Bob Holland

Bob tells us where he would like to be in twelve months from when we first taped the interview.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Bob Holland | Twelve Month Goals

In this one minute segment (download iPod compatible, 5MB) Bob tells us where he would like to be in twelve months from when we first taped the interview. Basically, Bob has always liked developing new ideas, and then, once he has proven them handing them to others to continue. One of his great pleasures in TEC has been helping others do the same. Over the next twelve months, he would like to help all of his companies grow.

Bob Holland created the CIS Department at Eastern Michigan University and then went on to found five companies.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Bob Holland | Defining New Markets | Education | Information Technology | TEC Detroit

In this slightly over 12 minute podcast (download iPod compatible, 65MB), Bob Holland and I discuss his early career and the five companies he has built. After graduating from his Ph.D. program at Virginia Tech in the 1970s, Bob was interested in creating a degree program where students would learn about system dynamics. His idea was to promote the field by training students who would arrive at their employers and ask for the tools required, namely computer equipment. He was able to sell Eastern Michigan University on this idea, and so he came to Michigan, founded the CIS Department at Eastern Michigan University, and stayed.

Once Bob got the program at Eastern Michigan underway, he decided he would prefer to get back to business and proceeded to found five new companies. What struck me in this part of the conversation was Bob's drive to move toward the cutting edge, found a company, and then sell, an attitude he confirmed at the end of the conversation.

As Bob notes toward the end of the discussion, he prefers a type of innovation where he is creating new markets, finding things that people will want but do not know it yet. This style is different from some other innovators we have spoken with, like Victor Naidu, who are attempting to figure out how to fill already existent, perceived gaps in the market place, or like Bill Michels who are attempting to figure out how to replace existing products in the market place.

Bob Holland briefly gives his thoughts about Web 2.0 catching on in the Detroit area.

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Filed under: Bob Holland | Web 2.0

In this 3 minute podcast (download iPod compatible, 15MB), Bob Holland gives a quick synopsis of Web 2.0's penetration in the traditional business setting. Bob starts off by talking about the general notion of positive network externalities in any information systems product. Basically, in most information systems products, you gain by having others use it also. At the very least, you gain by having a larger pool of people providing feedback about the product and who you can share information with.

Web 2.0 essentially transfers this social network effect to the Internet. Traditional businesses are really just catching on how to use this feature with services like Linked In.

Bob Holland describes Ideation's Powerpass Card. Powerpass is a loyalty card product targeted for use by small retailers with their customers.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Bob Holland | Finding Gaps | Ideation | PowerPass | Retail

In this 7 minute podcast (download ipod compatible, 38MB), Bob Holland and I continue our discussion of business and technology innovation by examining a company with which he is intimately familiar, Powerpass. Powerpass is an outgrowth of Ideation, a local Ann Arbor company, that made its original business 41 years ago by providing gift catalog services to small retailers. Bob has an ownership stake in Powerpass.

Powerpass is designed to help local retailers compete with national big box retailers like Walmart. It provides local retailers with a loyalty card that can be used at the retailer as well as with other retailers in the local area. Loyalty cards allow consumers who frequent stores to receive discounts as a reward for continuing to shop at the store. Most national chains offer them. However, small retailers are not in a measure, themselves, to create the infrastructure to support these cards. A challenge in creating Powerpass is developing a value proposition that appeals to a broad enough array of small retailers.

Powerpass seems to represent a case of innovation where the true value comes from blending technology with specific business opportunities. In a forthcoming interview, we'll speak with Tom Ungrodt, CEO of Ideation, and Jay Upell, leader of the Powerpass effort. They will provide an interesting operational perspective on working with small retailers.