by david allan van nostrand | Jul 29, 2019 | Using Information
We assembled a team of bright people with different backgrounds. We included insiders and outsiders. On the table were a stack of index cards, a dozen Sharpies. Our subject was residential yards, which we defined as the open spaces within the boundaries of the lot...
by david allan van nostrand | Jul 22, 2019 | Planning, Strategy, Using Information
When it comes to planning and decision-making, too many people rely on complicated procedures and detailed statistics when there is an excellent tool that is easy to use and requires no math at all. The 2×2 matrix is a great tool for early-stage planning. It is...
by david allan van nostrand | Jul 15, 2019 | The Myopia of Experts
The strategy team had zero experience in their client’s particular industry. The actions they proposed were so outrageous that the insider experts unanimously predicted the sacred brand would be irreparably damaged. After weighing the opinions of his doomsaying...
by david allan van nostrand | Jul 8, 2019 | Artificial Intelligence, Customer Satisfaction, Using Information
I am an unabashed fan of Apple’s tech support. In my experience, theirs is the finest in all the land by a wide margin. When I submit a request, they call me within two or three minutes. It’s nice that their tech reps are invariably pleasant and courteous. What’s even...
by david allan van nostrand | Jul 1, 2019 | Items in the News, Research, Unintended Consequences, Using Information
The most common ad testing research waits until the very last moment to do the fastest and cheapest research possible. Paid study subjects are shown an ad that has been slickly produced and is ready to go. The only purpose of this research is to make sure the...
