Business Leadership Lessons from Game of Thrones and the House of Stark

CELESTIX CEO Tim Ager recently took a look at what business leaders can learn from Game of Thrones and more precisely from the successes and failures of the hero Ned Stark. Here's what you need to know in order not to lose your head.

Despite his previous success and its high level of integrity, Ned Stark was able to adapt to his new role.
Rob Stark is dead, the Stark family ever be reunited in winter or anywhere else and hopes of fallen heroes to ruin. That is basically how season 3 synthesis of Game of Thrones closes. What does this have to do with managed services and business? CELESTIX CEO Tim Ager recently pointed out in his blog that the first season of this HBO series can provide useful lessons in leadership and management, especially if you do not want to "lose his head" as a hero who made Ned Stark. Here's the advice of Ager on how to take your career to the next level.
Ager said that Ned Stark begins the series as a successful leader, but is put to the test when he reluctantly accepted the position as the "hand of the King" – basically the COO who must deal with the day-to-day reign of Westeros.
As Ager points out, Stark has an impressive curriculum that leads to work:
Born into a noble family and ben educatedTrained and warfareSuccessful leadership in numerous campaigns over yearsObtained many more awards related to its northern TerritoryTrusted achievementsRuler friend, right hand man and supporter of the King
As Ager notes: "I know you did well in your core competency, earned your Spurs and they progressed your career. Take a look at your resume shows exemplary credentials. And then you are asked to step up and become a VP or join the C-suite level ".
Ager argues that the same skills you have in your new place of work are not the same ones that will allow you to be successful.
His new role of hand puts Stark in a new situation, among others who hold the power, but they have different agendas. Stark has no experience in the field, having spent his career commanding subordinates and never cultivate the ability to deal with the ambiguity of policy.
And while any topic criticizing Ned Stark, the hero of the first season that has retained its integrity and morality despite horrendous circumstances, probably will be met by fans and fans GOT Stark as heresy, Ager is right. Ned does not adapt to his new situation, and all the characters are still feeling the repercussions of that at the end of season 3.  But it does mean that you should change who you are to fit your new role?
"Now I'm not for a minute suggesting that based on the experience of the poor old Ned it changes everything and transform yourself into something you're not. After all your strengths are the main reason why he was asked to step up and take on a larger scale, "Ager wrote. "However, we should all listen to the allegory of Ned Stark and realize that unless we adapt to our new leadership roles we stand a greater chance of failure. Successful Leadership is on many things and it means different things in different organizations, but a foundation of successful leadership is to continue to be good at what we did during the adaptation to be successful enough at things that we did. "
Expect more GOT management and leadership lessons from Ager, as an end of season 3. Any forensic analysis on errors of Rob Stark? Triumphs of DANERYS? Career path of Jon Snow?
Meanwhile, you have collected every management wisdom from books, movies or television? Tell us in the comments.

IBM SmartCloud, PureFlex: MSP double-crossed?

IBM SmartCloud PureFlex systems and will move into the spotlight of the MSP IBM Summit.

IBM GMs Andy Monshaw (left) and Deepak Advani (right) will probably offer PureFlex and SmartCloud updates during a Summit of MSP.
IBM SmartCloud PureFlex systems and will take center stage at the Summit of MSP IBM this week in Las Vegas. The big question: can IBM convince more MSPs to standardize its hardware infrastructure and converging cloud platforms (especially in the midst of acquiring SoftLayer)?
Among the leaders to address these and other problems this week at IBM's Summit:
Andy Monshaw, General Manager, SystemsDeepak Advani PureFlex, general manager, Cloud and intelligent infrastructure
IBM's effort to engage MSPs began in 2011. Original effort involved in data center hardware sales. But IBM has been expanding its focus to include MSP and managed services that can connect MSPs cloud.
Not coincidentally, IBM MSP definition has expanded to include a wide range of companies offering on-and off-premise that IT services. It is clear that IBM is trying to engage everyone from telecommunications systems integrators with its portfolio of hardware, software and managed cloud offerings.
Hardware Giants home servers (Dell, HP, IBM and Sun Oracle) I think IBM has a sharp focus on MSPs. But those are MSPs generating big business for IBM? It's a safe bet Monshaw and Advani will provide updates when they take the stage at the Summit of the 11 June IBM.

Managed services: 7 Blogs MSPmentor didn't write, 7 June

This week's news services managed provider (MSP), gossip, and rumors involves Autotask, LabTech Microsoft Surface, contour, tablets and more.
Our team has spent the week at Autotask community live, automation nation and LabTech Cisco Partner Summit. Next week, I'll be IBM Summit surface Edge/MSP-while keeping an eye on as far as the next level of MSP platforms Community Summit and TruMethods Schnizzfest. Meanwhile, there are reports of seven managed services provider (MSP) and Blogs that the MSPmentor team did not have the opportunity to write for the week ending June 7, 2013.
7. Bigger Picture: twice in recent days I have had extended conversations with LabTech Software CEO Matthew Nachtrab. We covered a wide range of things: LabTech's performance over the past year, the company's evolution, the commitment to integration with Autotask and Tigerpaw Software (you read that right) and much more. Stay tuned for a more complete review.
6. compressed Surface: I've seen some users of LabTech conference area. Neri was among them. I am still a long run I believe on the surface collapsed. But please can we have a channel partner program, Microsoft?
5. Career moves: at least three high-profile executives, high level MSP sector are close by changing jobs. Big names. Great moves. As soon as possible.
4. limit of earnings momentum: CEO Gary Read, Nimsoft's ex, caught lightning in a bottle – again? I hope to share information and insights from a recent conversation soon.
3. birthday: have a great one, Charlene.
2. Who's Next?: so, the Government of the United States is somehow monitoring the Google, Microsoft and others. Sorta makes you wonder: big brother can find time and resources to start infiltrating small datacenters MSP?
1. did you notice this?: Autotask has MSP training sessions in Microsoft offices across the United States at the same time, Autotask is tighter integration with Microsoft Office 365 offers. Hmmm ... just how close are the two companies will become?
That's all for now. Thank you for your continued readership.

In-memory databases are the answer, or part of the answer?

Before discussing a topic is always good to begin with a definition and what better way to find a relative to see Wikipedia omniscient (as we got before).  Wikipedia has this to say about In-memory databases.

Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Or simply paraphrase, In-memory databases are more efficient than traditional database management as do not face the same i/o constraint of reading or writing to disk.

Really like the ubiquitous hype ' big data ', In memory is in vogue for 2013. However, let's not forget that in-memory databases have been around for 25 years or more and was largely an economic constraint (the price of RAM) rather than technology that prevented their use being more prevalent. However the pace of technological progress saw the price drop of RAM greatly with numerous sources identify the price of memory has dropped the 33% per annum for the last two decades and the same sources expect a similar rate of reduction in the years to come.

It's hard to deny that business demand for performance in Google analytics is always there. After all, as soon as possible the business has the answers before we can make decisions, which generally lead to greater business value as a result.

However, we still need to go back to the economic argument of storing data in memory. You must be in memory, more to the point it can afford all your data to be in memory all your data?

Yes, the price of memory has dropped significantly and continues to do so but the memory remains 80 times more expensive than disk storage. Add to the equation the rate at which the data volumes are growing and the need to capture, store and analyze this growing data volumes and you are left with two opposing tendencies that might not ever, or at least not for the foreseeable future, reach a balance point acceptable price.

So logically and (being from a background of accounting) economically there must be more storage options for the data within a unique ecosystem analysis in memory will play a significant role. Of course for the data that is used heavily on a day to day basis then there will be a more convincing business case to store this data in memory to provide benefits that are necessary for business, but for the historical data infrequently accessed or do the numbers really stack up to to have this sitting in memory of data?

For information about how Teradata intelligent memory addresses versus storage equation of use click here.

David Hudson is a Senior Consultant with Teradata solutions ANZ. Has 10 years experience in data storage, primarily focused on Enterprise Data Model solutions. This includes data integration, ETL design and logical data modeling.

For retailers this summer, the background is inventory

Here's some encouraging news for resellers:

According to the National Retail Federation, April retail sales (excluding restaurants, gas stations and cars) increased seasonally adjusted 0.6 per cent compared to last month, and have increased 3.9 percent on year-on-year. NRF attributes the rise to improved employment data last month, housing prices and a record bag.

Of course, whenever such results make headlines, experienced retailers know respond with only cautious optimism. They always counter sales positive relations with two questions:

1. the increases continue? and,

2. If they do, it will be ready?

No one can answer the first question with absolute certainty. You'd need a crystal ball.

Fortunately, however, more and more retailers are finding that an answer to the second question is to reach, and that is turning their attention in confidence.

You see, it is only natural for dealers to be worried obsessed with stock levels. The flow of product inventory is the lifeblood of any retail business. Is what keeps them at night. Is the background of success.

But now, retailers can take the guesswork out of inventory. Can use analytics to better forecast product needs, optimize inventory flow and replenish according customer shopping patterns. In fact, we just announced an advanced solution that makes these processes not only possible, but easier than ever.

And the timing for this technology could not be better. In today's challenging economy, retailers have little margin for error. In addition, they are doing is a priority for improving the customer experience to be more in tune with customer preferences.

According to the fifth annual report to Benchmark Merchandising Retail Systems Research (RSR), which provides insight into business and technology challenges facing the retail sector extended: "Out-of-stock and inventory performance remain top-of-mind (especially for large retailers and those who sell goods), the concerns of retailers about understanding customer preferences and their ability to meet those preferences with new ideas on pricing and promotions-have become their top business challenges."

What retailers can do to become more responsive to consumer demand? RSR suggests these four actions:

Get predictive.Use modern methods of forecast for discover insights customer purchase behaviors and preferences.

Get the reagent. Feedback is essential. When you have access to real-time information, you can automatically respond to trends.

Get automated.You need the right tool for the right job. The inventory and warehouse environments today require large amounts of data for analysis and automated technology.

Get science.Intuition and gut feelings only get you so far. Now retailers need to make data-driven decisions in order to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

I would suggest another:

Go ahead.It's time to update your strategies. Don't worry: you don't have to boil the ocean. But, you need to get started.

Consumer confidence continues to rise in the coming months? NRF is forecast to increase moderate retail sales throughout the summer.  In both cases, you'll want to be ready.

-Darryl

More is better, with the right tools

Most data are better, right? Yes, provided that the organizations have the expertise and platforms to capture, analyze and standardize data. But many companies are learning that their types of diverse data and analysis needs to overcome their existing capacity. The answer is Unified Data Architecture with Teradata ® ™, which enables transparent movement of data in and out of complementary systems. According to industry experts, this unified environment of data and data analysis enables organizations to leverage all data of new insights and new business opportunities.

"A unified data environment recognises that there are many tools of analysis and number paths to get what you need, and you have to have the right platform for the right workload," says Tony Baer, principal analyst at Ovum.

The unified data architecture is purpose-built to address all forms of data, says Hortonworks vice President Shaun Connolly in his discussion of how an integrated environment derives value from data in new ways. "The unified data architecture is purpose-built to address all forms of data. That really resonates, especially with large companies, "says Connolly.

Jennifer Niemela
Executive Editor
Teradata Magazine

Teradata Teradata, Unified Data Architecture, data architecture, UDA, Shaun Connolly, Hortonworks, analytics, data analysis, data unified environment

The battle of Retail: Bricks vs. clicks: that is a leader and ... who will win?

I live in an airplane. Not literally of course, actually my residence is in Amsterdam-the original one, not the one in New York. The reason for that flying is to meet with retailers around the world. (Why? Professionally, Teradata is a partner and service provider for global retailers, and consult with companies that are forging ahead in the battle in multi-channel retail course.) The point of this blog is to share some of these retail discussions specific to the brick against battle click and set the stage for the next Blog.

My idea is to address some battle strategies and tactics-deep-to air them and solicit feedback from reflective, as retail brands are making decisions and laying Foundation for the future (ir).

What do you mean by 'retail battlefield '? I am referring to the obvious rivalry continues pure-play e-tailers and store-based retailers long. It began at some point, as online businesses-the likes of Amazon, eBay and others-led product price and availability through the floor, making it easier to buy on-line, that traditional stores have new competition that was faceless and virtual. The resulting conflict was everywhere from chaotic to catastrophic, but it certainly has changed the face of retail. We have fodder for battle across the spectrum of specialist retailers, luxury retail, big box stores and even the food [for a specific example of brick vs battle clicks check out this story].

Adaptive resellers are not rolling and waiting for inevitable decay. Although many have experienced declining sales, Show higher returns, rooming and forward-looking organization are standing and modeling their brethren click slicker by adding more product detail, service shop & flavor and designed a new concept in retail channel seamlessly (regardless of the nomenclature – cross the channel, multi-channel, omni-channel, is on all everywhereat any time, in any case shopping experience). The late dealer however suffers from price wars, internal conflicts and uncertainty in the future.

My discussions with traditional brands are wide and varied. They include companies trying to make sense of the strategy necessary to serve the technology-the power of consumers. This discussion often strategy leads to internal dissension and inconsistency between marketing executive and technology professionals. In addition, revamping a ' traditional ' picture to be super-charged with entertainment (gamification) and convenience (mobile) to reach younger consumers has also encouraged lively discussion. The trending topic, for the store-brands, is the ability to drive traffic and provide a unique customer experience as the ' face ' of the brand.

After all my meeting with global brands, get a bird's eye view of the brick versus retail battle. Resonant themes of interest (like these and more) will be the focus for the upcoming discussions include:

Paper, paper and more paper ... as we move from the promotion of interactions?Personalization-what does this mean, where to start and how to executeWho is the customer, through all points of interaction and no matter what, whether we interact appropriately at all times, in every dimension?Millennial clients, how to engage and enthrall themIngratiate our brand in consumer livesCoordination daily rhythm of a Marketing team that is driving at a reckless pace and challenged him to keep peace – the convergence of interactive messaging CMO and CIOReal time – there is a silver bullet – frequency, timeliness, content

We will dive into these as the battle wages on in a real way as Darwin – a seemingly struggle at the end. Analysts and businessmen alike are betting on the outcome of the ' battle ' – but those of strategy the question is not about ' vegetables ', as ironically may suggest in this article . After all, Amazon not only sell more books.

Stay tuned ...