Andy asks an interesting question that helped me frame a different problem of customer centricity, discussed earlier.  …  for systems and solutions design and the reason for my pondering on the issue, we are planning around using new technology abilities to do things ‘on demand’, or as an when needed, and in conjunction with the dynamic orchestration of other systems, processes and services. But how do we know that there will not be a restriction from synchronous issues? Source: CTO Blog | Is Technology Asynchronous and Business Process Synchronous? He uses asynchronous/ synchronous to explain the difficulty in applying real time tchnology … Continue reading CTO Blog | Is Technology Asynchronous and Business Process Synchronous?

Courtesy of Tara, some classic marketing advice, that is perennial. And, back to Buckingham, who has great advice for those of you who want to lead: Clarity is key…and your points of clarity are: Who do we serve? (focus on one core audience) What is our core strength? (why will we win) What is our core score? (one metric to measure how well we are doing) What actions can we take today to get there? Source: ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon tags: marketing, marketing101 Continue reading ::HorsePigCow:: marketing uncommon

This makes the point, that security safeguards need to identify not just the user, but also the machine logging in to the network. More than 8 out of every 10 computer attacks against businesses could be stopped if enterprises checked the identity of not only the user, but also the machine logging onto its network, a report released Monday claimed. Source: Most Damaging Attacks Rely On Stolen Log-Ins – News by InformationWeek This makes sense.  Simply authenticating customers with user id and password, even if supported by a smart card and token is not enough.  That merely confirms the smart … Continue reading Most Damaging Attacks Rely On Stolen Log-Ins – News by InformationWeek

Japanese FI’s and Post Office (a major bank too) are pressing ahead with biometric ATM’s. SMBC has installed a total of 1,026 compatible ATM’s at about 460 staffed branches and about 1,000 ATM’s at convenience stores. Mizuho plans to put compatible ATM’s into operation at about 450 staffed branches by September. Resona Bank plans to begin introducing biometric identification in October. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Mizuho Bank plan to install ATM’s with biometric recognition functions at all their staffed branches by September. Japan Post, which will also begin introducing the system in October, plans … Continue reading Japans biometric card rollout is stumbling on change management and lack of standards

<a href=”http://www.technorati.com/claim/4kwjyn43ty&#8221; rel=”me”>Technorati Profile</a> Continue reading Technorati – disregard

 James is worried about the right things here. “For the first time ever, I argued, the special economic role of banks as the primary intermediaries between actors in markets is being challenged. Previously disruptive innovations in banking, (for example, Internet Banking) didn’t actually interfere with the special role that banks have in society. Non bank payment systems and P2P lending? These go right to the core of what banks have traditionally done. My point was that the business model of banking itself is now being touched by parties that aren’t banks.” Source: “BankerVision: The reaction of bankers – Mozilla Firefox” … Continue reading BankerVision: The reaction of bankers

Italian banking gets a shakeup.  Foreign shareholders, including French bank Credit Agricole and Spain’s Santander, are key to the success of the deal.  “Two of Italy’s biggest banks are to merge, forming an industry giant with a market value of 55bn euros (£37bn). The merger of Banca Intesa and rival Sanpaolo IMI will create Europe’s 10th largest bank.” Source: “BBC NEWS | Business | Merger creates Italian bank giant – Mozilla Firefox” And others may be to follow: Other Italian banks are also believed to be attempting to form new merged identities. tags: Italian+banks, European+banks Continue reading "BBC NEWS | Business | Merger creates Italian bank giant"

Of interest to fellow bloggers: I have been using this for a week now.  I am one of those guys who though Microsoft rocked in the 90’s and then lost it in the 2000’s, so I am not a Microsoft evangelist.  I have to say this software is brilliant for blogging, for few key reasons: WYSIWYG is actually that.  I have been using Performancing but that software while convenient is not WYSIWYG Tied to 1.  It actually uses the CSS from your bog to lay out the interface as you type, so you feel you are typing in your blog – very … Continue reading Windows Live Writer for bloggers

In a new poll from Harris, bankers come in at a lowly 17th, when asked “if you feel it is an occupation of very great prestige?” (US) Base: All Adults Hardly Very Any Not Great Considerable Some Prestige Sure/ Prestige Prestige Prestige At All Refused % % % % % Firefighter 63 23 11 3 – Doctor 58 30 10 1 1 Nurse 55 24 17 4 – Scientist 54 26 15 4 * Teacher 52 22 20 6 * Military officer 51 30 16 3 1 Police officer 43 26 26 4 1 Priest/Minister/Clergyman 40 28 24 7 1 … Continue reading At least we are better than actors, and realtors