LUCRUM and Central Clinic Partner-up
February 22, 2010
Central Clinic is expanding their services in 2010 and therefore requires an enhancement and modernization to their current system. LÛCRUM Inc has been awarded a contract to provide consulting services focused on the Alcohol and Drug (AoD) Application for Central Clinic utilizing the program for client treatment history and billing/payor accounting. The primary deliverables are focused on Universal Payer Changes, SQL Server Upgrade and Application Enhancements. LUCRUM and Central Clinic have partnered on other applications in the past and we look forward to continuing that partnership in 2010!
How Many Versions of The Truth Does Your Company Have?
September 11, 2009
Years ago, while at one of my previous employers, I was part of a cross functional team of people from across the organization given the seemingly simple task of identifying our best customers. Seems like this should have been pretty easy right? Define what best means, run a report or two, discuss the findings and cross it off the “to-do” list. Oh how naive I was to believe it would be so smooth.
In reality it took months to determine that there were in fact numerous clusters of our best customers, yet no master list that everyone could agree upon. Marketing had its list, and so did sales, and accounting, and finance, and operations. Everyone was pulling different points of data from different systems, and thus getting radically different results. We had multiple versions of the truth. Sadly, we never did figure it out. A month into the project, the company was bought out and we were pretty much all downsized out within a couple months – this actually ended up being a great thing for me. Still, that experience has stuck with me, and taught me a valuable lesson – to be useful, data needs to present one version of the truth.
Had we been able to create this list quickly and accurately, we could have spent time trying to determine the best ways to serve our best customers. We could have examined ways to get new customers that were similar to our best customers, convert good customers into great ones, and improved the results of the organization. Instead we spent time and money simply trying to figure out whose list was the right list. What a waste!
As the “marketing guy” I am not the utmost authority at LUCRUM on business intelligence and data architecture. Still, having gone through that experience makes me genuinely appreciate the services we provide our customers. I have been in their shoes – seeking the truth, seemingly finding it, wanting to move forward, only to have everything come to a screeching halt because of inconsistent, incomplete information. It is a frustrating situation to be in, and I smile every time we solve such a problem for a Client.
If you are spending more time debating the truth as described by your data than you are determining what to actually do about it, you should talk to us. We can deliver one accurate, actionable, complete, and timely version of the truth for you – saving you time, money, and a whole lot of aggravation.
Democratizing Data
June 25, 2009
Wired magazine has a great interview this month with America’s first ever CIO, Vivek Kundra, who has been tasked with making the vast amounts of data collected by the Federal Government available for public use. Kundra talks candidly about the need to open up this information to the people, and the power that can come from analyzing and understanding data. The project is now coming to life on the site data.gov. Sources for data include the EPA, Library of Congress, FBI, National Science Foundation…. and on and on and on, with reports ranging from peanut recall data to most wanted lists to on time reports for airlines.
Here is an excerpt from the article explaining the goal of the site:
"The goal of Kundra’s new Web site, Data.gov, is create a place where all the information is easy to find, sort, download, and manipulate. He wants to put as much data out there as possible, then sit back and let the private sector come up with great ways to use it. He envisions a future in which well-designed spreadsheets, charts, and graphs are embedded in applications for phones, Facebook, and blogs."
This quote speaks to the power of data in our world. Certainly our government has more of this raw material than anyone, and opening it up to be refined and tapped into by citizens and businesses will help to create new breakthroughs in our world. Data gives us the ability to better understand our world. Of course it often must be refined, shaped, and combined with other pieces of data to become useful information. Once information is created, we have the opportunity to see our world in new and exciting ways. it becomes the basis for informed debate, enlightened creativity, and compelling innovation.
By opening this data up to the public, the collective wisdom of the nation and even the world is being enhanced. People everywhere will have greater insight, deeper understanding, and ultimately a better definition of the truth. What to do then is a whole different debate, yet one that can also be guided by data.
The data.gov site is by no means perfect. It is definitely still a work in progress. There are broken links, some reports and files have limited formats, it is clunky and cumbersome, there are limited feeds, and there is not yet much data from individual states. Still, it appears that the site will continue to add enhancements, data sources, and useful functionality to address these issues. Even in its current imperfect state, data.gov has the potential to deliver great information.
Something else I learned from the article is that Kundra is embracing concepts like cloud computing, software as a service and open source development – placing the government further up the innovation curve than I would have guessed. It is plesantly surprising to see such things.
Mr. Kundra closes the article with a quote that I really like – "By democratizing data, the American people will be able to hold their government accountable, based on evidence rather than talk." Politics has no shortage of talk on both sides of the aisle. It is great to see that perhaps data will play a bigger role in governing our country, informing our citizens, and advancing our economy. While I would never wish for data to replace talking, I am hopeful that it provide us with more intelligent things to say.
And Data for All: Why Obama’s Geeky New CIO Wants to Put All Gov’t Info Online
LUCRUM Radio – Episode 15, Kevin Dugan
January 28, 2009
Kevin Dugan is one of the leading voices in the world of social media, and fortunately for us, he happens to be from Cincinnati. He is currently the Director of Marketing Communications for FRCH Design Worldwide, and he is one of the people behind the wildly successful and rapidly growing Cincinnati Social Media Breakfast series.
In this episode of LUCRUM Radio, Kevin I discuss, among other things, snow emergencies, the rubber chicken lunch, the history of the Social Media Breakfast, the upcoming breakfast featuring Pandora’s Tim Westergren, the importance of social media, the ways in which social media is changing the dynamic of the workplace, and tips for people wondering how to join in the conversation.
Thanks to Kevin for taking time away from shoveling his driveway, sledding, being a social media guru, and getting actual work done on this snowy Ohio day to share some of his unique insights. I hope that you enjoy this episode of LUCRUM radio as much as I enjoyed
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LUCRUM Radio – Episode 14, Scott Provancher
November 17, 2008
The strength of the arts community is something that makes Cincinnati a great place to live. The city has a breadth of artistic offerings that is on par with some of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. A major reason for the strong presence of the arts in the city is the Fine Arts Fund – an organization founded in the 1920’s to support and foster the growth of the arts in the community.
Scott Provancher is the current Vice President and Campaign Director for the Fine Arts Fund. In this episode of LUCRUM Radio, Scott and I discuss the important role that the Fine Arts Fund plays in keeping the Cincinnati arts community vibrant. Scott discusses the history of the organization, the role of the arts in the community, how technology is redefining his role and that of his organization, and why he loves to live, work, and play in Cincinnati.
Thanks to Scott for taking the time to speak with me and to share his thoughts with the world.
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LUCRUM Radio – Episode 11, Daniel Johnson Jr.
September 25, 2008
Daniel Johnson Jr. is one of the most prolific users of social media in the Cincinnati region. Daniel is the founder of New Media Cincinnati, an avid blogger, podcaster, Facebook member, Twitter user, and participant in numerous other web platforms.
Daniel is successfully utilizing social media to make human connections – using the web to amplify his traditional networking activities. In doing so, Daniel has built a loyal and large following of friends and colleagues both locally and nationally.
In this episode of LUCRUM radio, Daniel shares his thoughts on the value of social media. He discusses how he got started blogging, and why he has continued to stay engaged in the process of creating and participating in conversations on the web. Daniel also offers some great tips for managing time and creating content on the web, as well as his strategy for maintaining multiple sites and platforms. (He has multiple blogs and 5 Twitter accounts and keeps them all on track)
Thanks to Daniel for taking the time to share his thoughts with us. It was great fun and very enlightening.
Listen in on this episode of LUCRUM Radio…
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PC?
September 22, 2008
Microsoft recently launched the second phase of it’s new “Windows Not Walls” ad campaign. The first phase, featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates engaging in strange conversations, was wisely pulled from the air waves early. It was widely panned for its high price tag, being difficult to understand, and not mentioning a product. It did get people talking, but not really in the way one would hope spending 300 Million Dollars would.
Now, Phase 2 is much different, and in my opinion much more effective. These ads take the “I’m A PC” theme that Apple has so brilliantly created, and turn it upside down. They feature real people – some of them famous and some just regular folks – stating “I am a PC, and I _____” (fill in the blank with some trait or task associated with the speaker.)
I found the ads to be pretty engaging. I am a big believer in story telling as a vehicle for Marketing, and each speaker conveys a concise and unique story about themselves and their relationship to Microsoft. As a viewer, I was intrigued to see who was next and what they did? I was interested. The ad did a great job of making the point that Microsoft has relevance to real people doing real things. It was sort of the antithesis of the Seinfeld ads.
Another positive feature of the ads was the focus on the user. The ads don’t speak to features and functions, but rather to the real world applications and desired outcomes and of using technology. It is a shift in tone, and one that Microsoft should embrace wholeheartedly . This should go way beyond ads, and should be at the heart of every action the company takes. “How does this help make people’s lives better?” This should be the mantra that the firm embraces in all its decisions and actions.
It will be interesting to see if the story told in the ads matches the real world story that people experience with Microsoft. With competition coming from every angle, ads alone will not suffice. Still, the campaign is a step in the right direction.
For the record… I’m a Mac / PC / Ubuntu Linux Mutt who views the OS as increasingly irrelevant in a web based world - all good and well until a hurricane blows through Ohio, knocks out power, renders the web inaccessible, and makes television ads unavailable, at which time I am a human being.
What do you think of the new ads?
What do you think of the new Microsoft "I'm A PC" ads?
- Those Microsoft Ads are Great (43%, 12 Votes)
- Those Microsoft Ads are Awful (39%, 11 Votes)
- Microsoft Ads... What Microsoft Ads? (18%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 28
Loading ...LUCRUM Radio – Episode 7: Pat Crowley
August 13, 2008
Once upon a time, I was a Political Science undergrad at Wright State University. I spent countless hours reading, researching, and studying politics. Although I ultimately chose to pursue a
career in Marketing, I am still fascinated by the political process. So when I got the chance to interview Pat Crowley, political reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer, I was elated.
This episode of LUCRUM radio was particularly interesting and enjoyable for me, and Pat shares some great insight about how he does his job. He talks about the changing dynamic between the media and the consumer created by technology. He also discusses how technology has changed the way in which he does his job. Pat also addresses some of the ways that technology is shaping the future of the political process – very timely in this Presidential election year.
My favorite part was where Pat describes Kentucky politics as a “Contact Sport.” Pat was so much fun to talk to, and I think that comes across in the podcast. Thanks to him for sharing his thoughts and taking the time to participate in LUCRUM Radio.
Kentucky Enquirer | nky NKY Politics Blog | nky.com
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Oatmeal, Twitter, Blogs, and Pimpin – Cincy Social Media Breakfast
August 12, 2008
This morning I joined 30 or so really cool people at the Cincy Social Media Breakfast, which was held at the FirstWatch in Rookwood Pavillion. As I understand it, this was the 2nd gathering of the group, and it was the first I was fortunate enough to attend. What an awesome event!
The breakfast was wonderful for a number of reasons. First, it’s great to meet the people who you follow on blogs, twitter and the like in person – you know actual human interaction. I saw some old friends like Debba Haupert and Criag Jolley, as well as made many new ones. Everyone there was so friendly, and there was a nice community vibe to the event. Everyone was there to make friends, learn, and share ideas.
The event was also very informative. Kevin Dugan, one of the organizers of the event, opened by speaking about some of the interesting new trends in social media. From Facebook applications to Flip Video, to making your next powerpoint presentation into a rock video, to the importance of writing “slippery” content, Kevin shared some great ideas. He then opened the floor up to the crowd to share individual experiences and projects that people were involved with on the web. So many ideas… So many cool people… Not enough time to pick everyone’s brains.
The featured speaker for the event was John Atkinson, Co-Founder and CEO of PimpMyNews.com. PimpMyNews is a free, web based service that will convert RSS feeds into audio and then deliver them back to you either through their web stie or via podcast. You visit their site, register for an account, pick from an extensive list of RSS feeds and you are set. I was so impressed with John’s presentation (which was just him talking – no powerpoint) that after the meeting I immediately went to the Apple store and picked up a new shuffle just to use for listening to pimpmynews. With a list of unread RSS feeds that grows daily and communte that puts me behind the wheel close to 2 hours a day, this was just a no brainer. I downloaded my first podcast this afternoon, and I am now officially pimping my news. (Or having my news pimped? – Not sure which is correct)
The sponsor of the event was MarketWire, an innovative company that specializes in the distribution of press releases through both traditional channels and via new media outlets. They offered a brief but very informative presentation about their services, and some of the things that separate them from others in the field. Thanks to MarketWire for breakfast, which was delicious.
In summary, the event was a great way to start off the day. I look forward to the next breakfast, which I am definitely going to try to attend.
Were you there this morning? What did you think? What was your favorite part of the meeting? Who did you meet? Will you go again?
LUCRUM Radio: Episode 6 – Rob Franks
August 7, 2008
Rob Franks is the Corporate Director of Strategic Pricing for the Cintas Corporation, located in Mason, Ohio. Cintas is one of Cincinnati’s largest employers, and one of the nation’s leaders in providing business services such as Uniform Rental, Floor Mats, Shop Towels, First Aid & Safety Service, Document Storage and Destruction, and on and on.
I have a special love for Cintas, as the company provided me with my first “Real Job.” As a young management trainee, I spent time driving the uniform trucks, replacing the floor mats, wandering the halls of the corporate offices, flying around the country training service reps to use handheld computers, and selling first aid products and services. Needless to say, I learned a lot about business at Cintas.
The company runs a tight ship, and is known for delivering high quality service at a premium price. It was a great place to learn the art of selling because we were never the cheapest game in town. Sure it might be easier to sell if you are really cheap, but that is not really sales. That is peddling a commodity. Thus I learned early on that it is foolish to try to compete on price alone. Long term growth relies on understanding the customer and delivering value. In short, making the customer realize that you get what you pay for, and if you paid for Cintas you truly got more for your money. This has served me well in the years since.
So when Rob agreed to talk to me about marketing, pricing, technology and business strategy, I was exhuberant. This interview took me down memory lane, and then off into the future. Rob is a pioneer in marketing, especially when it pertains to price. Rob has a firm grip on the relationship between pricing and value – and why they a vital part of the marketing mix of a firm.
Now in an era of uber connected consumers, the need for a company to have a clearly articulated pricing strategy that is in line with it’s value proposition is greater than ever. The transparency created by the internet makes it easier for consumers to compare products and services and assess relative value. Therefore companies have to be very careful when it comes to price.
Listen along as Rob describes his ideas about pricing and learn why little differences in price make a big impact on profit.
Thanks Rob for agreeing to do this podcast and for enlightening me with your words.
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