A fascinating conversation is ongoing at Thomas Otter’s place about passion in technology. Business people I know will groan but there’s an interesting section that deals with the competition and by inference, the Microsoft Blue Monster shtick:
It is easy for executives to talk about communities, but it is the folks on the ground that need to live it and make it happen; many are, but we need more. Encouraging solution managers and developers who are used to working in “secret†to open up will take time – Channel 9 and Steve Clayton at Microsoft are great examples of employee led conversation. This beats press releases and brochures anyday.
Ok – so we know it’s really about marketing. But it struck me the kinds of conversation that are starting to bubble up between competitors that have nothing to do with the usual willy waving we see in the software business are fascinating.
Where does this kind of co-opetition go? I don’t know but I can see opportunities for learning and developing ‘stuff’ that benefit all users. It needs more user involvement and in truth there is a long way to go. But it’s a start.
So why can’t ICAEW and ACCA do something similar? Has it occurred to the leaders of those august organisations that by working together on issues of importance that great things might happen? Of course it has. But these are usually forced engagements. Where for instance are the joint media efforts aimed at discussing green issues? It’s a topic du jour and ripe for a coordinated discussion.
