AOL consumer monitoring

AOL's methods of monitoring what people are searching for on the web is a great method. Instead of the MAN controlling what we see and read about, they are actually giving us what we want. Some fear that we will just read about celebrities doing stupid stuff. I believe reputable news agencies will separate themselves from this type of media. Their tactic will show advertisers that AOL has a very good plan to get the most hits and get their product or service out there.

People Like Helping People

in the article the author talks about how the only way to find a job is to go out and make personal connections with people, but having a virtual bio sheet on a social network can help as well. This is quite funny since i was just discussing this with my older brother at 5 in the morning after partying in NYC for his birthday. Being a near graduate i expressed my worries of finding a job. He recently completed MBA school, and alot of people he know are having trouble finding jobs. He sent out 200 job inquiry emails, and did not hear back from one. He even admitted he applied for jobs he was severely over qualified for. he said the only way he found better leads for jobs was by talking to people he knew or had a connection with. His main target was alumni from his undergrad and MBA schools. This eased my worries a lot in that i felt like seeking jobs through family friends and common friends was sort of a "cop-out" way to look for one.

21st century secretary

With technology seamlessly keeping together our entire lives these days, it isn't a surprise that small business's are starting to rely on group work technology as much as the big corporations. These programs are very helpful in the larger corporations because it makes everyone accustom to the same protocol, and "standardizes" all operations.

My father owns a small business of about 9 employees. salesmen, an accountant, a secretary, and him self, the main salesman and CEO. He has been in business for close to 30 years, and has very particular ways of doing things. In his way of business, which moves on the fly so fast, it is hard for him to rely on such a tool to get information out. His main hurdle would be that since he is on the road so much, and only available to answer his 100's of emails when on the road 2 times a day, he diverts many issues to his secretary. All of his employees accustom to his normal protocol of calling and emailing with no organization, they would not reap any benefits from this type of system. The time it would take his secretary to learn the new system and how to use the new collaboration system would negatively affect their operations. too much of his business is relied on phone calls and negotiation, and these systems do not have a good enough substitute for a conference call. this is most beneficial to larger business's of around 20 or more.

There is An I(nternet) in TEAM

I personally hate it when in class we have to get into groups, but i understand the reasoning. We need to learn how to work in groups to be able to successfully work with the lack of some assets such as face time, or even real time collaboration. I have found that the loss of momentum is lost when there is collaboration going on through the internet. While many people know what tasks they need to complete and know when they are going to get to it, but do not convey it to their members. I make a effort to answer every email i get as immediate as i can (blackberry is always by my side) even if it is just to say that i got the email. Usually it is to tell them my schedule and when i will complete the task that is in question.

IPAD=WORTHLESS

i am sorry but i will not be fooled by the Apple charade. I may be someone who sees the glass half empty but Apple has been doing this for a while. They came out with the Ipod touch, which in my eyes is not a beefed up Ipod, it is a Iphone which lacks the phone function. Now this Ipad comes out. It is not even a laptop without a keyboard,flash, and lacks the specs to really substitute a real computer. Netbooks are bad enough, and i have never found one person who is satisfied with them as a primary computer.
The Ipad in my eyes is a glorified E-reader, and nothing more. Yea its color, can get apps, and it can surf the net via safari, but who are they actually targeting. its at a price higher tan most netbooks, and its functionality is very limited to apples agreements with software producers. I just don't see how it is that revolutionary as a product.

Linked Up and Ready-To-GO

Linked-In seems like a great social network. I will have to join that in the very near future. The rules that Guy Kawasaki sets in his blog , show great ways to make the most out of your experience. Its suggestion to put a link to your profile in your emails is a great idea. They make a great point saying how it would be awkward to put your resume in an attachment, but the link is very casual. It also is very helpful to check out your interviewer. The best way to win someone over is for you to be comfortable, as well as making them feel comfortable. If you two can relate about a common past employer, or having went to the same undergrad, it can do nothing but help your chances.

Informal Communication

In the article , this employee Bob gets in trouble for communicating with customers outside of the normal means of contact. Even though he was helping customers, and not giving away trade secrets, he was put under a red flag and treated in not the nicest of ways. I think this is completely irresponsible of a company. Many products are complex, where customers with different levels of understanding may be interested. Other customers may have questions that cannot directly be answered by a company officially. I find this alot on my Car forums that i visit. For a supercharger kit for example, a potential client may ask the community about a particular shop or product, and get valuable feedback. If they were to give negative feedback on a product, should that company not take steps to refute the bad mouthing they are receiving. Wouldn't releasing a product through a medium where the level of understanding is higher have a trickle down effect to less knowledgeable consumers?