Apple iPad vs. Android Xoom: Judgment day arrives
Summary: A personal journey deep into the heart of the iPad and Xoom tablets. Which side won? I’ve been an iPad fan since Apple first released the ubiquitous tablets; with instant-on and long battery life, these devices are an ideal traveler’s companion. This post describes iPad love, Android lust, and a reluctant return back to Apple. [...]
Looking for Investment Management Tools
I have been looking for any personal finance software that can help keep track of my investments. So far, I have come up with zip. Maybe someone else has had a better experience. Here is what I am looking for: Syncs transactions with brokerage accounts. Allows looking at performance on a consolidated basis across accounts. [...]
Friday Rant: Get Ready for a Double-Dip Recession and Its Impact on Procurement (Part 2)
Last Friday, we introduced economic data that suggests the US could be headed for a double-dip recession sooner than many might realize (as early as Q2, when revised numbers come out). In this Friday’s post, we’ll continue providing what we believe are the most critical checklist supplier recommendations to consider based on the highly probable [...]
From the greed files: ‘Mediocrity Pays’
Although not focused on IT failure, a slide presentation over at Slate points out that great financial reward sometimes comes to those who screw up. Big time.
Friday Rant: When Finance Takes Over Procurement
In my spring 2010 “predictions” conference presentation (which I’ve now given almost half a dozen times), one of the scenarios I posit for the future of procurement in the next five years is that finance will take a much more active stance and roll within the procurement function. I don’t think I’m alone in this [...]
Friday Rant: Should Finance Own P2P?
In this rant, I’ll purposely be contrarian. In 99% of organizations today, procurement owns the P2P technology platform, perhaps in collaboration with IT (or at least the first “P” in it). The second “P,” if it exists in a technology-automated manner…
A Thriving Procurement Function for the Next Five Years — Part 2: Getting People on Your Side
What will a thriving procurement function look like over the next five years or so? In this installment of the series, I join with Gregg Brandyberry, my partner at Wildfire Commerce, to explore a critical skill we believe is necessary to procurement …
When Buying and Selling in “Local Currency” Takes on a New Meaning
When we usually think of buying in local currencies, most procurement and finance minds think about denominating contracts in local currencies (e.g., RMB) rather than in the dollar or Euro. But the concept of local currency takes on an entirely diffe…
CFO Supply Risk Ignorance is Not Bliss — Looking Forward While Gauging the Damage
With a hat-tip to Bob Ferrari, I came across a December study conducted by CFO Research Services and American Express. The study surveyed finance executives on their views on economic recovery, and on their corporate behavior during the downturn. The…
Micro Finance
Today’s show is about Micro Finance, defined in Wikipedia as…
Microcredit is the extension of very small loans (microloans) to those in poverty designed to spur entrepreneurship. These individuals lack collateral, steadyemployment and a verifiable credit history and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit. Microcredit is a part ofmicrofinance, which is the provision of [...]
