Taking another page out of Jim Collins’ book Good to Great, where he highlights a number of corporate myths, his research found (and I quote); “Companies that make the change from good to great have no name for their transformation – and absolutely no program. They neither rant nor rave about a crisis – and they don’t manufacture one where none exists. They don’t motivate people – their people are self-motivated. There’s no evidence of a connection between money and change mastery. And fear doesn’t drive change – but it does perpetuate mediocrity.”

While Collins’ book has been a veritable wellspring of knowledge and insight, the reference to the findings that companies and managers “don’t motivate people – their people are self-motivated,” stands out like the proverbial lighthouse on a foggy night.

This is one of the reasons why Rick Dacri’s book “Uncomplicating Management: Focus on Your Stars & Your Company Will Soar” was so interesting to me. Especially as it relates to employee motivation within a business entity.

The critical link between a company’s fortunes and the level of enthusiasm employees demonstrate through uncompromising effort and unquestionable pride in a job well done, seems to be absent in today’s mercenary employment climate.

So how does Collins’ reference companies, and Dacri’s put all your money on the smart kids edict mesh with the increasingly cynical world within which today’s businesses operate?

In the next 60 minutes we will attempt to answer this question, as well as other pressing questions regarding the ever-changing dynamics of managing employees to stardom and corporate success.

To assist me in this journey of discovery of course is author, speaker and consultant Rick Dacri.

Rick Dacri

Rick Dacri is one of those rare individuals who can take difficult employee issues, sort through their complexities, and find solutions for employers that make sense. Dacri is the author of the book Uncomplicating Management. Dacri brings more than 25 years of experience in senior management, organizational development, and human resources, all in one package. He has consulted to a wide variety of industries, large and small, always brings to the table a practical approach, sound advice, and a sense of humor.

Dacri’s consulting firm, Dacri & Associates, LLC helps organizations improve individual and organizational performance. Rick connects with people in a positive and challenging way to offer practical solutions.

Dacri is also a recognized national speaker and has authored over 100 articles for a number of business publications. He has been an adjunct professor at Clark University, Assumption College and Fitchburg State College, where he has taught courses in management, human resource management and organizational behavior. He has served as President of the Human Resource Association of Southern Maine, as the Massachusetts State Director for the Society of Human Resource Management as well as the President of the Human Resource Association of Central Massachusetts.

Rick’s Book:

Managers take note. Your job doesn’t have to be so complicated or so arduous. Use Dacri’s formula for uncomplicating the task of managing. “Rick Dacri knows how to break down the complexities of managing people. This motivating book offers straightforward advise that any manager in any sized organization can use on a daily basis.” -Nathan Poore, Town Manager, Falmouth, Maine “This book packs a powerful punch in areas that managers and entrepreneurs absolutely MUST be savvy in. Leave theory behind! Uncomplicating Management is full of insightful advice from a hands-on management approach. The bottom line is that it works!” – Maureen Regan, President, Seaside Vacation Rentals “…brilliance and simplicity…I love the ‘differentiate between the bright light and dim glow’ reference.’ I’ve never seen it/heard it before but it made me smile. This is such an important topic and seems to have been seriously overlooked in our management practices. You have captured it beautifully in describing how much effort and how many resources we put into the creation of systems to trap and punish the poor performers while the stars go under-appreciated. Makes me sit up and take notice.” – Kathy Hessel, Vice President, Human Resources, Carroll Enterprises.

Remember to use the On-Demand Player below to access the live broadcast on December 3rd between 12:30 and 1:30 PM EST.

For those of you who found my October 15th “The Power of the Blog” post interesting, I thought that I would share with you the details for a high profile competition known as Blog-off #2 which features amongst many benefits a $45,000 total prize package for the winners.

If you are a blogger and have a compelling, entertaining, insightful perspective that you have been sharing with your readership, then this is an ideal venue for you to shine.

Here is the link to The Community Marketing Blog’s contest registration details for the Blog-off #2 competition.

I wish you great success, and of course are happy to provide you with any assistance in terms of your participation.

Click Here to Learn More!

In the meantime, here is the reprint of the October 15th post in its entirety which will hopefully inspire you to participate in this great contest.

The Power of the Blog (Original Post Date: October 15th, 2009)

My entry into social media was through the creation of the Procurement Insights Blog in May 2007.

As of today it reaches more than 300,000 syndicated subscribers each month worldwide, and with more than 40 sponsors and growing it is the number one sponsored blog in its sector.

Of course, none of this was planned as the reasons for creating the blog in the first place was to consolidate my various deadlines for the increasing number of publications for which I wrote either a column or articles on a regular basis. In short, I was able to create a single location from which the magazines could access the articles for distribution through their publication.

Since then, and in relation to Blog Talk Radio, I have come to realize that blogs represent a vehicle through which you can maintain contact with your listening audience even when you are not on the air. The benefits of course are many including the establishment of a collaborative network that is always serving and sharing with what David Cushman referred to as “Communities of Purpose.”

The PI Window on Business Blog is just beginning to ramp-up its sponsorship program and has already secured 9 sponsors and 2 segment sponsors. It also serves as an important part of the collective network’s reach, strengthening the other venues (or brand franchises).

In December we will be launching the PI Inquisitive Eye and TV2 Young Entrepreneurs TV Channels. Each of these new venues will have a corresponding blog, and each blog, TV Channel and Blog Talk Radio site will have associated links to maximize what I refer to as cross pollination of audience interest.

While there are a reasonable percentage of stories that can be quickly and easily posted through my ping.fm account (which also simultaneously posts to my social networks such as Facebook, Ecademy, LinkedIn and even Twitter), there is still a certain degree of discipline to maintaining the sites in terms of providing new and viable content.

Like a plant that needs to be watered every couple of days, to have a viable blog you need to post at least 2 or 3 new articles each week (more if you can). This way when a visitor comes on Tuesday and likes what he or she read, they will likely return within the next day or two to see what new tidbits of entertaining insight you have to offer.

Unfortunately, if there hasn’t been any changes then it is the equivalent of going to an empty fridge when your hungry . . . there’s no point going back a second time because there isn’t any food. So very quickly they will go elsewhere because there is a lot to choose from in the vast social media sea.

Also keep in mind that on average it takes up to six months or more to hit the first plateau of steady or regular followers.

However, and having the advantage of looking back over the last 2 1/2 years I can tell you with little hesitation that it is well worth the investment of your time, energy and care.

What I am now finding is that the time it took me to build my following with the first blog, the second blog is on track to accomplishing within its first six months.

So like a good exercise routine, blog at least 2,3 or even 4 times per week.

(Personal Note: If I can help anyone with getting their blog going let me know as I am happy to contribute to your success in any way that I can.)

When I was originally contacted by Binary Fountain (who is now a sponsor of the Procurement Insights Blog) asking me to review and write about their solution, my initial thought was to view their offering through the lens of quantifying results.  Specifically, by providing timely access to near real-time intelligence, their clients would be able to measure the success of a program after the fact.

Seems like a reasonable approach, as Business Intelligence “BI” is after all leaving the cumbersome and confining realms of traditional ERP-centric platforms in which the extraction of needed information was an onerous task that warranted the moniker of “data mining.” However, and what is compelling about emerging BI solutions such as the one offered by Binary Fountain, is its ability to proactively influence decision-making through an intuitive “dashboard” technology that creates what I call a perpetual cycle of data verification.

Let’s look at one actual real-life example with which we (within the procurement profession) can readily relate . . . the utilization of Small, Women and Minority-owned suppliers.

Historically, the greatest challenges associated with these important and necessary programs were at the points of initial engagement, tracking transactional activity and quantifying the distribution of business through an analytical lens that would not only provide verification of targets being met, but also the effectiveness and impact of the program on the enterprise as a whole. The ability to quantify impact in particular is important, as understanding the gains as well as identifying any potential losses will elevate these programs from ones of muted political correctness to that of a practical strategy.

Given the aforementioned cumbersome processes associated with extracting data, many organizations found that initiatives centered on the engagement of Small, Minority and Women-owned businesses created more work than the results or returns warranted. This meant that the focus of analysis was limited to achieving what many felt were arbitrary “numbers” that in reality had little to do with the objectives of the buying enterprise as a whole. In other words, the program was the right thing to do politically versus being the smart thing to do financially. As a result, the term “set-aside” became a negative connotation of unearned entitlement. Nothing of course could be further from the truth, especially when you extend the quantifying metrics to include economic impact on a particular region or state.

This of course is where the Binary Fountain “dashboard” and complementing range of intelligence tools come into play. By streamlining the data gathering process to one of a seamless back-end integration that becomes part of the original transaction process itself, means that the time-consuming practice of extracting, analyzing and synthesizing information has been virtually eliminated. The result is that the focus can be placed where it needs to be, which is on the establishment and subsequent measurable impact on real-world objectives thereby broadening if you will, the intelligence landscape. From here, program assessment makes the all-important transition from one of intuitive expectation (re it should be beneficial) with sporadic or incomplete data support, to one of conscious clarity (here is where it is beneficial) through the timely access to accurate intelligence.

While I will leave it up to you to check out the Binary Fountain offering in greater depth through their profile page here on the Procurement Insights Blog, increased and reliable access to meaningful intelligence does create the confidence to pursue a strategy with a high degree of certainty relative to outcome. In an increasingly complex supply chain practice in which multiple and at times seemingly disparate objectives have to be incorporated into the decision-making process, Binary Fountain’s intuitive dashboard would seem to be a natural progression for your business.

In an earlier post from the spring I had talked about the manner in which inspiration usually hit me in terms of ideas for the articles that ultimately find their way to the pages of this as well as other blogs. I had bemoaned the fact that at the time I had not yet incorporated into the creative process the practice of carrying a pen and paper, without which to jot down the ideas I found the exercise of remembering these flashes of inspiration tantamount to the old Larson cartoon with the playpen of snakes. Specifically I would write, “the one that depicts two parent snakes lamenting the inability of their wooden-barred playpen to contain their numerous offspring.”

The purpose of that reference points to the difficulty in trying to contain that which cannot be contained – especially by traditional methods. For this very reason, the same Larson observation immediately came to mind as a result of my interview with the incomparable Brad Feld regarding the U.S. Government’s policy surrounding the issuance of the H-1B Visa for budding high-tech entrepreneurs from other countries.

This is a subject in which Feld has had an ongoing interest for some time, as demonstrated by his April 5th, 2007 post on Feld Thoughts titled “I Don’t Understand Our US Immigration Policy.” In the 2007 instance, he expressed his dismay at the Visa Cap which limited the opportunity for skilled workers such as software developers to obtain the necessary documents that would enable them to make a tangible and needed contribution within the United States. A situation that according to our November 20th interview (Diminishing Prospects: How U.S. Policy is Undermining Entrepreneurial Vision), extends to those that seek to establish new and promising ventures in what was once considered the land of opportunity.

While the U.S. is still one of the greatest countries in the world in terms of inspiring the vision and passion which fuels the entrepreneurial engine, when it comes to accepting the potentially great contributions from those whose origins are outside of the Land of the Free, Lady Liberty’s Torch has become somewhat dimmed over the years.

Whether this is a consequence of 9/11, or the deteriorating economic picture that has fanned what some believe is the flame of the protectionist sentiment that had led to the ill-conceived Smoot-Stonehouse Tariff Act and the eventual market crash that triggered the great depression, one thing is clear . . . in the virtual economy of knowledge-based industries one is hard pressed to find a legitimate reason for the difficulty foreign nationals face in obtaining H-1B Visas. Hence the reference to the Far Side cartoon.

As Feld put it, and unlike the traditional sectors of manufacturing where geographic location was an important if not critical consideration when setting-up shop, entrepreneurs operating within the realms of the high-tech, Internet world can just as easily deliver their services to the U.S. market from Minsk as they could from Des Moines. The big difference however, is that Minsk will be gaining the jobs associated with supporting the U.S. sales, instead of Des Moines.

This of course leads me to wonder if the U.S. and even Canada are becoming nations that consume more than they create?!

Ironically, the reasons for this line of thought goes back to a statement that was made by the former VP of Supply Chain for General Motors, Bo Andersson who at the 1st China International Auto Parts Expo in 2007 stated that the “best market to sell cars and trucks in is North America, assuming you don’t produce them there.”

In the case of the young, talented entrepreneurs from other countries who have recently graduated from high profile U.S.-based institutions with what Feld referred to as “amazingly interesting start-ups,” it makes absolutely no sense in any practical terms to restrict or deny access to fulfilling their visions within the U.S. By creating onerous conditions for obtaining the necessary Visas to build their companies, America is forfeiting much needed jobs, while simultaneously accelerating rather than ebbing the brain drain that ultimately limits opportunities for all Americans.

In short, we need to adjust the lens through which we view our economic engines to reflect the new reality of an increasingly virtual, global market. In essence we need to create policy that facilitates the development of virtual enterprises domestically, where modern day “employment clusters” are established as a result of pursuing a geography of openness and true facilitation of the entrepreneurial spirit that made America great in the first place.

The snakes are already out of the playpen. Let’s not try and put them back in the same playpen, but instead create a new way of retaining the talent and recognizing the contribution of these modern day Horatio Alger-style visionaries.

Appearing for the first time as a Guest Host on the December 4th PI Window on Business Show is Jim Bouchard.

Jim’s “Think Like a Black Belt” mindset and resulting journey parallels in principle that of the protagonist from Pat Conroy’s 1980 novel “The Lords of Discipline” Will McLean, in that it has ultimately lead him to a greater understanding of both himself and life.

Like Mclean’s three friends, Jim is joined by three equally inspirational individuals whose own unique perspectives on life and the discipline it takes to succeed are powerful in their understanding and candor.

Consisting of three separate 15 minute vignette interviews, the show concludes with Troy Evans.

Evans, a one time drug addict and bank robber who is now a major success in consulting and speaking, will share his story in what collectively promises to be one of the most memorable 60 minutes in the show’s history.

Today’s guest profile is on author and speaker Troy Evans from the Evans Group in Phoenix, AZ.

Guest Profile, Troy Evans:

Troy Evans, Speaker From Desperation To Dedication

On November 12, 1992, Troy Evans was sentenced to 13 years in Federal Prison. He was convicted of five armed bank robberies, in three states, over a six-month crime spree, and was sent to the Federal Correctional Complex in Florence, Colorado. His neighbors included such notorious criminals as Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Troy was released on December 13, 1999, over seven and one-half years later.

Despite the obstacles that only prison can produce, Troy was determined that his time behind bars would not be wasted time. Education would be his saving grace. After six months of filling out applications, writing essays, begging, pleading, and selling, Troy landed his first scholarship for one class. That was a beginning, and when Troy walked out the doors of prison he carried with him two degrees, both obtained with a 4.0 GPA and designation on the Dean’s and President’s list.

Troy is now a motivational speaker who shares his story and lessons learned with audiences of all ages. Since his release, Evans has taken the Corporate, Association and Education platforms by storm with his motivational keynote speeches. Audiences are stunned by his endurance, accomplishments and remarkable personal transformation. With straightforward, real life examples, Evans shows how the keys to his success in prison are the keys to his success today, and how these lessons can be applied to escaping the “prisons within ourselves”. He renews an appreciation for what is really important in all of our lives and motivates each and every person to overcome adversity, adapt to change, and to realize their full potential.

With young people, Evans speaks openly on the dangers of drug use, peer pressure and the power of responsible decision-making. His student motivational speaking grabs the attention of today’s youth by sharing what he witnessed within the harsh environment of a Federal Prison and illustrates how his years of incarceration can be linked to the decisions he made as a teenager. Teen audiences are left with a wide-eyed understanding of “consequence” and a realization that the decisions they make today have the potential to alter their entire life.

From Desperation to Dedication: A Former Bank Robber

Latest Book:

A hard-luck story with a lesson to learn, this guide offers readers solid advice on making choices and making changes in their lives. Fifteen years ago, the author was a drop out, drug addict, and deadbeat dad who had turned to bank robbery and landed in prison; now, he shares what has made it possible for him to become a college graduate, responsible father, and acclaimed public speaker. From his example, readers will learn how to change their lives and commit to being better people by accepting responsibility for—and making the most of—every choice they face. The inspiring story and reliable advice combine to offer a uniquely insightful plan of attack for those who want to take control of their situations and set themselves on the path to success.

Remember to use the On-Demand Player below to access the December 4th Live Broadcast on the Blog Talk Radio Network:

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As reported in my November 20th post, Jim Bouchard will be appearing for the first time as a Guest Host on the December 4th PI Window on Business Show. Joining Jim to offer their unique perspectives on life and the discipline it takes to succeed are three equally inspirational individuals whose understanding and candor will both enrich and empower you.

Today’s guest profile is on Neil Ducoff from the No Compromise Leadership Academy in Centerbrook, CT.

Guest Profile, Neil Ducoff:

Neil Ducoff, No Compromise Leadership

“Businesses are not destroyed by competitors, the economy or a changing marketplace; they’re destroyed by compromise,” declares leadership guru Neil Ducoff. That’s why “No Compromise” has become the powerful mantra of his hard-hitting keynotes, seminars and coaching programs.

The foremost authority no-compromise leadership, Ducoff has spurred thousands of business executives to achieve the highest levels of success and profitability, while creating positive workplace environments and supporting their communities. Through resetting your no-compromise leadership thinking and behavior, Ducoff issues the wake-up call and charts the path for cultural transformation and the standard for success in a changing world.

In addition to dedicating almost 40 years to coaching leaders at great companies, like Gillette, Aveda and Matrix, Ducoff is a dynamic and sought after speaker. He has led more than 4,500 seminars throughout North America and such countries as Taiwan, Spain and Mexico – as well as served as a presenter at major healthcare, computer, manufacturing and franchise conferences, and as a featured speaker at Jack Stack’s “National Gathering of Games” conference over the past five years. He was honored as a “business icon” at the Serious Business conference in 2006 and was recipient of the 2005 Art of Business Award.

Ducoff is the founder and CEO of Strategies, a business training and coaching company located in Centerbrook, CT, and the author of the best seller No-Compromise Leadership: A Higher Standard of Leadership Thinking & Behavior, the definitive book on get-it-done leadership and creating no-compromise business cultures.

To learn more about Ducoff, his keynote presentations and opportunities to connect with him, visit www.nocompromiseleadership.com and email him at neil@nocompromiseleadership.com.

“No Compromise Leadership”

Latest Book:

No-compromise leadership is all about the thinking, behavior and accountability that support all leadership results and business outcomes.

With no-compromise as the mandate, even the best and most respected of companies reveal the need for improvement. Business size doesn’t matter. When compromise seeps in, the more drag it places on growth momentum and energy. Allow it to go unchecked, even for a nanosecond, and the most achievable goals instantly turn into pipe dreams … yet another collection of missed opportunities. No-compromise means no missed opportunities. No-compromise leadership is a commitment to a higher standard that guides and nurtures a business culture capable of extraordinary achievement. No-compromise defines the type of leader you are. It defines the DNA of the business you lead.

This book was written to give business leaders, managers and entrepreneurs a no-compromise operating system allowing dynamic companies to emerge. A business is a life form and it must be cared for and respected in order for it to grow, prosper and endure. That is the true role of the no-compromise leader.

Remember to use the On-Demand Player below to access the December 4th Live Broadcast on the Blog Talk Radio Network:

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It never fails to amaze me that given the amount of research which goes into the production of each PI Window on Business Show, there are always a number of new insights that come to light during the live broadcast.  In fact this is one of the reasons why social media is so critical to the procurement profession, as it broadens the lens through which we can view a particular subject.  In short, if we as professionals confine ourselves to a single venue of collaboration, thereby limiting what I refer to as the cross-pollinization process, we ultimately and quite unintentionally risk the ongoing veracity of the insights we wish to gain and share.

One such example of these important on-air insights came during my interview with SRS founder and visionary Andy Akrouche.

During the segment, which was centered on how the RFP process is being re-defined by the emergence of intuitive technology platforms such as SRS’ newly launched RFPBlaster solution, I made the observation that while important, technology in and of itself is not the answer to the problems posed by eroding supply bases and decreasing supplier response to RFPs.

As Andy succinctly put it, the relationship between buyer and supplier is one that has to be based on trust, otherwise suppliers will not even come to the table.  A fact that was driven home by a senior VP from Colgate-Palmolive who had attended one of my seminars a few years ago.  Referencing Colgate’s efforts to institute an Ariba reverse auction application, the VP stated that after a considerable expenditure of resources, when the time came to run the first event they did not receive a single bid.

The problem as is the case with most RFPs is the prevailing believe that the system by its very nature is tilted to a certain degree toward a known and proven vendor thus reducing the exercise to one of price verification rather than competitive supplier selection.  Against this backdrop, phrases such as transparency and a fair and open bid process fall largely on deaf ears.  Hence the reason for my position that technology is not the driving force or initiator of the RFP process, but is instead a facilitator that streamlines, manages and monitors bidding activity.  This means that the precursor to success is the level of trust that Akrouche had referred to during our interview.

Trust however is a two-way street, and technology such as RFPBlaster serves as the proverbial olive branch between a buying organization and its suppliers.  How does the RFPBlaster fulfill the role of peacemaker with what for many organizations is a highly cynical supply base.  To fully answer this question, one must first understand the reasons behind the growing chasm that has and continues to occur between transactional partners.

To begin, and as referenced many times in this blog, studies and reports indicate that buyers tend to limit their focus on known supplier relationships simply because of time constraints and limited resources.  For many purchasing professionals whose mandate can quickly vacillate between the need to fill an immediate service demand and the necessity of obtaining the best value (re price), simplifying through compression of options is the only viable option.

This of course creates a limited range of engagement as only those suppliers with whom the buyer feels most comfortable are likely to be seriously considered.  A practice by the way that is further fuelled by misaligned vendor raltionalization strategies that create artificial pricing metrics that further removes the buying organization from market realities.  No wonder a Best Buy can pay up to a 23% premium, or the Department of National Defence in Canada pay a 157% delta above market price for Indirect IT service parts.

Collectively, the above scenario creates the perfect conditions for undetected margin creep, and gradually declining service levels.  It also creates unfavourable conditions for the successful introduction of an RFP application, explaining why the Colgate-Palmolive Ariba “initiative” failed.  This scenario also sheds light, at least in part, on why 85% of all public and private sector e-Procurement initiatives fail to achieve the expected results.  In short, what we are talking about is not a technological problem alone, but an expertise or practical experience issue that is a reflection of the minimal degree of involvement purchasing professionals have actually had in their organization’s efforts to automate the supply chain practice.

Where a solution such as the RFPBlaster changes the game, in essence filling the knowledge vacuum that has come about as a result of initiatives being viewed as primarily an IT or Finance department undertaking, is found in its practical purchasing expertise origins.

As Akrouche emphasized during our interview, he and the SRS team incorporated their vast purchasing and supplier relations expertise into the development process at the beginning.  They then structured the RFPBlaster’s functionality around these realities of experience, providing a practical “relational” engagement vehicle in which the real challenges of buyers and suppliers are addressed.

Unlike an Oracle or an SAP, which if you think about it are software companies first, and therefore view a problem through a technological lens, SRS developed its RFPBlaster through practical understanding using technology as the delivery platform.  There is a world of difference.

For this reason, the interview with Akrouche is both telling and insightful.

Remember to use the following On-Demand Player to access the replay of the “Live” November 19th broadcast “Redefining the RFP Process” on the PI Window on Business Show:

Appearing for the first time as a Guest Host on the December 4th PI Window on Business Show is Jim Bouchard, whose “Think Like a Black Belt” mindset and 20 year quest for what he refers to as “the keys to personal and professional success,” has made him a much sought after speaker and successful author.

Joining Jim to offer their unique perspectives on life and the discipline it takes to succeed are three equally inspirational individuals whose understanding and candor will both enrich and empower you.

Today’s guest profile is on Mark Altman from the Altman Leadership Center in Austin, Texas

Guest Profile, Mark Altman M.I.S.:

No sooner had the ink dried on the last sentance of the final page of my first book “Your Show Will Go Live in 5 Seconds,” and I was already on to my second project.

While I certainly did not have plans to start a second book so soon after the first, when I was approached by the founder of the So Act Social Network Greg Halpern, to write a book about his vision I was to say the least intrigued.

As it was explained to me by the intrepid visionary whose sincerity of passion was unlike any I had ever seen before, “So Act wasn’t created to build a better network, it was created to build a better world.”  Of course pursuing, let alone accomplishing this lofty ideal in the increasingly fragmented realms of social media, where most networks are struggling to pay the bills or operating under the heavy taskmasters that are the venture capitalists, reminded me of a Don Quixote-type nobility.  Well intentioned, but ultimately misguided.  What is the old saying that you “can’t tell a book by its cover?”

Relying on my extensive background in the utilization of advanced algorithms to create a seamless integration between seemingly disparate data streams (re finding the relational points of what appears to be disassociated, random events), I came to realize that Halpern had somehow found the symmetry between social consciousness and capitalistic endeavor.

On the one hand, So Act is the 60 Minutes of social networks . . . probing, assertive, informed and balanced.  So Act is not just another social network, but is a venue that engages, informs, cross-pollinates and mobilizes its members to take action.

On the other hand, and leveraging Halpern’s vast years of social enterprise experience and expertise, he structured a publicly traded company that was funded by socially conscientious individuals who could share in the success of the network through the increasing value of So Act stock.

“A capitalistic model of conscience” I would write, that would “serve the dual purpose of demonstrating the stockholder’s commitment to a better world while heralding his or her business acumen as an astute investor.”

It is without a doubt a program of sheer brilliance in that both internal as well as external stakeholder sensibilities and wants are satisfied through the balanced benefit delivered through social capitalization.

In the chapters that make up this book, we will delve deeper into the core elements of social networking.  By creating this point of context I will provide you with the reasons why I believe that So Act may very well become the de facto standard by which all other social networks and revenue models will be measured.

In the call to action words of So Act founder and visionary Greg Halpern . . . “What are you waiting for – So Act Already,” and enjoy the excerpt – the book will be released in February 2010.

Book Excerpt Interactive Viewer:

In the meantime, check out my November 18th PI Window on Business interview with Greg Halpern through the On-Demand Player below:

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Strategic Sourcing, eSourcing, TCO modeling represent terminology with which we are all familiar.  So when you see these elements of a best practice – best outcome strategy being presented within the framework of an upcoming seminar or webcast, it might be easy to assume an attitude of complacency.  Especially when it is viewed in the context of existing process and system familiarity.

For this reason, and as is the case with every sponsor press release or announcement, I always try and view the information that has been provided in the context of industry developments.  This of course includes assessing the practical, real-world impact such news might have on your day-to-day responsibilities.

Because of this sifting approach, combined with the awareness of how social networks or platforms can be leveraged to establish a common ground of shared knowledge and expertise, the reference in Zycus’ promotional eMailer to “in-built supplier-buyer collaboration tools” immediately caught my attention.

Unlike traditional ERP-based solutions such as those offered through the SAPs and Oracles, whose platforms are structured around a somewhat static architecture when compared with the social platforms of today, collaboration within the Web 2.0 world extends beyond the realms of reactionary facilitation.  Specifically, and to be effective, true collaboration must be based on what I refer to as proactive, real-time engagement.

So while the terminology may be familiar, the reference to “innovative application of cutting edge technology” being “new, evolving and meaningful” is more than a semantical reflection of simply adding on bells and whistles to traditional applications.

What this actually represents is the emergence of knowledge-based solutions which can revitalize eroding supplier relations through the timely provision of meaningful business intelligence.

This of course is intelligence at its very best.  So much so, that I will actually be tuning in to the live event on December 2nd.  I hope to see you there . . . virtually speaking.

Note: to register for the December 2nd, 2009 Webcast simply click on the Zycus logo below.

eSourcing 2.0 Webcast: December 2, 2009

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