Technology & Innovation — October 11, 2011

Marketing Slow to Adapt to Social Media Explosion

A global study of marketing officers has revealed many are unprepared for the explosion in personal data they will have access to thanks to the social media revolution.

bigthinkeditor

What’s the Latest Development?

A global study of chief marketing officers by IBM has revealed many are unprepared for the explosion in personal data they will have access to thanks to the social media revolution. The study warned that many marketers are unable to provide key financial data on the return on investment in emerging media that is required by their financial departments. Meanwhile, some remain overly reliant on old fashioned marketing measure such as focus groups.

What’s the Big Idea?

CMOs have generally not been expected to provide the hard financial evidence of their return on investment but organisations can no longer afford to write a blank check for their marketing initiatives. Nearly two-thirds of CMOs think return on marketing investment will be the primary measure of the marketing function’s effectiveness by 2015.

Collage of classical art suggesting a theme related to somatic markers.

Business

How “somatic markers” can transform your decision-making

Ditch the old brain vs. heart assumptions, and instead think about a heart-led brain.

A black and white image of a bunch of spheres, symbolizing the multiverse concept discussed by scientists.

Starts With A Bang

How logic and reasoning can fail as scientific tools

In logic, 'reductio ad absurdum' shows how flawed arguments fall apart. Our absurd Universe, however, often defies our intuitive reasoning.

A wooden sign indicating "assisted migration rep 2" in a pine forest under a clear blue sky.

Life

Moving trees north to save the forests

As the world warms, trees in forests such as those in Minnesota will no longer be adapted to their local climates. That’s where assisted migration comes in.

Historical map illustration depicting a planned city layout with a circular central area and radiating streets.

Strange Maps

Ohio’s Circleville ditched the grid system. Then it got squared.

A small Ohio town tried to escape America’s addiction to rectangular grids. It didn’t last long.

Bullet Cluster separation mass gravity x-ray lensing

Starts With A Bang

Flagship NASA space telescope faces a penny-pinching death

NASA's only flagship X-ray telescope ever, Chandra, still works and has no planned successor. So why does the President want to kill it?

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