Most of the information in such examples conventionally have been available as offline reports run through batch jobs scheduled as per the need and convenience or through different other means.

The question is how should an enterprise design its Information Architecture to deliver the right set of KPIs and also make it more usable at all levels. Here are some tips:

The foundation for contemporary cloud based computing takes us back to early 20th century where the world was witnessing the “first war of the cloud” between Tesla and Edison- for the best model of transmitting “electric power” in a “cloud” model [Grid-based-AC vs. Short-distance-DC]. At the same time, in Cambridge UK, Alan Turing, proposed a model of computing, later called ‘Turing Machine’ which has infinite memory [tape], infinite computation capability. Grid based supply of electric current has always been compared with the Cloud-based computing facility.

Over the past couple of years, I had opportunity to work as integration adviser for global IT projects of an enterprise. Watching closely execution of such integration projects was a great learning experience. I couldn't resist sharing my experience from one such project I worked on recently.

Notwithstanding the debate about the truth and absolute truth, there are certain aspects which remain true even after many centuries or many ages that have passed by. “Gravity” and “Division by Zero” are two prominent examples that come to our minds when we think of Universal Truth. The most modern technologies, when applied cannot falsify these truths. May be a human/animal can feel a sense of Zero-Gravity for a moment or a few, but again they are subjected to the ever present reality.

As Vivek and team put it at the start of the conference, it is becoming increasingly about "Right DATA, at the right time, at the right place and with the right context". TIBCO's strategy, value proposition and the roadmap of the product line-up is very appropriately centered on this notion.

Before wireless radio transmission was invented, long distance communication was a matter of days, months or years. But in 1895, a brilliant Serbian-Croatian inventor Nikola Tesla demonstrated a simple wireless system which could communicate over a 50 mile distance almost instantly. But he failed to commercialize the idea. Years later, an Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi applied for a patent for radio transmission in 1893 and became the first man to commercialize radio. Marconi was later known as the inventor of radio.

History is replete with such inventions which never saw the light of the day until a market-savy individual understands its potential. Hindered by the slow spread of information and uncertain financing, a stereotypical eighteenth century inventor toiling for months in his underlit laboratory might achieve too little or too late.

The 21st century is indeed the best time to be an inventor. The vast repositories of information at one’s finger tips and viral nature of many social networking mediums ensure that many obstacles that inventors of the past faced are no longer present.

But does this mean that enterprises are thriving with innovation?

A little over a year ago, customers of a leading west coast utility in US resorted to a major backlash following installation of smart meters that triggered fears of electricity bill spikes. Such was the impact of the "Bakersfield Effect", as it is called now, that a state sponsored inquiry was hinted and industry analysts talked about obstacles to Obama administration's $8 Bn "Smart Grid" initiative. An innocuous rate increase bill that didn't grab any attention when approved by the Utilities Commissions earlier, might never be the same again.  And at the heart of the issue is - Customer Loyalty. The aspect of Customer Loyalty that is central here is Customer Engagement and co-operation with a service provider. My colleague Larry Rubenacker talks about this effect and its implications in greater detail in his blog on 'The Smart Customer Experience Mandate'.