An item’s value depends on the viewpoint of the appraiser. In the movie Moneyball, the Oakland Athletics decided to think differently about the value they placed on baseball players; one company is trying a similar approach to oil and gas exploration by using advanced analysis. Of course value is much easier to assess with the vantage point of hindsight. One article suggests that a fresh perspective from outside the company can be harnessed to build value. Another article demonstrates that the perspective of the viewer is key to understanding video evidence. Happy reading.
Growing Company Plays “Moneyball” in Oil and Gas
Drilling Info Inc began by helping independent companies compete with Big Oil by providing them with the same world-class analytical information. With the oil price down and tough times in the industry, Drilling Info is now helping companies be more efficient by predicting performance.
Houston Business Journal, August 2014
How Fast are the TIE Fighters in Star Wars VII?
TIE fighter speeds were calculated in a physics-based forensic analysis of the movie trailer. Good practice was shown by comparing the results against other data. As is often necessary in engineering, some assumptions were made so please don’t use the speeds as the basis for actual TIE fighter battle strategies.
Wired, December 2014
Embracing Organizational “Outsiders”
Companies can find that bringing in someone external to the organization helps them to innovate. The outsider needs the skills to potentially counter the status quo and present a fresh point of view. Experience complementary to the industry can be more fertile than in-industry experience.
HR Bartender, December 2014
17 Ridiculous Victorian Inventions that Didn’t Change the World
It is hard to tell in advance which innovations will capture the public’s imagination. A troll through the UK Designs Registry reveals some interesting historical designs. Perhaps a knowledge of the social conventions of the 19th century would explain why they seemed to be good ideas at the time. Alas, the market has spoken.
Wired, December 2014