[Via Zorgloob]

A small animation which presents the Dutch Auction system choosen by Google for its IPO (also called an “OpenIPO”). A very simple but detailed explanation!

I’m making some posting tests with the new version 1.6 of SauceReader, which should contain new functionalities and improvements concerning the content authoring part. What about posting images?

For about 10 days, I explained that I was pretty impressed by Mozilla Firefox because of:

• the ease-of-use
• the skins possibility
• the speed
• the bookmarks management
• the integrated pop-up blocker
• the integrated download manager
• the tabbed browsing
• the great IE settings import function
• the size and memory footprint of the application – install file: about 4.8 MB

After my very intensive test period, I can confirm all the mentionned arguments above! This browser is definitely awasome. I’m conquered…

Let me tell you which config I’m using now:

• Theme: Qute v2.1.2
• Extension: All-in-one Gesturey v0.12.1, description of the gestures here
• Extension: googlebar v0.0.24
• Extension: Google Pagerank v0.6
• Extension: SwitchProxyTool v1.1
• Extension: SingleWindow v1.0

  

Source: Mercedes Magazine

I published some new pictures of my last trip to Lanzarote. Below some of these pictures.

Awesome garten within the hotel

Very nice swimming-pool

And a marvelous view from the terrace (by night)

Dividing a change cycle into phases

An action plan for creating sustaining change

Mobilising commitment

The success of change projects depends on the number and quality of change agents

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Source: G. Müller-Stewens / Ch. Lechner

[Via BetaNews]

I finished to aggregate the different information and statistics concerning the 1st semester 2004 results of my business unit, the so-called Helvetia Patria Group‘s eCenter, which is responsible for enabling eBusiness insurance solutions (B2B) in the different subsidiaries of the Holding (Spain, Italy, Germany , Switzerland and, from next year, perhaps Austria). “Enabling” means for us: helping to find good business cases, providing a central and state-of-the-art eBusiness platform, architecture and infrastructure to the subsidiaries, and supporting their project implementation.

I’m the co-founder and the manager of this unit and I got the chance, since April 2000, to experience all the steps of its development: strategy, funding, recruiting, acquiring, fighting for survival, observing the first success, etc.

We launched the first application (for Spain) in February 2002, some days after the birth of my son :-) In 2003, we generated a premium volume (proposals) of more than 1 billion CHF (~ 800 million Euros) on the platform. We reached about the same volume within the first six months this year :-) Which makes me quite happy, you can imagine.

I’m very proud that we reached this results. But I must say I’m even more proud to be able to work with all the guys/friends of my unit, who are so brilliant and smart…and real cool guys at the same time. Really a pleasure, I’m lucky ;-)

Source: Mercedes Magazine

Type of change process

We define two types of change process:

incremental change

– is based on evolutionary process

– aims at a continuous improvement of the current business model

– improves established practises

– is compatible with existing mind-set

fundamental change

– is radical and occurs abruptly

– leads to discontinuous process

– has an impact on the current mind-set

– is often painful for the people involved

Impact of change initiatives

The impact of change initiatives cannot be determined with accuracy.

Establishing a need for change

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Source: G. Müller-Stewens / Ch. Lechner