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John Heiss is using social innovation to improve the economy in Michigan by creating a network of double-bottom line organizations. Additionally, he has plans to revive and improve a fading, but promising market.

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Filed under: John Heiss | People | Social Ventures Network

Recently I had the honor to interview John Heiss of the Southeast Michigan Social Ventures Network. As a social innovator, Mr. Heiss is using the Internet with its “open source infrastructure” to bring together a “network of a network” where organizations are “applying the network technology to get things done.” Various types of organizations including “capital networks, deal flow, entrepreneurship, for profits, and non-profits,” get together to achieve a double bottom line. A double bottom line is where the first bottom line is to make money, and the second one is to fulfill social responsibilities. He is bringing together local organizations with goals to “generate jobs and social purposes” to share ideas, information and resources.

When I asked Heiss about Michigan’s future, he  pointed out that we have to look at what resources and strengths we have to offer, as a state.  One example he mentioned was the creative class in Florida; where the arts are supporting a good portion of the economy there.

In the next part, Mr. Heiss reveals his innovative ideas to kick-start a fading, but promising market in Michigan.  

Dr. Livermore explains how advantageous ERP is when it is used to integrate technologies in large businesses, along with their associate businesses.

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Filed under: Enterprise Architecture | Industries | Information Technology | Jeffrey Livermore

Dr. Livermore also pointed out that for many large businesses, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) computer applications make it possible to integrate multiple technologies. This is especially important for information sharing and processes across various departments to communicate in real time. Implementing an ERP system is extremely expensive, but for companies that can afford it, there are many benefits. Additionally, if businesses can convert their vendors, partners, and/or suppliers to use the same ERP system, they will gain even more advantageous economies of scale at every step in the supply chain process. This is because between these companies' interactions, the system allows for seamless file sharing, communication, and efficient inventory and resource management. Furthermore, companies are able to use their resources more efficiently when their processes flow continuously without pauses.

There is a shortage of "Enterprise Architects" in Michigan. These Information Technology professionals integrate multiple technologies for firms.

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Filed under: Best Practice Dynamics | Conlin Consulting | Cygnus Systems, Inc. | Enterprise Architecture | General Motors | Information Technology | Jeffrey Livermore | Meta Integration | Organizations

Dr. Livermore also pointed out that “enterprise architects” are “especially popular” careers in Michigan, and many companies are finding that there are not enough of them.  Since computer technology is used in every single activity most companies are involved in, there is a significant demand for IT professionals who can “integrate” all these technologies to enable a smooth flow of information. Furthermore, since more and more companies are working together, their information systems need to be compatible to share information through computers and other devices.

For instance, General Motors is a great example of how to integrate technologies within the company and with its suppliers. In order to reach maximum efficiency, there needs to be a smooth and quick flow of information and processes throughout the supply chain.  So when a customer makes a purchase, the system is automatically updated to reflect this in inventory, and when a certain level of inventory is reached, once again, the system automatically orders more needed products all without human interference. In order to do this, it takes the integration and compatibility of a customized information system and technologies. 

There are many other companies that offer enterprise architecture services:

Meta Integration

Best Practice Dynamics

Conlin Consulting

Cygnus Systems, Inc.
 

There are many jobs available in Michigan, even though there have been cutbacks in the auto-industry. Job seekers may have to shift their focus to information technology, since there many open positions in Michigan in some areas in this field.

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Filed under: Education & Training | Information Technology | Jeffrey Livermore | People

Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Livermore, a professor who teaches information technology courses at Walsh College. He enlightened me about the job market in Michigan for Information Technology (IT) professionals. And surprisingly enough, I learned through our conversation that there is a shortage of Computer Information Systems (CIS) professionals here in Michigan. Yeah, I think I know what you are thinking; "haven't we lost a lot of computer jobs through outsourcing them overseas?"

Yes we have, but as Dr. Livermore pointed out there are some computer jobs that can be easily outsourced to other countries, such as computer programming and data entry. However, many computer related careers are safe right here at home since they require the IT professional to be on site. For instance, especially in computer networking where a group of computers have to be physically connected through wires or wireless connections, as well as all the necessary programs installed on them, need to be done in person. Additionally, many times computer networking includes security, so the IT professional would have to install anti-virus programs, firewalls, anti-spyware, and the updates that go along wtih these, along with running regular backups, maintaining the system, etc., so the IT professional would need to be on-site, or readily accessible nearby.

In the next part of this series, I will reveal the most sought after IT field. Companies who seek out these specific IT professionals will definitely have the competitive advantage.

Edison's laboratory, Menlo Park, was relocated to Greenfield Village, in Dearborn, Michigan. Visitors can see how the lab was set up and try to understand how Edison invented the light bulb. It was his endurance through multiple attempts at failure until he succeeded at creating the light bulb that we can be grateful for his persistence.

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Filed under: Innovation | Thomas Edison

Later on, Thomas Edison moved from Michigan to Newark, New Jersey and established is own research laboratory, Menlo Park. Remarkably, this laboratory and its' building were transferred to the Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. When I visited this laboratory, I thought it resembled an old fashioned chemistry lab, with many glass bottles with powdery looking substances in them. Edison was a great thinker and was able to intuitively integrate chemistry and physics concepts.

Menlo Park is the laboratory where Edison invented the light bulb, another major innovation that has changed how we live. Even to try to understand how Edison came up with the idea of a light bulb is almost incomprehensible. For instance, was he fed up with using candles one day and decided to create something better that did not exist? This was an innovation based on inconvenience that evolved into a much more important concept. It just took some creative thinking, problem solving, and over a thousand t rials and errors!

In the next part, I will further explain how the creation of the light bulb led to other life altering innovations.

One famous innovator was raised in Port Huron, Michigan. He invented the phonograph just over a century ago. So when you listen to your favorite CD, think of where it all started.

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Filed under: Innovation | People | Thomas Edison

I am listening to my new Coldplay CD, Viva La Vida, for the first time. Since there were some days that I missed it on the radio, I had to go out and buy it in spite of my limited budget, so I can listen to it any time I want to. I have Coldplay and Thomas Edison to thank for this.

Thomas Edison was born in Ohio. However, it was in Port Huron, Michigan where Thomas Edison was nurtured to adulthood.

Edison is the inventor of many things that have changed our lives. One of my favorites, especially now, is the phonograph or as Edison called it, the “automatic repeater”. It is tough to believe that the phonograph was invented in 1877, just 131 years ago! Additionally, it is especially astounding that this technology made a significant leap in innovation, since there was nothing like it before.
 

Before the phonograph was developed further, the only way people could listen to music was through live performances. This was not very often, nor affordable for most people. Music is mathematics, and listening to it, and even learning it, improves one's IQ (Intelligence Quotient), especially during childhood. So it could be said that Edison's invention, the phonograph, is an innovator enabler! 

It is my opinion that the phrase “ahead of his time” definitely was inspired from Thomas Edison. In the next part of this series, I will point out other life-changing innovations Edison created.

Michigan has a rich history in innovation. Many of which have made major changes all over the world, not to mention, the foundations of how we live our modern lives today. In this part, I start with the innovator, Henry Ford, who manufactured the Ford Model T automobile one hundred years ago in 1908!

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Filed under: Automotive | Henry Ford | Industries | Innovation | Manufacturing | People

The other day I was flipping through my AAA Living magazine, and came across a snippet about a discount for AAA members to the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village and Ford Rouge Factory Tour.

This discount is to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the Ford Model T rolling “off the assembly line”. So as we drive to work in our modern cars, it is astonishing to think that it was only 100 years ago that the Model T was created. And it goes without saying that this invention made significant changes all over the world. This is one reason why Detroit, Michigan is called Motor City and Motown. 

I have been lucky enough to visit all these places, and people here in Michigan don’t seem to realize how fortunate we are to have these most unique and best museums in the world! And it all started in Michigan’s rich history of innovation.

In the next part of this series, I will bring up more innovators in Michigan’s history.

 

Google offers grants for non-profit organizations. Dr. Gibson was creative enough to use this opportunity for our class to work on a real life project. And since we were doing something important, for many of us, a good grade was not our main goal.

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Filed under: Information Technology | Innovation | Web Development

It was a great idea for Dr. Gibson to connect Google Adwords grants with his Web Development class. This is what made it possible for us to engage out in the real world on a real project, while still in the classroom. By combining this real life experience with lectures, advice, collaborative learning and information sharing, we were able to learn more and useful information in a short period of time.

Google offers Adwords grant applications to 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. Once a grant is awarded, the organization has a generous daily budget to manage their Google Adwords accounts.  It is through these accounts that Google Ads are created. These ads appear on the right side of the screen when people do Google searches. For most of us, this was our first advertising experience and it was exciting to see our ads on the Internet.

In addition, we were able to help non-profit organizations in our area to bring in more customers, volunteers, and resources.

After the semester was over, we were invited to Google in Ann Arbor for lunch and to give our final presentations. This was a great opportunity for us, and since we had been giving presentations about our Adwords accounts all semester, all of us gave excellent presentations.

And in conclusion, since we were doing something important, for many of us, a good grade was not our main goal. We learned a great deal and acquired enough experience to continue working in online marketing.

I explain how this Web Development is so valuable for creating Web-sites, and why it is important to focus on search engine optimization. By managing Google Adwords accounts we were able to understand a variety of issues when creating Web pages.

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Filed under: Industries | Information Technology | Innovation | Web Development

Furthermore, since this class was a Web Development class, it was especially important to learn how Web site development was related to search engine optimization. So we had to think of keywords people would use who were interested in the services and products our non-profits would offer, and create ads relevant to these keywords, as well as landing pages that would lead to conversions. Conversions refer to actions we  want the Web-site visitors to take, such as donating money. This combination of concepts is the latest emerging business trend online.

Why have a Web site if no one is going to read it?

With a strong focus on search engine optimization, we were able to lure people to the Web site by creating landing pages for our Google Ads. We learned which strategies and keywords worked and which ones didn’t through Dr. Gibson's lectures, group presentations, and trial and error.

In the next part, I will write about the Google Adwords Grants program that helped make this class possible.

In this part, I explain how Dr. Gibson's Web Development class was so successful. By using group presentations and blogging, we were able to share information about our struggles and successes to learn more faster.

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Filed under: Information Technology | Innovation | Web Development

The main reason I recommend this class is because of expert advice throughout the semester from Dr. Gibson, as well as collaborative learning in the classroom. Students were divided up into five assigned groups. We had weekly presentations where each group showed the class what they had accomplished and we learned from each other. So we had inner-group and outer-group insight, we shared struggles and successes, and even helped each other whether we were in the same group or not. I had never been in a class like this, where so many students were involved.
 

At first, I thought the weekly presentations would be useless, but they proved to be extremely worthwhile since every group had different types of non-profit organizations to manage Google Adwords accounts for. We were able to use the shared information to solve problems in our own groups as well, and information that was not relevant would be in the future when we would be managing Google Adwords accounts for other organizations. 

In addition to the weekly presentations, we were required to write at least 3 blogs per week regarding subjects covered in class, including problems we were having and strategies that worked for us. So when we had a question, we found that many other people had the same question and were able to look up the solution or advice online. I still refer to the blogs for managing my Google Adwords accounts now.

In the next part, I will explain why this class was so valuable...