Providing perspective for today’s technology leaders
The Enderle Group provides an unparalleled look inside breaking technology events to identify the core reasons that buyers and builders of technology should care.
Rob’s IT Business Edge Blog
- An Unusual Collection of Powerful Best Practices at EMC World May 8 I’m wrapping up at EMC World today and I’ve enjoyed a variety of talks and one-on-one meetings. What hits me as I ramp out of the show is how many impressive and unique best practices are showcased at this event this year. I can’t recall another event or another company that has showcased this amount of good work at one event as long as I’ve been covering tech, and I’ve been covering tech since the mid-90s.
- EMC and the Dark IT Knight: Doing a Great Keynote May 7 I go to a lot of events and attend a number of CEO keynotes. This week, I’m at EMC World listening to Joe Tucci’s keynote. Recently, I learned, again (apparently I’m a slow learner), that when a CEO asks you how they are doing, the only right answer is “Great.” This happens a lot with me. As far too many know, I used to compete in speaking and was, at one time, ranked third in the nation. Unfortunately, when it comes to feedback, even though I know executives reward the answer they want to hear rather than the truth, I’m not that guy. Why I enjoy the Joe Tucci keynotes is I can generally give a very positive response and not feel like I’m left somewhat tarnished by the process. Tucci’s keynotes tend to be some of the best in the industry. What follows is why.
- Intel Goes Bold with New CEO Choice May 2 I was really worried about Intel’s CEO selection. The only external candidate who could likely do a good job at the company, given its unique culture, was Pat Gelsinger. However, he is quite content running VMware and has been far removed from microprocessors for several years now, making him both unlikely to be offered the job and unlikely to take it. Intel has a massive fabrication capability that is unique in the market because the other vendors have gone fabless, and an external hire, likely knowing very little about this part of the business and hired because of mobile market knowledge, would have probably either tried to sell it off or mismanaged it.
Rob’s Articles
- Joe Tucci's Magic Turnaround Formula TechNewsWorld | May 13 EMC²'s reorg is a lesson in how to build a complex company and eliminate the pressure and inflexibility of centralized management by pushing everything, including funding, to the edges. CEO Joe Tucci actually has created a way to build a simple complex company. That should be impossible, but damned if he didn't pull it off.
- Will Fisker's floundering leave early Karma buyers running on empty? Digital Trends | May 11 Fisker has pretty much shut down, giving us a rare glimpse at one of the unexpected risks of buying a car from a brand new provider that might not make it. Since it has been a long time since we had car companies launch in the US at scale, you have to go back a long time to companies like Muntz and DeLorean to watch a similar sequence of events unfold. DeLorean is probably the best-case scenario for owners: There is actually still a company by the same name that is providing parts and service for the car, and from what I've heard, you can actually work with them to get a car that will likely hold up better than the new ones did.
- What CSC Is Doing Right (and Wrong) In Its Turnaround Efforts CIO | May 10 In the last 15 months, Computer Science Corp. CEO Mike Lawrie has handpicked his executive team and streamlined the CSC product line. This is a good start, but if CSC wants to emulate the turnaround efforts of IBM and Apple, the company should look for a formidable CFO and step up its marketing efforts.
- Apple beats Android in the DoD, but Blackberry still rules TMCnet | May 8 Most people likely believe that iOS, Android and Blackberry are all on equal footing when it comes to security - with the same chance of winning device clearance at the DoD. The reality? From the DoD's perspective there is only one Android handset the Pentagon is actually interested in, and that is the one of the Samsung phones. But remember, in the murky corridors of the DoD, Blackberry still rules.
Rob Quoted
- This Week in Small Business: Small Data NY Times | May 13
- Trulia Rolls Out Welcome Mat for Real Estate Pros CRMBuyer | May 10
- Icahn revamps Dell offer, calls buyout 'giveaway' AFP | May 10
Rob Enderle on…
The impact of Apple’s earnings on its suppliers
“Suppliers are likely moving on the positive surprise in Apple's top line - but the company's outlook was dismal and that would put pressure on the suppliers.”
HP and its poor performance
“They are hurting in PCs, and they are really hurting in printing and imaging. That business is kind of going away.”
SV 150: HP drags down its tech sector San Jose Mercury News
How consumers will benefit from poor PC sales
“They'll have to get aggressive on prices or give rebates to move inventory, and the savings will be passed through to the consumer. Some units will be shipped overseas, but here they're going to have to blow out inventory in the next three months.”
PC industry sees worst sales quarter in nearly 20 years San Jose Mercury News
HTC’s alliance with Facebook
“It is not so much a Facebook phone as imagined by Zuckerberg as it is a lifeline for HTC, which needs a champion device and got Facebook to back it. The market has been gravitating toward Samsung. This device is to take the emphasis back to HTC … with a flagship phone that users can get excited about.”
Facebook unveils its 'home' on Android phone New York Times
If Michael Dell walked away from a possible buyout offer from the Blackstone Group
“By cashing out, he'd take the value of the stock down sharply and damage Blackstone and the investors that remained significantly.… He wants to assure that Blackstone can't replace him as CEO.… Either they do it with him or they don't do it.”
Michael Dell Goes Into Safe Mode E-Commerce Times
Apollo Research Rob Enderle the most quoted technology analyst in the U.S. in January 2012
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Profiles
Rob Enderle
An Internet search of media quotes validates Rob Enderle as one of the most influential technology pundits in the world. Leveraging world-class IT industry analysis skills honed at DataQuest, Giga Information Group, and Forrester Research, Rob seized upon the power of the information channel as a conduit to reach business strategists and deliver valuable, experienced-based insight on how to leverage industry advances for maximum business advantage.
As President and Principal Analyst of the Enderle Group, he provides regional and global companies with guidance in how to create credible dialogue with the market, target customer needs, create new business opportunities, anticipate technology changes, select vendors and products, and practice zero dollar marketing. For over 20 years Rob has worked for and with companies like Microsoft, HP, IBM, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony, USAA, Texas Instruments, AMD, Intel, Credit Suisse First Boston, ROLM, and Siemens.
Mary Enderle
As Enderle Group’s Branding and Web Design Consultant, Mary brings a depth of knowledge regarding brand-driven design, creation of brand management tools, creative direction and agency management. Mary was the worldwide corporate brand identity manager at Intel® Corporation, one of the top ten brands in the world. Under Mary’s leadership, her team was responsible for ensuring that all communications were consistent and reflected Intel’s values, to make sure that Intel would continue to rank among the top ten recognized brands worldwide. Mary also spent nine years managing the look and feel for Intel.com, consulting across many divisions on both creative and site usability.
After leaving Intel, Mary consulted with top tier companies on branding and web design including Dolby Laboratories, Gateway Computers, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel and Kodak Gallery.
Mary was the Brand Director and Affiliate Manager for CafeGive® for 1½ years, a startup that is focused on building a thriving community of nonprofit organizations and their advocates consumers and merchants dedicated to grassroots fundraising through ecommerce. There are now over 300 stores to shop at on the CafeGive website like Nordstrom, Target, Macy’s and some great niche merchants specially selected to work with CafeGive. There are also over 140 nonprofits working closely with their advocates and CafeGive to help get the word out to shop and raise money for some wonderful organizations.