Comments on: For The Record http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/ Jeff Nolan's take on innovation, entrepreneurship, tech and stuff that interests me Thu, 17 May 2012 21:05:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hear hear and 1864 « Vendorprisey http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-47520 hear hear and 1864 « Vendorprisey Tue, 28 Nov 2006 09:57:10 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-47520 [...] Jeff Nolan posted a thoughtful post  a few weeks  ago about the  Oracle-SAP tiffs. The old rules like never talk about your competitor, as a primary strategy, are also out. While it is prudent, IMO, to not run the kind of full page ads that Oracle has been using against SAP (indeed, SAP did a pretty extensive survey of CIOs and IT decision makers and found overwhelming support for the argument that these ads were actually hurting Oracle by reinforcing biases against the company), I do think companies in mature markets need to run more aggressive anti-competitor campaigns. These will involve everything from websites to blogs to YouTube videos. The point is that you have to position against your competitor aggressively, protect your flanks from them doing the same, and fight to remove all the competitive oxygen from the room before you get there. [...] [...] Jeff Nolan posted a thoughtful post  a few weeks  ago about the  Oracle-SAP tiffs. The old rules like never talk about your competitor, as a primary strategy, are also out. While it is prudent, IMO, to not run the kind of full page ads that Oracle has been using against SAP (indeed, SAP did a pretty extensive survey of CIOs and IT decision makers and found overwhelming support for the argument that these ads were actually hurting Oracle by reinforcing biases against the company), I do think companies in mature markets need to run more aggressive anti-competitor campaigns. These will involve everything from websites to blogs to YouTube videos. The point is that you have to position against your competitor aggressively, protect your flanks from them doing the same, and fight to remove all the competitive oxygen from the room before you get there. [...]

]]> By: Kalivo.com http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-39333 Kalivo.com Fri, 10 Nov 2006 06:03:04 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-39333 <strong>For the Record with the Department of Defense...</strong> Jeff Nolan wrote this post highlighting the Department of Defense... For the Record with the Department of Defense…

Jeff Nolan wrote this post highlighting the Department of Defense…

]]> By: BKM Blog » Blog Archive » For the Record with the Department of Defense http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38024 BKM Blog » Blog Archive » For the Record with the Department of Defense Mon, 06 Nov 2006 22:51:19 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-38024 [...] Jeff Nolan wrote this post highlighting the Department of Defense’s initiative to correct media misrepresentations of its comments, policies, and actions. The DoD put up this site, called “For the Record“, where they counter incorrect information in the media world (fyi - before comments come on politics, this is an apolitical post). Jeff wrote about his experiences at SAP and how they could have utilized a similar approach to counter Oracle’s aggressive advertising campaigns. He also provides some constructive criticism of the DoD site. [...] [...] Jeff Nolan wrote this post highlighting the Department of Defense’s initiative to correct media misrepresentations of its comments, policies, and actions. The DoD put up this site, called “For the Record“, where they counter incorrect information in the media world (fyi – before comments come on politics, this is an apolitical post). Jeff wrote about his experiences at SAP and how they could have utilized a similar approach to counter Oracle’s aggressive advertising campaigns. He also provides some constructive criticism of the DoD site. [...]

]]> By: Thomas http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-35974 Thomas Tue, 31 Oct 2006 07:49:13 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-35974 Jeff I'm finding myself disagreeing. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about this. http://theotherthomasotter.wordpress.com/2006/09/22/well-done-oracle/ As an aside. I would love the Oracle Dolphin watcher to explain what "As always you seem to ignore the basic premise that software selling involves extension of truth in a multi-faceted manner." means. Truth is now a composite application it seems. Jeff
I’m finding myself disagreeing.
I wrote a couple of weeks ago about this.
http://theotherthomasotter.wordpress.com/2006/09/22/well-done-oracle/

As an aside.
I would love the Oracle Dolphin watcher to explain what
“As always you seem to ignore the basic premise that software selling involves extension of truth in a multi-faceted manner.” means.
Truth is now a composite application it seems.

]]> By: Kalivo.com - For the Record with the Department of Defense http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-35958 Kalivo.com - For the Record with the Department of Defense Tue, 31 Oct 2006 04:18:00 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-35958 [...] Jeff Nolan wrote this post highlighting the Department of Defense’s initiative to correct media misrepresentations of its comments, policies, and actions. The DoD put up this site, called “For the Record“, where they counter incorrect information in the media world (fyi - before comments come on politics, this is an apolitical post). Jeff wrote about his experiences at SAP and how they could have utilized a similar approach to counter Oracle’s aggressive advertising campaigns. He also provides some constructive criticism of the DoD site. [...] [...] Jeff Nolan wrote this post highlighting the Department of Defense’s initiative to correct media misrepresentations of its comments, policies, and actions. The DoD put up this site, called “For the Record“, where they counter incorrect information in the media world (fyi – before comments come on politics, this is an apolitical post). Jeff wrote about his experiences at SAP and how they could have utilized a similar approach to counter Oracle’s aggressive advertising campaigns. He also provides some constructive criticism of the DoD site. [...]

]]> By: Brian http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-35948 Brian Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:28:56 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-35948 Jeff, Nice post and good find! The "anonymous" commenter from Oracle just kills me. I've seen more of these cases than I care to remember in the enterprise where "professionals" are responding anonymously, yet doing so from within their network. They always get exposed. It's amazing that they cannot figure out to do this from a remote location. Better yet, the best way to <b>credibly</b> engage in these debates is openly and honestly .... link back to their profile on their employer's site or to their personal blog with their affiliations documented. IMO all companies need to incorporate effective lightweight web messaging strategies as part of their overall communications strategy. Any company that fails to do this in this day and age is missing a major tool in their communications arsenal. Jeff,
Nice post and good find!

The “anonymous” commenter from Oracle just kills me. I’ve seen more of these cases than I care to remember in the enterprise where “professionals” are responding anonymously, yet doing so from within their network. They always get exposed. It’s amazing that they cannot figure out to do this from a remote location. Better yet, the best way to credibly engage in these debates is openly and honestly …. link back to their profile on their employer’s site or to their personal blog with their affiliations documented.

IMO all companies need to incorporate effective lightweight web messaging strategies as part of their overall communications strategy. Any company that fails to do this in this day and age is missing a major tool in their communications arsenal.

]]> By: Jeff http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-35855 Jeff Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:00:55 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-35855 "subtle" is not a word I would use in relation to Rumsfeld. :) BTW, Fiorina is too 1.0 to consider what you suggest, although I think it would have served HP's shareholders as a group to better understand what was going on at the Board level... after all, the directors do serve at the pleasure of the shareholders. “subtle” is not a word I would use in relation to Rumsfeld. :)

BTW, Fiorina is too 1.0 to consider what you suggest, although I think it would have served HP’s shareholders as a group to better understand what was going on at the Board level… after all, the directors do serve at the pleasure of the shareholders.

]]> By: Brian Keairns http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-35851 Brian Keairns Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:35:31 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-35851 Jeff, Good points. I should have mentioned that I pretty much agree with everything you say in the post. I just find it ironic that I dislike the example you used (and that you used for title of the post). This example seems too nakedly political to be effective regardless of my own opinion about it. For example, one of the recent posts on the site seems to be exposing infighting between Rumsfeld and Republican pundit Bill Crystal who’s been a big force in shaping our foreign policy. To me this would be analogous to Carly Fiorina putting up a blog to attack her critics on the HP board. I'm not too naive to understand that those political fights are a reality but I don't think that a blog that airs an organization’s infighting would be good for the organization as a whole. And in your last paragraph we are on the same page again. If the blog was called the “Donald Rumsfeld political attack blog” (or at least something with “Donald Rumsfeld” in it) then I think it would be fine, as you suggested. I just think the site is currently doing the work of Donald Rumsfeld and not the United States Department of Defense. And I can see how you could make the argument that the reality is that he's in a position to use the DOD site to air his own views. In that case he should do it a bit more subtly if he wants to succeed with it. Jeff,

Good points. I should have mentioned that I pretty much agree with everything you say in the post. I just find it ironic that I dislike the example you used (and that you used for title of the post).

This example seems too nakedly political to be effective regardless of my own opinion about it. For example, one of the recent posts on the site seems to be exposing infighting between Rumsfeld and Republican pundit Bill Crystal who’s been a big force in shaping our foreign policy.

To me this would be analogous to Carly Fiorina putting up a blog to attack her critics on the HP board. I’m not too naive to understand that those political fights are a reality but I don’t think that a blog that airs an organization’s infighting would be good for the organization as a whole.

And in your last paragraph we are on the same page again. If the blog was called the “Donald Rumsfeld political attack blog” (or at least something with “Donald Rumsfeld” in it) then I think it would be fine, as you suggested. I just think the site is currently doing the work of Donald Rumsfeld and not the United States Department of Defense. And I can see how you could make the argument that the reality is that he’s in a position to use the DOD site to air his own views. In that case he should do it a bit more subtly if he wants to succeed with it.

]]> By: Jeff http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-35850 Jeff Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:34:49 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-35850 Watching Dolphins, I haven't gone to detox yet. In one measure I think I may be a tad bit more fair and balanced than you because I wrote about some historical facts - what I did while at SAP and why - but also pointed out that Oracle's strategy is actually very good because it exploits a weakness that SAP has. At no point did I claim that SAP was pure and good as a contrast, in fact I think the observation I made could be applied equally to either side, it probably is but I really don't know what Oracle's marketing does internally. Lastly, you are coming in from an oracle.com IP (in germany?), which I don't have a problem with but if you are going to attack my position for being negative about Oracle then you should at least use a real name if you are doing so because you work for Oracle. I don't object to pseudonyms, but under these circumstances you should have used an IP address that doesn't whois back to Oracle. OrgName: Oracle Datenbanksysteme GmbH OrgID: ODG-3 Address: 500 Oracle Pkwy City: Redwood Shores StateProv: CA PostalCode: 94065 Country: US NetRange: 148.87.0.0 - 148.87.255.255 CIDR: 148.87.0.0/16 NetName: ORACLE-AT NetHandle: NET-148-87-0-0-1 Parent: NET-148-0-0-0-0 NetType: Direct Assignment NameServer: NS1.ORACLE.COM NameServer: NS4.ORACLE.COM Watching Dolphins,
I haven’t gone to detox yet.

In one measure I think I may be a tad bit more fair and balanced than you because I wrote about some historical facts – what I did while at SAP and why – but also pointed out that Oracle’s strategy is actually very good because it exploits a weakness that SAP has. At no point did I claim that SAP was pure and good as a contrast, in fact I think the observation I made could be applied equally to either side, it probably is but I really don’t know what Oracle’s marketing does internally.

Lastly, you are coming in from an oracle.com IP (in germany?), which I don’t have a problem with but if you are going to attack my position for being negative about Oracle then you should at least use a real name if you are doing so because you work for Oracle. I don’t object to pseudonyms, but under these circumstances you should have used an IP address that doesn’t whois back to Oracle.

OrgName: Oracle Datenbanksysteme GmbH
OrgID: ODG-3
Address: 500 Oracle Pkwy
City: Redwood Shores
StateProv: CA
PostalCode: 94065
Country: US

NetRange: 148.87.0.0 – 148.87.255.255
CIDR: 148.87.0.0/16
NetName: ORACLE-AT
NetHandle: NET-148-87-0-0-1
Parent: NET-148-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Assignment
NameServer: NS1.ORACLE.COM
NameServer: NS4.ORACLE.COM

]]> By: Watching Dolphins http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/comment-page-1/#comment-35843 Watching Dolphins Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:03:48 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2006/10/30/for-the-record/#comment-35843 Jeff: As always you seem to ignore the basic premise that software selling involves extension of truth in a multi-faceted manner. I am completely befuddled by your position that the giant from Waldorf is the protector of the truth and the company from Redwood Shores is guilty of prevarication. SAP's abuses of marketing and sales practices could fill volumes. As Vinnie would say this industry needs a lot of shaking up. Pointing fingers at Oracle may have been a profitable pastime for you in the past but given that you are out of the protectorate of the German appartik, I was hoping you would be more fair and balanced in our commentary. Apparently I was mistaken. Your Fair and Balanced Loving Reader. Jeff:

As always you seem to ignore the basic premise that software selling involves extension of truth in a multi-faceted manner. I am completely befuddled by your position that the giant from Waldorf is the protector of the truth and the company from Redwood Shores is guilty of prevarication. SAP’s abuses of marketing and sales practices could fill volumes. As Vinnie would say this industry needs a lot of shaking up. Pointing fingers at Oracle may have been a profitable pastime for you in the past but given that you are out of the protectorate of the German appartik, I was hoping you would be more fair and balanced in our commentary. Apparently I was mistaken.

Your Fair and Balanced Loving Reader.

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