The Supply Chain: 12/22/2014
I am introducing a new feature on the blog – The Supply Chain. This post will have information about what is happening in the world of SCM to help us get better ideas and confirm paths we are already walking down.
- Should Chief Procurement Officers (CPO) morph into Chief Metrics Officers (C#O)?
The IBM study found that most CPOs are gunning to develop a 360-degree global, integrated view of sourcing, which will by definition include assessing both inputs and outputs. They’re also focused on enabling innovation, primarily by finding ways to get projects launched faster, but with manageable metrics attached.
- TCS Recognized as a Leader in Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Outsourcing
http://www.itbusinessnet.com/article/TCS-Recognized-as-a-Leader-in-Procure-to-Pay-(P2P)-Outsourcing-by-Everest-Group-3668835 - Supply Chain Experts Take a Cue from Fruit Fly Research
VANs pull data from different areas of a company’s supply chain to analyze trends and provide early detection of possible issues. They also help companies remain a step ahead through the use of predictive analytics, which can recognize possible demand signals before they happen and ensure their products are being procured and distributed in sufficient quantity. Thanks to this approach, companies have the ability to avoid stock outs. A VAN can also be used to identify districts that may be in danger of running out of key commodities as well as those that may have excess stock, which could be transferred elsewhere as emergency supplies.
http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2014/12/Supply-Chain-Experts-Take-a-Cue-from-Fruit-Fly-Research
Note on the term VANs: supply chain control towers—or visibility and analytics networks - Supply Chain Transparency: The Key Challenge In 2015?
In 2015, we need to see a greater understanding of how, where and why savings (or indeed discounts, kickbacks and rebates) are made, giving procurement and finance teams better toolsets to automate the measurement, reporting and validation of savings. Systems that are able to manage, accurately apply, record and provide awareness of contractual terms will aid the procurement function in delivering against governance targets, which inevitably will follow.
- Federal government struggles in IT procurement:
More than $1 out of every $6 in the federal government goes to contractors through a procurement vehicle, yet agencies continually struggle to get it right. That was apparent in 2014, a year marked by governmentwide efforts to reform acquisition, especially in IT.
- JP Morgan’s CPO (Richard Buccarelli) recently left the company
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/12/15/j-p-morgans-chief-procurement-officer-leaves-bank/
Supplier Report: 12/20/2014
IBM
- IBM is simplifying cloud-computing contracts
It’s ironic that cloud computing represents a faster and more innovative approach to doing business, yet lengthy and complex cloud business contracts from most vendors remain an obstacle,” said Neil Abrams, IBM vice president and assistant general counsel, in a statement. “By dramatically simplifying and accelerating how clients contract for cloud services, IBM is making it easier and faster for companies to reap the benefits of cloud.
http://www.eweek.com/cloud/ibm-simplifies-cloud-computing-contracts.html
- IBM increasing global data centers by 25%
The company said on Wednesday it has now struck a partnership with data centre provider Equinix Inc for nine more cloud centres in Australia, France, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands and the US. The company is also opening up three new cloud computer facilities of its own in Germany, Mexico and Japan.
http://www.todayonline.com/tech/ibm-increase-global-data-centres-25
This clarifies it is in the SoftLayer space (as expected)
http://www.sci-tech-today.com/news/IBM-Inks-Cloud-Deal-with-Equinix/story.xhtml?story_id=10200BE2QPOO - US department of Veteran Affairs is tapping into Watson
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is using Watson technology in a pilot to assist physicians in helping accelerate the process of evidence-based medical decision making. The VA joins leading healthcare organizations that are working with IBM Watson to help improve efficiency and quality of care being delivered
Oracle
- Will Oracle be crushed by MongoDB or Hadoop?
Sherlund said that Hadoop and MongoDB technologies are becoming a threat for Oracle. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) must work on new technologies apart from its on-premise business. He said there is a huge potential in Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL); the company will generate $16 billion free cash flows next year and there are a plenty of options left for it.
http://www.techinsider.net/oracle-corporation-orcl-to-be-crushed-by-hadoop-mongodb/1120390.html
- Oracle declares war on SalesForce
“I never heard Ellison this combative,” Cramer said. “There were eight mentions — eight mentions — of Salesforce.com and how Salesforce.com is slowing and they are accelerating. It was a good quarter, I almost feel like they are going back to the old strategy of Toto — turning of the oxygen to the other players in the cloud
http://www.benzinga.com/media/cnbc/14/12/5091609/how-oracle-declared-war-on-salesforce
- Most of the Oracle news this week is around this positive earnings. This is a good summary:
http://www.emarketsdaily.com/oracle-corporation-nyseorcl-releases-highest-level-since-2000-the-year-the-dotcom-bubble-burst-nyseacn-nysenq/1823584/
HP
- HP fails (again) to get court approval for Autonomy settlement with shareholders
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-12-19/hp-s-autonomy-deal-shareholder-settlement-rejected-a-second-time
Other
- America’s worst run companies
McDonalds, Avon, Mattel, and of course IBM make the list
http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/12/19/americas-worst-run-companies - Yet another listicle – the worst Tech CEOs of 2014
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/12/13/the-worst-tech-ceos-of-2014.aspx - Splunk voted best business application by San Fran group:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141217005156/en/Splunk-Enterprise-Voted-Business-Application-V3-Readers
Productivity Bulletin: 12/19/2014
- How millennial stack up to the generations before them:
But the financial outlook is also bleaker than their 1980s counterparts: The are much more likely to live with a parent, be unemployed (though they are more likely to have a postsecondary degree), and have lower salaries than any of the previously surveyed generations.
http://io9.com/how-millennials-stack-up-to-the-generations-before-them-1666809424
- Staying motivated when you are the boss:
1. Read Daily (read books that inspire you)
2. Write down your goals frequently
3. Work On One Task Related to Your “Big Goal” Daily
4. Create a bucket lists of tasks (not a task list, but stuff you need to get to eventually)
5. The 5 minute rule (find something you can knock out in 5 minutes to make you feed accomplished)
6. Work in intervals (no more than 90 minute blocks)http://theselfemployed.com/office/6-ways-to-stay-motivated-when-youre-the-boss/ - Multiply your time today to get done tomorrow:
You multiply your time by giving yourself the emotional permission to spend time on things today that create more time tomorrow.You don’t just think, “what are the most important things I have to get done today or this week?” Instead, you ask the question, “what are the things that I could do today that would free up more time tomorrow?”
- Going on an information diet (yeah I get the irony here)
http://lifehacker.com/how-to-craft-an-information-diet-that-actually-works-1669958197 - Important tasks at work: Take notes (Vince!)
https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-most-important-thing-youre-not-doing-at-work-and-how-to-get-started - Building better one-on-one sessions:
https://popforms.com/30-minutes-one-on-one/Sample questions:
When was the last time you felt really challenged at work?
Who is your favorite coworker and why?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Tell me about your greatest accomplishment while working here.
Is there anything you need in order to perform your job better?
What parts of the business would you like to be more involved in or learn about?
What’s the most fun you’ve had while working here? - Common Mistakes that can derail any negotiation:
1. Too many options
2. Falling for the bluff
3. Playing games and bluffing yourself
4. Dwelling on sunk costs and spent timehttp://lifehacker.com/four-common-mistakes-that-can-derail-any-negotiation-1668899157