Food riots in Haiti, gas at $1.31 [Canada], arctic icecap disappearing faster than previously understood, the US/ global credit crisis, etc etc. Then layer on Mikes excellent presentation about drivers of change. I think time for me to re-read this book from 2007. Just too much makes sense, and strategy must consider the impacts of global change, to be complete. The Upside of Down – The Argument energy stress, especially from increasing scarcity of conventional oil; economic stress from greater global economic instability and widening income gaps between rich and poor; demographic stress from differentials in population growth rates between … Continue reading Time for a re-read | The Upside of Down

Tips for managing complex systems, from a book review by George Colony, Forrester Research. Click through for the full review. George F. Colony: A favorite book: The Logic of Failure Dorner gives advice to managers of complex systems: 1) State goals clearly.2) Establish priorities, but don’t cling to them.3) Form a model of the system.4) Gather information, but not too much.5) Don’t excessively abstract.6) Analyze errors and draw conclusions from them for reorganizing thinking and behavior.7) Develop common sense. Continue reading The logic of failure | tips on management of complex systems

Spent lunch with the folks from Monitise Group. Their model is very interesting. While it does not do them justice, you can think of it as a mobile ATM. Their business model integrates into an ATM switch, and allows them to offer while lable mobile banking to Banks, without any technology investment from the Bank. The Bank gets the benefit of mobile banking for their customers without the hurdle of building another channel. Monitise Group | Welcome A key principle of the Monitise proposition is to facilitate a non-disruptive business model – we call it the ‘ecosystem’ – which brings … Continue reading White lable mobile Banking | Monitise Group

Aneace summarises the last presentation suggesting that cash is under-priced hence smart cards, and electronic purses / prepaid cards are not as successful as they could be. Aneace’s Blog: A solution to the interchange dilemma the only solution to the interchange problem is to raise the price of cash to match its cost, for example through an ATM charge Aneace is right that this is a political and bank non-starter, because the secondary revolt would out-weigh the benefit. Prepaid cards acceptance, and cash reduction, can only succeed, once someone figures out a better mousetrap. Continue reading Cash vs prepaid smart cards

Listening to Nigel Topping speaking about Totnes currency. In Totnes, Devon, they have issued their own community currency, with a view to keeping their money in the community. All sorts of challenges, and issues, but it is receiving growing acceptance. The Totnes Pound was launched as an initiative of Transition Town Totnes Economics and Livelihoods group in March 2007[2]. The group argues that “Economic localisation is considered to be a key aspect of the transition process, and local currency systems provide the opportunity to strengthen the local economy whilst preventing money from leaking out”[3]. Their near term plans are interesing, … Continue reading Community currency enhances community value | Totnes

Here are my simple notes as background for tomorrows panel at the conference. Slideshare Banks have lost focus on the customer People are seeking better alternatives for financial services Internet as a driving force, is largely ignored by Banks Thinking and listening this morning validates my concerns for Banks. I heard today about a person I know who is a Banker and a blogger, and who shall remain nameless. That person’s blogging became know to a senior person in that Bank, and the result is that they have been asked to curtail external activities for some time, ie no conferences, … Continue reading Why most Banks cannot innovate

Here are my simple notes as background for tomorrows panel at the conference. Slideshare Continue reading Panel notes | Digital Money forum

In a survey that probably understates the matter, Brits are using the same password for multiple cards. Finextra: Brits struggling with PINs – survey Around a quarter of cardholders in the UK are putting their money at risk by using the same PIN number for all their credit and debit cards, according to research commissioned by price comparison Web site Moneysupermarket. This is no surprise, and rather than being seen as a problem, should be seen as an opportunity by the industry to consider additional assistance for people. Biometrics spring to mind, such that cards can only be used by … Continue reading Brits struggling with PINs – survey | finextra

Juniper Research are predicting a 10 fold increase in the numbers using mobile banking, by 2011. Courtesy of finextra. Finextra: Mobile banking numbers to pass 800 million by 2011 – Juniper The number of people accessing banking services via their mobile phones is set to soar to 816 million by 2011 – a ten fold increase on 2007, according to a global study by analyst house Juniper Research In a related point there was a discussion today on twitter about an apparent drop in use of online banking reported by Comscore, and how this could be [speculation] contributed to by … Continue reading Mobile banking numbers to pass 800 million by 2011 – Juniper