Strategic Vision Limited

Consumers Say Companies Should Do More to Solve World Problems

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Consumers Say Companies Should Do More to Solve World Problems

85% of consumers expect companies to become actively involved in solving social and environmental challenges and 72% of consumers does not think that companies are working hard enough to solve these issues.

44% say they'd punish irresponsible companies
51% of consumers say they'd reward responsible companies by choosing to buy their products
53% say they'd pay a 10% premium for a product produced in a responsible way

All three figures are up substantially from last year.

So doing good in the world can in addition to give the company a better image also give the company more loyal and happier customers who might be willing to pay a slightly higher price for a product produced in a more responsible way.

However, "only 20% trust companies when they communicate about their social/environmental commitments and initiatives" so 'doing good in the world' and addressing these issues needs to be more than a PR-exercise.

Source: Meaningful Brands—Havas Media launches global results

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A National Strategic Narrative - a new US policy for the 21st century

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:59:00 +0000

A National Strategic Narrative - a new US policy for the 21st century

"A National Strategic Narrative" is an interesting and thought provoking article published by "Y", two top-ranking members of Admiral Mike Mullen's team, the Joint Chiefs of Staff that is likely to influence the American foreign and national policy of the 21st century.

The article argues that the United States has embraced an entirely wrong set of priorities, particularly with regard to its federal budget. The US have overreacted to Islamic extremism and pursued military solutions instead of political ones.

Y says we are underinvesting in the real sources of national power - our youth, our infrastructure and our economy. The United States sees the world through the lens of threats, while failing to understand that influence, competitiveness and innovation are the key to advancing American interests in the modern world. Y says that above all we must invest in our children. Only by educating them properly will we ensure our ability to compete in the future.

Y also argues that we need to move from an emphasis on power and control to an emphasis on strength and influence.

Y goes on to say that US shouldn't even talk about national security as they have for the past 60 years; instead they should be talking about national prosperity and security.

Very smart stuff for the new world we are all entering but it's even more important and influential in particular, given the source. This article that is arguing that the US needs to rely less on our military has been written by the highest echelons of the Pentagon.

Mr. Y is actually two people, both top-ranking members of Admiral Mike Mullen's team, the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They are Captain Wayne Porter of the U.S. Navy and Colonel Mark Mykleby of the Marine Corps. It's likely that the essay had some official sanction, which means that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or perhaps even Secretary of Defense Robert Gates had seen it and did not stop its publication.

So why did the authors call themselves Mr. Y? It's a play on a seminal essay from Foreign Affairs magazine more than five decades ago. The title was "The Sources of Soviet Conduct," and it was signed simply X. The author turned out to be the American diplomat George Kennan, and the article turned out to have perhaps the greatest influence on American foreign policy in the second half of the 20th century.

It set out the policy of containment, that if the US contain the Soviet Union, countering its influence, eventually the internal contradictions of the Soviet system would trigger its collapse, and it worked.

"Mr Y", Porter and Mykleby, says the basic approach, a massive military to deter the Soviets, a quasi-imperial policy to counter Soviet influence all over the world, is still in place and is outmoded and outdated. They call their policy proposal sustainment, and they hope it just might be the policy that will carry us forward for the next 50 years.

Washington needs to make sure that the United States does not fall into the imperial trap of every other superpower in history, spending greater and greater time and money and energy stabilizing disorderly parts of the world on the periphery, while at the core its own industrial and economic might is waning.

Fixing America's fiscal problems - paring back defence spending, healthcare costs and entitlements while ensuring that corporations pay their fair share of taxes - making the economy competitive, improving the educational system, the infrastructure, dealing with immigration and outlining a serious plan for sustainable energy use are probably the best strategies for the US to stay a superpower, not going around killing a few tribal leaders in the remote valleys and hills of Afghanistan.

Click to read the full article

Strategic Vision Limited

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The Bank of Facebook

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:24:00 +0000

How Facebook can change to bank industry and other industries.

With Facebook approaching a billion people there are lot of opportunities to do a lot of different things including developing completely new business models in areas such as banking.

Peer-to-peeer lending could be such as an area where Facebook could develop a global lending business similar to Zopa side-steping banks.

Purchasing is another area where Facebook could use the massive negotiating power of a huge network to change how people are purchasing goods and services.

In this video Thomas Power from Ecademy talks about some of these ideas and possibilities.

Strategic Vision Limited
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iPad - a game changer for the printed press/ print industry?

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:18:00 +0000

Could the new iPad be a game changer for the printed press/ print industry in the same way as the iPod/iTunes changed the music industry?

iPad has the opportunity to change a whole industry and the way we consume printed media.

Content is still king but the way content is distributed and the business model for how to distribute and monetize content will definitely challenged by the introduction of iPad. Much in the same way as iPod changed the way music is consumed, purchased and distributed.

TBC

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iPad - a new category of mobile device

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:02:00 +0000

Apple, now the largest mobile device company in the world introduced a new category of products.

The upcoming release of iPad sees a completely new way of accessing and interacting with the Internet. IPad fits in between the iPhone/iPod touch and the Laptop in Apples mobile devices product suite.

Could this be a game changer for the printed press/ print industry in the same way as the iPod/iTunes changed the music industry?

Those companies who see these new opportunities have a great opportunity to develop their business model and see new additional revenue streams to a business that has been declining for a long time.

TBC

For more information see:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Strategic Vision Limited
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Japanese Addresses and Other Opposites

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:24:00 +0000

Interesting video on different or opposites viewpoints
One of the most interesting opposites were the chinese doctors who got paid to keep you healthy. So they make money on keeping you healthy as opposed to the healthcare system in the west, US, Europe etc. where the money are made from sick people on medication. Enjoy!

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Tips For Funding Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:52:00 +0000

Tips For Funding Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

Avoid Newly-Formed Charities and Give To An Established Charity That Has Worked In Haiti

Establishing a new charity is hard enough, but in a crisis, the odds of succeeding are slim to none. Think of it this way: would you entrust all your savings in a financial firm that just opened, doesn't even have stationery, and whose employees have no experience in investing money? Doubtful. Find a charity with a proven track record of success in providing disaster relief and one that has worked in Haiti. Start with the list of charities on the right and if a group you are considering supporting isn’t there, then take the time to thoroughly research it before making a gift.

Do Not Give To The Haitian Government

Haiti is known to be a corrupt country. And news reports post earthquake indicate that the government is pretty much not functioning. If that isn’t enough reason not to give directly to the Haiti government, then consider the fact that contributions to foreign governments are not tax deductible.

Designate Your Investment

Generally, it is best to trust your chosen charity to spend your donation as it sees fit. But with disaster related giving, you should specify that you want your donation only used to respond to this particular crisis.

Do Not Send Supplies

Knowing that millions of people are desperately in need of food and water, it is hard not to want to pack up a box of supplies and send it to Haiti. But this type of philanthropy is simply not practical or efficient. Even if mail could get to Haiti, no one is set up to receive these goods, much less organize and distribute them to the victims. Furthermore, charities are often able to partner with companies to acquire large amounts of in-kind donations such as bottled water and new clothing. Instead of boxing up and sending your old clothing, have a garage sale and turn your used goods into cash and donate that to a worthy charity.

Be Careful Of Email Solicitations

Be Leery Of People That Contact You Online Claiming To Be A Victim

Unless you personally know someone in Haiti, anyone alleging to be in this position is most likely part of a scam. Obviously, people affected by the earthquake are in no position to contact you directly for assistance.

Delete Unsolicited Emails With Attachments - Never respond to unsolicited emails. Do not open any attachments to these emails even if they claim to contain pictures from Haiti. These attachments are probably viruses.

Seek Out The Charity’s Authorized Website – Refer to our blog from yesterday as to why this is important.

Is it safe to make a text donation?

So long as you do your homework, yes. Please visit our blog for a longer explanation.

Consider The Nature Of The Charity’s Work

Not every charity is responding in the same way. Some are providing medical assistance, some shelter, some food and water. Others will be more focused on either short term or long term rebuilding efforts. And some are just helping to fundraise for other nonprofits. Think about what it is you want your philanthropic investment to accomplish and then take the time to find the charities doing that work. At Charity Navigator we link to each charity’s website so that you can quickly learn more about their plans to help in Haiti.

Be Inspired By Social Media, But Still Do Your Homework

Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs are delivering heart-wrenching images and information about Haiti to our computers and phones. Many of them include pleas to donate. While these tools can be a powerful tool to inspire your desire to help, you should not blindly give via these vehicles. You must take the time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help to ensure that it comes from a legitimate nonprofit. For example, you can donate $10 to the American Red Cross by texting “Haiti” to 90999. As of today, this tool has raised $3 million for the Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

Avoid Telemarketers

As always, hang up the phone do your homework and give directly to a charity.

Do Not Expect Immediate Results, But Do Keep Tabs On What Your Donation Accomplishes

It takes time for charities to mobilize, to assess the problems that need to be addressed and to develop effective solutions. Donors need to be patient so charities will not feel pressured to plunge in and offer ineffective aid, simply to placate impatient donors. That doesn't mean donors shouldn't hold the charities accountable for delivering on their promises!

Be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out

(a) how your donation was put to use and

(b) if the organization needs additional support to complete the recovery effort.

From: Charitynavigator

Strategic Vision Limited
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HAITI - How we can help!

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:05:00 +0000

Haiti how can we help?

Larry King Live, CNN

2 hour fundraiser on Monday, 8pm ET

http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders)

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural or man-made disasters.

To date, the teams have treated and stabilised well over 1,500 wounded. They have now also started performing emergency surgery in Choscal Hospital in the Cite Soleil area. Additional staff and supplies are being flown in.

http://www.msf.org/

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

UNICEF

The leading advocate for children’s rights, active in 190 countries through country programmes and National Committees.

As part of the effort to help avert a second wave of deaths across Haiti, a DHL cargo plane carrying UNICEF water-and-sanitation supplies landed early Saturday morning in the capital, Port-au-Prince. It was the second such shipment to arrive there in 24 hours.

Water tanks and water-purification tablets were offloaded from the plane for distribution in concert with UNICEF's partners on the ground. The air shipment also contained oral rehydration salts, which can save children's lives by combating the effects of diarrhoeal dehydration. Two water-and-sanitation experts were on the flight as well.

Meanwhile, 5,000 litres of drinking water have reached residents of the coastal city of Jacmel, along with 2,500 kitchen kits for displaced families. The supplies were dispensed in coordination with the World Food Programme.

And beginning today, UNICEF and its partners will distribute 26 water bladders in badly affected areas. Haiti's main water companies are providing tanker trucks to fill the bladders, which can hold between 5,000 and 10,000 litres each.

More aid en route

Two more planes loaded with UNICEF aid for Haiti were scheduled to land this weekend in Santo Domingo, the capital of the neighbouring Dominican Republic. The planes are carrying essential medicines and shelter materials, among other needed items.

http://www.unicef.org/

Yéle Haiti

Yéle Haiti is a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. Yéle’s community service programs include food distribution and mobilizing emergency relief. Grammy-Award winning musician, humanitarian and Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti Wyclef Jean founded Yéle Haiti in 2005.

http://www.yele.org/

Strategic Vision Limited
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Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

www.strategicvisionlimited.co.uk

Strategic Vision Limited
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The turnaround market 2009/2010

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:23:00 +0000

Our colleague Winn talks about the turnaround market in this article

"It is currently proving difficult to find capital and financing, so one option is that people who are part of a turnaround, such as myself, will invest some of their own money to help save the business."

"Next year there will be a greater demand for my work. The market is going to get more competitive, so there will be the creative tension between an increase in work and more turnaround funds competing for that business. To succeed you will need either a unique selling point or to offer the client something innovative, such as a cash injection to show that you believe in the business."

"The added value also comes when, as a turnaround professional, you move on, having empowered the client to run their business successfully again on their own, thus not outstaying your welcome."

To read the full article see: click here

Strategic Vision Limited
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Strategic Vision on Twitter

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Welcome to follow us on Twitter

http://twitter.com/strategicvisio

Strategic Vision Limited
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The Web in Five Years Time - according to Google

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt claims that within five years we will be consuming a 'radically different' internet, dominated by Chinese language and social media content delivered via super-fast broadband.

Google's Eric Schmidt claims the web will look radically different in five yearsSpeaking at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo Orlando 2009, Schmidt outlined his vision of the future, claiming that how to rank real-time social content is "the great challenge of the age,"

He also advised brands to listen to youth consumers when drawing up their marketing strategies. "Talk to a teenager about how they consume media and remember in five years they'll be your employee," he said.

Here's an overview of Schmidt's vision:

1. Five years from now the internet will be dominated by Chinese-language content.

2. Five years is a factor of ten in Moore's Law, meaning that computers will be capable of far more by that time than they are today.

3. Within five years there will be broadband well above 100MB in performance - and distribution distinctions between TV, radio and the web will go away.

4. "We're starting to make significant money off of Youtube", content will move towards more video.

5. "Real time information is just as valuable as all the other information, we want it included in our search results."

6. "We can index real-time info now - but how do we rank it?"

7. It's because of this fundamental shift towards user-generated information that people will listen more to other people than to traditional sources. Learning how to rank that "is the great challenge of the age." Schmidt believes Google can solve that problem.

Business Trends Blog

Strategic Vision Limited
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Now on Facebook

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:00:00 +0000

www.strategicvisionlimited.co.uk

Strategic Vision Limited
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How's your business compared to one year ago?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Strategic Vision ask the business community:

How's your business compared to one year ago?

Click here to take part and see the results

Strategic Vision Limited
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Now on YouTube!

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:03:00 +0000

Strategic Vision now has it's own channel on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/strategicvisionltd

Strategic Vision Limited
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OVERHEAD COST REDUCTION (UK)

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:49:00 +0000

OVERHEAD COST REDUCTION

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We will do all the hard work and analysis for you
Average saving for our customers £22.000 per site

If we can not identify savings of at least twice the fee we will refund the fee for you.

For more information: click here

Strategic Vision Limited
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Outsourcing in China Today

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:35:00 +0000

Outsourcing in China Today

Hong Kong-based consultant Peter Zapf talks about the risks and benefits of moving production to the mainland

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/oct2007/sb20071015_563438.htm?link_position=link10

To read more about how we could help you develop your business and production in China click here

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