August 29, 2007
Super Crunchers Interview with Ian Ayres
In this podcast, I talk with Ian Ayres, author of Super Crunchers: How Thinking by Numbers Is the New Way to Be Smart.
The book is a great survey of how analytical tools are allowing us to reach a whole new set of understandings about how the world works. Netflix uses regression to figure out what movie you may like, as eHarmony does the same for mates. Randomization allows JoAnn Fabrics to figure out if the picture of a sewing machine or a starburst with 20% will work better at getting customer to buy. Governments, medicine and filmmakers are all making use of Super Crunching.
Ian and I talk about tools, the wisdom of crowds, when super crunching doesn't work, and how he used all of this to improve his book.
mp3, 28:09, 19.3MB
August 10, 2007
Unstoppable Interview with Chris Zook
After a summer hiatus, we return with a great interview.
In this podcast, I talk with Chris Zook, author of Unstoppable: How to Identify Hidden Assets, Redefine the Core, and Fuel Future Growth. This book is the final in a business trilogy of sorts. Profit From the Core and Beyond the Core were his prior titles from Harvard Business School Press.
We cover a group of topics that Zook has explored in all of his books: focus, leadership economics, and profit pools. We also talk specifically about the challenges of redefining a business core and whether these same issues apply to small businesses.
mp3, 51:10, 35.1MB