This is clearly an older newsletter but when we published it QR codes were a novelty…. so it needs to stay in the newsletter archives.

If you know the answer to this question, you clearly have your finger on the pulse of technology, but please sit quietly and give other a chance to answer. No, it’s not a Peruvian rug pattern. Nope, not a Philadelphia park map. It’s a QR (Quick Response) code1. In 1994 a Japanese corporation created this system in order to deliver information at high speed. Initially it was used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing but Oh, the evolution of technology. It’s now gaining a foothold in marketing in the US. In Japan it’s a commonly used way to direct people to different businesses on the web or to send data quickly. Most Japanese phones are equipped to read these codes. In the US it is quickly gaining popularity and some US phones are QR code capable right out of the box while others require a free software download (search for QR reader).

So, isn’t it just a newer version of a UPC code? Not really. It has the ability to deliver more information and reading of this coding system is quickly getting into the hands of the mass public. This can be an interesting way to promote your business or service. Without having to remember a URL or type anything, your customers just open the reading software on their phone and scan the code through the camera on the phone and BANG, they’re brought to whatever website you prefer. And to make things even more interesting you can customize printed pieces through the use of variable data printing and have each QR code link to a different and personalized web page. And it works through the camera on desktop computers, scanning your computer screen or printed piece with a phone, scanning signage, almost anywhere. If you want to try it (and have the software in your phone) open the aplication on your phone and try scanning the code above.

Where will this system go? Who knows but it is becoming a communication standard and is an incredibly easy and efficient way to direct people to offers, coupons, promotions, or anything else you can think of.

* Heck

1) QR Code is a registered trademark of the Denso-Wave corporation

There are so many personality evaluation methods that they have almost become a cliché. And, even though it’s usually fun to see how accurate they are (like checking your horoscope), their value often ends after you say “yeah it’s right, I do this or I like that, but so what?”

I came across something a little different a few weeks back. It was at a business-brainstorming meeting that I regularly have with a group of business owners. Dave Miller from Business Growth Now (www.businessgrowthnow.com) has been utilizing a different approach to help businesses better achieve their goals. It’s an evaluative process involving what is called a Change Grid. It works in a similar way to other personality surveys (by answering questions) but unlike all the other questionnaires it’s designed to discern challenges and strengths for a specific business goal. It focuses on a series of tasks that are determined by you and at a specific point in time… like now. And it’s totally flexible to work on any goal or even with teams of people.

Say for example you want to launch a new product and have various people with various responsibilities. By running them through this process and answering the specific questions that are important to your goal a picture of capabilities is built. The plotting of different numbers on the grid gives a clear description of how that person or group will function in your desired goal. Their strengths and weaknesses might result in training for the weak areas or shifting people to different responsibilities that better utilize their strengths. It might show that one individual who is doing a good job is also not challenged (and therefore underutilized) It might show that someone in a leadership position really is more comfortable doing a task without the demands of managing others. And the analyzation of the data can go as deep as you’d like. Think of it as fine-tuning a team for a specific business goal.

In order to go into any real depth here I’d have to write a lot more. But simply put, any questions or challenges you choose are rated in both your ability and difficulty (the two don’t always relate in an obvious manner). The 1-10 numbers are then plotted on the grid. In the hands of an experienced professional a pattern of plotted numbers reveals much about your approach to the specific goals. The areas or “zones” that the plotted numbers are in shows trends and can be the beginning of a clear path to improving a business

Some of the differences from personality studies

1) Custom built for important activities and goals.

2) Describes a specific point in time.

3) Reveals a person’s level of readiness to perform a task.

4) Easily applies to marketing challenges.

5) Not just an assessment. It creates change.