Srikant Devaraj

In The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture, John Battelle describes how the evolution of a search engine has changed the way we view the human culture. Battelle in his book tells about Google’s birth and its rise to become a super power of the Internet and covers the technical and business history of search. He observes the implication of search as a cultural marker and its future as a challenging one. One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the constant comparing and contrasting of both technical and business decisions of the various technology companies and how these decisions led each of them to success, failure or a particular place in the market.

Battelle begins the book with the concept of 'Database of Intentions', which is the key factor behind the current system's rise and defines the concept as the sum total of all queries that pour into search engines and reveal the details and peculiarities of our culture. This paved the way for ‘pay-per-click’ business model. Everything was automated for allowing people to participate effectively. As the ‘Database of Intentions’ develops and are analyzed intelligently, these business models make the advertiser to carry forward, as long as it continues to pay back.

Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who were the founders of Google, did not stick on to the profit based goals, but made sure that their product is built for the consumers. This helped them to create customers for life. Also, Google had never put advertisers ahead of its users. This principle has allowed Google to become a huge rival to its competitors in market share. ‘What does the world want?’ According to John Battelle, a company that answers this question in all point of views can surpass difficult challenges of business and human culture. Apart from Google’s success, The Search also reflects big-picture book about the past, present and future of search technology and the enormous impact on marketing, media, culture, job search, international laws and other areas of human interest.

Thus, Google is a typical example of one of the web 2.0 companies, running successfully in this current era. One of the article in Business week rates this book as high and worth reading it.

Posted by Srikant Devaraj at 03:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mark S Walton’s Generating Buy-In, Mastering the Language of Leadership presents a language of leadership common to the most masterful influencer's in business, politics, law and other fields. This book describes how to use this language to build strategic stories that project a positive future, even when the immediate news may be of less importance. Buy-in is contented receiver’s understanding, commitment and action in support of the speaker’s goals. This skill is considered as one of the most valuable asset. No matter whom you are or where you work, people no longer need to follow your lead, buy they follow what you sell or accept what you say.

The ability to influence people’s thoughts and feelings, to generate their buy-in, has emerged as the vital leadership skill. The strongest leaders are those who create a positive vision of the future that generates action by tapping into people’s emotions, ask for a commitment and inspire their listeners to take steps towards the goal. Their language will empower to produce the results they want and need with greater ease, speed and effectiveness. This book gives a step-by-step process for targeting needs of audience, capturing their attention, communicating in a positive way to successfully build lead, manage organization, motivate individuals, groups, and teams, market ideas, products and services, gain the commitment and loyalty of customers and achieve value added results.

The three chapters in the book is based on an ancient formula, “Rule of Three” as the mind easily receives, retains, and recalls information presented to it in threes. This book conveys an innovative and practical approach through real-world case studies and interviews and in creating strategic stories that project a positive future to audience, speaking the language of buy-in with images that mold powerful thoughts and emotions in listeners and putting the language to work in service of your goal - whether the goal is to raise sales, inspire a work force, or win an election.

If you want to know about the key points of this book, then click this link.

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The usage of digital repurposing by content aggregators is one of the examples of Information Rennaissance. Before going into content aggregators, let me start with the definition of the word “Content”. It is simply a buzzword for information. All Web sites contain some kind of content. It can exist in many forms, such as text, audio, video, photos, charts, databases, or other information that can be digitized.
A content aggregator is an individual or organization that gathers web content from different online sources for repurposing (reuse or resale). Content aggregators also provide filtered, relevant content in the form of news or articles and may deliver it to a qualified audience. The audience can decide on how to use these contents.
There are two kinds of content aggregators:
(1) who gather material from various sources for their Web sites, and
(2) who gather and distribute content to suit customer's needs. I will be concentrating on the latter process which is called “syndication”. (Content Aggregator, 2007)

Syndication:
Syndication is a process of repurposing the material and integration with other material through a paid service subscription. For example: Take the case of newspapers – contents like news, comics, horoscopes and crossword puzzles are usually syndicated content. They receive the content from the content providers, reformat it, mix it with other copy, print and publish it. Today syndication in web has become one of the main features of print media. Lot of information is circulated across the Web. Reuters, for example, provides online news content to over 900 Web sites. (Syndication, 2007).

Online content syndication is a growing industry sector, in terms of hardware and software development. In the early days, this syndication was a tough process. When there was an agreement between the supplier and their customers, the customers used to copy the desired content from the supplier's Web site and paste it into their own. These activities were done manually. With the development of electronic content syndication could automate every aspect of online content syndication. The industry which was built on online syndication needed to standardize data exchange mechanism and metadata vocabulary (an identifier) because suppliers and subscribers were often using different and incompatible technologies.

Traditional Business Model to New Aggregation Model:
Traditional business models for commercial electronic content aggregation are now challenged by individuals and institutions equipped with powerful content technologies. They see the traditional models being out of touch with their needs for complex content integration. New technologies and content technologies are challenging these old business models. The New model is a boon for commercial electronic content aggregation services that requires content and technology suppliers to focus on product and service development in attributes of content aggregation that suit the needs of customers to participate aggressively in the content production, aggregation and distribution process. With today’s institutions and individuals equipped with powerful content technologies and universal network connectivity, commercial content aggregators face an array of new challenges and opportunities that require aggregators, publishers and the institutions that they serve to rethink how they can face the future of content monetization effectively. In this new model, profits flow to those suppliers that can optimize specific variables of the content aggregation model which allows client to select the technology to their will. This era has become more customer-oriented. Those who see the customer’s requirements and create technology which suites their needs will survive in the market. (New Aggregation, 2007)

Key Factors Driving the Rise of Web Content Aggregators: (Key factors, 2007)
• Demand for business-to-business content: The customer interests plays a major role. They should come back to the web time to time for keeping the business running.
• Anyone can publish content for the Web: This medium is available to anyone with a computer and an internet connection.
• Traditional journalists are migrating to this New Media: They see a lot of growth potential in this area.
• Syndication: Web content aggregators play a major role in seeting up a collaborative network.
• Variety of content formats: Various formats like XML, HTML and wireless networks are on demand and they help in integrating them into a common platform.
• Broadband content: Availability of distributing content, which features video and sound is growing.
• New Business Models: To support free content, increase the audience, taking care of old and new content providers are playing an important role in creating new business models.

Web Content Aggregators and their Competition:
Moving content from content partners through the content aggregators and to the customers is a strategic process. Providing online content is big business, and it will remain a big business as long as web surfers continue to come back to them for more good online information and can choose the content they want. Due to the demand for business-to-business content on Web sites Web content aggregators have the economic relationships, infrastructure, business models, and momentum that may attract many companies struggling with the content needs of intranets and portals. They could emerge as big winners in the online content licensing business. They survive only by reaching a broader audience through syndication opportunities, providing a wider variety of content and introducing new business models. The content aggregators use proprietary software to distribute content to their customers and combine that content directly into the customer's web site or they can host the software on their own servers and link them to their customer’s' Web sites.

The following table shows the competitive comparison between top three web content aggregators and an idea of the current situation in market. This table is made based on the data collected from (Key factors, 2007) and (Content Aggregator, 2007)

Hope these information were useful to you all. Finally I feel that Information renaissance is unavoidable. Even if you like it or not, you have to live with it.

REFERENCES:

(Content Aggregator, 2007). Smart Computing Articles. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from Content Aggregators Give (& Sell) The Gift Of Knowledge Web site: http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0502/38r02/38r02.asp&guid

(Key factors, 2007). New Web Site Content Options from New Content Aggregators. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from Key Factors Driving the Rise of Web Content Aggregators Web site: http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/jul00/funke.htm

(New Aggregation, 2007). New Aggregation: Models for success. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from Research Report Web site: http://shore.com/research/current/reports/SCI200404.html

(Syndication, 2007). What is syndication?. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from Syndication Web site: http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci498311,00.html

Posted by Srikant Devaraj at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Introduction:
Human Communication is an exchange of information, ideas, feelings or messages by means of written, oral, aural communication or actions between two or more individuals. This exchange can happen only when the sender and the receiver understand a common language so that the sender can transmit the intended information successfully in order to avoid confusion at the receiving end. The gestures and emotions play a major role in human communication as they indicate the seriousness of the information.
J.D Peters has quoted “Communication is a registry of modern longings. The term evokes a utopia where nothing is misunderstood, hearts are open, and expression is uninhibited. Desire being most intense when the object is absent, longings for communication also index a deep sense of dereliction in social relationships.”(JD Peters, 1999)

Approaches:
Human Communication is characterized by multiplicity of its theory. People have different approach on communication like sociological, psychological, linguistic, cybernetic, phenomenological, rhetorical and semiotic approaches (Little John 2007, Page 13-14). All these approaches are ultimately practical because every approach is a response to some aspect of communication encountered in everyday life. Every approach attempts to address communication practice in one form or another.

Basic Model:

According to Shannon Weaver model, figure 1(Fournier, 2007), a message begins at an information source, which is relayed through a transmitter, and then through a signal towards a receiver. But before it reaches the receiver, the message goes through noise, (Which is the source of interference). Finally the receiver must convey the message to the destination.
If I am having an idea or message, which is called the information source (I want to tell about) then I move my idea from my brain to my mouth, which acts as transmitter. Depending upon the receivers and my common language, I must select words for my transmitter (mouth) to use. Once I start speaking, my voice, which is the signal, is carried through the air towards the listener’s ear, which is the receiver. Along the way, my signal is joined by the combination of other sounds and distractions, which is called noise. The receiver then takes everything it receives and tries to maximize the message and minimize the noise. Finally, the receiver conveys its message to the other person’s mind, which is the destination. This model clearly demonstrates why even the simplest communication can be misunderstood. Transmitting a signal across additional media, not only adds to the complexity of the communication, but also increases the chances of distortion. It depends on understanding how people behave in creativity, exchanging and interpreting messages (Little John 2007, Page 11).

Levels of Problem in Analysis of Communication:
There can be different levels of problems in analyzing Human Communication depending upon the sender and receiver (Chandler Daniel, 1994).
- Technical Problem: How accurately the message can be sent?
- Semantic Problem: How precisely is the meaning conveyed?
- Effective Problem: How effectively does the received meaning affect the behavior?

Means of Communication:
In general there are two means of human communication viz- verbal communication and non-verbal communication.
1) Verbal Communication- It includes speech that uses language to convey a message and anything in writing such as email, short messaging services and letters.
2) Non Verbal Communication- It includes gestures, body language, emotions, eye contact and touch, that will convey the meaning. Once the receiver understands the intended communication transmitted by the sender, he gives a feedback to the sender in the form of verbal or non-verbal communication to indicate that he has understood the message. The non-verbal communication is also as important as verbal communication. An inspiring quote from Ralf Walde Emerson states that “What you do, speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say” (Emerson). This shows the importance of nonverbal forms of communication.

Elements of Human Communication:
I feel that there are five basic elements for a successful communication.
1) Contact – eg: Who is contacting (Sender)
2) Content – eg: What is the message
3) Channel – eg: Mode or medium of the transmission
4) Intended Contact – Person receiving information (or) receiver
5) Effect – Outcome or result of the intended message in the form of feedback

This is similar to Lasswells theory (John Little, 2007 page 313). There are two interesting ideas such as intention – that answers the special needs and the Necessity – to study the receiver and the mode or medium before communicating. This is because information passed on is important as per Senthil Kumar’s quote “Information is magic and wealth” (Senthilkumar, 2007). We can get information from no-man’s land, but sending those information to an intended person or group is important. For example, if I have got some information about technology, and if I am passing them to a group of non-technical people who are not interested in technical works, fail to have a successful communication. In this case, though the intended message was passed onto the receiver, the receiver has no clue about the information passed on to them. This results in negative feedback. If the same communication was passed on to the receivers who are interested in technical information, then there would have been successful communication and the receiver will appreciate for the information. This will remind me of Dr. Jay Gillette’s quote in ICS 602 class in the Center for Information and Communication Sciences, Ball State University “Add value to your domain” (Gillette, 2007). If the communication is done with the people who are interested in the information you intended to pass on, then it becomes successful human communication. Therefore interests of both sender and receiver play an important role.

Listening Skills effect on Communication:
Listening skills are a key part of human communication skills. When the intended information reaches the receiver, the receiver can misinterpret the information leading to chaos. Tom Peters has stated in his book on Thriving on Chaos that we can achieve flexibility by empowering people through listening. He says “Listen constantly, congregate or share ideas / information and recognize achievement" (Peters Tom, 1987).
Between humans, communication includes acts that present knowledge and experiences, gives advice and commands, ask questions. These acts may take many forms, in one of the various manners of communication. The form depends on abilities of the group communicating. Together , content and form makes messages that are sent towards a destination that can be self, another person or to a group. Communication also depends on the focus like who, what, in which form, to whom and outcome. Human communication as per Griffith Goas is common. The common people do not even realize that they are doing it. It happens naturally be it verbal or nonverbal (Griffith, 2007). Effective communication is achieved through awareness of one’s communication skills, socio-culture etc and audience, the choice of channel, medium, one’s attitude towards sender and receiver.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, one would say that human communication includes acts that present knowledge and experience. Also human communication is deemed to be interactive. It is not considered as one-way. It also calls for a response or a feedback from others. I feel that communication is an important binding factor for a successful leader. The importance of communication in leaders is demonstrated daily in organization (Tom Peters, 1987). Finally to me an excellent, successful human communication shall be a process of expressing oneself, both in verbal as well as non-verbal forms, in such a way that the others have readily and clearly understood.

References::
1) Peters J.D (1999). Speaking into the air: A history of the idea of communication Retrieved October 20, 2007 Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
2) Emerson, Ralph Waldo Emerson Inspirational Quotes for Business and Work : Communication Retrieved October 20, 2007 http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicat/quotes_nonverb.htm
3) Senthilkumar Natchimuthu, 2007, Center for Information and communication sciences, Ball State University, Retrieved October 21, 2007
4) Griffith Goas, Center for Information and communication sciences, Ball State University, Retrieved October 21, 2007
5) Fournier, Stephen M (2007). Shannon and Weaver's Model of Communication. Retrieved October 21, 2007, from A Brief History and Theory of Speaking Web site: http://stevefournier01.tripod.com/hist/hist-6.html
6) Stephen W. Littlejohn. and Karen A. Foss (2007). Theories of Human Communication. (9th ed.). Retrieved October 19, 2007 Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
7) Tom Peters (1987), Thriving on Chaos: Handbook for a Management Revolution. Retrieved October 20, 2007New York Harper and Row.
8) Chandler, Daniel (1994). Transmission Model of Communication. Retrieved October 20, 2007, Web site: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/short/trans.html

Key points of my theory of Human communication:
1) Introduction – An exchange of information, ideas, feelings or messages by means of written, oral, aural communication or actions between two or more individuals.
2) Approaches: Sociological, psychological, linguistic, cybernetic, phenomenological, rhetorical and semiotic approaches.
3) Basic Model - Shannon Weaver model
4) Levels of Problem in Analysis of Communication: Technical Problem, Semantic Problem and Effective Problem
5) Means of Communication - verbal communication and non-verbal communication.
6) Elements of Human Communication – Contact, Content, Channel, Intended Contact, Effect
7) Listening Skills effect on Communication:
8) Conclusion

These key points are written for my group (TEAM 3) for our research paper.

Posted by Srikant Devaraj at 07:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The process of "negotiation" is an interaction of influences. Such interactions, for example, include the process of resolving disputes, agreeing upon courses of action, bargaining for individual or collective advantage, or crafting outcomes to satisfy various interests. Negotiation is thus a form of alternative dispute resolution. Dealing them and making a collaborative environment is a challenging task.

Many negotiations become successful only by WIN-WIN concepts. At the end of the day, both the parties involved in the negotiations should be happy and should feel that they found a fair compromise. This is the concept involved in successful negotiations. These instances lead to collaborative environment between the parties which is essential for sustaining their relationships.

The ultimate goal for collaboration is to honor the legitimate interests of all involved parties.

Some of the guiding principles to collaboration are:

1)Adopt a concern for mutual gain
•Understand that helping others meet their interests can help you meet your interests
•Give up a “must win” attitude

2)Preserve and protect the dignity of all parties
•Keep your focus on issues not personalities
•Separate the people from the problem
•Believe the other party is expressing a legitimate concern when disagreeing with you

3)Listen with empathy – even if you disagree
•Put yourself in other party’s shoes
•Be fully present
•Listen with neutrality and suspend critical judgment

4)Find common ground without forcing change
•Keep the larger vision in mind
•Share common long-range goals

5)Honor diversity including your own perspective
•Know what really matters to you
•Express your point of view – even if you are the lone dissenter
•Remember that different viewpoints promote creativity

6)Commit to creativity – not rigidity
•Create options that will satisfy both parties
•Have backup plans in mind

Ideas from: (Andy Gothreau,2007). Conflict Resolution. Presented at Bracken Library, Ball State University on October 17, 2007

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