gmburden http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/ en-us Copyright 2009 Wed, 06 May 2009 11:25:35 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Ethics and leadership: Could there be a world standard? A person could leave Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and arrive in Sydney, Australia in approximately 20 hours, a short amount of time considering that you are going around the world. While it only takes a few seconds for that same person in Chicago to speak with a friend who is in Japan whether it is with a phone call or through a video conference. As our economies are becoming more dependent on one another Rushworth M. Kidder poses the question, “Is there in fact a single set of values that wise, ethical people around the world might agree on? Can there be a global code of ethics? If there is a common core of values “out there” in the world, it ought to be identifiable though examination of contemporary modes of thought in various cultures around the world. Can it be found?” (Kidder, p501, 1995). This question was posed to twenty-four men and women from around the world who was though of by their peers as an “ethical standard-bearer, a keeper of the conscience of the community, a center of moral gravity” (Kidder, p501, 1995). Each person could agree that a global ethics could exist. Listed is the code of moral that each of the leaders could agree upon.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/05/ethics_and_leadership_could_th.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/05/ethics_and_leadership_could_th.html Wed, 06 May 2009 11:25:35 -0500 Strategic use of Information: A Plan for the Future In today’s rapidly changing environment it is important for business to keep ahead of their competition in order to survive. By following the same formula as their competitors and not accepting change, the company will not have a long lifespan in today’s market. Many companies would like to believe that following the same formula and continuing to push one product will ensure success and in a perfect world that would work, but in today’s environment people expect innovation. That is why it is important for companies to use competitive intelligence and strategically use information to create a niche in the markets.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/04/strategic_use_of_information_a.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/04/strategic_use_of_information_a.html Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:20:35 -0500 Ethics and Leadership According to dictionary.com ethics is a “branch of philosophy dealing with values that relate to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions” (dictionary.com, 2009). Throughout history one can find several instances of companies and people making the unethical decision. Recently, former Chicago Governor Rod R. Blagojevich was accused of trying to sell President Obama former Senate seat as well as using his position for personal gain whenever possible. There is Bernie Madoff who robbed thousands of investors of their life savings. Finally, who can forget the biggest scandal of this decade, Enron. It may appear that the world is full of unethical people but in reality given the chance most people try to do the right thing.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/04/ethics_and_leadership.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/04/ethics_and_leadership.html Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:49:14 -0500 Competitive Intelligence: How a business can revolutionize an industry What is Competitive Intelligence?

In today’s competitive markets, a company would not survive if the focus of the organization is entirely on internal activities. This why corporation need to collect and analyze information about their competitors and current industry trends. Competitive intelligence (CI) is using information to make informed decisions about where the industry is headed. The following will examine competitive intelligence can help revolutionize an industry.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/04/competitive_intelligence_how_a.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/04/competitive_intelligence_how_a.html Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:29:29 -0500 Could there be a viable competitor for Google? There are several start-up companies that are vying for Google’s top spot. In order to take on Google these companies to be different and take the Google search to a whole new level. Kosmix is a just one of the many search engines that is gaining popularity. These companies are going beyond just being a search engine and offering users something more.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/03/could_there_be_a_viable_compet.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/03/could_there_be_a_viable_compet.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:30:58 -0500 Leaders: Born or Created? What is leadership and who are leaders? When the word leadership is mentioned the first image that comes to my mind is Martin Luther King, Jr. standing on the podium speaking to his followers who filled Washington’s National Mall in 1963. Martin Luther King could considered one of the most remarkable leader in the 20th century along with Pope John Paul II, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Walt Disney, and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. Those people represent some of the most successful leaders of our time, but what makes them a leader and what qualifies as leadership.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/03/leaders_born_or_created.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/03/leaders_born_or_created.html Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:33:20 -0500 Creativity and Innovation One aspect of leadership that cannot be taught is creativity. In a lecture given by Tom Peters, on Educate for a Creative Society, he tells the audience:

“To never higher a person with a 4.0 grade point average ever again. The definition of 4.0: buys the act and has been coloring within the lines since the age of 5. But I don’t want a 2.0 because that says they were lazy, stupid, or both. Give me at least a 3.5 because it shows you been screwing around a little bit” (Peters, 2007).

What Peters is saying is society puts too much emphasis on the grade and not the actually work. He also mentions that the education system is sometimes referred to as the Ford Model of Education. Not everybody is the same and people have different ways of learning.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/02/creativity_and_innovation_1.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/02/creativity_and_innovation_1.html Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:33:50 -0500 Defining Leadership Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, "You do not lead by hitting people over the head — that's assault, not leadership."

So what is leadership? At first it may seem simple to define but in reality leadership is complex. For many years researchers have been trying to define exactly what leadership is and what it involves. Researchers have found there not one good definition for leadership nor is there any one behavior, skill, or trait that will result in effective leadership. One thing is certain, leadership requires three elements: a leader, followers, and a situation.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/02/defining_leadership.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2009/02/defining_leadership.html Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:12 -0500 Social Networking Security Risk Social networking sites are great for connecting with others. They are also good for businesses who want to better connect with their employers or infiltrate a new market. What many people don’t realize is the potential danger that comes with using these sites. This is a new medium for malware, adware, and spam distributors to launch there latest creation or cybercriminals to create targeted attacks using the information found on profiles.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/social_networking_security_ris.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/social_networking_security_ris.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:44:54 -0500 Information Superhighway Who invented the Internet?

That’s Easy! Al Gore!

Just Kidding. . .
There are many people who can be credited in the creation of the information superhighway. Tim Berners-Lee developed the World Wide Web as we know it today, but more on him later. Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf can be credited for laying the groundwork for the Internet. They developed the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol) which makes the Internet possible. At first the Internet was used to send messages within a company’s internal computer network and then slowly involved to sending messages between networks.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/information_superhighway_1.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/information_superhighway_1.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:02:51 -0500 Bringing information to the world's children The goal of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is to give laptops to the world’s poorest children. The idea is if the children have access to learning materials they will be more excited to go to school and learn. What they came up with is the XO laptop that sells for $199 and is one of the world’s most durable, smallest and lowest power laptop that can be used out in the bright sun or in a dark room.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/bringing_information_to_the_wo.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/bringing_information_to_the_wo.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:29:35 -0500 Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei could be credited with starting the scientific revolution in the 17 century. Galileo is known as the father of modern astronomy and science. He was born on February 5, 1546 in Pisa. At the time of his birth, science was not an area of study but by the time of his death in 1642 science was well on its way of becoming a respectable field.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/galileo_galilei.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/galileo_galilei.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:10:38 -0500 Obtaining Brand Loyality Creating brand loyalty should be the goal of every company. “Brand loyalty, consists of a consumer's commitment to repurchase the brand and can be demonstrated by repeated buying of a product or service or other positive behaviors such as word of mouth advocacy” (Wikipedia, 2008). It can be a difficult status to achieve but few products have achieved this status. Each year since 1997 Brand Keys has been conducting a customer loyalty surveys and this year Google is number one. This survey gives some insight on how these brands became the best in their markets.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/obtaining_brand_loyality.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/obtaining_brand_loyality.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:47:02 -0500 Niccolo Machiavelli Considered the father of modern political theory, Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy on March 3, 1496. He was destined for a civic career until the armies of the King of France invaded Italy in 1494. This would help shape Machiavelli beliefs and opinions. Machiavelli worked as the Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence. This allowed him to work a variety of diplomatic activities traveling to different parts of Italy and France.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/niccolo_machiavelli.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/niccolo_machiavelli.html Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:21:42 -0500 de'Medici Family The renaissance is said to have taken place between 1300-1600, when there was innovations in the arts, architecture, science, politics and religion. While it would take many books to cover all the great people and innovations that occurred during the renaissance, I am going to focus on a few people who I feel are noteworthy.

]]> http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/demedici_family.html http://www.cicsworld.org/blogs/gmburden/2008/12/demedici_family.html Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:01:12 -0500