Matt Cohen: Toy Theory -- Part II: More Business Tips From Classic ...

Toy Fair -- the game and toy industry's annual expo -- is here once again, so I thought I'd take another look at what businesses can learn from classic toys. As you may know, the economic discipline known as game theory is an approach to studying competitive strategies. If games can teach us about high-level strategy, perhaps toys can teach us something about the daily operations that take up most of our time. An earlier post showed how toys like the Toy Story collectibles and Lego bricks contained lessons on topics such as asset management and core competencies. Here are three new examples of toy theory in action.

The Barrel of Monkeys Theory

Each of the twelve identical plastic monkeys is posed in a way that their arms take the shape of hooks. The idea is to pick up one monkey and use it to fish another monkey out of the pile by making the two monkeys link arms. Hooking two monkeys together is a piece of cake, but the challenge is trying to link the remaining monkeys together. You're only allowed to touch the first monkey, so as the monkey chain grows longer, you have less and less control over the monkey at the other end of the line.

Does that sound like the chain of command at your office? I thought so. It's not easy to make your intentions translate through that many layers of hierarchy. Like the game of "Telephone," part of the problem is that each link in the chain represents a loss of fidelity. In the case of the Barrel of Monkeys -- and certain organizations -- the problem is amplified by the fact that you have a limited number of ways to control the system. You can pull, but you can't push.

The Paddington Bear Theory

If you're not familiar with Paddington, the plush toy was based on a series of books by Michael Bond. The most memorable part of the story is the set-up: In the books, Paddington was found alone in the train station with a note pinned to his jacket saying, "Please look after this bear."

That's a hard invitation to turn down. The stuffed animal version of Paddington had a lot going for him, including a very cool hat and coat... but the little note was the part you couldn't ignore. How could you not want to take care of him when you'd been given an invitation like that? After all, somebody had entrusted you with the job.

Narrative can be a powerful tool at work. People are more likely to do a good job if they understand how their task fits into a bigger corporate goal. Also, think if what it means to work on a project when you know that it has a history, that somebody else has already invested a lot of effort into it, and that it really matters to them.

The Rubik's Cube Theory

It only takes a small number of moves to scramble a Rubik's Cube. Theoretically, reversing the order of the twists is the fastest solution, but it's not feasible. When you pick up a scrambled cube, you don't know what twists were originally performed. All you can see is the current state of the cube, which is a complete mess. This usually means that the way out is longer than the way in.

This is one of the problems with "post-mortem" meetings. When something doesn't go as intended, it's absolutely a good idea to try to figure out what went wrong and why. However, too often people assume that the cause of the mess can be accurately identified. Unfortunately, a failed strategy is often like an unsolved Rubik's Cube.

The good news is that the true fastest solution doesn't require knowing how things became a mess. You just need a good strategy to get out of any mess regardless of the cause. Experts at solving Rubik's Cubes don't need to hem and haw as they figure out a solution. They have proven procedures that work. They may require a lot of steps, but they get the job done... and they get it done fast.

Read the original Toy Theory post for tips from Star Wars action figures, Tickle Me Elmo, and Mouse Trap.

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Follow Matt Cohen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mattcohen2

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-cohen/toy-theory-part-ii-more-b_b_1271380.html

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Basic Information on Travel Insurance | Business Insurance

Posted by business on February 09, 2012
business-insurance

Nowadays traveling is made easy and possible by the availability of cheap flights offered by the airlines. This has resulted in the increase of trips overseas and travelers are often advised to obtain insurance as a form of protection against unforeseen circumstances. Although the advantages of having travel insurance have been made obvious via commercial advertisements, bill-boards, etc, yet many people still hesitate when it comes to purchasing a policy for themselves prior to their trips.

There are many unpredictable happenings that can cause great financial loss and inconveniences. And because of such unforeseen misfortune, your trip or holiday could result in a drastic nightmare. Some of the mishaps are namely, loss of baggage, flight delay or cancellation, accidents, medical treatment, etc. Therefore, insurance is designed specially to provide financial aid during emergency situations and reimbursement for such unexpected happenings.

If you intend to get insurance, it is advisable to enquire from established insurance companies. These companies are not only reliable, especially where customer service and claim settlement are concerned, but they also able to provide competitive rates and comprehensive travel insurance packages. Furthermore, you can have the assurance that the insurance company will not scam your money. At the same time, it is also wise to make comparisons on both the premiums as well as the coverage of the various types of policies offered in the market. This is to ensure that you got the best coverage according to your requirements and budget.

You can also purchase travel insurance online. Internet is a very useful and helpful way of sourcing competitive rates and insurance packages where you can take your time to carefully scout for the ideal coverage. Some of the different types of travel insurance packages available for travelers are group insurance, annual trip insurance, student insurance, business insurance and so on. The premium for travel insurance is determined by various factors such as the age of the traveler, destination and duration of the trip. The rates are also lower than the normal insurance policies and some insurance companies provide free coverage for children. They will be covered under their parents? policies without any extra or additional cost.

If you are now convinced on the importance of Travel Insurance, you should never depart anywhere without getting yourself covered first. And while there are numerous insurance companies around, here is a highly recommended site for those who want to get the best value for their money as their rates for similar packages offered by other insurance companies are more affordable and competitive. Take the first step and click on the website http://www.columbustravelinsurance.org to pave your way for a protected trip or holiday.

Tags: Basic, Information, Insurance, Travel

Source: http://business-insurance.creidtcardapp.com/basic-information-on-travel-insurance-2/

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The luxury of Good Nourishment With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Canine lymphoma is mostly a malignant cancers that usually strikes pet dogs of central age.

?When GAME ENTHUSIASTS is supposed usually resulting from enlarged lymph nodes and / or other symptoms like a fever, lymphoma or overnight sweating, a biopsy regarding lymph nodes is desirable for typically the diagnosis,? receptive attorney Clifton Castro advised. Lyphoma, like other cancers diseases, if detected before, it is simpler to combat them. In the matter of lymphomas, early detection may result in a larger percentage regarding survival.

In contrast to canine leukemia, lymphoma may be treated surgery not to mention oral chemotherapy cures. Prednisone is mostly a corticosteroid which will kill growth cells. So a few of the most usual symptoms regarding lymphoma?. In your advanced development of lymphoma, the overall symptoms include weight-loss, anemia, reduction in appetite not to mention weakness. There are actually about 30 categories of Non-Hodgkin?s lymphoma, with Cycle I the primary and easiest to handle.

Lymphoma is a sort of blood cancers that has effects on the lymphocyte skin cells that be the cause in the immunity process, and mostly represents cells active in the lymphatic system of your body. Lymphoma of your thymus (mediastinal lymphoma) not to mention bone marrow reduce it is likely that remission. You will discover five sub-types regarding Hodgkin lymphoma not to mention about 30 sub-types regarding Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Dog lymphoma is mostly a disease that develops when typically the lymph is injured by cancers cells. They start to grow in huge numbers, pushing available healthy skin cells. This might be what will cause the configuration of tumors inside the lymph nodes. When you?re see a medical expert for the examination since you also suspect a good lymphoma condition, here is learn about expect: he/ she will quickly palpate the necessary lymph nodes. Most of the immune program cell types turn into cancerous like the T cells additionally, the B cells which can be the bodies two main body?s defence mechanism against health issues and irritation. The immunity process cells are actually carried inside the blood flow and because of the lymphatic system therefore, the lymphoma cancers is often very mobile not to mention affect parts of the body far within the original malignant site. * T lymphocytes (B-cells) which will defend our body from invading bacteria and also other harmful compounds. Though this specific cancer started over the skin, before latter the inner organs turn out to be affected in well over 20% of folks who gone down with t-cell lymphoma. The antibodies make the antigens and / or the unfamiliar materials after which it they wipe out them.

Source: http://27rue.com/the-luxury-of-good-nourishment-with-non-hodgkins-lymphoma/

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2.1 million viewers live stream Super Bowl online (AP)

NEW YORK ? The first live stream of the Super Bowl drew 2.1 million unique viewers, NBC said Thursday.

That's a small fraction of the record 111.3 million viewers that watched NBC's broadcast of the big game. But it was still enough to make it the most-watched single-game sports event online, according to the network.

Kevin Monaghan, managing director of digital media for NBC Sports Group, said the live stream "exceeded our expectations in every way."

The New York Giants 21-17 win over the New England Patriots was streamed on NBCSports.com and NFL.com. The Internet webcast included optional camera views, tweeting from a handful of personalities and HD-quality video. But it didn't feature the live TV broadcast commercials (they were clickable for on-demand viewing) or the Madonna halftime show, and the feed lagged behind the broadcast.

The webcast was available on some mobile phones from Verizon.

Monaghan framed the live stream not as an alternate viewing option from broadcast, but as "a complementary `second screen' experience" to the televised game.

Previous major sporting events streamed live include the 2010 World Cup by ESPN, the 2010 Olympics by NBC and the annual NCAA men's basketball tournament by CBS and Turner Sports. More recently, ESPN offered live streams of this year's Rose Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl, though both of those games were watched by less than 400,000.

In the 2010 World Cup, ESPN said 1.1 million people watched at least some part of the USA's win over Algeria on its website.

But no sporting event is bigger in the U.S. than the Super Bowl, and NBC's first live stream of the game was surely a milestone in sports viewing. The Super Bowl stream had an average user engagement of 39 minutes per visit.

Hans Schroeder, senior vice president of media strategy and development for the NFL, said the league "will continue to look for more ways to reach our fans."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120208/ap_on_sp_ot/us_super_bowl_live_stream

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The Consumer: New Weight Watchers Plan Leaves Some Grumbling

When Janet Holwell first joined Weight Watchers seven years ago, she lost 43 pounds in one year and considered the popular commercial weight-loss plan ?miraculous.?

?I felt like I had found the magic key, the secret that eluded me all of these years,? said Ms. Holwell, who has maintained most of her weight loss by continuing to adhere to the program.

But the magic disappeared when Weight Watchers overhauled its weight-loss plan little over a year ago. Under the new system, called Points Plus, Ms. Holwell, has not been able to lose the five pounds she recently gained.

?It just doesn?t work for me,? said Ms. Holwell, 61, a research consultant who attends weekly Weight Watchers meetings in Middle Village and Glendale, Queens.

Millions of people around the world belong to Weight Watchers International, ranked best commercial diet plan by U.S. News & World Report last year, and even nonmembers look to it for guidance and recommendations. It is best known for its points system, which assigns specific values to different foods and permits each member a daily allotment. At its weekly group meetings, healthy eating and exercise are emphasized over rapid-fire results.

The latest iteration of the weight-loss plan, called Points Plus, was intended to steer people toward more healthy food choices, encouraging people to eat more fresh fruits by giving them zero points, as most vegetables already were. But many longtime members who were familiar with the earlier plan, like Ms. Holwell, have been grumbling about slow weight loss under the revised plan.

?I have been doing Points Plus for about a month and keep gaining and losing the same few pounds,? a commenter at one weight-loss Web site complained shortly after the new plan was introduced. Others chimed in to reassure her she was not alone.

In December, in a move that seemed to acknowledge the difficulty many dieters were having with the new system, Weight Watchers recommended that all members consider reducing their daily food intake, or points allotment, by 10 percent, not counting fruits and vegetables. (For those who?ve missed a few meetings, that means most women might cut their daily Points Plus allotment to 26 per day, down from 29.)

Although Weight Watchers officials say the change in points allotments was optional ? that members could adjust their daily points up or down ? and insist that it was not a response to members? failure to lose weight, many longtime members unhappy with the newer plan say they feel vindicated. ?I think they miscalculated,? Ms. Holwell said.

Many members said they were not given a choice. ?One day we came in and they said there were changes, and suddenly I had 26 points,? said a member in New York City who asked that her name not be published to avoid alienating those in her group.

Company officials insist that the only reason Weight Watchers modified the plan was because they had become convinced members were getting more than adequate nourishment under the new plan and would not be harmed by eating less.

?We chose to be conservative when we introduced the plan, because we wanted to make sure that the things we stand for, nutritional health and well-being, weren?t going to be compromised,? said Karen Miller-Kovach, a registered dietitian who is chief scientific officer of Weight Watchers.

Still, she said the company had been following the progress of members who use online tracking tools and had found that dieters have been gaming the new system. ?People were having to circumvent the system in order to lose weight at a healthy rate,? she said.

Judy Weinstein, a Manhattan opera director in her 50s, has attended Weight Watchers meetings regularly for nearly eight years and is very committed to the program. But while she found it enormously helpful when she first joined, losing 33 pounds, she has had less success with Points Plus.

So six months ago, she committed what was once the ultimate Weight Watchers no-no and cut her own points allotment. That Weight Watchers has now suggested this for all members, but as an option instead of providing clear guidance, disturbs her.

?That?s not really helpful,? Ms. Weinstein said. ?People wouldn?t be here if they could do it on their own.?

Fruit has been a particular conundrum for dieters on the new plan. As fresh fruit ?costs? zero points, dieters can have as much as they?d like, ?within reason,? Ms. Miller-Kovach said. Many members dislike the vagueness of this recommendation, since they tend to overeat when left to their own devices. But people who are overweight did not become fat because they binged on fresh fruit, said Elizabeth Josefsberg, who leads meetings in New York City.

?You know how it is with a cookie ? you want six cookies,? she said. ?When you finish a banana, you don?t say, ?Gosh, I want another banana.???

Other experts are less sanguine. ?No single dietitian I know would count fruit as a ?free? food if someone is on a diet and trying to lose weight. You have to account for it,? said Marjorie Nolan, a New York City dietitian who speaks on behalf of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She expressed surprise that even bananas (which used to cost two points under the previous Weight Watchers plan) are zero points.

?That just doesn?t make sense,? she said. ?They?re a denser fruit.?

But Dr. Jeffrey Mechanick, vice president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, said there was no evidence that indulging in fruit impedes weight loss.

The reason fruit and most vegetables are zero points is that the formula actually ?prepays? those points, Ms. Miller-Kovach said; the daily points allocation already includes an allowance for what the plan has determined is a typical daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. Ms. Miller-Kovach said she could not divulge the number of fruits and vegetables used in the calculation because the information is proprietary and not revealed even to participants.

But since average consumption of fruit is low in this country, usually not reaching the five to nine servings a day recommended by government health experts, the prepayment may underestimate the effect of more liberal fruit consumption on waistlines.

Results of randomized clinical trials of the new Points Plus program have not been published in peer-reviewed journals. But two brief reports have been presented at scientific meetings on obesity, and the authors found no difference in weight loss between the old and new points plans.

In one of those studies, participants lost an average of 8.2 pounds over 12 weeks and saw significant improvements in their total cholesterol and triglyceride measures. But only 111 overweight adults completed the 12-week trial, and only 55 people were following the new Points Plus program.

Weight Watchers officials said the number of participants was sufficient to provide statistical proof that the new diet system works.

The new Points Plus plan also was evaluated in an earlier unpublished trial, Ms. Miller-Kovach said. And Weight Watchers has been following more than 12,000 members in Germany since the introduction of the new Points Plus program there. So far no differences in weight loss have been found between users of the new and old programs, she said.

The transition to a new system seems to have been traumatic for many members. Ms. Holwell is optimistic that the plan will work again for her but wonders now if it will need further revision.

?The jury is still out on the 26 points,? she said.

---

Have an idea for a future consumer column? Send an e-mail to consumer@nytimes.com.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=47d86aba2bd5df547f4c13504185cabc

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Samsung Earnings Beat Expectations Even As Legal Battle With ...

Steven Kovach, Business Insider

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? Samsung Electronics Co. reported a 17 percent jump in fourth quarter profit on the strength of sales in flat panels and smartphones even as the company battled claims it had copied Apple's iPhone.

Samsung said Friday in a regulatory filing that its net profit reached 4 trillion won ($3.5 billion) in the three months that ended in December. The company earned 3.4 trillion won in the same quarter a year earlier.

The Suwon, South Korea-based company said its operating profit jumped 75.8 percent to 5.3 trillion won in the fourth quarter. The figure was closely in line with the company's estimate earlier this month of a 73 percent rise.

Samsung, the world's biggest manufacturer of memory chips and liquid crystal displays, said demand for semiconductors in mobile products and servers remained solid despite weakness in personal computers, which face stiff competition from the rising popularity of tablets.

Samsung has over the decades grown into a key global manufacturer of components that let PCs, digital music players and handsets store data and display it on flat, high-resolution screens. The company has recently been stepping up its challenge against Apple Inc. in the global smartphone business, releasing models such as the Galaxy S II.

Cupertino, California-based Apple, which spurred the smartphone boom with the launch of its iPhone in 2007, has accused Samsung of "slavishly" copying its smartphone and iPad in design, user interface and packaging. Apple sued Samsung in April last year in the United States.

The legal battle has now spilled into 10 countries, according to Samsung officials. Court rulings so far have tended to side with Apple.

The quarterly profit brought the 2011 net profit to 13.7 trillion won, down 15 percent from the previous year, Samsung said.

"If profit in handsets continues to stream in, this year will also likely be a solid one for Samsung," said Jae Lee, an analyst at Daiwa Securities in Seoul. "The biggest threat would be if the global economy worsens."

Lee said legal battles with Apple would start weighing less on Samsung this year as the South Korean company is expected to release models with new designs.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-earnings-q4-2012-1

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Nadal beats Federer in Australian Open semifinal (AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia ? Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in an Australian Open semifinal on Thursday night, the longtime rivals playing with the intensity they normally display when they meet in Grand Slam finals.

Though the stars who have met in eight Grand Slam finals were on the same side of the draw for the first time at a major since 2005, they played as if the title were at stake.

This time, though, only Nadal will have the opportunity to win another championship ? on Sunday night when the Spanish left-hander plays the winner of Friday's semifinal between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) ? Maria Sharapova overcame Petra Kvitova to set up a women's final against Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open before the attention quickly shifted to a much anticipated semifinal showdown between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Sharapova broke Kvitova's serve in the last game to finish off a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 Thursday, and third-seeded Azarenka beat defending champion Kim Clijsters 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to set up a Saturday night final at Rod Laver Arena that also will decide the No. 1 ranking.

Sharapova lost to second-ranked Kvitova in the Wimbledon final last year, her first major final since returning from an injury layoff following a shoulder operation in 2008. She has won three majors, but none since the Australian four years ago.

"In the third set, I felt she always had the advantage because I was always down on my serve," said Sharapova, who served five double-faults in the third set and 10 in the match. "I just told myself 'You just gotta go for it, don't let her finish off the points like she likes to.'"

Azarenka won the first semifinal after twice recovering from periods when a resurgent Clijsters seemed to have the upper hand, to secure victory in only her second appearance in a major semifinal.

"I felt like my hand is about 200 kilograms and my body is about 1,000 and everything is shaking, but that feeling when you finally win is such a relief. My God I cannot believe it's over. I just want to cry," Azarenka said as she choked back tears, then buried her face in a towel.

"It was just trying to stay in the moment. Kim really took over the second set and I felt there was nothing I could do. I just tried to regroup."

Clijsters is popular in Australia, where she's widely known as "Aussie Kim." She had most of the backing from the crowd on the national holiday in what is likely to be her last Australian Open.

Azarenka held her nerve despite the crowd and the fact she was up against a proven big-match player. Clijsters has won four majors and has defended a Grand Slam title ? winning the U.S. Open in 2009 and '10. To reach the semifinals, the Belgian saved four match points despite a sprained ankle to beat French Open champion Li Na in the fourth round and then beat top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals.

"I guess before you all thought I was a mental case," Azarenka said in a courtside interview. "I was just young and emotional. I'm really glad the way I fight, that's the most thing I'm really proud of. I fight for every ball."

Clijsters credited Azarenka with increasing maturity.

"The match was very close. There were a few deciding moments where I think I maybe had a little bit of an advantage, in the third set, especially that first game where I had break point," Clijsters said. "But she definitely played really well. So she deserved to win at the end."

Wozniacki will vacate top spot in next week's rankings after her quarterfinal loss, leaving either No. 3 Azarenka and No. 4 Sharapova to move to the top.

The top men's ranking won't be at issue Thursday night. Novak Djokovic ? who plays Andy Murray in another semifinal on Friday ? has that locked up regardless of the Australian Open results.

But the Nadal-Federer semifinal will mark the first time since the French Open in 2005 that the pair have met at the next-to-last stage of any Grand Slam. Federer and Nadal were Nos. 1 and 2 for most of five years from 2005 to 2010, meaning they were on opposite sides of the draw and could not meet until the final.

That changed at this tournament when No. 2 Nadal and No. 3 Federer both ended up in the bottom half of the draw. Five matches later, the players with 26 Grand Slam singles titles between them ? Federer 16, Nadal 10 ? will meet.

Nadal has won 17 of their 26 head-to-head matches overall, including a 7-2 lead in Grand Slam matches. Federer won the last meeting, a 60-minute 6-3, 6-0 victory at the season-ending championship in November.

"We have been on opposite sides of the draw many times," Federer said. "I guess it's a nice change-up. OK, it doesn't allow a rematch for the Australian Open final here, you know, but I think it's good for tennis that it changes up a bit."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_sp_te_ga_su/ten_australian_open

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