Commentary
The Technology Solution
I should be a technology skeptic. The first time I met myfather-in-law, a former engineer in the Apollo space program, he told me thatsatellites would soon eliminate illiteracy by beaming daily lessons tovillagers around the world. As a business reporter, I wrote countless storieson how the internet would make all of our lives better. Today,…
The Art of the Hire
All companies talk about the value of talent, but one local business, the Seattle Seahawks, clearly lives and dies by the people that it hires to execute its strategy for winning. With approximately $240 million in revenue, the team has the most public recruiting and hiring process imaginable, with job offers being made on live…
Bonus Your Way to Profits!
I dont care, Gary. I mean, I have to tell you, I justdont care about the bonus. I was listening to Ron, a veteran employee who was tellingme to my face that the $300 quarterly bonus just wasnt important to him. Waita minute! When was the last time I had my hearing checked? I couldnt…
Stimulus Spending Set to Create More Washington State Jobs
Economists keep warning that as federal stimulus spending begins to run out in coming months, the lower spending could put a drag on the U.S. economy. But in Washington State, at least, we have spent a small fraction of the $4.5 billion in Recovery Act funds that has been allocated to us. That means you…
A Terrific Bargain
I have just read Steve Reno’s article (“The Labor Gap,” July 2010) in SeattleBusiness magazine. I recently participated in the admissions process for UWElectrical Engineering for students who will enter our program inAutumn 2010. There were about 320 applications for admission, and wemade 120 offers. We expect about95 to accept (a very high yield, indicating…
Digging In
OK, team. Decision time. I know Igot elected mayor of Seattle on a promise of not wanting to rock the boat onthe whole tunnel-to-replace-the-viaduct thing, but the voters are starting tocatch on, and since the cost overrun issue seems not to be taking hold, Ifigure we have one shot to kill this once and for…
Seeking a Common Language
When Howard Behar, the former president of Starbucks, was aboy growing up in Seattle, his father, a Bulgarian immigrant, owned a neighborhoodgrocery. If a customer was in financial trouble, his father would tell Howardto throw in some free bananas. It wasnt about being liberal or conservative.It was about people helping people, recalls Behar. Today, he…
A History of Business
Like many American cities, Seattle was built for the purposeof making money. Oh sure, we may prattle on about our gorgeous setting andbeing in touch with our natural surroundings and all the other cliches oftourism promotion. But lets not kid ourselvesthe business of Seattle, and itsreason for existence, was always business. From the first moments…
Wholl Stop the Rain?
Whether falling in a mist or a torrent, the Northwests rainis familiar and dependable. But as rainwater streams off roofs and acrosspavement, it picks up a toxic cocktail of substances such as chemicals toremove moss, crank case drips and lawn pesticides. Polluted stormwater runoffis the leading source of hazardous chemicals entering Washingtons largest bodyof water,…
Enter the Dragon
Despite the prominent place that the Peoples Republic ofChina occupies in the world, its global investments have been comparativelysmall. While there have been a few prominent examples, they are paltry comparedto the size of the Chinese economy. What we have seen so far comes primarily from three sources:Chinese state-owned enterprises implementing government-mandated policies tosecure long-term…
Chinese Protectionism Comes Under Attack
Its open season on China. After years of holding back on criticism of China for fear of losing business, U.S. executives are beginning to complain openly about the Asian giants trade practices, which often heavily favor Chinese companies. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has complained about the lack of intellectual property protection for software in China…
SUCCESSFUL MICROCREDIT GROUP SHUTS ITS DOORS
Unitus, an organization that has helped microcredit organizations flourish across the developing world, is shutting its doors. The organization, which helps provide financing and management consulting to microfinance institutions, said it will let go of its staff of 40 people, including 25 in Seattle, 15 in Bangalore and two in Nairobi. Over its 10 years…
Editor’s Note: From Knowledge Worker to Conceptual Innovator
On his long journey from golf caddy at age 12 to his currentposition as CEO of one of our states leading defense and aerospace companies,Esterline Technologies, Brad Lawrence says his biggest lessons came fromobserving successful people. One important lesson, he told me recently, camefrom watching two executives he used to work for at Rockwell International….