Inspired by Possibilities
Looking at the past, present, and potential of business technology.
The stories of how different types of information systems that we take for granted today were first invented and then evolved over the years are often as fascinating as the development of more popular technology like the computer, the mobile phone, social media, the Internet, and AI, yet with the exception of the more personable chatbot they are much less talked about because they often work invisibly behind the scenes - my favourite place - without the glamour of a flashy framework or glossy glass screen.
Information systems have ridden these various waves of technological development over the years, including wavelets like mobile-first, cloud, and Big Data, and now face perhaps their most pivotal point since the popularisation of the Internet in 1990s and, before that, the first PCs on the market in the 1970s. This writing aims to pay homage to the monumental work of the innovators who have developed them to this date, to briefly reflect on the current state of the art, and to consider the potential of agentic AI.
Marketing Information Systems
It’s the humble, understated marketing system that provides the foundation for the striking, colourful, exciting advertising that latches onto the hearts and minds of television viewers, video and audio streamers, shoppers, and blog readers around the world, creating hype, igniting trends, and sparking conversation, leading to interest, purchase, and sometimes lifelong relationships with brands, occasionally extending beyond the individual consumer to friends and family through referral, or online communities and vloggers sharing a common brand or product obsession, with their tips, tutorials, hacks, and other UGC.
Project Management Systems
The story of the project management system is an epic led by a stream of innovators driven to find new ways to produce ever bigger, better, and bolder outcomes in their fields, who created a core set of tools that have withstood the test of time to today. This article seeks to take a glimpse at the project management system in modern history to try and shed some light on where it could be headed tomorrow.
Recommenders in Ecommerce
The presence of recommenders has become ubiquitous in daily life over the past decade or more, from choosing what to stream on video, which music or podcast to listen to, who to pick us up and take us where we need to go, to when is the best time to leave to beat the traffic or other conditions. This short article seeks to shed a little light on the long story of the recommender and those who have contributed to where it is today.