Fast Talk (p. 70)
FC Article

• Discuss the misconceptions of the old econonmy in your group. How do you achieve balance between the old economy idea of economics and the new economy idea of service? In what areas or departments can you sacrifice one over the other? Is there a true 'bottom line' in the new economy corporation?
• How have the demands of consumers changed? To what extent did these shifting demands bring about the service-oriented new economy, and to what extent are they the result of it? Hold a roundtable in your next meeting to discuss what you learned from the startup craze and subsequent fizzle. What perspective have members of your cell adapted in the wake of recent economic events?
• What new and old economic strategies would your ideal company adapt to achieve BOBW? What obstacles might prevent this?

In My Humble Opinion (p. 86)
FC Article

• Distinguish between anonymity and privacy. Analyze how the community-oriented ideal of the Internet turned into an arena of increased anonymity and lack of accountability?
• Does anonymity have to equal a lack of reliability? Consider traditional print journalism, where reporters often attribute information to anonymous sources. The Watergate scandal, perhaps the biggest investigative journalism story of the past 30 years, was largely based on anonymous sources. Research and discuss the public's tolerance to anonymous sources as the story broke. What, if anything, has changed?

Good to Great (p. 90)
FC Article

• Identify good and great companies in your city. Discuss if they fall under the standard of 'great' set forth by Jim Collins. What different or additional attributes would you require to call a company 'great?'
• Discuss your corporate exchanges with the 'great' companies mentioned in the FC article. How have you found them to be, in terms of product, service and mission? Have they left any negative impressions? Invite a local manager from one of the companies mentioned in the article to discuss how their company made the shift from 'good' to 'great.'

Daniel Richards contributed this month's Flash Points.

October 2001 Connexus | Flash Points | Next Steps

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