New Technology, Work and Environment

New Technology, Work and Employment presents analysis of the changing contours of technological and organisational systems and processes, to encourage an enhanced understanding of the many dimensions of technological change in the workplace. The journal is eclectic and multidisciplinary, inviting contributions from all the applied social sciences. Its objective is to promote understanding through conceptual debate firmly rooted in the analysis of current practice.

Technology at Work

Guest-blogging today are Eric Riddleberger, global leader for IBM’s business strategy consulting practice and Jeff Hittner, corporate social responsibility leader for IBM Global Business Services. They work with a range of industries and clients to address the emerging role of corporate social responsibility and sustainability in core business strategies. The survey referenced in this post can be found here:

From a sustainability standpoint, it was like declaring a moonshot.

When Walmart recently announced that it will create an index detailing the full social and environmental impact of every product it sells, it highlighted one of the most vexing issues companies face today -- managing the many tradeoffs of creating "green" or sustainable products and services.

The challenge is to optimize each product or service for its total environmental and societal impact -- taking into account an intricate set of possible considerations and alternatives. Put simply, it's not good enough if water usage is reduced but waste disposal increases. And to be truly sustainable, a company must optimize offerings in a way that also maximizes business performance.

The implications of this are staggering. Imagine tracing the energy and water use, waste, labor standards, and carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions associated with every phase of every product a company makes or sells. That covers sourcing and delivering raw materials, development and manufacturing, packaging and delivery, consumer use, and reclamation and recycling at the end of life.

Fully understanding all the implications associated with sustainability requires a 360-degree perspective. And it entails massive collection of information not only inside a single company, but across hundreds or thousands of suppliers around the world. And it requires understanding the consequences of any decision to optimize a given process or component.

Three major factors are driving this level of introspection:
-- Key stakeholders such as customers, investors, business partners, and current and prospective employees are monitoring sustainability performance and factoring it into who they'll do business with, work for and buy from;

-- The costs associated with energy, water and waste are volatile and rising, so cutting consumption and improving efficiency are essential to the bottom line;

-- Government regulations on sustainability issues are becoming increasing stringent. Companies that fail to comply face growing financial penalties, restrictions on their business operations, and negative publicity.

While this trend has been emerging for quite awhile, a recent survey our company conducted with business leaders from around the world showed a couple things. First, most of them are unprepared to measure and improve their own sustainability. Second, they are unprepared to monitor suppliers for it as well.

Ultrasone's New $1,500 Headphones Deliver

Interested in buying new headphones? Ultrasone's newest model of the best headphones around comes out on the market.

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2009/tc2009092_688506.htm

Advanced Solar Panels Coming to Market

Nanosolar's new factory could help lower the price of solar power, if the market cooperates.


http://www.technologyreview.com/business/23482/

Smart Grid Technology

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ceo_guide/

Smart-grid technology will bring huge savings to companies as varied as Cisco, PG&E, and Cargill, and to consumers, too. But who will foot the bill?

Why You Should Use A Smart Phone For Your Business

This article lists reasons why functionality is greater on a Smart Phone. Here are some major advantages listed:

• keep you organized and informed while out of the office
• can function as personal organizer
• you can synch your phone with your computer so information stays consistent
• always connected to the Internet

http://www.howtechnologyhelpsbusiness.com/2009/09/why-you-should-use-a-smart-phone/201

Technology Helping to Make Chocolate

This video shows how technology is helping the small business Coco-Luxe Confections. The business owner, Stepanie Marcon a culinary entrepreneur has gradually implemented IT to help manage inventory and grow operations. Marcon also demos graphics software that aids her in product development and a new e-commerce web site that she created to help sell her candy treats throughout the U.S. The technology she uses allows her to print graphics on the chocolates.

http://www.bnet.com/2422-19516_23-256076.html

Google AdWords

Very useful article for anybody who wants to advertise their business on line using Google AdWords

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/business/smallbusiness/15adwords.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&ref=technology

Sundia Fruit

This is a new technology that allows companies to see which customers owe money, how much they owe, how long it is taking them to pay, and who the best payers are. Also it provides a company-wide reporting system. You can insert problems with factory machinery, employee issues, and changes in sales cycles then send it to your boss. It is an easy way to avoid conference calls. This can reduces meetings and work in the office and you are able to send this weekly report to your board of directors or boss.

http://bmighty.informationweek.com/hardware_software/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=BOZ4XNHIEC2XVQE1GHOSKHWATMY32JVN?articleID=217702172&pgno=2

Analyticsn to War on Terror

Can the analytic science that powers operations at Wal-Mart (WMT) and Federal Express (FDX) make inroads against terrorists? IBM (IBM) is going to give it a shot. Big Blue's Global Services Div. just landed a five-year, $20 million contract to apply its analytical know-how to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the key military force in the battle against terrorism.

Is Cell-Phone Safety Assured? Or Merely Ignored?

As Americans rely more heavily on mobile phones, mounting data hint at long-term cancer risks. Concern and research have been sparse. Are Americans at a risk for tumor cancer by using a cell phone? The National Cancer Institute echoes that sentiment a bit more tentatively. "Studies have not shown any consistent link between cellular telephone use and cancer, but scientists feel that additional research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn." Depending on the country the results have come up as mixed and so far in pending study. Some experts believe that conclusive evidence as to whether cell phones are safe or not could take decades to gather. Experts suggest that people shouldn't use their phones when reception is poor, as the devices crank up energy levels to compensate. They also recommend that callers wait a moment after dialing a number before placing the device to their ear, and not to talk while driving, when a phone signal must jump between wireless towers.

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2009/tc20090921_950531.htm

Top 10 Strategic Technologies for 09

Strategic technology as Gartner explains it, is technology that has potential for a big impact on businesses for the next three years. He believes that there are ten things you should consider in your new technologies that can add value to your business.

The top ten strategic technologies are:

1. Virtualization
2. Cloud Computing
3. Servers
4. Web- Oriented Architectures
5. EnterpriseMashups
6. Specialized Systems
7. Social Software and Social Networking
8. Unified Communications
9. Business Intelligence
10. Green IT

http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=777212

Technology Helps Businesses Improve Productivity

This article talks about how helpful technology is to businesses. It is hard to think about all the jobs that technology makes easier and how those jobs used to be performed before. The only real problem with technology is keeping up with it. "Technology is a moving target," Andy McCain, chief financial officer for Hensley & Co., a Phoenix-based Anheuser-Busch beer distributor says. "As soon as you think you're up to speed, you're behind the times already."

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2004/06/28/focus10.html