* * * * * * * * *

Of the world's 100 largest economic entities, 51 are corporations and 49 are countries.  The top 200 corporations' combined sales are bigger than the combined economies of all countries minus the biggest 10.  The world's top 200 corporations account for over a quarter of economic activity but employ less than 1% of its workforce.  Between 1983 and 1999, the share of total sales of the top 200 made up by service sector corporations increased from 33.8% to 46.7%.

The Institute for Policy Studies                                      http://www.ips-dc.org/top200.htm

"The rise of global e-commerce is bringing exciting opportunities for businesses to acquire new customers, expand markets, and broaden sourcing across a wider range of qualified suppliers."

 Peterson, Beth. "Tackle Your International Logistics Obstacles." E-BUSINESS ADVISOR,
18(12), December 2000, 22-25.                                                  http://www.advisor.com/

"The evolution of electronic service has been swift and convincing. Enterprises have adopted Web technologies and customers have, too.  Customers can now do anything from ordering a pizza to actively managing an investment portfolio online - if they have the patients and know-how."  The article has an excellent conceptual framework for the e-service development cycle.

Dalgleish, Jodie. "Create Customer-Effective E-Services." E-BUSINESS ADVISOR, 18(12), December 2000, 26-32.                                                              http://www.advisor.com/

"The Internet revolution has fundamentally influenced everyone in the business ecosystem, dramatically changing their behaviors and mindsets.  One of the most important consequences is the fact that with instant access to information, products, and services through business-to-consumer (B2C) portals, customers now expect near-instant fulfillment of online requests."

Wilhelm, Frank. "Feeding the Beast." Intelligent ENTERPRISE, 3(16), October 20, 2000, 38-42.   Check the Online Discussions.                     http://www.intelligententerprise.com/

Biometric, card, voice, wireless, and other technologies are being applied HOW in work contexts?

How are corporations and companies applying above-mentioned technologies within a context?

What are the implications for curriculum content and delivery systems for education and training?

What applications in B2B, B2C, and M-Commerce should be included in business programs?

What applications should be included in business education and technology education programs?

What developmentally appropriate "lessons" should be in curriculum for children and youth?

"The clothing industry is becoming more and more global," said Sam Taylor, Lands' End international vice president.  "Customers from over 185 countries regularly shop with Lands' End, and now we're making our clothing available to them via a localized site in their own language and local currency, to enhance the customer experience.  All six of our Web sites offer high quality, classically inspired American-styled clothing with world class service and our unconditional guarantee that allows shoppers to return anything at any time for any reason”.

Lands' End is expanding full-service e-commerce Web sites.  Web sites were launched in the:
 

                                                      http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001121/wi_lands_e.html

What competencies and skills are required to analyze culture as well as infrastructure, social and technological, and recommend a few countries and/or markets to expand global presence?

What competencies and skills are required to co-create a culturally sensitive e-marketing strategy and e-Customer Relations Management (e-CRM) strategy for an apparel direct merchant?

What is the articulated 4+4+4 curriculum necessary to product high quality techforces?

"Printing and Publishing" is one of several categories of manufacturing establishments that is critical in the global Communications Revolution.  Graphic arts, printing, and publishing are essential to commerce, diplomacy, and learning, especially since e-books have evolved and Electronic Newsletters (ENs) have grown in quality and quantity.  The November issue of Electronic Publishing contains an extensive list of digital media manufacturers.  Included are:
 

What mission and vision do graphic arts, printing, and publishing (GAPP) companies have?

What chain of suppliers do GAPP companies have domestically and internationally?

To what extent are GAPP companies engaged in B2B and B2C?

Please review "E-Commerce Evolution in LAPP" in the October issue of Strategic Planning.

"Europe's broadband market is expanding fast, pushed by demand from businesses and consumers for cheaper, faster online access and services."

Dudman, Jane. `European Business Pushing Broadband Web Access." Electronic Commerce World. 10(12), December 2000, 52-55.                       http://www.ecworld.com/

"It's coming, but nobody knows exactly when the wireless Web will arrive in North America. Get familiar with Japan's NTTDoCoMo and its wireless software platform .... Foreign players like Ericsson and Nokia should be on your shortlist ....  Finally, keep a close eye on emerging technology standards - most notably Bluetooth,1-mode and WAP (Wireless Access Protocol)."

Emigh, Jacqueline. "Get Armed For Wireless."Sm@rt Partner, 3(44), December 11, 2000, 32-35.                                                                        http://www.smartpartnermag.com/

"Consider the market for biometric authentication devices - which allow users to sign on to secure networks using a fingerprint, an iris scan and so on.  Dramatic price reductions are making the technology affordable, and heightened concerns over security and privacy have customers taking a close look at biometric devices.  Moreover, government regulations soon may make biometrics virtually mandatory for health-care, financial and e-commerce applications."

DeVoney, Chris, and Hakala, David. "2001: The Year We Make Contact." Sm@rt Partner,
2(44), December 11, 2000, 36-40.                                  http://www.smartpartnermag.com/

"Just as the railroad, telegraph, and mass-production factory transformed the social and economic realities of cities, towns, and rural hamlets in the nineteenth century, the rise of the digital economy is repealing the economic and social geography of contemporary America."

Kotkin, Joel. The New Landscape: How the Digital Revolution Is Reshaping the American Landscape. New York: Random House, 2000.

"Conventional wisdom holds `It's not what you know, but who you know.'  But, today's solution providers are finding that know-how is the only thing that is going to keep them ahead of the curve in the fast-paced, quickly changing e-business world."

McKeefry, Hailey Lynne. "In Search of Technology Expertise." VARBusiness, XVI(26),December 18, 2000, 117-120.                                     http://www.varbusiness.com/

The Digital Divide will yield a Digital Dividend for areas that have a mix of "high tech" companies that may have corporate universities with their focus on specific training.  The regions will usually have consortia of educational institutions that prepare a critical mass of intellectual capital and trained technicians for major projects in both social and technological infrastructure development.  An "Anytime Anywhere Learning Community" will apply research in the economy - agriculture, manufacturing, and in education and healthcare services through Electronic Newsletters (ENs).

How are "Competitive E-municipalities of the Future" evolving? 

What are the implications for intergovernmental collaboration, especially in strategic thinking? 
 
                                                                                                  http://www.govtech.net/

The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U. S. Department of Commerce will conduct Proposers' Conference on high-risk high-tech research in Rosemont, IL (1-30), Las Vegas, NV (2-1), and Gaithersburg, MD (2-6).  1-800-ATP-FUND or 1-800-287-3863 atp@nist,gov

                                                                                                  http://www.atp.nist.gov/

ATP has completed a decade of development of path-breaking new technologies. "Nearly 200 projects have been completed, and more than 200 are underway. In industry after industry medical diagnosis, semiconductor manufacturing, automobiles, telecommunications, information technology, electronics, high performance composites, biotechnology - the U. S. can offer the world's markets many leading-edge technologies that it wouldn't have without the ATP."  "Innovation and Impact: The Advanced Technology Program," a 12-minute video, is available in VHS format from the ATP (800-ATP-FUND), (FAX: 301-926-9524), or e-mail: mailto:%20%20atp@nist.gov

The Advanced Technological Education (ATE) promotes improvement in technological education at the undergraduate and secondary school levels by supporting curriculum development; the preparation and professional development of college and secondary school teachers; internships and field experiences for faculty, teachers, and students; and other activities. The program also promotes articulation between programs at two-year colleges and four year colleges and universities - in particular, articulation between two--year and four-year programs for prospective teachers and between two-year and four-year programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.  Three major tracks are ATE Projects, ATE Centers, and Articulation Partnerships.

                                                              http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2000/nsf0062/start.htm

The federal government operates about 600 laboratories. " NEWSLINK" is a publication of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer.  The newsletter contains information about basic research in a broad range of areas such as agricultural biotech and food processing as well as applications in Assistive Technology (AT).
Access                                                                                  http://www.federallabs.org/

Copies of the newsletter can be obtained from Jennifer Begley.
e-mail: mailto:%20%20jbegley@.utrsmail.com

"Kentucky Virtual University recently unveiled a $1.5-million state-supported `venture capital" fund designed to help colleges in the state jump-start online-learning programs without having to go through traditional - and often sluggish - budget procedures."

Young, Jeffrey R. "Kentucky Offers `Venture Capital' for Distance Education."  The Chronicle of Higher Education. XLVII(11), November 10, 2000.

"Fairleigh Dickinson University has taken an unusual step of requiring that all of its undergraduate students - even those who attend class on its campuses - complete at least one distance-learning course annually.  While thousands of students take online courses each year, Farleigh Dickson, which has two campuses in New Jersey, may be the first university to require that all resident undergraduates do so."  The requirement goes into effect in 2001-2002.

Carr, Sarah, "Fairleigh Dickinson U. Will Require Distance Courses of All Students." The Chronicle of Higher Education. XLVII(7), October 4, 2000

A third administration of The International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) was given to eighth-graders in 38 countries in 1999. Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong aced the math and science exam; Australians, Canadians, and Europeans also did well.  Americans rank with Bulgaria, Latvia, and New Zealand.  In 1995, U. S. fourth-graders scored above average in math and near the top in science.  By eighth grade, Americans were about average in both.  By 12th grade, U. S. students ranked near the bottom.                                                                            http://www.nces.ed.gov/timss

Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act created in 1998 a 16-member commission to
recommend policy changes for pushing schools in the U.S. into the 21st century.  Although nine out of 10 schools are now connected to the Internet, a gap is developing between those with broadband capabilities and those without.  "The digital divide is increasing, leaving millions of Americans without access to the Internet, and millions more lagging behind with outdated and inadequate technology."                
                                                                                    http://www.webcommission.org/

What is the content for business education, economics education, and entrepreneurial education? 

How could developmentally appropriate learning units be delivered in an AAL format with ENs?

What must be done to deliver computer science and engineering learning units from colleges to secondary students, perhaps to admitted or "declared" candidates, as well as to alumni? 

How can business, engineering, education, and library science faculty and staff collaborate in the redesign of education and training programs in a blend of campus and online formats?

Countries vary in their capability to create social and technological infrastructure strategic plans.  Strategic planning consists of (a) analysis, (b) visioning, and (c) action plan development. Thus, to be a globally competitive region, assistance may have to be provided to co?create a good plan.  How could a region help Latin American Countries plan for the digital era? How could Hispanic  Americans be made aware of and become prepared to compete in the emerging global economy?

ANALYSIS, VISIONING, AND ACTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT

Countries Analysis     Visioning       Action
                                                    Year 1       Year 2       Year 3       Year 4       Year 5

Argentina
Bahamas
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela

Community, economic, and education development must be integrated.  Community goal setting and leadership development research was reported in previous issues of Strategic Planning along with research about "Globally Competitive Communities" and "Cities of the Future."  This issue has information about globalization and expansion of full-service e-commerce by Lands' End. Kimberly Clark, GE Medical Systems, and other companies were featured in the August issue of the SP newsletter.  Also, GE Medical Systems is in "Globalization and the Family of IT Careers."

How can education include current real world experiences into curriculum standards, faster?

How do we better prepare human resources and modernize technological infrastructure?  

See page 8 about how to access archived newsletters and Web pages for information.

December

Wireless Standards, Future Technology, Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce). Midwest Planning - Could Chicago become a leader for the Midwest in wireless technology? Planning for Digital Era Dividends with a specific focus on Africa.  E-Learning. Wireless On Campus.  Web Service Design and Directed Study by Curtis Kelly.  May through October newsletters with some topics. Broadband Visioning. Digital State.

November

Biometric ID. Card technology in various countries.  Voice recognition and verification.  The Wireless Revolution.  Communications in 21s' Century Globalization.  A Foundation of Understandings for 21' Century Globalization.  Competencies for a Digital Dividend. Entrepreneurial Development.  Electronic Newsletters.  Directed Study on Voice Recognition.

Access http://www.blackboard.com/courses/webcom/  and enter as a guest.

Click on "Announcements" and then on "Course Documents."  Then, click on "Warren Groff's Newsletters."  Also, conceptual frameworks for dissertations by Kathy Green and Laurie Nalepa can be analyzed along with Prospectus and then the Proposal.

Then, click on "External Links" and "The Friendly Forum" and browse "The Friendly Forum: Class Discussion."  Browse Asia Society, Globalization and the Family of IT Careers, Taiwan, Korea, etc.  Access a few of the links.  Consider requesting one the Asia Society Electronic Newsletters.  Analyze competencies and skills from some of the "Family of IT Careers" links.  Review the educational goals for the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan and then critique "The Pacific Century" (105+) and "Pacific Rim Partnerships" in App. B3 (ED 372 239, 1994).

Directed Study (DS) holds great potential. It is an opportunity to select a topic of interest and collaborate with a facilitator to raise awareness and understanding.  Analysis of the literature via DS could help with all aspects of a dissertation or practicum proposal
(a) problem statement, (b) review of literature, and (c) methodology and procedures. Awareness about a topic like the many facets of the conversion from paper-based to electronic formats could emerge during a seminar.  Conversion to electronic formats in business, education, healthcare, libraries and/or other entities could be a DS project. Awareness of B2B and B2C and Electronic Newsletters (ENs) to promote m-commerce could be a second DS project.  Competencies and skills of the changing role of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) extending to e-Customer Relations Management (eCRM) could be another DS project.  Implications for education and training for Knowledge Managers (KMs) in curriculum and Human Resources Development (HRD) could be a fourth DS project.  One or more DS projects could lead to outstanding practicums and then an applied dissertation.

Review the project on voice recognition by Jack Espinal

                                                                         http://fairfax2.laser.net/~jespinal/vr1.htm

Also, review the DS plan by Curtis Kelly in the December issue of "STRATEGIC PLUG."