 2008). May. 13, 2008
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Sustainability and Economic Growth
At the 2008 SAPPHIRE in Orlando we will use a satellite setup to show effectiveness of internet communications and virtual networking. This discussion is a starting point: complements are expected to extent the scope of this topic into other regions and expertise domains. This topic addresses collaboration among different industries, defining business targets on new fundaments and has a strong focus on responsibility and guidance. Apr. 29, 2008
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Adoption of trends (4) (servicing on banking customer relations)
A second wave of CRM within banking is able to unlock business values for banks and their customers. The first wave had typical shortcomings due to the typical non-integrated, isolated approach by software and service providers. By that communication channels weren't in sync and back-office data wasn't in reach of the front office. Apr. 22, 2008
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Are current World Bank messages beyond of Basel II?
At the end of their spring meeting, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund called G7 nations and banks to tackle actual banking crisis and soaring food prices. There are some links between these different topics. It might affect future of emerging countries, but the other countries and industries aren't free from impacts. Apr. 14, 2008
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Financial markets and sustainability
What is meant by sustainability in the context of the actual crisis at the financial markets? This topic isn't easy to handle, but we need more than a puffer to reduce inflation etc. Don't forget about the impacts on (international) societies. Mar. 21, 2008
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Impacts of energy on sustainability
Business execution requires consumption of energy. To know the size of such consumption is as important as reflecting on alternatives to execute on business targets. This isn't restricted to business only, also private life as well as energy production needs reflection. Mar. 20, 2008
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Adobe: Complementary solution extensions
In the internet the impact of appropriate user-iteractions is similar to face-to-face in the channel of banks. Transparency, differentiation, and the delivery on expectations determine success of bank's offerings in the internet. Mar. 18, 2008
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Streamserve: Complementary solution extensions
Using the account statement of bank customers as an additional interaction channel enables personalized offerings. This one to one marketing supports an increase in bank's revenue as it will enhance customer's loyality to that bank also. Mar. 18, 2008
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Adoption of Trends (3) (Standardization and industrialization in payments processing)
Throughout August 2007 SAP and Finextra conducted a reader quiz targeting to get feedback about implementation strategies and progress around Sepa, PSD, Credit transfers, Debit transfers, banking engagements with their corporate customers Mar. 10, 2008
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Adoption of Trends (1) (Researching the Industry’s Trends)
The European Financial Management and Marketing Association (EFMA) and SAP conduct research on bank IT strategies on a yearly basis. By examining the results, and comparing them over time, we can gain insights into the relationship of strategy, execution, and the ability to achieve strategic targets in the industry.  Jan. 23, 2008
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Adoption of Trends (2) (The Packaged Approach)
The increase of customer value in implementation of standard software applications can be increased by using the packaged solution approach. This blog is the introduction of this procedure, next contributions will present more details. Jan. 23, 2008
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