Today’s workers care intensely about how their employer operates in the community.
The notion that companies have an obligation to “give back” to the world in which they work and, especially, profit is an oft-debated topic of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Not every C-level executive is convinced of its importance. But the growing trend is for CSR to play an integral part in successful companies’ business planning.
Continue reading… “Debunking 4 myths of Corporate Social Responsibility”
The electric light bulb was a failure.
In the early 1800’s, the British chemist Humphry Davy invented the light bulb but it was a failure. The light bulb spent almost 80 years being passed from one researcher to another. Finally, in 1879, Thomas Edison figured out to to make a light bulb that people would buy. But the technology wasn’t an immediate success. Another 40 years later the electric utilities were stable and profitable businesses. The light bulb only happened because the utilities created other reasons to use electricity. They found a lot of uses for electric motors and the electric toaster and electric curling iron were invented. They also built Coney Island. And they installed electric streetcars lines in towns. All of these other gadgets gave us the light bulb.
Continue reading… “32 technological innovations that will change your tomorrow”
First-time, full-time graduate enrollment in STEM programs registering a 50% increase over the decade.
A new report from the National Science Foundation (NSF) finds that the number of Americans pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering has risen sharply over the past decade and stands at an all-time high.
Continue reading… “Enrollment in U.S. graduate STEM programs increased 50% over last decade”
Futurist Thomas Frey: In December 2006, Britain made its final payment of $84 million on a $4.34 billion loan from the U.S. that was made all the way back in 1945. Germany wasn’t the only country to go bankrupt after WWII. This money allowed Britain to stave off its total collapse after devoting almost all its resources to the war for over half a decade.
Continue reading… “When Countries Go Bankrupt”
The average sales price of homes in foreclosure or bank owned was $161,214.
The leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, RealtyTrac® has released it Q1 2012 U.S. Foreclosure Sales Report™ which shows that sales of homes that were in some stage of foreclosure or bank owned accounted for 26 percent of all U.S. residential sales during the first quarter. The sales are up from 22% of all sales in the fourth quarter and up from 25 percent of all sales in the first quarter of 2011.
Continue reading… “Sales of foreclosed homes account for 26% of all home sales in the U.S.”
Students at the University of Washington.
There are thousands of computer-related jobs that are waiting to filled just in Seattle alone. But the number of bachelor’s degrees in computer science at the University of Washington is the same as it was more than ten years ago. A lot of students have been rebuffed in their effort to major in computer science or computer engineering.
Continue reading… “Computer science majors lacking in Seattle”
Thirty-two percent of surveyed consumers have made a purchase after seeing an image on a social image-sharing site.
Retailers have some new social commerce opportunities on the horizon. Consumers are spending more and more time with image-sharing social networks like Pinterest and Polyvore, and they are clicking through to product websites quite frequently.
Continue reading… “Pinterest leads consumers to online product purchases”
By 2016 we are on pace to generate 1.3 zettabytes of data, about four times more than we create today, according to the latest data out from Cisco. Cisco tells us that’s more than 38 million DVDs streamed in an hour. Or, you can think of it as a 1 followed by 21 zeros.
Continue reading… “What our web addiction will look like in 2016”
Digital music revenues grew 23.6% year-on-year.
For the first time the amount of money made from digital music services has outstripped the sale of traditional CDs and records, according to first quarter revenue figures from music industry trade body BPI.
Continue reading… “Digital music spending accounts for 55.5% of total music sales”
About 20 percent of the 1,400 or so daily papers in the U.S. will charge for online access by the end of the year.
Last week McClathy’s announced it will expand its paywall testing to four more sites and now the Chicago Tribune’s plans to charge readers for some of its online content. This further proof that a majority of large newspaper companies now believe in some form of paid online content.
Continue reading… “Majority of large newspaper groups experimenting with paywalls”
Do-it-Yourself Economy
Russell Howze was working as a creative at an advertising agency in Atlanta when he got laid off due to budget cuts years ago. For years he spent his time piecing together work through various corporate jobs, until he decided to follow his heart. Russell then founded a nonprofit organization for artists, and now supplements his income running street art tours through Vayable in his spare time.
Continue reading… “Micro-entrepreneurship a growing trend”
More than 89.6 million Americans bought an item from a catalog last year.
Spending online is increasing. But retail catalogs are not fading away. Catalogs are still an important part of business for retailers.
Continue reading… “Retail catalogs thrive in the Internet Age”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
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