[Note: Talking about business traps of banking system related to credit card and debit card in America. This is also a topic on Fox News in August, 2010. – PK*]
ระบบการเงินถูกสร้างขึ้นเพื่อส่งเสริมสภาพคล่องในระบบเศรษฐกิจ ในช่วงระยะเวลาที่เศรษฐกิจโลกตกต่ำนั้น ระบบธุรกิจทั้งหลายรวมถึงระบบการเงิน ได้ปรับตัวเปลี่ยนแปลงเพื่อความอยู่รอด ภาคธุรกิจเริ่มคิดค้นวิธีใหม่ๆเพื่อหาผลกำไรสูงสุดเข้าตัวมากยิ่งขึ้น การอนุมัติให้เสรีภาพทางการแข่งขันในตลาดการเงินจากภาครัฐเอง ก็ได้เอื้ออำนวยผลประโยชน์ให้กับธนาคารและผู้ให้บริการบัตรเครดิตในภาคเอกชนเป็นอย่างมาก

หลายท่านคงสังเกตเห็นนะครับว่า ในช่วงปี 2009-2010 ที่ผ่านมา ผู้ให้บริการบัตรเครดิตโดยเฉพาะในสหรัฐอเมริกา ต่างพร้อมใจกันปรับอัตราดอกเบี้ยค้างชำระให้สูงขึ้น หรือในบางกรณีก็มีการปรับวงเงิน credit line ให้ต่ำลง เงื่อนไขการเปลี่ยนแปลงเหล่านี้อาจจะไม่ส่งผลกระทบที่รุนแรงนักกับผู้ที่มีรายได้สูง แต่เราต้องไม่ลืมว่า ในช่วงภาวะที่ระบบเศรษฐกิจย่ำแย่และยังไม่ฟื้นตัวเต็มที่นั้น ผู้มีรายได้ปานกลางถึงน้อยกำลังประสบปัญหาทางด้านการเงินอย่างหนัก จำนวนผู้ว่างงานในประเทศเพิ่มขึ้น ในขณะเดียวกันกับที่พวกเขาต้องแบกรับภาระหนี้สินทางการเงินเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างหลีกเลี่ยงมิได้ หรือกล่าวง่ายๆได้ว่า ถ้าคุณไม่มีเงินก็ต้องยืมเขามาใช้ โดยเวลาผ่อนใช้คืนคุณต้องเสียค่าดอกเบี้ยที่สูงเกินสมควร มากกว่าที่เคยได้คาดการณ์เอาไว้ล่วงหน้า ธุรกิจขนาดเล็กที่หมุนเงินลงทุนระยะสั้นผ่านเครดิตที่มี ก็ต้องประสบปัญหาขาดแคลนเงินทุน เนื่องจากวงเงินที่เบิกได้ต่อเดือนนั้นอาจลดลง ตัวอย่างปัญหาพื้นฐานในระบบเศรษฐกิจและการเงินเหล่านี้ได้ฝังรากลึก จนทำให้ระบบการเงินในอเมริกานั้นสั่นคลอน ส่งผลกระทบออกไปเป็นวงกว้างทั่วโลก ถ้าระบบการเงินล่ม ระบบเศรษฐกิจก็จะขาดสภาพคล่อง ทำให้ฟื้นตัวได้ยากยิ่งขึ้น

คนอเมริกันนั้นให้ความสำคัญกับเครดิตเป็นอย่างมาก จะทำอะไรคุณก็ต้องมีเครดิต ปัจจุบันการใช้บัตรเครดิตจึงเป็นระบบการจับจ่ายใช้สอยที่ได้รับความนิยมสูงสุด ทว่าตามสถิติล่าสุดจากรายงานผ่านสื่อต่างๆ ช่วงที่ผ่านมาค่านิยมในการใช้บัตรเครดิตในสหรัฐอเมริกากลับเริ่มลดลง ทั้งนี้จากกระแสข่าวเรื่องอัตราดอกเบี้ยและค่าธรรมเนียมต่างๆ ผู้ใช้บริการบัตรเครดิตต่างเริ่มรู้สึกถูกเอาเปรียบ และหันมาเลือกใช้บริการบัตรเดบิตแทน จุดนี้ทำให้อัตราการใช้งานบัตรเดบิตได้พุ่งสูงขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็วในช่วงปีที่ผ่านมา เป็นไปได้ว่าผู้คนคงรู้สึกถูกเอาเปรียบน้อยลงหากใช้ตังค์ในกระเป๋าตนเอง

หากแต่หารู้ไม่ครับว่า ธนาคารต่างๆในฐานะผู้ให้บริการบัตรเดบิต ได้พร้อมใจกันวางกับดักตัวใหม่รอคุณเอาไว้แล้ว มันคือความเสี่ยงทางการเงินที่อาจมองไม่เห็นในเบื้องต้น ในช่วงปีที่ผ่านมานั้น พอธนาคารทราบว่าผู้คนหันมานิยมใช้บัตรเดบิตกันมากขึ้น พวกเขาก็ตอบรับความต้องการของตลาดด้วยภาพพจน์ที่เป็นมิตร มีอยู่วันหนึ่งผมเดินผ่านหน้าธนาคารแห่งหนึ่ง ผมสังเกตเห็นว่าเค้ามีป้ายโปรโมทเชิญชวนให้คนมาเปิดบัญชี checking account กับทางธนาคารได้ฟรี โดยไม่ต้องเสียค่าธรรมเนียมใดๆทั้งสิ้น ซี่งนี่ไม่ใช่เรื่องปกตินัก ต่อมาเมื่อลองพิจารณาเปรียบเทียบเงื่อนไขของธนาคารหลายแห่ง เกี่ยวกับจำนวนเงินขั้นต่ำที่ต้องคงมีอยู่ในบัญชีนั้น ปรากฏว่าธนาคารหลายแห่งบอกว่าคุณไม่จำเป็นต้องมีเงินเหลือไว้ในบัญชีเลยก็ได้ ตรงนี้ชัดเจนเลยครับว่า ธนาคารต้องการที่จะเพิ่มฐานบัญชีลูกค้า แต่ที่น่าสนใจกว่านั้นก็คือ ทำไมธนาคารทั้งเล็กทั้งใหญ่หลายแห่งในอเมริกา จึงกดเงินในบัญชีของคุณให้ต่ำลงจนเป็นศูนย์

ต่อมาเมื่อค้นคว้าหาข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม จึงได้พบกับความจริงที่ว่า ธนาคารในอเมริกายุคนี้ ต้องการที่จะโน้มน้าวลูกค้าของตนให้ใช้จ่ายเกินวงเงินในบัญชีที่มีอยู่ด้วยวิธีต่างๆนานา ไม่ว่าจะเป็นการแนบเช็คเปล่ามาให้หรืออะไรก็ตาม โดยกำไรที่ธนาคารจะได้รับนั้นมาจากค่าธรรมเนียม (fee) เป็นหลัก และแน่นอนครับเท่าที่ผมเห็น ค่าธรรมเนียมนั้นสูงพอสมควรเลยทีเดียว เพราะฉะนั้นหากเราเปิดบัญชีฟรีด้วยวงเงินในบัญชีที่ต่ำๆหรือเป็นศูนย์ และเราใช้บัตรเดบิตอย่างไร้วินัย โอกาสที่งบการเงินของคุณจะติดลบก็ยิ่งสูงขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว

ทั้งนี้ในภาวะเศรษฐกิจตกต่ำและยังไม่ฟื้นฟูเต็มที่ ตราบใดที่เรายังคงเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของระบบเศรษฐกิจ แม้ว่าเราเองจะมีวินัยในการจับจ่ายใช้สอย แต่ก็มิอาจแน่ใจได้ว่า เราจะไม่ติดกับดักตัวนี้ ยกตัวอย่าง สมมติว่าคุณมีรายได้ประจำจากการเก็บค่าเช่าตึกทุกเดือน โดยให้ผู้เช่าโอนเงินเข้าบัญชีคุณโดยตรง ถ้าเกิดเดือนนี้เศรษฐกิจแย่มาก ผู้เช่าหลายรายเบี้ยวเวลาจ่ายเพราะหมุนเงินไม่ทัน คุณเองก็ต้องหมุนเงิน มีค่าใช้จ่ายประจำมากมายที่ตัดจากบัญชี ภายในสองวันก่อนคุณจะรู้ตัวตอนต้นเดือนว่าบัญชีติดลบ คุณก็ได้ใช้เช็คหรือบัตรเดบิตรูดซื้อของจุกจิกไปแล้วมากมาย

กรณีนี้ ธนาคารหลายแห่งจะเรียกเก็บเงินจากคุณ โดยนำเอาค่าธรรมเนียม overdraft คูณกับจำนวนครั้งที่คุณใช้บัตรนั้นเกินไป ซ้ำร้าย ธนาคารบางแห่งได้ใช้โปรแกรมคอมพิวเตอร์จัดลำดับการหักเงินออกจากบัญชีของคุณเสียใหม่ โดยดึงเอาเงินก้อนใหญ่สุดที่คุณจ่ายออกไปมาหักลบออกจากเงินคงเหลือในในบัญชีก่อน ตรงนี้จะทำให้บัญชีคุณติดลบเร็วขึ้น นั่นหมายถึงค่าธรรมเนียมที่ธนาคารได้รับจะสูงขึ้นด้วย หากนับจากจำนวนครั้งการใช้บัตรที่เหลือทั้งหมดของคุณ ที่น่ากลัวคือการกระทำเช่นนี้ไม่ถือว่าผิดกฏหมาย

ที่ผมกล่าวถึงนี่ คือกรณีของผู้ที่พอมีรายได้ประจำอยู่บ้างแล้วนะครับ และลองคิดดูครับว่า ในกรณีของผู้มีรายได้น้อยที่ชักหน้าไม่ถึงหลังในช่วงเวลาแบบนี้ ผู้คนเหล่านี้ไม่มีทางเลือกมากนัก และจะต้องตกเป็นเหยื่อของอัตราค่าธรรมเนียมสุดโหดอย่างหลีกเลี่ยงไม่ได้ ส่งผลกระทบต่อเนื่องอีกมากมาย

ด้วยเหตุผลต่างๆนาๆเหล่านี้ ผมจึงยังไม่แน่ใจนักว่าระบบเสรีในธุรกิจการเงินของอเมริกาในวันนี้นั้น จะสามารถช่วยรองรับการฟื้นฟูระบบเศรษฐกิจของโลกในยุคปัจจุบันได้ดีมากน้อยแค่ไหน และมันจะส่งผลร้ายเรื้อรังต่อไปหรือไม่อย่างไร

ผมเชื่อว่าการตั้งเป้าหมายไปยังผลกำไรสูงสุด เป็นแนวคิดสืบทอดแบบผิดๆในวงการธุรกิจ โดยเมื่อลองมองย้อนถึงต้นเหตุของปัญหา เราจะพบว่าการอนุมัตินโยบายที่ใช้ในการแก้ปัญหาต่างๆภายในประเทศนั้นไม่ใช่เรื่องง่ายๆ นโยบายที่เลือกใช้ก็กลับไม่ใช่นโยบายที่เหมาะสมที่สุด ผลประโยชน์ทางการเงินนั้นมักไม่เข้าใครออกใคร เป็นเช่นนี้เหมือนกันทั่วโลก ทุกยุคทุกสมัย ไม่ว่าจะเป็นประเทศที่เรียกตนเองว่าพัฒนาแล้วหรือกำลังพัฒนาก็ตาม กล่าวคือ แท้จริงแล้ว “ระบบเงินนิยม” ก็คือรากเหง้าแห่งความอยุติธรรมต่างๆในสังคมโลกนั่นเองครับ

© PK* [July 28, 2010]

[Updated: ประมาณกลางเดือนสิงหาคม (2010) ประเด็นเรื่อง overdraft ของ debit card ที่เขียนไว้นี้ได้ถูกนำมาเป็นประเด็นวิเคราะห์ในช่องข่าว Fox News …นี่แสดงว่าปัญหานี้ยังคงมีอยู่ใช่ไหม?]

I love innovation but I don’t like the fiction.

When Bloomberg Businessweek talked about the robots in offices, they forgot to mention about the drawback such as the system error, security concern, and so on. In my opinion, robots are good for some industries, but they are still not good for many – not yet! For example, Bloomberg Businessweek is now trying to promote a relatively new trend using robots to transport food, medicine, and lab samples in the hospitals. They focus only on the voice and appearance of a rolling machine in the EI Camino Hospital, but not the security concern and the working process. I question what should be the first priority here?

In fact, in health-care industry, it’s more important to focus on consolidating all working models including the impact of the physical environment in the system and sub-systems.

(1.) If there is a machine error in the middle of the process, some may not receive the treatment on time. Is there any signal telling the operator that the robot stops working? Is there any human practice as a plan B to support the system in this scenario? I guess not yet. What they are trying to put upfront is still only a dream of having robots taking all of your jobs.

(2.) How could you be sure that the robot is smart enough to recognize and reprogramming itself if someone accidentally moves or removes the target? In this case, that robot may put a medicine in the wrong order resulting in a serious problem in healthcare. Have the developers ever imagined about this scenario yet? I guess not because so far they have talked only about the physical movement and the emotion of the robots – not a real complex interaction yet.

(3.) At the corner, if someone interrupts the robot and quickly inject a poison or any substance that can cause death to the patient, then how could you prevent this? I know that this is the worst case scenario, but the impact is costly and the possibility is more than 0%. The door is opened to the white-collar crime. The developers and buyers should take this into serious consideration too. For the robots used in the hospitals, they may put an alarm or camera on the robot. Also, they may have to adjust the existing environment.

Etc.

Larry Fisher, research director at market researcher ABI Research, said that Americans are unlike the Japanese who are more accepting when robots mix with people. It’s clear that they are trying to promote a robot that can act like a human, the Terminator. Well, I think in many industries we need a specialist, not the Terminator as they claimed. To conduct the advanced research, I believe Japanese researchers may have already had the advantage since the robots are in places where they can observe the real interaction between machines and people. This can help Japanese developers to achieve the American’s dream. On the other hand, some American marketers have a very narrow perspective visioning only the end result; it’s obvious that they know nothing about R&D, and I’m not sure about the cost-effectiveness as they mentioned.
© PK*[June03, 2010]

Note: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2010/tc2010061_798891.htm

© PK* [Feb.23, 2010]

On the web, a friend of mine posted, “Why [most] Americans don’t have fences in their front yards?”

Why?

There is no single answer for sure. Here is my view…

THE POINTS

Talking about fences…

@ Concerns: (1.) Security & Privacy, (2.) Beauty, and (3.) Social status

@ Factors: Living standard  << + >> Life style

-          Living standard  >> (Economics, Law, Urban planning, Education etc.)

-          Life style  >> (Culture, Norm, Architecture etc.)

[Living = a system in the environment.]

……………………………………………………………………………….…..

ANALYSIS

I have two main points to consider: (A.)Environment and (B.) People.

>> Point A: Environment

Let’s focus on the population density and landscape. Since the population density in Bangkok (capital city) [10,492/sq mi, as in 2007] is much higher, compared to most of the areas in America [Avg.=86.2/sq mi], the houses and buildings are getting closer and higher. Thus, the concern of privacy & security is higher.  In Thai rural areas, in the green environment, many families still do not have fences for their own houses, but for the group of relatives or people living in the same village. Most fences are lower, no spear on top. Similarly, in some other countries where people are living on the mountain, most do not have fences.

The urban planners have to take these issues and some other points into serious consideration. Unfortunately, Thailand didn’t have a good development in this area, and it’s very difficult to change as the time goes by. So, the buildings and streets in Bangkok are not well organized. This is also a reason why it’s harder to navigate using GPS in Thailand compared to the USA. Think about it. The cities in America control not only the height of houses, but also the colors, and so on. Yes, it’s all green in some cities. By law, you also cannot hide a pile of junk in your backyard because you may be arrested in USA.  Who cares in Thailand?  Hence, I believe having a good plan and law means that fence is unnecessary.

>> Point B: People

(1.)  Thailand has a higher rate of crime or intentional homicide overall because the living standard is lower compared to the U.S. [No job? No future? >> Steal? Rob?] Law enforcement in America is also better. That’s the fact.

(2.)  Thailand has a rich culture in art & craft. This affects the attitude of Thais. Thai people have fences in many styles; some are quite fancy. America is now considered as a developed country – industrialized nations. Most American people tend to focus more on the function, from the production to the consumption. Let’s think about this. Thai girls buy Japanese KITTY because it’s so cute, most Americans not. Thus, Japan exports less Kitty heads to America. Japanese investment in Thailand = #1 in Asian and #3 in the world. Why? Same answer with why advertising in Italy focuses more on the appearance compared to Americans’.  It’s all about the ways of thinking.

(3.)  Sometimes people buy a product because it represents the social status; and having a fence is not an exception. I have never seen any ‘castle’ in Thailand or America having a small fence made from wood. In general, most architects do not think like that too. Now, according to Hofstede, Americans are more individualism (high IDV) than Thais. Plus, the Power Distance Index (PDI) in Thailand is higher. Thus, I believe that Thai people are more concerned about what the other people think – the appearance and the social status, for example. This is also a big concern in most of the big cities in Europe though some are not very social. There are many factors.

……………………………………………………………………………….…..

CONCLUSION

“Why most of the houses in America do not have fences, compared to the ones in Thailand?”

I would say…

USA (compared to THILAND):

(1.) Security >> less concern,

(2.) Beauty >> less important, and

(3.) Social status >> less important

And since some of my friends came from the big provinces (cities) in Thailand, they tend to think and feel that the houses must have a fence. Similarly, a friend of mine from Morocco came to the U.S. as a Fulbright student said, “Houses in Morocco are closer. American houses are different and strange for me.” He didn’t mention about the fence, but the space. See why?

I think it’s understandable.

© PK* [Feb.23, 2010]

*References:

Stats from…

-  www.wikipedia.com

- http://www.geert-hofstede.com/

No one can be sure if sustainable design – also known as eco-design, green design and environmental design – will be just a hit-and-miss in the market trend or not. However, we do know that global warming is still a serious topic as recently there was a conference held by the United Nations Climate Change Conference (2009). Now, the concern of global warming has a huge impact on the attitude of people all around the world. We are concerned about the material, energy and technology used in the production process. Sustainable technologies often use less energy, fewer limited resources, and recycled materials which will not pollute the environment. Consequently, green products soon become a hit since they are recyclable and having a low carbon footprint. At this point, the concept of sustainable design can be applied not only to a small product (microcosm) but also to a large building (macrocosm).

In Industrial design, many companies now aim to create a product that has a long-term value and select the best alternative to reduce the waste of energy in the production process. They use more recycled materials and apply non-toxic colors in the finishing process. This movement helps drive the market trend in sustainable design.

Furniture is recently designed using more sustainable materials, such as weed, bamboo and certificated wood. Besides the concept of human-centered design, the new design is created in the way that the furniture is easy to repair and recycle. Many companies like ‘Steelcase’ have also improved their production system to be more sustainable.

Graphic design also has a large social impact since the prints are everywhere; on the package, poster, magazine, and so on. Many companies have tried to incorporate vegetable-based ink and recycled material into their products. Moreover, there are much more design awards related to this topic than before.

Architects focus mainly on the environmental impact of the buildings both during the construction process and during the lifecycle of the buildings. The power generation using solar technology and the temperature control using green roofs are two popular techniques used in sustainable architecture.

In urban planning, the planners are concerned more about the infrastructure and the relationship among things in the city. For instance, they may try to improve the public transportation in order to reduce the need of private vehicles which cause a lot of pollution.

Now, to put all of these into practice, we need to create a momentum as a social force to support the idea. The governments have to participate in the conference and reconsider their public policies. In the private sector, both of profit and non-profit organizations can help support the great idea too. At this point, Allan Chochinov from “Core 77” has mentioned some interesting ideas that designers, as one of the key players, can help carrying the concept:

-  Designers should use the word “consequence” when thinking about the end result of the products. Chochinov stated, “Designers think they’re in the artifact business, but they’re not. They’re in the consequence business.”

-  Next, he mentioned that designers had a right to introduce the sustainable concept without a need to ask for the permission. They should be able to tell clients or bosses a benefit of sustainable design.

-  He also mentioned that designers don’t need to design something brand new, but taking what they already have and design a different use into it – reduce, reuse, and recycle.

-  Then he talked about the market segment that one design product could have gone a whole lot farther if more people could share it. That is what designers should keep in mind when creating a concept.

All in all, the environmental problem seems to be a very complicated issue. We cannot solve this problem alone without having a good public policy to reinforce. It’s everyone’s responsibility. As mentioned, there are many ways you can help whether you are designer, architect, planner, governor, business person, or else. The information in this article is only a basic understanding and a short guideline that designers and everyone can take into practice. Sustainable design is good not only for the earth but also for your business. Thus, it’s not a bad idea to go green and promote it. Yes, you could reuse this concept as many times as you wish.

© PK* [Dec.20, 2009]

*References:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference_2009

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_design

- http://www.green-furniture.com/sustainableecofurniture.html

- http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/allan-chochinovs-10-steps-for-sustainable-design.php

*Image: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356211,00.asp

WHAT?

[New logo design: AOL >> Aol.+ stock images]

“The new AOL brand identity is a simple, confident logotype, revealed by ever changing images.  It’s one consistent logo with countless ways to reveal..” – AOL

“Our new identity is uniquely dynamic. Our business is focused on creating world-class experiences for consumers and AOL is centered on creative and talented people – employees, partners, and advertisers…”

“AOL partnered with Wolff Olins, a global brand and innovation consultancy, to develop a brand identity that speaks to the company’s future.”

*Source: AOL http://corp.aol.com/press-releases/2009/11/aol-previews-new-brand-identity-its-future-independent-content-driven-company [Nov.22, 2009]

BY WHOM?

“Brand expression: Clients need deeper connections with customers. We help them create brand names, visual and verbal identities. Communicate in the most compelling ways, online and offline. And manage their brands for the long term…” – Wolff Olins [http://www.wolffolins.com]

PK*Says: What a junk!

AOL is trying to rebrand which is a good idea, but their execution is poor.

I mean C’mon if you want to play around the logo like Google, you should create a logo (the text, in this case) that can stand alone very well first. Once you put a strong text logo in place, you may put some other images behind or beside that logo as you want. In this case, without the images underneath, the white text will be hard to read on a bright background which shows a very weak identity. This is not a “world-class experience” as they mentioned.

I would suggest AOL and its consultant to rethink about the visibility again, especially the contrast which is a basic principle in design. A real professional knows that good design firms will provide you not only a logo that can convey a strong brand identity but also a logo that is visible on both of dark and bright background. That is why most of them present their works to clients on both of black and white background. Looking at the new logo above, I have no idea what “Aol” is, perhaps just a watermark, and if I step back from the computer screen a little bit, the word “Aol” is gone because of the poor visibility in design.

Yet, AOL’s new logo is flexible and dynamic, but it’s not very creative as they claimed at all. In contrast, Google has done a better job creating a fun variation for their logo. By playing with the configuration of “Google”, they show a high level of creativity. The logos are also meaningful and fun despite the low visibility in some. Google can play more with the emotion of users like this because they have already had a strong brand with a unique logo. Moreover, as you can see, they do not simply buy the stock images and put the text logo on top like AOL. Using stock images in logo design is widely considered as a cheap and lazy design – not creative!

This is very critical for the brand identity. Yes, indeed, branding is mainly about people and the experience. However, logo is like your face; a clean and beautiful face is more attractive compared to the one wearing too much makeup like a joker. At least, it should be clean enough to represent who you are. I have seen many consultant companies trying to be so creative in front of the clients, but they are not. Behind the scene, they just bought a cheap design to save their budget. A better one must provide some feedbacks working back and force with designers. The best one let their clients and users participate in the developing process too.

AOL needs a better team which has a better visual experience. The content on Wolff Olines’ website is more like advertising at the bus stop. If I were an executive at AOL, I would definitely not give my vote for them.

Good attempt, poor execution.

PK* [Nov.23, 2009]

Updated: I just realized that many people are talking about this logo, and we all are agree. You may read this article (which is posted after mine) for more details.

WHO?

Edward Moses, 60-year-old scientist, has run a lab called the National Ignition Facility (NIF).

WHAT?

“…it’s the ultimate green energy source… [which may also] help scientists gain greater understanding of the universe itself; for example, they will be able to study conditions that exist inside stars.”

How?

“If you blast the pellet with a powerful laser, you can create a reaction like the one that takes place at the center of the sun. Harness that reaction, and you’ve created a star on earth, and with the heat from that star you can generate electricity without creating any pollution… The trick is controlling fusion so that instead of a one-time blast you get a series of tiny, controllable explosions.”

HOW LONG?

“Like the genome project, fusion energy is something that requires a long-term sustained effort. This isn’t like creating the next version of the iPod, or a new application for Facebook.”

“Moses believes that by 2020 utility companies could be building prototype power plants called “LIFE engines.” By 2030, he says, real fusion plants could be up and running…”

THEN WHAT?

“If Moses is right, this may be the biggest technological breakthrough of the century. LIFE would produce energy with no carbon emissions, from a fuel that is cheap and abundant.”

“Fusion would be a disruptive technology like the Internet, touching every part of the economy… (as developing nations industrialize, demand for electricity will skyrocket).”

REALLY?

“But other scientists warn… this is all just a high-tech fantasy.”

PK*says…

Yet, no one knows exactly if this alternative energy is going to be real or not, but I’m open. I believe there is a possibility though. I will not worry about it if I think the possibility is less than 1%. This is still in the developing process. As Einstein implied that you had to stay with the problem long enough. It may take 50 years to finish. Lucky, I’m still young.  Just keep the eyes on it because it will have a huge impact on the business environment no matter what. Energy is like input which we use to run and link all the sub systems on earth together. When this breakthrough innovation seems to be more possible (e.g., 40%), as the technology is developed, companies will be more aware preparing for the change. It’s like the chain reaction.

PK* [Nov.15, 2009]

*Source: http://www.newsweek.com/id/222792/page/1

(See the pictures and read the full story here)

In the interview, Dr. Apinun Posayanon talked about art and Thai creative economy. Here are some interesting points…

…..

“…ผมมองว่าในช่วง ๕ ปีที่ผ่านมามันเริ่มมีการทำงานแบบไขว้ประสาน เช่นแฟชั่นกับภาพยนตร์หรือสถาปัตยกรรมกับศิลปะจัดวาง มิวสิควีดีโอกับงานมัณฑศิลป์ ผมคิดว่าเหล่านี้คงเป็นกระแสโลกด้วย เราอาจจะมองว่าการสื่อสาร มีไอพอต เอ็มพีสาม เอ็มพีสี่ มีอินเตอร์เน็ตเหล่านี้ทำให้ทุกอย่างเกิดการทำงานไขว้กัน…”

[PK*NOTE: Cross-functional work]

“…Creative Economy ซึ่งเหล่านี้หากเราใช้ให้ถูกทางจะเกิดประโยชน์มหาศาล แม้แต่ ญี่ปุ่น เกาหลี ฮ่องกง สิงคโปร์เขาก็เริ่มจับทางนี้ได้แล้ว… กรณีของเรนก็คือผลผลิตของทางภาครัฐที่มีเอกชนหนุน รัฐช่วยส่งเสริมเป็น Brand หรือ Icon ออกไป ตรงนี้ผมคิดว่าศักยภาพของเรามี ทางภาคเอกชนก็มี แต่การกรุยทางตอนนี้เพิ่งเริ่มต้น ผมคิดว่าอีก ๕ ปีนี้น่าจะมีการพัฒนาร่วมกัน…”

[PK*NOTE: Public and private sectors should work together in order to promote the brand icon in the creative economy.]

“…ผมมองว่ามีอยู่ช่วงหนึ่งความเชยก็เป็นแฟชั่น ในความฉาบฉวยตรงนั้นก็จะมีการไหลเทและการหมุนเวียน เราต้องดึงความเชยความเฉิ่มขึ้นมาเป็นพระเอกเมื่อเวลามาถึง การที่เขาไปสนใจศิลปะพื้นบ้านหรือท้องถิ่นไม่ได้เชยเลย ในทางตรงกันข้ามมันเป็นเสน่ห์ที่ต่างประเทศไม่มีและเขาไขว่คว้าหาความเป็น Exotic เพราะเขาไม่มี เราต้องเก็บอันนี้ให้ได้แล้วคิดว่าจะทำอย่างไรต่อไป…”

[PK*NOTE: Local art can be very attractive, especially for the foreigners, in spite of the fact that it’s imperfect.]

“…ผมมองว่ามันต้องไปขนานกันทั้งมี Local Link และต้องมี Global Link…”

[PK*NOTE: Think local, think global. We need both.]

“…ตอนนี้เราก็มีเครือข่ายที่ใหม่และมหาศาล และจะนำไปสู่ Creative economy ด้วย แต่ในเวลาเดียวกันองค์ความรู้มันก็ไม้จิ้มฟันยันเรือรบ มีมากมาย เราก็ต้องมีความสามารถที่จะเลือกองค์ความรู้นั้นมาบริหารได้ คือมันไม่ใช่แค่ Learn แล้วก็ไปท่องจำ ในขณะเดียวกันมันก็ต้องมีการ unlearn ด้วย unlearn ในสิ่งที่มันไม่ Work แล้ว ถ้าเผื่อว่ามัวไปย่ำอยู่กับสิ่งที่ไม่ Work แล้ว มันก็เป็นการบริหารที่ไร้ประสิทธิภาพ เพราะฉะนั้นจึงต้องมีการปรับเปลี่ยนตลอดเวลา”

[PK*NOTE: Talking about knowledge management. We should learn to unlearn something that doesn’t work too.]

“…องค์ความรู้นั้นต้องลงสู่พื้นที่มากขึ้น ไม่ใช่กระจุกตัวอยู่ในเมืองหลวงเสมอไป ตอนนี้เราก็เริ่มทำแล้ว ศูนย์ออกแบบ TCDC ตอนนี้กำลังขยายกิจกรรมที่ลำพูน ลำปาง มหาสารคาม ขอนแก่น…”

[PK*NOTE: Shared knowledge and distribution network]

“…เราต้องทำให้มีการเคลื่อนไหวอยู่ตลอดเวลา เพราะฉะนั้นการสร้างคนจึงเป็นเรื่องสำคัญมาก ตอนนี้เราก็กำลังทำ เช่นมีการจัดอบรมนักการบริหารจัดการศิลปะ ซึ่งมันจะต้องมีการทำอย่างต่อเนื่อง…”

[PK*NOTE: We have to keep moving by focusing on people (e.g., training, and so on).]

“ต้องมีการผสมสานในความเป็นศิลปิน นักวิชาการ และผู้บริหารด้วย เขาก็ต้องพยายาม ผมคิดว่ามีคนอยู่กลุ่มหนึ่งที่สามารถช่วยเหลือซึ่งกันและกันได้ หมายถึงศักยภาพและความสามารถของแต่ละคนมาหลอมรวมเป็นทีมในการทำงานได้ แต่เขาต้องมีเป้าหมาย ต้องมีพื้นที่ในการสร้างสรรค์ด้วย ไม่ใช่ว่ามา Job หนึ่งแล้วก็จบ แต่เขาต้องมีอนาคตของเขาด้วย”

[PK*NOTE: Working as a team (Artist + Academic + Executive).]

“…ให้ผมไปตรงไหนก็ได้ ทำอะไรก็ได้ (หัวเราะ) เพราะว่ามันขึ้นอยู่กับคนที่จะใช้เรามากกว่าว่าเขามีกึ๋นแค่ไหน (หัวเราะ) ผมมองในมุมกลับกัน ไม่ใช่ว่าเราเก่งกาจมาจากไหนนะ แต่คิดว่าคนที่จะใช้เราเขามีกึ๋นในการใช้มากน้อยแค่ไหนต่างหาก”

[PK*NOTE: Working with a smart boss, not a dumb.]

Dr. Apinun Posayanon

(Ministry of Culture, Thailand: Nov.05, 2009)

*Source: http://www.m-culture.go.th/demo/detail_page.php?sub_id=617

PS. You must know the direction of the wind if you want to be a great captain.

WHAT?
As a potential leader, you have to keep your eyes on things that happen around the world. A little change can have a huge impact on the whole system. With the economic insight, you will be able to see a big picture and make a better decision, especially in the global business.

In the past few years, many companies thought they would be in a better position following the economic trend to relocate their businesses to China. Books about how to do business in China are written to support the increasing rate in demands. As I have read, most stated that: 1.) There is a great opportunity doing business in China, and 2.) You have to understand Chinese culture in order to be successful. That’s true. However, many people forget that, in the economic growth, demands not only increase but also change. It’s a dynamic process.

Today, Shaun Rein from “China Market Research Group” mentioned in “Forbes” that we could no longer rely on the idea of low-cost manufacturing in China since the Chinese government and people are now demanding change.
………………..

What is the change here?*

1.    China’s economy is export-led

“…the government wanted to reduce its reliance on foreign energy, so it pushed for a more service-led and less export-led economy. “

“The export sector is going to continue to play a diminishing role as domestic consumption increases…”

[PK*Note: This is interesting but it’s still a prediction. Some doubt if the domestic consumption will really increase.]

2.    China has a limitless supply of cheap labor

“They have far more job opportunities closer to their homes…“

“Many mainlanders feel, why work for Google if you can get a job with its Chinese competitor Baidu and feel there’s no glass ceiling above you? “

“Companies need to make clear to young Chinese that they’re dedicated to retaining them. They need training programs, overseas rotations and clear paths for advancement.”

[PK*Note: This is the most interesting point. Chinese people are everywhere because they are seeking for a better living. Well-educated people didn’t want to go back when there was no hope in China. Now, things are changing; more people build and bring the opportunity back home. They learn and leave the foreign companies to establish their own. ]

3.    Connections are everything

“Regulations are more transparent than they were just five years ago…”
“Connections can actually damage your business if a factional fight breaks out and your well-connected partner is on the wrong side.”

“You do need to cultivate relationships with government officials, but do not base your whole business on them.”
[PK*Note: Well, I think the author might look at the case of Google Vs. Baidu and thought that “Yes” a relationship with the government is very important. From my experience, I would say that it’s definitely true, especially for a big company in the developing countries.]
………………..

Some points are not new but most people may not realize until there is a change. Overall, I still do not 100% believe in all the points mentioned above, but at least, I think we all should keep our eyes on those issues. You got the idea.

PK* [Oct.29, 2009]

*Source: http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/27/china-exports-labor-leadership-managing-connections.html?partner=alerts

What?

“Kai-fu Lee, Google Inc’s former China chief who quit the search giant this week, said on Sunday he will launch his own business next week to fund Chinese technology start-ups.”

*Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5850BQ20090906

(Sept. 06, 2009)

“…During his tenure at Google, Dr. Lee built a 700-person organization with many successes. Under his leadership, Google China’s market share nearly doubled from 16.1% to 31.0% in the past three years (Analyses International)….

Dr. Lee has also devoted himself to fostering the professional growth of Chinese technology students. He has given hundreds of lectures to about 500,000 students, and has written seven public letters and three books for Chinese students. His first book, Be Your Personal Best, sold over one million copies and is still on many best-seller lists. Dr. Lee has built his own website for Chinese students (www.5xue.com) and answered thousands of questions from students.

A true entrepreneur, Dr. Lee will announce a new project on September 7th, 2009. This new project will combine Dr. Lee’s passion for entrepreneurship, technology, experience in building organizations, and love for mentoring young executives.”

*Source: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2009/09/google_china_he.html

(Sept. 04, 2009)

Lee wrote in Chinese:

“… 我的下一步就是和中国青年人一起打造新奇的技术奇迹，我想用自己的主动性做一个掌控全局的工作。 My next step is to build the Chinese youth with the novelty of the technological marvels, I would like to control their own initiative to do a whole job. 我已经到了这个人生阶段，再不去做，我真的很怕来不及了。 I’ve been to this stage of life, do not do it, I’m really afraid of too late.

所以，尽管加州的山景城再次向我伸出了橄榄枝，希望我再续约四年，但是我却在此刻做出了发自内心的选择，我希望帮助年轻人圆梦的同时也圆自己的创业梦想。 So, while Mountain View, California, offered an olive branch to me again, I hope I renew for four years, but I made from the heart at this moment of choice, I want to help young people realize their dreams as well as fulfill their entrepreneurial dream.

这个周末，我终于能够从业务发展、战略策划、离职宣布、工作交接中松一口气。 This weekend, I was finally able to from a business development, strategic planning, separation, announced the transfer of work in relief. 这个周末，我会把我的思路理顺。 This weekend, I will straighten out my thinking. 下周，我会和大家分享的我的“从心选择”计划。 Next week, I will share my “From Heart Select” program.

每当我想到我将迈出的一步，我就会想起苹果创始人乔布斯的名言： Whenever I think I will be a step, I would think of Apple founder Steve Jobs’s famous remark:

“最重要的，拥有跟随内心与直觉的勇气，你的内心与直觉多少已经知道你真正想要成为什么样的人。任何其它事物都是次要的。” ‘The most important, have the courage to follow the heart and intuition, your heart and intuition already know how much you really want to be what kind of person. Any other things are secondary.’…”

*5xue.com (Translated): http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.5xue.com%2F&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&history_state0=

(Sept. 04, 2009)

P.S. “Google translate“ did a good job in China too.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

PK*Says

Today, I’m not going to discuss in detail about  Google and its executive, but to reflect and share my vision about China in the global business context.

-          Dr. Lee aims to support the growth of Chinese’s high-technology companies. Also, he provides a great contribution to the educational and personal development for Chinese people. He created a website to support that as shown in the link above. That’s a good idea. Anyway, you may have seen many cases in different areas which are similar to this one before. What does that mean?  Chinese people are now trying to reform the educational system both in the private and public sectors. China has already had the labor skills and what they need now is the brainpower. Otherwise, all the executives will be the foreigners.

-          Many Chinese companies still take a lead in China, such as the ones in search engine and mobile phone industries – why? Doing business in China is not easy, especially if you are trying to change the attitude of Chinese people. China used to be in a closed-loop system. That still has a huge impact on the attitude of Chinese people in the society. You have to ‘crack’ into the culture first following by creating a great relationship with local people. As I have known some people doing business with Chinese companies, language also indeed plays a very important role. It’s probably a must in China. As I observe, many of my international friends from China, Korea and Taiwan also use personal computers operated in their own languages, not English. Is this good enough to be the evidence?

-          For a big picture, we should review the history a little bit: “…With the rise of Western economic and military power beginning in the mid-19th century, non-Chinese systems of social and political organization gained adherents in China. Some of these would-be reformers totally rejected China’s cultural legacy, while others sought to combine the strengths of Chinese and Western cultures. In essence, the history of 20th-century China is one of experimentation with new systems of social, political, and economic organization that would allow for the reintegration of the nation in the wake of dynastic collapse.”

[*Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China]

-           Worldview is always a key of success for a new talent at work. Kaifu Lee had also leaded “Google China” to offer free and legal music in China, acting against some of Baidu’s illegal activities which got into trouble now. Baidu is one of the largest Chinese search engines. [*More about Baidu on the music issue: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/04/watch-out-baidu-china-clamps-down-on-music-piracy/] You know “Copy right” is like a bridge to connect people in the global business together.  At this point, Dr. Lee knows how to deal with people from another side of the world in order to serve Chinese people, and somehow, he is trying to develop a new business along the line.

-          China is a good case study for some other developing countries, such as Thailand. After China opened the country, we have seen a giant wave moving Chinese people toward the goal together (not only in their country). They want to be a developed country in Asia. Nowadays, China is accepted to be one of the world’s most influential countries. However, they still have to face some difficulties in doing a global business – the copyright issue. This has a huge impact on Chinese businesses in many ways from now to the future through the process of development. Today, no matter how much Chinese people could accomplish in the new technological and educational systems like what Mr.Lee did, as shown in the statistics, they still have to face many problems related to the copyright issue. For example, it’s difficult for people from the outside to run a company in China because they are afraid of having trouble competing with the dark market, and so on.

-          Who is going to pay for your stuff if they can get the same product which is available all around for free? Most people in developing countries still have that attitude in mind, and yet, many illegal businesses are controlled by the local gang and mafia. Some people in the government have also joined the businesses behind the scene. Therefore, to break the illegal chain, you have to play hard with the value of your products and the attitude of people in the society. Law is just a tool; please remember that people still control the law and there are many kinds of people. Doing a successful business in China, you should be a part of the society. You cannot do it alone and it may take a decade to get done. A real key of success for China to develop the economics, which is very challenging, is to change the attitude of those people who buy and sell the illegal products first.

PK* [Sept. 06, 2009]

Aug.07, 2009

- Figure 2-

Now, let’s take a look closer. There are 3 main points that I would like to discuss here: 1.) Color, 2.) Customization, and 3.) Visual communication.

(1.) COLOR

The colors used on Yahoo! homepage as shown in “figure2” are mainly purple and dark blue.

Why purple??? Does anyone know that “Yahoo!” is purple? I don’t know that before until I heard about it on a TV program this year. A good guess, I thought that it’s red because the logo on website is red! Anyway, I was wrong. I believe that not many users could get it right too. The weakness of brand sense like this could develop a serious problem in brand identity. If you noticed, they are trying to come over this problem in the new design theme!

Why dark blue??? Microsoft did a better job here. I believe that everyone agrees with me that the existing schema of colors in our brain for “Microsoft” is blue. In other words, apparently the brand sense of Microsoft is blue!

Therefore, by looking only at the colors of this website, we can talk about the business. I have seen the effort to mix these two colors in the mockup of their website since last year. At that time, Microsoft aggressively moved trying very hard to convince the board members of Yahoo! to sell the company. However, the negotiation was still unsuccessful though there was a big support from some investors. Then Microsoft’s negotiating team changed the tactic by focusing on the search engine only. Yahoo! without the search engine is nothing, so I’m not surprised why Yahoo! agreed to be partners with Microsoft instead of selling it. They share the systems.

This seems to be a win-win situation for now, but if we take a deeper analysis, we may realize that the only winner in this situation is Microsoft. Now, Microsoft has a better chance to break Yahoo! taking control over in the future if they want to.  This reminds me a good story in the book mentioned by Schmitt, a professor at Columbia Business School, about Odysseus’s strategy in the Trojan War. In that story, Agamemnon led the greatest army to Troy, fighting for ten years, but he was still unable to get pass the Troy’s walled city. Odysseus, then, suggested the Greeks to build a huge Trojan horse pretending to be a peace offering for Troy, but many of Greek warriors were hidden inside. Troy, falling to the trap, opened the city gate to receive that horse. Then Troy was destroyed from the inside out; Greeks won the war easily in only a night.

Is Microsoft leading by “Odysseus” in the modern world?

(2.) CUSTOMIZATION

Aug.09, 2009

- Figure 3-

In my dictionary, “Customization” is a keyword which simply means “Manage it in your own way.” One of the selling points on the new Yahoo! homepage (see figure 2) is to allow the users to customize the page (e.g., to add Facebook, e-Bay, Twitter, and so on). Is it a secret weapon for Yahoo! to win the battle? That is actually not new because I have seen some other online services, such as BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/) design their websites based on this principle before. It’s almost exactly the same. At this point, as an outsider, one may possibly think that 1.) Yahoo! imitates that idea, or 2.) Yahoo! and BBC News are partners. If those are not the case, then I shall move on to find a real reason behind that mechanism.

In this business context, I will look at the services provided by Yahoo! and its main competitor – Google.

First, looking at Yahoo! alone, they usually contribute the contents on site for users. Thus, they should have done a hard work in market research, partnership and production in order to serve the users. Who are the users here? I don’t know exactly, but the more, the better for them. According to CNN, Yahoo! is now trying to create more opportunities for advertising by focusing on the content and user experience. The new homepage project started in October 2007, and it seemed to take forever to finish. New Chief Executive Carol Bartz has been trying to light a fire under the company’s developers, as a result of recently having a beta testing (CNN –July 21, 2009). Well, I believe that the reason taking too much time is because they got a poor developing process and had to change it later. They might say that they developed the website base on feedbacks from the users, which was good, but that didn’t mean they had done in the best practice.

Anyway, the new Yahoo! website tells me something about their business strategy. Looking at the new interface and interaction design, I can feel the increasing of freedom. To increase the freedom here means users can adjust the products or services for themselves – more flexible and open. This strategy, as I know, is based on a principle in the book called “Democratizing Innovation” written by Eric Von Hippel from MIT. Hippel claimed that innovating by users is a right direction to follow based on some evidences in his research. Yes, he mentioned that the world of production process is changing. We are talking about heterogeneity of user needs in a higher level which only small numbers of users need the same thing. However, I think we still need more evidences to support if this is a right direction in each industry.

Is Yahoo! in that case? What do most of their users need? Yahoo! is very confident saying upfront that the change is on the right track. Therefore, it implies that they think each of their users seems to have a very unique taste or style. I do not see any strong evidence to support this view though; only they have discussed with a very small group of the users. If they are right, then this will help increase the users’ activities and draw more people to the website, making Yahoo! a better partner for advertisers (CNN, 2009).

On the other hand, Google’s service is different from Yahoo!; instead of creating all the contents, Google acts like a hub to deliver the information and need for users. Many good sources from the outside are linked to the Google. Many innovative products are open to form a strong partnership with the developers. Many advertisers and investors are interested in. This seems to be a more open strategy compared to Yahoo! Then to be more competitive, Yahoo! has a better reason here to design the new homepage that is more open. However, once again, this doesn’t guarantee that the outcome will be the best for them. There are many factors both in business and web development to consider.

Moreover, there is a drawback in this direction. It may be better for Yahoo! to control some major areas in the main page and let users customize only in a deeper level if they want to. This requires a good research and a thoughtful strategic planning though. Facebook would be a good example in this area. Doing so will provide a good sense of freedom and flexibility using the web without losing the cohesiveness and brand identity which is now a weak point for Yahoo! You should not focus only on a specific area in production or market, but better thinking together as a whole.

(3.) VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Aug.07, 2009

- Figure 4-

Behind that blue box in figure 2, there is a video clip of Yahoo! engineers talking about the new homepage (see figure4). But sorry, I didn’t really understand the main point that they’re trying to say. Thus, I had to replay and read it while the automatic pop-up screen kept coming on top of it all the time which was very annoying. Well, the reason taking too much time to learn might be because I’m a stupid. Otherwise, the visual communication in that video clip is poor. Google has done a much better job in this area! It must be concise and clear; pictures would also help.

Well, let’s talk about words and pictures a little bit. I guess the process of creating this video clip is rough though it should be a selling point in business!  I believe that the idea of having texts (white on purple) appear on the screen in each topic is an afterthought. Yet, the text messages are clear enough to understand, but what they are trying to speak is considered too technical for most audiences. If you expect the users to read, why don’t you just put the texts on, right? Trying to show the corporate culture and working environment is good, but if you did implement it in a wrong direction, it might cause a huge distraction.

Oh! One more thing, Yahoo! is in a global business, right? Thus, using images and standard symbols would create a great advantage over the text version alone. Many people from all around the world still don’t know English, and some countries are not very open. It’s difficult for them to follow. I suggest the content contributors to mix those visual elements (i.e., real picture, text, and drawing) in a more creative way and easy to understand. I’m talking about design & usability in business context. Google’s would be a good example. Without paying a good attention to small details like this, it’s definitely hard for “Yahoo! + Microsoft” to beat Google. That is my worldview.

Above all, I strongly believe that those small points that I mentioned are big, especially in the future –period.

© PK*[Aug.09, 2009]
pkdatabase.wordpress.com

Notes:

-          Hippel, E. V. (2005). Democratizing Innovation. MIT Press.

-          Schmitt, H. B. (2007). Big Think Strategy: How to Leverage Bold Ideas and Leave Small Thinking Behind. Harvard Business School Press.

-          http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/biztech/07/21/cnet.yahoo.new.home.page/index.html (2009)