Seattle Group Discusses Application and Impact of Blockchain for Small Business

Our great host and leader, Andrew Sengul, led Richard Webb, Reba Haas, Eric Veal, Bruce Follansbee, Dr. Tom Louwers, Thomas Mercer (new job as Assistant Director to UW MBA programs!), and marketer/professor/smart guy Mike Pritchard in a very interesting conversation about blockchain. 

Andrew spoke to the changes that blockchain will bring and how it may impact our businesses and lives.  Andrew is a genius, I’m pretty sure.  I haven’t verified it but in every conversation I continue to be reminded of how much more he knows about most subjects than I do.  Andrew is opinionated, smart and self-assured.

Andrew gave us a printed handout to follow covering a blockchain history, a comparison of blockchain technologies, what it means for our businesses and what it means for us.  As is normal at the events, he was regularly interrupted with questions and inquiries from the guests and participants.  He handled the inputs well and we left the evening with a new level of understanding about this particular technology and it’s impact on us.

Mr. Sengul spoke to us of the history of blockchain and noted that there were predecessors to BitCoin like DigiCash and HashCash and predecessor alt-coins like Ethereum and the like.  Proof of work is one of the core attributes of these systems and other schemes include proof of duration and proof of stake.  These are high level attributes that set the style and applications of the technology.  There are many applications of blockchain other than cryptocurrencies and those domains are still being explored heavily and in new ways. 

Andrew helped us understand what the idea of a crypto currency ‘wallet’ is and how the exchanges are typically holders of wallets on end users’ behalf.  But end users can have their own wallets.  The consequence of which is more computing resources required to run the basic peer-to-peer distributed transaction ledgers.  A single wallet today takes up about 170 GB of space which is not ridiculous for a modern home computer system but at the same time is not a load that the average user would want to run.

The technologies were compared by Sengul and discussion and input ensued.  He  shared information about consensus mechanisms, integrity strategies, obstacles (such as transaction cost, transaction time, regulation, attacks and resource requirements).  We talked through a few of the popular technologies like BitCoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Monero and Hyperledger.  Linux, IBM and T-Mobile are big backers of Hyperledger, for example.   

We discussed the $4B price tag for someone to try to take down Bitcoin now.  It doesn’t sound all that high given all the billionaires and power kings in the world today. 

The meaning of crypto currency and the blockchain technology is interesting.  For example, benefits include getting around central agencies including governments and banks, getting investment capital via initial coin offerings (ICOs) and the secure storage of open data and its associated verification in a peer network. 

There are a variety of challenges with blockchain technologies now and the associated regulation that has come and will increasingly come.   As evidenced by Mark Zuckerberg’s recent visit to the US Congress, the world is not yet ready to see or understand the implications of big data at a very low level of detail.  Stupid questions get asked and it’s hard for people to comprehend the power and enormity of data.  Blockchain adds an interesting element of control and visibility to proprietary models of data capture, storage and transmission. 

Cryptocurrencies are an aspect of the blockchain but not an essential property.  Many of the blockchains rely upon an underlying cryptocurrency to give “gas” to the process like in the case of Ether.  New metaphors and businesses are being built and it’s exciting.  And disruptive.  And new. 
We are starting to see private blockchains, new encryption methods, new related technologies and business models.  People wonder if these things are ponzi schemes and some may very well be.  For example, Ripple is perceived by some as a government and traditional way to give a consumer “blockchain” tomany but in reality it does not use the same technology and benefits as have been created by Bitcoin and its ilk.  Regulation and rip-offs will come. 

Join us Tuesday, April 24, 2018 for conversation with host Berry Zimmerman about that which keeps us human.  We are up against an onslaught of incredibly compelling technologies and need to continue to carve out the niche of humans and individuals in a rapidly changing environment as we have always done.

Managing Information Technology Meetup - Kirkland, WA - 6/20/2017 - Recap Notes and Podcast Prep

In attendance were: Richard Schurman (Attorney), Mark Mitchell (CFO), Eric Veal (Technologist), Richard Webb (Technologist), Dominic Wong (Management Exec), Steve Kubacki (Psychologist and Inventor), Kifaya Dawud (Marketer)

RW talked about “Business Stacks”.

RW talked about how good the Amazon TPM (Technical Program Manager) role is:

They own the architecture, PM role and tech

They have clear scope

They are organized to work together

They are measured objectively and fairly: difference between TPM doing poorly themselves (as a leader/worker) and the thing they are producing failing

Example TPM role: there is a person who is responsible for running “events” for Amazon (like father’s day).  Mark: Walmart did this as well with stores in Texas with stuff like Cinco de Mayo.

Amazon TPM rollup structure:

TPM

Regional TPM

Top TPM – meets with Bezos

Same role with widening scope that aggregates

Communication flows up and down this TPM chain

Tools for organizing management:

- Mark: adaQuest has a way to communicate strategy throughout the org

- Also ManageHub - Eric and Mark to further look into ManageHub for organizational uses for process improvement with Doug Hall

CRM Systems

Are they important?  Eric says they are central but there is an issue of adoption and data capture, data quality and people playing games with their data like hiding it strategically.

Examples of modern integration frameworks: Zapier, IFTTT, etc. for integration vs. old tools and people that integrated systems.  "We don't do it like we used to.  It's all as a service now." - EV

RW coined that these types of integration utilities are “(Hardware and Printer) Drivers at a different level”.  Totally agree, very interesting.

Drivers are hard to write because they break if either end changes, which prevent scale.

RW had some funny commentary about SOAP and REST and why one didn't work and other did: "SOAP didn’t work because programmers are dirty.  REST worked because programmers are lazy."  Microservices architecture becoming a big deal.

Eric had a recent VR experience with HTC Valve simulating “in the office” where he made coffee, 3D printed things and ate a donut.  Very amazing stuff.  Changes your mind and belief of what's possible.

Current “dialogs” and programs are too linear in their current form and are too project/product-oriented (developers need to finish and can't guild the lily, just want the basics to get done). 

Eric's vision of the world of the web now (as different from APQC + Process Triggers 10+ years ago):  There are "Listeners" (the people gathering the data with instrumentation and telemetry) + they provide or sell WebHooks to others who + People that write services that hand off of the events.

EV had a question, “Can we teach computers how to HARD SELL and effectively CLOSE a person on a big transaction while the person knows it is happening?”

We seemed to agree that we could and that it was actively happening now.

RS said that it depended on how the information is presented and when.

Richard gave examples of Blue Apron knowing if he read an email from them or not (by tracking a pixel).

Mark said that Google know if you walked into Nordstrom (location services on).  This is clearly very powerful for very many marketing-related things.

Companies every day are designing and running campaigns that work against (with/for) people’s weaknesses, predilections and interests.  Insidious from one perspective, genius, smart, intelligent and useful from another.

Excellent sales processes happen all the time in games (in app purchases), etc.

This can get into some edge / unethical realms if there is blackmail, for example. Open issue/question:  What's a person's recourse against these systems?

Richard talked about how Americans respond best to English and Australian accents, so they are used a lot in advertising to us.

We talked about humans training computers (other-learning) vs. computers training themselves (self-learning).  Humans can also train humans and computers can train humans and humans can train themselves.  Lots of vicious loops and cycles here.

We wondered, "What are the limitations of IT today?"

Richard said, "We have to get rid of the I.T. and make it “we” (make it work for us)

Eric and Richard talked about Enterprise Architecture, strategy and a recent HBR article on data strategy which talked about Offensive and Defensive uses for data.

Steve Kubacki showed up and was entertaining as usual.  Steve, “How many project managers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?  It depends on the location of the lightbulb?”  Har-de-har-har but also fairly insightful and true in my opinion; everyone is or should be a PM.

SK when talking about Virtual Reality applications and Andrew Sengul's work with Scenario Tech, "You want people to come forward with their own imagery."

LISP.  Andrew Sengul and Ben Sidelinger are both working on modern applications using the LISP language now.  What's up with that?  List of JavaScript LISP implementations.

We had a discussion about the design/experience of video games being way too open or way too closed/structured and cited examples.

Eric talked about a future computer design where there is immediate feedback between the writing of code and the existence of the application (run time and design time).  "Real time run time."  You heard it here, folks!

SK had many great quotes:

“The Theory of Totality”.  Everything is incomplete.  Goedel. 

SK: Can a corporation have empathy?

SK: “A corporation “has a” sociopath.” (as a property) pretty funny

SK: “We are fundamentally social creatures.  Self-interest is directed by the social interests.”

SK: “Brownian motion” how things aggregate

Eric made the point to Steve at some point about different types of grouping: Aggregation (requires a common interface of the members) vs. Composition groupings (no commonality required, they are simple assembled and joined...but could be very well designed to work together systematically like a car has many parts).

Steve made some great points about how we need to intentionally design and implement systems that decentralize.  Such a great point and such an interesting area.

Someone said that IT Development has been declining over the last 20.  I guess this was something Eric Schmidt of Google has said.

Steve says that we are seeing an increase of democratization within the workplace which sounds like a really good thing to me.

Eric made the point that "ownership" (of the work ie things were fully delegated) was previously delegated to the VPs (for example, the APQC model would probably recommend that someone owns each area and are responsible for throughput and continuous improvement of it) and is now delegated to actual and real units of business (products and projects).  This is the TPM role and how this power has shifted/is shifting from functions and processes to products, which is generally great for innovation, for example.

Steve shared more ideas about how different the culture will be on Mars: it is an un-earth-based culture.  Totally different than anything we have ever known?

Richard Schurman talked about some book tech and mentioned Scrivner, 

Kifaya showed up, too.  Thanks for coming, Kifaya!

26 Interesting Things About Modern Product & Service Development

We are prepping for the February Podcast, which will be about Developing & Managing Products and Services.  It's an exciting and fun topics.  Here are some of the highlights from the meetup that we are considering for the Podcast.  Please provide your input and ideas or what you would like us to cover.  What challenges do you have with the topic?  What blind spots are there?  What practices and principles have you used that worked?

1. Chaos Theory and Non-Linear Dynamics
2. The Developing and Managing Products and Services area from the APQC PCF (link) 
3. Known small effects that have lead to huge changes, issues, problems, catastrophes or events: the butterfly effect, the straw that broke the camel's back and other tipping points. 1 degree shifts.
4. What are elements, tools and practices of the modern practice of product and service development?
1. In Software
2. Physical Products
3. Services
5. Which companies are making the best and most innovative products today and how?  Why?  For example, the DJI Mavic Drones, South Park, Air BnB, Uber, who else?
6. Who is providing the best service today and how?  What are the elements of it?
7. The importance of decision making and how differences in beliefs or decisions can grossly impact the quality of success on a project.
8. "Incantations" and parrots.  How many people are simply repeating others and not questioning the cause or underlying assumptions that fed into what they currently see or perceive?  Copy cats might not and should not last. (Developing the deepest and most defensible niche).
9. The topic of "Everything dies or is dying"
10. Application and Product Lifecycle Management, Phases of Product Lifecycles (Plan, Define, Realize, Commericalize, Phase Out) and it also includes Supply Chain Managmeent and Customer Relationship Management (And SUpport Processes)
11. Is PLM the core engine of value and growth within a company (probably)?
12. Techniques for being able to reasonably work with complexity or complex systems, ideas, concepts, etc.
13. What are the problems and challenges in working with complex systems?  What are the tools for overcoming their challenges?
14. Attribution: how it might be hard to determine what really was the original impact, actor, etc. that caused a process to develop into what it is today or what it would / could become.
15. Why did "non-linear management" get so many eye-rolls when shared with the group?  Isn't that what we're talking about after all?  Too much of a buzzword?
16. Challenges with "insight alignment" and how we can have and align group insights for optimal performance, value and outcomes.
17. Entropy and counter-entropy systems.  Organizing around an increasingly chaotic world.
18. "An organizational immune system" and what it would be.  What are its properties and methods?  
19. Product intelligence vs. business intelligence.  Is one bottoms up and the other tops down?  Do both matter?
20. Thresholds and control systems, alerts and alarms for responding to important conditions
21. The need for "crossing domains" for innovation and creativity.  Yin and Yang as opposing forces that somehow find balance in the middle.  If the world could be seen as these components, what would they be and how would they be managed?
22. Which metrics matter and how would we identify missing metrics in our model before it was too late?
23. Divine flaws, fractures, and "seeds of disaster".  Are they really there?  Does this feature really exist in everything?
24. The need to "go up one level of abstraction" and to use data, models and visualization for managing.
25. Failing fast and failing slow.  Combating the forces of failure and death in business.
26. Two separate forces in innovation 1) truly producing something new and out of context 2) integrating that product/service/thing into an existing company, product line, market, etc.  What do we call these practices?

Tune into Episode 4 of the AppsJack Capable Communities Podcast in mid February '17 to hear more about all of these topics.

AppsJack Share Human Resources Meeting Held in Seattle June 28th

Post-Meeting Recap

AppsJack Share Meetup: Tuesday, June 28, 2016 4-7 PM

WHAT: The June 2016 Monthly AppsJack Share Meetup

TOPIC: Human Resources Management

ORGANIZER and HOST: Eric Veal

LOCATION: Big Fish Grill, Kirkland

AppsJack Share meetups are local business events that gather talented and interested individuals in the areas of business, management, and technology.  The events are free, fun and provide an opportunity for attendees to share their knowledge about the named monthly topic as well as glean insights from the others in attendance.  After the meeting, the attendees are connected and able to deepen their professional, working relationships.

14 Attendees

Fourteen contributors showed up for the meeting and enjoyed good conversation, community, food and drink.  Eric and Dominic Wong got there first and started chatting.  Jehan and his wife Arnaz joined next.  Then Berry, Michael Lazer, Richard, Bruce, Joe, James, and PJ arrived.  Berry introduced himself as “creating and enriching collaborative teams”.  Richard shared about his work on and passion for “Tiny Houses”. Some examples http://www.countryliving.com/home-design/g1887/tiny-house/.  This reminded Eric of his friend Corey’s tow-behind trailer business http://www.homegrowntrailers.com.

The conversation got richer and richer.  Later in the event, Samuel arrived and shared about his Diversity and Inclusion business called BizDiversity.net.  Steve Kubacki showed and shared about his interesting projects.  And finally, Andrew Sengul showed up and told us about his solutions for “learning about learning”.

Here is a complete list of the attendees and their contact information:

Eric Veal eric@appsjack.com | LinkedIn

Dominic Wong dominicwong@att.net  | LinkedIn

Jehan Bharucha jehanb@improcon.com | LinkedIn

Arnaz Bharucha   LinkedIn

Berry Zimmerman berry@bizenrich.com | LinkedIn

Richard Webb webbpager@gmail.com | LinkedIn

Bruce J. Follansbee bfollansbee@expensereduction.com | LinkedIn

Mike Lazer mike.lazer15@gmail.com | LinkedIn

Joe Pham joepham@hotmail.com | LinkedIn

James Tuff jamestuff1@comcast.net | LinkedIn

PJ Larkin pj.larkin@rht.com | LinkedIn

Samuel Rodriguez sam@bizdiversity.net | LinkedIn

Steve Kubacki skubacki@earthlink.net | LinkedIn

Andrew Sengul andrew@scenariotech.com | LinkedIn

At least three books were mentioned during the meetup.  Bruce sited “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains” and “The Glass Cage: Automation and Us”, both by Nicholas Carr.  Richard mentioned "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers" by Alexander Osterwalder.

Richard, a highly entertaining and intelligent man, is known for dropping wondeful, unique, newly-coined quotes and one from the meetup this month was, “Talent is like migrating birds.”

We discussed a variety of topics: “Humans and Machines”, “Is the resume dead?  Hiring for cultural fit.”, “Bad HR policies and practices”, “Social Networks and Personal Profiles”.  

We got into specifics about the recent acquisition of LinkedIn by Microsoft and also the potential applications, scope and scale of Crystal Knows (http://crystalknows.com).  Crystal puts people through a simple personality test (DiSC profile) and then provides services to help individuals best connect with and relate to others based upon their assessed types.  Richard also said that CK has algorithms to crawl users’ social medai profiles from Facebook and other sites to determine personality.

  

We talked about the technology of Human Resources Management and specifics about Learning Management Systems and applications like Enterprise Search.

Jehan led us in a discussion where he shared about differences he has noticed between India and USA.  He sees USA kids as “gullible” and the India kids as more street smart.  India has a bigger focus on STEM and he has seen India transform substantially (from “another planet” to what it is now) over the decades.  He sees India as “dog eat dog” and the USA is as “procured”.  Jehan said, “We [in America] live in a virtual world.”

Richard, always entertaining, talked to us about thinking of people as either A) talent or B) task worker.  Others made us think of the world split between products and services. According to Richard, two properties that he sees defininig millennials are that they have A) anger issues and BO( a plan.  Richard has Millenial children.

Richard shared with us a topic that I hadn’t yet encountered: 4D Printing.  Here is a TED Talk on it.  4D printing is concerned with micro and nano scales.  In watching the video, I learned about CAD Nano software http://cadnano.org/.  The speaker talked about combining the world of nanoscale with other worlds, talked about “self-assembly” and companies involved in the domain: http://www.stratasys.com/, https://www.autodeskresearch.com/projects/cyborg, and https://www.autodeskresearch.com/projects/4dprinting.

We talked about 1099 and W2 relationships between employers and workers and were blessed to be led by PJ and Mike Lazer, both experts in the industry.  Solid contributions came from Dominic as well.  Some of the reasons that go into picking one or the other are trade secrets, risk management/mitigation (blame and culpability), as well as changes in business models.

The question was asked if Seattle the hottest market in the USA and many agreed that it may be.  Seattle has “the cloud” here (Microsoft Azure and AWS).  We are the platform.  Compare this to the bay area, for example, that has / makes many of the apps that run on the cloud.  Seattle is infrastructure and the rest of the world is the apps / things.  Where will this place Seattle in 5-10 years?

In all, it was a great and fun meetup, informative, and well attended. I am looking forward to the ongoing discussions about HR and upcoming discussions about IT Management, generally.

--

We look forward to seeing you and your pals at the next Seattle-area AppsJack Share meetup will be on Tuesday, July 26th, 2016 at 4 PM at Big Fish Grill in Kirkland.  The topic will be Information Technology Management.  Discussion topic ideas should be shared with eric@appsjack.com.  The meeting will be an open discussion rotating throught the topic naturally with contributions and discussion-leadership from guests.  Sign up for the July 26th meetup here.  Some topics that may be covered at the July meeting are:

• The Internet of Things (was also the 2015 topic, led by Garth Vander Houwen, Hsuan-Hua Chang and Marco Micheletti).
• Wearables and Computing everywhere
• Security, Privacy, Governance and Politics
• Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure and Enterprise IT
• Cloud Computing
• Smart Machines, Robots and Drones
• Context-Rich, Intelligent Learning Systems and Bots
• Visual Analytics
• 3D Printing
• 4D Printing
• Genetics
• Nanotechnology
• Robotics
• Other topics that YOU bring to the table!

Full calendar of meetups this year is here.  Follow us on Twitter.  Like us on Facebook.  Contact Eric to join the AppsJack Slack community.  Also, please help us get the word out, invite friends, and help us make these events and this community even better and more vibrant.

Our illustrious June guests were:

Andrew

Arnaz

Berry

Bruce

Dominic

Eric

James

Jehan

Joe

Michael

PJ

Richard

Sam

Steve