What's the big idea?
commentary Who do we look to for that inspiration that will take us to the next level?
I'm trusting you with this, but here's one of my top-secret business ideas: BYO pubs. Think of the reduced overhead -- all you'd need to stock are ice and mixers. I think it could really catch on... that is, if we're still allowed to drink in pubs in a couple years' time.
But who am I to profess to have the big business ideas? To really discover these you've got to go hear what the experts say, right? So I attended a seminar recently in Sydney to find out just what the leaders of some of Australia's highest-profile organisations believe are today's big ideas.
| When you're talking about the country's largest software purchaser, that's big. |
We went there to hear "the ideas that will shape your career and business in the next five years", but what we really ended up listening to was a couple of debates on whether or not people were happy, and how good/bad capitalism was.
It was especially telling that the two most interesting contributors to the discussion were not "business" leaders at all -- Dr Fiona Wood (burns specialist and Australian of the Year for 2005) and Dr Clive Hamilton (executive director of the Australia Institute). The two were somewhat polar opposites, with Dr Wood extolling the virtues of better collaboration in work, and the importance of "finding your passion" in what you do. Dr Hamilton, on the other hand wondered why, if we are so much more affluent these days, we aren't any happier. (Aren't we?)
It was an interesting discussion, but not one that resulted in chalking up too many big ideas. Most disappointing were the three CEOs on the panel (I won't embarrass them by naming the companies). If "ensuring your management team is aligned with what your company wants to do" is the best idea that one of these leaders can give us (it's true!), we might have to start looking elsewhere for "ideas that will shape your career and business".
Like government, maybe? Yes, surprisingly, the government is on a roll when it comes to business ideas. Just as we were going to press, Special Minister of State, Senator Eric Abetz, released a follow-up publication to last year's Guide to ICT Sourcing. The Guide to Open Source Software provides information designed to help Australian Government agencies better understand the benefits of employing open- source software solutions. OK, it's not cutting-edge stuff these days, but when you're talking about the country's largest software purchaser, that's big.
The Guide covers everything from what is open-source software to associated costs and risks and sharing OSS solutions. And it's a good resource for just about anyone considering open source alternatives. More information can be found at www.sourceit.gov.au/sourceit.
Now that ought to light a fire under a certain software company. I just hope its management team is properly aligned.
The Blog Factor. If there were ever any big ideas in blogs, they'd be awfully hard to find -- seems like thousands of new ones are popping up every hour. Who has the time to even scan through them to find out if they're worth following or not?
What is your opinion of blogs? Are they a waste of time and cyberspace? Are there any blogs that you are particularly hooked on, or that provide you with essential information? Please send your favourites to me at the address below so we can pass them on.
Brian Haverty is Editorial Director of ZDNet Australia. Give him a piece of your mind at edit@zdnet.com.au.
This article was first published in Technology & Business magazine.
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