Innovative Ideas from SmartBrief

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You asked, and we delivered. In response to the No. 1 request of SmartBrief readers like you, I'm pleased to introduce SmartBrief on Leadership. You told us you don't have time to read all the magazines, blogs, whitepapers and business school research available on the Web. You asked for a service like SmartBrief that's dedicated to the broader challenges facing leaders. SmartBrief on Leadership delivers innovative ideas that challenge conventional thinking and keep business leaders ahead of the curve. Nearly 1.5 million professionals -- many of whom lead organizations or aspire to do so -- count on SmartBrief each day to stay informed on news critical to their work. Now you can count on SmartBrief on Leadership to stay abreast of the big ideas and innovative thinking shaping our world. Scroll down to read SmartBrief on Leadership and subscribe today. As with all our publications, it is FREE. We'll make sure you stay one step ahead of the competition.     April 15, 2008 We review these sources for you each day.     The Big Idea  Steal research from pirates With the Internet acting as the "ultimate copying machine," pirates are making off with all the intellectual property their networks can carry. But the pirates might be doing us a favor, says Matt Mason, by providing new platforms and vehicles, market research and a new kind of ratings system. When Nike found out a Tokyo DJ was ripping off their best-selling shoe, it held off the lawyers and waited to see if his garish colors would sell. Fast Company (4/1) Volatile markets. Global competition. New business models. How do HR executives become more responsive to shifting market needs? Find out how over 400 HR executives from 40 countries are addressing these workforce challenges and are focusing on transforming their workforce to take its performance to the next level.   Strategic Management  Airline merger sets up culture clash The proposed merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines presents some great challenges for the new carrier's management team. One of the biggest issues will be dealing with labor concerns as 80% of Northwest's work force is unionized, while just 15% of Delta's employees are represented by unions. New employee guidelines and compensation will have to merge employment agreements largely dictated by Delta's management team with those negotiated via collective bargaining agreements at Northwest. Twincities.com/St. Paul Pioneer Press (4/15) TSA: Fledgling agency learns to fly The Transportation Security Administration, born of America's greatest security lapse, had to strike the right balance between intrusive inspection and friendly service. The agency turned to volunteer executives from Disney to learn how to herd crowds, and Marriott brass shared customer-service best practices. Now, the TSA is trying to apply business principles to create a career trajectory and a pay-for-performance system. Government Executive (4/1)   On Leadership  Big shoes to fill? Stay grounded If you assume leadership after a star performer, aim to be humble and don't get caught up in the perks of the top, advises Harvard Business Professor Bill George. "Authentic leaders know who they are and where they come from," says George. "They don't get caught up in their egos, nor do they think leadership is having legions of followers." BusinessWeek (4/10) The CIO as practical visionary The strategic chief information officer is a technology visionary, uniquely positioned to marry an organization's tech-based capabilities with its future self-image. To play the strategic part, CIOs need to be in the inner circle and must be able minimize the operational problems that often trap them in the role of chief technician. Strategy+Business (free registration) (4/2008)   Innovation  From laptop to "cloud computing" Two reports from the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveal that the next phase of cyberspace will be "cloud computing" -- liberating the Internet from the desktop or laptop to remote servers fed by high-speed networks. More mobile access shifts power to users, and a wider swath of Americans may be able to participate. Hispanics and blacks are already more likely than white Americans to use nonvoice data applications on their cell phones. Pew Internet (3/5) , Pew Internet (3/5) Expertise is king Entire industries were built on doling out information that the Internet now gives away for free. So what can you do if your customers have access that you were once paid to provide? Give them service that can't be automated, writes ad technology columnist Sean Carton: Advise. ClickZ (4/14)   Most Read by CEOs  Management tips from the Mafia (The Guardian (London)) Take brand loyalty to the extreme (Knowledge@Wharton) Starbucks misses the mark with customer engagement effort (Harvard Business Review) The secret to IT? Do less (FinancialWeek) Apple succeeds on tyrant's OS (Wired)   Daily Diversion  Does Gen Y think it's OK to cheat? Millennials -- workers younger than 31 -- grew up with "helicopter parents" and trophies for every game. They're bright and tech savvy, but also demand more validation and prefer rules that fit their own style. Barbara Keats, an associate professor of management at the W.P. Carey School of Business, wonders if their anything-to-get-ahead attitude also makes them more prone to cheat. Knowledge@W. P. Carey (4/9)   SmartQuote  Leadership is one of these great journeys into your own soul." --Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric SmartBrief publishes need-to-know news in 20 industries. All our industry briefings are FREE and open to everyone—sign up today! 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