Hi Vinay,

- In 2,008 will continue the process where consumer’s needs and wants will dictate the evolution, features and positioning that different technologies will acquire to the enterprise’s market.

- We will see shortest lifecycles in high technology products and the competence to catch the consumer awareness will be fierce and the advertising campaigns will be highly focused.

- In social networks we will see how this concept will flourish to get the favor from the corporative market, where these applications will begin to be morphed with corporate Intranets, and knowledge based systems.

- Internet as a social phenomenon will continue its progression into the goal of creating a new framework to make businesses, meet people, do commercial transactions and communicate to a minimum cost in a context where more broadband Internet connections, Wi-fi connections and devices and a plethora of different applications will make true the promise of the Internet as a massive communication media.

- Change in the business framework caused for the accelerated economical growing in China and India; a better consciousness about the prejudicial effects from Global Heating; possibility of economic recession in USA, and the beginning of the Baby Boomer’s workforce retirement will require from more agile enterprises where possibly we will see more corporate mergers, a kind of cannibalism to attract talented and scarce professionals and the need to ensure corporate competitiveness based in best business practices and innovation.

- In a business hypercompetitive context we will appreciate that management consultancy and coaching will prosper greatly thanks to the need that current enterprise will have to get business agility; proper knowledge management’s systems; high performance teams strategically aligned and change management practices to propel the corporation to new levels of diversification and growth.

I hope this helps you.
Octavio

posted December 28, 2007

The emerging trends according to me will be centered around the following areas,
a) Environmental concerns and energy Conservation: The increasing awareness of scarcity of natural resources and destruction of environment would awaken both extravagant US, inefficient India, reckless China. The research would be directed to a great extent on the energy saving, alternative / non conventional enrgy and DUE RESPECT for natural resources and environment. This would dramatically transform the industrial landscape across the globe. Replacement of majority of mfg industries by new/nano techonologies would be one example.
b) Consumerism Redefined: A lot fo todays problems are due to excessive usage, wastage and spending on unwanted neeeds on on side and acute shortage on the other side- an imbalance in incoem distribution. This would trigger a greater awareness on the need for better utilisation of resources, reduction innwasteful consumption.
c) Changhing work places: MOre and more of remote operations and reduced movment of workforce by taking advantage of web based, telecommunication techonology.
d) Family Values and Family Ties to be rediscovered: The world populace at large takes a pause from the rat race and start focussing on their families and children ubbringings.
e) And of course, the gradual elimination of geographical boundaries, evolution of GLOBAL VILLAGE would be the ultimate destination.

This I feel are the broad emerging trends in the coming decades.
S S Naik

posted December 28, 2007

5 trends that are going to gain momentum in the next 12 months.
Globalisation - of resources, needs & wants, cultural vocabulary & education
Fragmentation - customers, geographies, ethnic cultures, values
Activism - by various groups - Consumers, Social, political, environmental, Erosion - Of values, natural resources & a changing morality that carries a huge cost in terms of physical & psychological impact.
Technology - that is playing the role of the unifying force across continents & cultures

posted December 31, 2007

On a different and specific note in this undisputed trend of "global economics":
-The influence of the so-called "emerging" nations on the "developed" ones will grow by leaps and bounds this year in relation to all previous years. Dubiously, this may result in an increased polarization of public opinion about accepting the capabilities of people in those countries.
-Art and cultural artifacts are the perfect way to exercise that kind of influence, and lo and behold! it is ethnic art and culture--popular and other--that has already become big business in the developed countries.
-Culture, rather than economics, will play a larger role as a leveler at a larger public level, and while the need to offshore resources will gather momentum, public acceptance of such resources, even at a cultural compromise, will be more the norm than the exception.
-Media around the developed world will experience the beginning of a new trend: increased ownership concentration, yet increased localization of content. Vertical integration of media platforms will grow, to spread thinner the reach and sustain costs of content development.

posted January 1, 2008

Hopefully the online market will shift towards World Lifting Ventures where people's every day normal online activities will result in some great things being accomplished.

:)

Michael Perry
President & CEO
MPMH & World Lifting Ventures
500 Sponsors 48 Causes
24,000 Ways to make a difference!
www.worldliftingventures.com
www.worldliftingventures.com/investors.php
AIM: MPMHceo

posted December 28, 2007

Robotisation of labour intensive factories,self governing autonomous plants,complete mechanisation of farming and related activities,mechanised construction activities could force a shift of labour force to the services sector.Increasing efficiencies due to innovations,minimal human resources committed to production of basic consumption goods and services,could lead to huge increase in leisure hours resulting in a booming entertainment industry.

I guess most of the world's workforce could be engaged directly or indirectly in the business of entertaining one another!!

posted December 28, 2007

Vinay

I can't help but feel that the rise and rise of emerging markets and the expense of some of the developed countries is a significant, if obvious trend.

Stats from OECD show countries like France continuing to charge down the list in terms of per capita GDP, so too Australia (if you believe the numbers the pundits predict for 2020 in the latest Austn Institute of Comp Dir's monthly newsletter)

My feeling is that places like India and China have been written about often and now seem obvious but countries like Vietnam lurk in the background ominously. Consider almost 8% compound growth in the last ten years and they only JUST joined the WTO (Nov last year)

cheers

tgl

posted December 29, 2007

One real emerging trend is the changing relationship between brands and consumers.
With greater say and stake in the way brands evolve, consumers are becoming co-creators of brands.
Forward thinking brands are allowing consumers to interact freely with them, mould them, change them, have greater freedom in dictating which way they would want the brand to move.

posted December 29, 2007

Hi Vinay,

The ones that could be significant according to me are:

1. ‘Security’ will emerge as a strong human need – physical, psychological, emotional and social
2. Environmental consciousness amongst consumers will rise and this will benefit brands that advocate the cause
3. Education will emerge as a new big opportunity especially in countries like India and private businesses will join governments in driving this.
4. Simplicity and ease of use in case of technology products will become increasingly important as technology gets more complex.

Cheers!
Rahul

posted December 29, 2007

Carbon Trading

posted December 29, 2007

Hi Vinay,

I think when we look at the things from Global as well Local/Regional perspective...
1. If i start from the Global perspective one important thing happening is "Terrorism/Fundamentalism" - this is driving global community into 2 parts one who will be victims and other who are supporting.
This will drive major polarization which will lead many countries coming together and current friend separating. Believe me next 3 years will have major changes into global equations and 2011 you will see new world new allies...
There will be major spending on Security, Defence, Governance and infrastructure all over the globe
Here the new technology sector will emerge as the key as wars will become techosavy and new wars will be fought at the one to many level and nano technology will lead this.
Oil as alternative energy source will be also two sectors b'cas or by which you see the change in the world --- i think by 2010 it is not countries but people will force companies to "GO Green"
The point you have put about the small world will come true as next 3 years will be years where Asian (India, China, Russia, Japan and south asia) companies will take over massive companies world over and go for masses. You will see the many countires grasping with problem of protecting the companies as national info (highly classified, health, financial etc) will be available to new company from different national origin.
Many new laws, by laws or accounting norms will emerge to regulate the world and not only at national level

There will be different companies will emerge which will cater to niche class be it new super rich, ethnic, regional groups.

Thats my understanding....

Regards

Amol

posted December 29, 2007

Vinay,

Using the whole "Carbon" thing as a taxation excuse.

Jamie

posted December 30, 2007

- In the US, the coming years will be increasingly dictated by the work habits of the millenials, and the leisure habits of the baby-boomers.
- Globally, innovation and opportunities will be defined by where creative energy intersects with technology, namely the global youth and the hungry (eg., ascendant countries like India and China, others yet unknown)
- Biotech, nanotechnology and new energy technologies will finally start to deliver on their promise and substantially improve our quality of life.
- Media will continue to go from an owning to a sharing model, content will become free, and businesses will have to develop alternative business models to monetize these changes.
- Good design and aesthetics will become key differentiators.
Brick-and-mortar companies, manufacturing companies and companies with traditional business models will need to provide products where their brand identity, design attributes and aesthetics match the times.
- All businesses will have to become more comfortable with shorter product cycles, and learn to be agile in reacting to the rapid pace of societal changes.

Links:

• http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/dec2007/id20071213_733494.htm

posted December 31, 2007

Hi Vinay,

Sustainability will definitely be the biggest factor in the coming years as economic growth will definitely have to factor in its ecological consequences, this will trigger the next wave of innovations and inventions.It will start being a driving force in consumer decisions and will stop being just a slogan.

As existing boundaries shrink and global travel increases, new frontiers will emerge with Space travel becoming more real than ever for everyone.Time to consider buying that plot on the moon afterall! ( With rising real estate in Shanghai and Mumbai I guess it might well be the only choice);-)

The continued rise of Asia with the growing contributions from India and China will see the emergence of a "real" middle class in these countries. This will drive consumerism and competition in these markets and we will see the continued rise of corporates from these economies to replace many of the fading names in the reputed Fortune 500 list. From a consumer point of view this wealth creation will give rise to three important features for products and services, Convenience,Safety and speed will be demanded and innovated in all forms of product attributes.

Best regards

Vijay

posted January 1, 2008