FedEx CIO Rob Carter Learns a Lesson about IT 2.0
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Rob Carter is unquestionably one of the most dynamic and respected business-tech leaders, period. Yet, the CIO of FedEx has learned a hard truth: common and successful practices aren't necessarily the best solutions. |
Carter also is a Memphis restaurateur, but his first venture was "an exercise in futility," he told 700 attendees at the Society for Information Management conference in Memphis. The second time around he partnered with a group to open King Biscuit Restaurant in suburban Cordova. Just before King Biscuit opened earlier this year, Carter suggested to partner Thomas Pak that they should establish a Web site for the eatery, which turns into a club at 10 p.m..
"He looked at me as if I were from Pluto. He said, 'We really don't need a Web site.'
"And, I said, 'What do you mean, we don't need a Web site? Everybody needs a Web site. Cool Web sites are how we reach the world, right?'
"And he goes, "Well, we all have spaces out there [on sites like MySpace]; we got a lot of friends, and our friends have friends. Everybody was expecting the restaurant to open, and we were keeping them all posted on our spaces."
"With my nervousness and Thomas' insight and connectedness, on opening night--with no advertising or Web site--we did more business that night than the previous restaurant did on our best day.
"It's all about connectedness."
Comments (1)
One thing will never change in business - connecting with others. The web site is merely a bookmark on the Internet.
The strength of the Internet is generated from its ability to market news and information to your prospective customers such as showing up high on the search engines, blogs and portals when someone is looking specifically for what you have to offer. The web site (or even the MySpace page) will not do that by itself. Thomas Pak proves the key is to market it by connecting with others.
Posted by Bob McLellan | October 23, 2007 4:58 PM