8 thoughts for 2008

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

« Push and shout » is unsustainable as a strategy.

Will brands grow by delighting customers to the point of

recommendation and attachment? Or will

agency, media and marketing doctrine perpetuate

mediocrity?

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

96% of innovations fail to reach their ROI targets.

Will companies continue to try and « process » their way out of

this gap? Or will they embrace customer-centric and open forms

of ideation, development and product/service introduction?

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

Will marketing departments regain a board seat through

higher accountability and a broader perspective?

Or will process automation and a tainted reputation

relegate them to the fringe of business?

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

Home fabrication technology, mass-customisation and production

runs of one are merging with 3D technology. This means the end of

mass production is becoming conceivable.

How will mass-manufacturers with 20+ years of factory amortisation

make the transition without going too fast or too slow?

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

Will -in spite of their impact- businesses continue to igrnore

serious games and virtual worlds? Or will they be embraced

to create better training, design and manufacturing solutions?

Photo

via

: W

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all.

com

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

In the chase for volume, premium brands benefit from Asia’s

seemingly endless appetite for luxury.

When the China boom slows, will luxury brands « trade down »

to push less sophisticated lifestyle players out of the market?

Or will the cake continue to get bigger for all to share?.

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

As Asian technology becomes more sophisticated, will

European firms overcome their cost disadvantage through

better customer insights and innovation? Or will will they

simply be bought up by Easterners flush with cash?

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

Al Gore has shown us the colour of money is « green ».

Will poverty alleviation remain an optional and charitable

endeavour? Or will we find a business model to make

helping the poor as profitable as « saving the planet »?

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

Have a great 2008

FUTURELAB http://blog.futurelab.net

Team Futurelab