Last week, The Pitch Challenge (The Gruen Transfer, ABC) is to develop an advertisement to sell the unsellable - Convince Aussie to invade it’s close neighbour - New Zealand. Why would anyone want to invade such a beautiful and peaceful country like NZ?

The two agencies tasked with this brief came up with two smart ads, one that would really appeal to the (some) Aussies and the other, a cheeky play with NZ runaway success tourism campaign. Brilliant!

Apparently after the show was broadcasted, a small group of Kiwis took offence with the plot. In response, the producer of the show will give the Kiwis a fair go (Aussie slang) to “take their revenge” on the final episode of the show.

Related links:

• Kiwis get all defensive about TV invasion plot (SMH)
• The Gruen Transfer - Let’s Invade New Zealand (Youtube)

PS: This brief is not authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra (at least not publicly acknowledged)

Google is making concerted efforts to attract and publicise its lighthouse Google Apps educatioin sector adoptionwins to proves its readiness to move into the enterprise space. See “Going to School with Google” (Google AU Blog)

IT News sources such as ZDNet will often cover these win-stories. Sometimes, I often wonder what happens after the switch? Switching core IT services like emails systems in a large organisation (like a University) aren’t like switching to a new grocery chain for food.Things often do go wrong.

Often with the introduction of a new operating environment, many legacy and unexpected issues arise. Are the users satisfied with the service level with these hosted services? Were the IT services able to receive adequate support when things falls apart? What are the statistic behind when these problems get resolved?

The complete story after a migration often goes unreported. In all fairness, the points raised can also apply to other companies including Microsoft.

(The Australian IT, 9 Jul 08 ) National Australia Bank has announced another wave of IT roles to be offshored that could see over 400 jobs sent to India by the end of the year.

From general (and ex-NAB) customer’s perspective, I’m not in favour of major outsourcing or massive usage contractual workforce. This structural workforce (and business process) change that rewards short term numbers gain for longer term decline in a company’s internal knowledge accumulation, customer knowledge, losing direct decision making ability and demonstrates a lack of commitment to the local customer base.

A recent article “How Offshore Outsourcing Affects Customer Satisfaction” published on WSJ reports on the very real cost of offshoring (up to 5% of a company’s market capitalisation). The authors understands the rational behind offshoring and recommends steps to minimise the downsides.

Congratulation to Team SOAK from Australia! The 2008 Microsoft Imagine Cup Software Design Worldwide Finals Champions! You brought home the (green and) gold!

I am extremely proud of your final achievement! You have achieved a first for Australia! Well done, David Burela (University of Tasmania), Dimaz Pramudya (Swinburne University), Ed Hooper (Melbourne University), Long Zheng (Monash University)!

Related links:

• Microsoft Announces Imagine Cup 2008 Winners (Microsoft Presspass)
• Australian students win global software competition (ZDNet Australia)
• Team SOAK! (frankarr - an aussie microsoft blogger)
• Aussies win tech prize for saving water (The Australian IT)
• Video of Team SOAK Final Round Presentation (Soapbox) (via MSOZACADEMIC)

PS: Thanks for sending me the sms on your victory!

Sacred bleu! Roo-zilla and the Giant Koala is leading an Australie invasion into Paris!

Roo-zilla Attacking the Louvre

Giant Koala taking a moment to appreciate the atmosphere of the Louvre and being close to the Mona Lisa.

The Madonna, Infant Jesus and the Giant Koala

Pictures belong to Long Zheng.

Dr Rick Rashid (Senior Vice-President, Microsoft Research) spoke to IEEE Spectrum (Jun 08 ) about his computer science department-styled approach to running Microsoft Research and the breathe of pure research (and not just applied) undertaken.

Visit the interview article “Microsoft’s Rick Rashid on Building a Corporate Research Giant” on IEEE Spectrum.

Steve Vamos is making his way back to Australia after a stint as VP, Microsoft International Online Services Group. He was recently interviewed by MIS (a Fairfax publication) about Steve Ballmer’s Google strategy, Vista, his time in Redmond and what he plans to do when he leaves Microsoft. Steve also shared his advice for all Australian graduates out there look for new employment:

1. Find a place where you can learn from the people
2. A place where you can trust the people you work with

Great advice, Steve!

Steve has always been passionate about having the right values in place. During MS AU FY07 kickoff, Steve brought a trainer who elaborated the concept of having a player mentality. Not a political player but someone who takes undertakes responsibility, provides accountability and take pro-active steps to make sure that things happen the right way. I really enjoyed that session and I have a lot of respect for the man and his leadership style.

Related link: A Conversation with Steve Vamos (MISAustralia)

Team SOAK has exceed all expectation and has made it into the very last round of the worldwide Imagine Cup Software Design. They are in the FINAL 6! Awesome! Well done Ed, Dave, Dimaz and Long!

You even made your own team t-shirts! Way to go!

Related links:

• Let’s Meet our Top Teams! Software Design Team From Australia: SOAK! (2008 Imagine Cup Finals Blog)
• Aussie students close in on Microsoft prize (ZDNet Australia)

“The international economic position of the United States has deteriorated substantially since the new millennium. The big trends in global finance and energy markets are working against the US. There isn’t any solving this problem in terms of making it go away. These are ongoing realities. The energy picture is not going to change: it is here to stay.”

- Flynt Leverett (former director of Middle East Affairs on the National Security Council, 16 Jun 2008 )

This weekend, Peter Kelly, the Editor-at-large of The Australian picked up the current energy, economical and politicial woes that affecting the US. In his article, he wrote about the passing of American prestige and power, last seen during the pre-Bush years. In the second part of the article, he discussed about the new power structure and dynamics under the current geopolitical climate. This sentiment is also shared in an article published in the Jul/Aug 08 edition of the Foreign Affairs by the Secretary of State, Dr Condoleeza Rice.

Related links

• Nirvana out of American reach (Paul Kelly, The Australian)
• US Economic Decline Top Issue (Flynt Leverett, New America Foundation)
• Rethinking the National (America) Interest (Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Affairs)
• Special Report: China in Africa (Richard Behar, Fastcompany.com)

Team SOAK (Australia Imagine Cup Software Design representative) is through to the semi-finals of the 2008 Imagine Cup Finals in Paris, France!

This is a FANTASTIC result, the best in three years!

The complete list of teams that made it through the finals are:

* Australia
* Slovakia
* Portugal
* Brazil
* China
* France
* Hungary
* Singapore
* South Africa
* South Korea
* Croatia
* Russia

Courtesy of Roger Lawrence