An effective strategy has the potential to influence the product side, the marketing side, and everything in between. Our guest today has designed his career around the things that he likes to do most, including creating collaborations between companies to give customers what they want. On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Brett Hillhouse, IBM Global Industry Leader of Automotive at AI Solutions.  Together they discuss where the future value of cars lies, the true value of exchanging data and encouraging partnerships with competitors, and how anyone can work to shape a career around the work they want to do most.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Where is the future value of cars? Battery and car parts are becoming less important compared to software.  The value of cars in the future is clearly in the software.  There is an increasing need for software experiences that delight and customize for the customer.  Consumer expectations will continue to shape the innovation of each brand.    Exchanging data and encouraging partnerships with competitors Not everyone is willing to develop partnerships with competitors, but Brett sees immense value in doing so.  Helping clients often happens best with competitor collaborations.  Recognizing that every other company is not a competitor can help make collaborations easier.  Cross company partnerships focus on finding solutions together.    Advice for improving partnerships There has to be a company-produced cultural element to successful partnerships.  Company values don’t necessarily need to duplicate, but they do need to closely align.  From a customer perspective, everything needs to be use-case driven.  Integration can happen with tool stacks if users are open-minded.  Value has to come from both sides, not a one-way data transfer.  The goal of partnerships should be a full digital thread that goes in both directions.    What can customers do with partnership solutions?  Brett’s greatest hope is that users find deficiencies in partnerships.  By finding these deficiencies, development times and overhead costs are all reduced.  The technologies going into today’s sustainable vehicles are constantly improving and enabling innovation.    Creating a your own role within a company Identify what is more important to you than simply moving up the chain.  Increase your awareness about what you want to do within your career.  Create value and expertise around the work that you do.  Respect those that you work with so that they are interested in working with you.  Establish yourself as the expert in your role.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Digital Enterprise Society Podcast

The Value of Strategic Partnerships

The average professional spends up to five hours a week dealing with complainers in the workplace.  Does this sound familiar to you?  In today’s career focused episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by consultant, speaker, and negotiation expert Linda Swindling for a conversation about why people complain and how to set the boundaries that will help improve- or limit- your interaction with these energy drainers. Linda defines the five types of complainers and shares the tools that will help you tackle the whiners, controllers, and other complainers that may be in your workplace.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Why does anyone cause workplace drama?  Everyone has a negative side that has the potential to appear in the workplace.  When we are at our best, we use our superpowers for good.  When we are stressed or otherwise at our worst, we use those superpowers to get what we need the most.  Complainers tend to live in the negative space where they are constantly trying to fill a need.    5 types of complainers and how to interact with them Whiners, complicators, prima donnas, controllers, and evil toxics all make appearances in the workplace.  Whiners have to have their hand held through the workday, and they’re seeking relationships through negative connection.  You can turn these negative relationships around by listening, showing empathy, and then putting the control back in their hands.  Complicators seek to keep things stable and in their control.  Slow down communication with complicators by acknowledging their efforts and including them in change.  Toxics have an illogical approach to relationships, you need to aim to protect yourself from your interactions with them. Watch what works for others but steer clear when necessary.    Handling a negative boss, peers or coworker Identify the level of negativity that you’re really dealing with.  If it’s manageable, look for the need they are trying to fill with their negativity.  Ask these questions- Why are they acting this way? Is it them or is it me? What are they trying to address?    Starting a conversation about change The average person spends upwards of five hours a week dealing with complainers, wasting almost a month of every year.  Start conversations about change by creating rules around what will be tolerated in your work environment.  Value positive styles of communication and take time to develop them in yourself and your team.  Identify what works with various complainer styles and implement those tactics wherever possible.    4 takeaways to tackle the complainers today Identify who you’re dealing with to calmly assess why behavior is happening and how to best approach a conversation with them.  You have to negotiate this behavior so that you can stop it before it gets worse.  Most people are dealing the best they can with the situation they’re in, the rest of them have to be stopped or removed from your workday.  You are the only one that is going to fully take care of your career. You have to set up your own boundaries.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org. Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series Visit stopcomplainers.com or text ASK to 42828 for more resources and links to help you navigate workplace drama.

Dealing with Difficult People and Stopping Complainers and Energy Drainers

All products aim to be safe, but is it possible to make them even safer?  According to failed retiree, passionate digital twin expert and host-turned-guest Craig Brown, anything is possible with the aid of the digital twin.  On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig takes a turn in the guest seat to explore the safety net that the digital twin offers model based engineering.  With Thom Singer acting as solo host, Craig explains the digital twin in relation to everyday consumer life, defines the importance of understanding known unknowns, and highlights many of the unique and valuable safety benefits that the digital twin has to offer.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: How does the digital twin make products safer? The benefits of any product are enhanced by the presence of a digital twin.  Simulation can replace physical testing and eliminate its boundaries.  Sensors can be placed anywhere in a digital model, and need to be physically tested as well.  Simulations allow for easier discovery of the ‘known unknowns’.    Understanding known unknowns When you don’t know why your power has gone out, it is a known unknown.  Engineers work to understand known unknowns and to improve upon them.  Although time consuming and expensive in physical testing, simulations allow for increased understanding in a more accessible and affordable environment.    Additional insights into the benefits of the digital twin  Simulation can fool anyone into thinking they have the answers, so physical data still must be tested.  Increase in sensing data provides opportunities to make data better.  Potential lessons learned from the Internet of Things.  Simply stating that the digital twin will make a better product isn’t enough- the specifics are in the increased safety possibilities.    Safety around the digital twin  The way we do quality management will continue to evolve. Quality people have the skills needed to improve safety where it’s needed most.  Phone updates illustrate the benefit of agile development.  Unknown unknowns offer an entirely new level of system robustness.  The digital twin is a context that helps improve understanding and improves the maturity scale on any topic quickly.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Increasing Safety with The Digital Twin

Are any tools truly 100% ready to use out of the box? Or do they all require tailoring for a company’s specific needs? And why do companies purchase tools that require tailoring for their specific needs? On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome Jim Brogoitti, a fellow failed retiree who understands the demands and limitations of customization.  He shares his experience with customization, his approach that works for meeting a variety of CM2 requirements and how to effectively create a career that you just may not want to retire from.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Are any tools truly ready to use out of the box?  In Jim’s experience, tools had to be ready to use right out of the box.  Customization was allowed but configuration was not.  The expectation was set from the beginning that customization was not an option.    The pitfalls of customization versus configuration Customization is not free, and it requires continuing support costs.  Customization is not easily measured, making it difficult to know how to quantify it.  Everything should start with requirements and those requirements should be documented and balanced against company needs.    Meeting a variety of CM2 requirements  There are set requirements addressing what a PLM system has to be able to perform as well as a set of requirements on the tool side.  Everyone tends to look at tool requirements in a slightly different way.  Once everyone understands what the requirements are, those requirements are weighted based on importance, criticality and ease of implementation.  A great solution vendor takes the time to listen to the needs of a cross industry forum and then works to meet those needs.    Solving the problem of boredom in retirement Like Craig, Jim is effectively failing at retirement.  He currently works at the Institute of Process Excellence and is aiming to build an out-of-the-box tool that is IPX compliant targeted for small businesses.  Jim is leveraging the tools available to him to make this goal a reality.  Because of the pandemic, everyone has become more comfortable with working from home and collaborating online.    Advice for a mobile and flexible career Identify your replacement so that you can leave a job behind when the next opportunity presents itself. Keep your ears open for opportunities.  Don’t be afraid to take risks.  Trust your team even when there is no training for your position available.  Listen more than you speak. Engage in a mentorship program.      Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Customization Versus Configuration- What Does Your Company Actually Need?

Digital transformation is everywhere you look, but what exactly about this transformation enables the supply chain to be so much better with technologies? To better understand the possibilities available to companies that embrace digital transformation, on today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Craig Brown and Thom Singer welcome IBM Associate Partner Melissa Drew.  Melissa has been in the procurement and supply chain for over 27 years and now sits at the intersection of procurement and AI technologies.  She has seen what it takes to execute a successful digital transformation, as well as the true role that agile methodology can- and should- play in companies today.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Defining digital transformation in the supply chain Transformation is the act of changing from one form to another with an improved end result.  Digital transformation took off in 2007 with the adaptation of the cloud.  The supply chain is greatly enhanced with the digital technologies that meet rapidly changing consumer demands.  Better data is available through digital transformation.    The impact of the digital transformation on people Short-term focus is a problem when thinking through the broader impact of the gains of reducing a workforce.  The digital transformation aim should be to automate repetitive tasks and tactile activities.  This transformation allows people to do what humans do best- the strategic relationships, thinking, analyzing, and application of the work that machines can’t do.    AI and supply chain disruptions The pandemic placed an unprecedented strain on the supply chain resulting in a new kind of demand.  Can AI help solve supply chain disruptions and potential resiliency? Absolutely.  Where infrastructures and technologies are already in place, disruptions are significantly minimized.    The ideal role of the agile methodology Agile methodology should be used for improved product development.  The SAFe agile methodology gives you a framework for the entire organization.  The best use of agile methodology is in innovative software that needs constant updates.  Agile methodology adaptation will only happen when the company can train, change, and transform the mindset of the entire company to adapt and follow it.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Applying Digital Technologies in Supply Chain and Procurement

If you’re anything like me and so many people I know, caring for yourself in a healthy and nourishing way these days may be a bit challenging.  Self-care is often difficult for many of us, and over this past year and half, it seems to have gotten even harder, for a number of understandable reasons.  On today’s show, I share some of my own current struggles with self-care and why it can be so tricky for so many of us these days (and in general).  I also offer some specific ideas that can allow you to more effectively and compassionately care for yourself right now. Resources: We’re All in This Together (book), by Mike Robbins Bring Your Whole Self to Work (book), by Mike Robbins (now out in paperback) Mike Robbins Website Mike Robbins Blog Mike Robbins Podcast Mike Robbins on Facebook Mike Robbins on Twitter Mike Robbins on Instagram Mike Robbins on YouTube Adam Grant’s TED talk - How to Stop Languishing and Start Finding Flowv

The Challenge and Importance of Self-Care

The benefits of agile practices are proven and plentiful, yet many companies are still hesitant to adopt them, in part simply because they haven’t learned enough about it yet.  Today Craig Brown and Thom Singer are joined by someone who was willing to try something new, and it has paid off in a big way.  ‘Spanish major turned product geek’ Christian Cox is the Co-Founder of Piola Digital, a near shore product development agency helping companies build, support and enhance products.  Chris has joined the podcast to highlight these agile practice benefits from the refreshing perspective of someone who does not have an engineering or technology degree.  As a curious learner and perpetual student of his craft, Chris’s experience shows that examining something from a new or different perspective just might be the key to improved processes, decreased time to market, and even greater career opportunities.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Key benefits of agile practices Agile development helps customers hone in on what they really need.  Progress can be measured by tracking agile development.  Agile practices and predictions can help better plan based on team capacity.  Business prioritization happens more readily with agile practices.    Pitfalls of agile techniques Growing pains are standard as companies continue to implement agile practices.  Too many companies focus on one thing exclusively and then drop it altogether to focus on something else.  There is a fine line when balancing priorities that companies have to navigate.    What companies don’t understand about agile Speed to market is an essential component of company success, and is only improved when utilizing agile practices.  The upfront costs of implementing agile practices have the potential to yield a major payoff.  The far-reaching aftermath of the pandemic presents challenges that can in part be solved with agile practices.  Company size and age can both have an impact on the effectiveness of agile practices.    Career advice from a Spanish major If you are considering work that does not line up with your formal education, find opportunities to do the work and show the value you can create within it.  Stay curious and become a student of the craft- ask questions and do your research.  Get involved in the community that you want to be a part of.  Identify the unique skills that you possess- they provide job opportunities.  Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

The Key to Improving Processes and Growing Your Career

There has been an incredible revolution in the software world around agile, but have those agile methodologies been taken on by the hardware people yet? And should they be taken on at all, or is it all just hype around something that isn’t really possible? On this episode, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Digital Enterprise Society Trustee, Mark Pendergast for the latest digital battle, this time taking a dive into the details of and need for agile hardware development, what role it fills, and whether it will ever catch up to agile software development — and whether it needs to at all.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Defining agile hardware development  The definition could be Introducing fast, iterative cycles with the customer involved.  This happens often for software, but rarely for hardware.  Is there any difference between this and the expensive and endless prototype cycle? Moving material is a costly aspect of any hardware development.    Advantages and disadvantages of agile hardware development  Prototype cycles evolved into broken and purposeless over time.  Agile has the ability to keep hardware development on track.  The vast team required to get hardware prototypes ready is much harder to scale than with software.  Agile is designed for small teams, which doesn’t work well with hardware.  There is a greater sense of urgency with hardware that should also be applied to software.  Early simulations done on computers have the potential to have a much quicker turnaround time.  Constraints drive agile hardware development because they are cost effective.    Steps to improving agile hardware development Decide that you want to be there and are committed to developing the tools and simulations to get there.  Get the unknowns off the table and stay within the constraints.  Build the minimum to test the unknown and then move on.  Employ additive manufacturing to create prototypes that increase insights.    Does agile hardware development solve a real problem? Time to market decreases dramatically with the use of agile hardware.  People that are working in silos have got to wake up, get out and start figuring things out.  The end to end process has not been entirely worked out yet, but pieces of it are slowly  emerging.  Architecture plays a critical role in making these products work.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.

The Digital Battle — Agile Hardware Development

Today Thom Singer is joined by author, speaker, and founder of The Accountability Institute Sam Silverstein.  Sam is the author of The Theory of Accountability: Building a Truly Accountable, High-Performance, High Growth Life for Yourself and Your Organization.  He has joined the podcast to define the kind of accountability that inspires individuals, enhances relationships, and improves team cultures.  Suppose you’re looking for ways to improve your accountability and increase your level of success. In that case, you won’t want to miss Sam’s inspiring advice and the simple action items that anyone can take today to move toward the career they really want.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Defining next level accountability  Accountability is simply keeping your commitments to people. Accountability to people is not the same as the responsibility that you have to projects  Tactical and relational accountability are two separate things.  Accountability can inspire improved workplace culture.  Accountability results in increased team engagement and greater productivity.    Inviting accountability into the team culture  The first step is to define the culture that you want to realize.  Values need to be modeled after this clear definition.  The culture needs to be protected and then celebrated.  The highest performing organizations focus on culture as much as they work on their tactics.    The theory of accountability, or E=mc2 E equals experience, M equals mindset, and C equals commitment.  If you can clearly define the experience you want, you can focus on your mindset and commitment.  You either have a limited belief or an empowering belief in every situation.    How to change your mindset The mindsets of abundance, gratitude, and respect are critical to success.  Identify what these mindsets look like and recognize times that you need to realign yourself.  Accountability partners are not responsible for ensuring you get your work done; they are meant to help you hold true to your values.  Take time to have conversations around value, purpose, and mission.    Committing yourself to accountability  Commitment means you’re in or you're out; there is no in-between.  Focus on the impact that your experience is going to have on your life and the lives of those around you.  When you recognize the positive impact you can have, your desire to be committed will increase.    Creating a positive experience in your career Leaders have an obligation to help lead their team to be their best.  Leading others to be their best will also lead you to be your best.  Leaders may have to let go of team members if it’s in their best interest.  Take time today to identify your values.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series   Values Worksheet from Sam Silverstein

How Does Accountability Help You Succeed?

It seems that the pandemic has presented more challenges to the supply chain than we’ve ever seen before, but why? To help unpack the challenges of today’s supply chain, today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Jennifer Herron, founder and CEO of Action Engineering.  Jennifer works to help manufacturers build resilient futures centered on connected, trusted models.  Jennifer is the author of Re-Use Your CAD: The Model-Based CAD Handbook, and is working to bring vision to the industry so that people can reuse their CAD to their business value. Today she and Craig take a deep dive into the ins and outs of reusing CAD, the many changes that are happening in the digitization of the supply chain and who exactly is driving the standards behind these exciting new changes.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: How to reuse your CAD This information is not tool-set specific, it’s about exchanging models.  It’s all about data exchange and exchanging information about a product that needs to be built.  Communication about acceptable exchanges has to happen between all invested parties.    An overview of changes in the digitized supply chain More and more companies are using 3D models to enhance digitization.  Reusing data to create manufacturing and process models is fun.  Who is driving the transformation within the supply chain?  Digital feedback is critical to enhancing what is available in manufacturing now.  Aerospace and defense systems are leading the way in these changes.  Traceability provides understanding into where materials came from and when they were manufactured to give insights into the quality of a product.    Standards that help 3D model exchanges There are many standards because there are many perspectives and ways to interpret the vast amounts of data.  Every organization is approaching standards from a different perspective.  The standards are meant to help purchasing with their jobs.  Standards also assist in not rewriting everything with every new contract.  Common language helps in simplifying the standards process for everybody.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Understanding the Challenges of Today’s Digitized Supply Chain

The process that turns a good idea into a great product can be an incredibly daunting one.  But in today’s world, creating a high quality prototype that can be perfected long before it heads to market is easier than ever before thanks to additive design. Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Kevin Mako, founder of MAKO Design + Invent. Known as the Invention Guy, Kevin is a lifelong entrepreneur who focuses on product development for hardware startups.  He shares the first three steps that inventors need to take when processing their next big idea, tools that can help you get started more effectively, and pitfalls to avoid on the journey of bringing your next breakthrough idea to market.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Your very first 3 steps Start by identifying the core problem and then visualizing how to best solve that problem.  Sketch out your idea- whether you're an independent entrepreneur or part of a big company this is the essential early step.  Focus on the simplest, high quality version of your product- you can add the bells and whistles later.    Tools to help you get started It’s easier than ever before to both develop and test a new product.  Market research will help direct your efforts.  Prototypes can be made easily with the help of software and additive manufacturing.  Additive manufacturing allows for physical testing at a fraction of the cost.  Variations to initial prototypes are easily customizable with additive manufacturing.    How to succeed as an innovative entrepreneur Focusing on iterative design and constant feedback are key to pinpointing your best product. Spend time learning about and perfecting your product every single day.  Maximize the tools of the trade when testing your market- harness the power of crowdfunding.    Avoid these pitfalls Feature creep happens when you try to integrate too many features into your first prototype- there is no way to fix a faulty product once it’s in your customer’s hands, so get it right at the simplest level first.  Don’t try to provide too many things to too many people or worry about having a too-small market.  Chances are you won’t be able to completely saturate even a tiny market.  Scale your product intentionally right from the beginning.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Utilizing Additive Design to Bring Your Invention to Life

Do you have a big idea that you want to launch into the world but have no idea where or how to get started?  Many people have dreams about starting their own companies, and today’s guest has insights for anyone who is trying to figure out where to get started. Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Stoke Ventures founder Andrew Lees, a successful entrepreneur who helps people develop products and launch them into the market.  Andrew knows what works and what doesn’t work, and has joined the podcast to share valuable advice and simple tips to help get you started.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: How to put the audience before the product Too many entrepreneurs focus solely on the product and forget about the people who are going to use it.  It’s much easier to launch a product into an existing market.  A captive audience is already much more interested in your product.  Entrepreneurs need to at least start building their audience before they finish developing the product.    Simplifying the complex aspects of your product Focus on the customer experience to ensure product adaptation.  ‘Two clicks away’ and ‘closing the rings’ demonstrate the simplicity that makes a successful product.  A great customer experience results in an easily expandable market.  Simple marketing research will help guide your work.    Focus your efforts where you will get results  Identify where you can best place your time and effort.  Avoid the ‘shiny object syndrome’ that keeps you bouncing from idea to idea.  Don’t overreach- pick one area that you can focus on and work to perfect.  Learn how to more effectively manage your time.    Avoid these common mistakes Lack of strategy and lack of understanding of the entire process is the number one mistake entrepreneurs and inventors make.  Misunderstanding costs associated with developing a product can be overcome by increasing research before you get started.  Customer service has to be the number one focus for start-up companies- and it isn’t difficult to get it right.  Form partnerships with people who are on the same page as you and start on a trial basis.  Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

How to Successfully Launch Your Next Big Idea

What are people in your office saying about you when you’re not in the room? Your personal brand is everything that people think about you, say about you, and expect from you, so it is essential that you know how to present your very best. Whether you're networking within your company or convincing your boss to get on board with your great idea, promoting yourself is a critical part of your successful career. To help you get started on refining your personal brand, on this episode of the Digital Enterprise Society podcast, Thom Singer is joined by Amber Hurdle, CEO of Amber Hurdle Consulting. They discuss the importance of quality brands, how you can better promote yourself and work, and how you can better communicate inside your company and manage the time you have with your supervisor so that you can excel.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: The importance of quality employer — and personal — brands  Forward-thinking companies have started greatly focusing on their brand. Company brand plays a key role in both recruiting and employee retention. When companies take care of their people, their people take care of their customers.  Employees have the ability to complain or praise their employers like never before with social media platforms.  Similarly, personal brands are a critical component of a successful career.    3 steps to promoting yourself within your company First, clearly define your values. Articulate what you do to bring value to your team. Next, improve your sales skills. You can only get what you want by selling it to others.  Finally, define the ‘WIIFM’ — What’s In It For Me?’ whenever you are promoting anything. Alternately, identify ways that your proposal will help eliminate your boss’s fears.    Fine-tuning your PR skills Position yourself as a key player in your company’s communication cycle.  Networking within your company is just as critical as external networking.  Positioning the value you offer is refining your personal brand.  The projects you ask for, how you show up in meetings, and how you interact with colleagues is all part of your personal brand, so make sure you are acting intentionally.   Define your target audience and shape your message directly to them.    Key aspects of a well-defined personal brand  Develop a self-awareness that allows you to focus on the greatness in others.  Address the contrast between you and others so that you can tailor your message in a way that suits them.  Stay true to your brand while recognizing and working with the differences in others.  Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series

Fine Tuning Your Personal Brand So You Can Get What You Want

What did you dream about becoming when you grew up? Many children daydream about STEM— science, technology, engineering, and math — without realizing the potential that their dreams have to change the world.  Our guest today knows the importance of transforming those childhood dreamers into the problem-solving engineers of the future.  Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Marsha Tuft, retired engineer, author, and STEM enthusiast.  As a fellow ‘failed retiree’ Marsha now volunteers her time to inspire and encourage others to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM fields).    On today’s podcast, you will learn:   How to engage kids in STEM Start early — elementary school-aged kids are the ideal age group.  Make it fun by designing experiments that connect with kids interests — anything from how bicycles move to how butterflies fly is the perfect place to get started.  Address the curiosity factor in all that kids experience and dive deep into helping them find answers to their questions.    Teaching kids to learn from what you don’t know Increase exposure to a variety of things that kids may not know they like until they try it.  Everyone is born with an innate desire to create — explore it and enjoy it.  Allow opportunities for kids to own their creations — whether it’s a cardboard boat, a piece of art, or a cooking creation.  Marsha shares the teaching and engagement lessons she learned from designing the perfect cardboard boat.    Exploring STEAM The A in STEAM focuses on the Arts.  Kids who are interested in interior design, fashion, or consumer products will find ample career opportunities.  Arts are a great way for kids to learn from failures and develop problem-solving skills.  Kids tend to be more willing to try new things in the arts with less concern about failing.  Intrinsic motivation has the potential to lead to the greatest breakthroughs.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series   Putney Designs

Engaging the Next Generation in STEM

 Innovation is consistently driving new tools to the market, but which ones are the best fit for your company? Or would an integrated suite be the right answer? In the latest digital battle, Thom Singer and Craig Brown are joined by Digital Enterprise Society Trustee Mark Pendergast for their most agreeable battle so far.  Together Craig and Mark dive deep into best in breed and integrated suite tools, the benefits of each, and how to determine which one is the best fit for an organization. After going the rounds, they reveal that there is in fact a bottom line that can help you determine which direction your company needs to go first and why.    On today’s podcast, you will learn: Defining best in breed and integrated suites  The best in breed strategy allows companies to select the best tools for each function they perform.  Best in breed highlights the productivity of engineers and enhances their ability to work effectively and make good decisions rather than focusing on data sharing with the entire organization. Integrated suites offer an overall system but don’t always offer the best quality that gets the job done.  Integrated suites focus on ensuring that information flows as seamlessly as possible throughout the entire organization.  The vision here is that if data is integrated well, information will flow from tool to tool more quickly and efficiently.    Do companies have to choose one or the other? Most companies have a combination of best in breed and integrated suite.  When tools become obsolete, best in breed allows for an easier transition to an updated tool.  Integrated suite owners are more likely to hold onto tools long after they no longer best serve the processes.  If flow of data is a problem in your organization, best in breed is most likely your best option.    Key factors to help you choose the right one Step one- can you find an integrated suite that aligns with your needs?  Simple needs lean toward a simpler integrated suite option.  Complex systems are more likely to benefit from competing best of breed tools.  Best of breed should be used when it offers a competitive advantage, not when it’s just another tool that you have to have.  Best of breed tools tend to follow technology more closely initially, and are then adapted into integrated suites eventually.  Investments in tools tend to decrease over time as tools are integrated into suites.    Securing best of breed in its place Turn over of tools is something that best of breed vendors continuously do.  Cutting edge tools have to be replaced as often as necessary to stay at the industry forefront.  Best of breed focuses on the impossible, and moves on as soon as something becomes more mainstream.    Handling the overlap between the two Acquisition tends to bring best of breed and integrated suites head to head, but doesn’t always require that one win out over the other.  If money is being made, there is no reason to force a change.  Best of breed tools need to be kept around because it might be the direction business goes next.  Product awareness and map tools are essential to determining the best of the two choices.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org. Digital Guideposts Blog

The Digital Battle — Best in Breed or Integrated Suite?

Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. The Digital Enterprise Society Podcast will foster discussion among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitalization principles forward for the future of product development and lifecycles.

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