The following article has been borrowed from New Scientist, 14/05/05. “Advertising has a new gimmick. Kodak in Rochester, New York, wants to encourage people to take pictures of adverts in return for free photo prints. The idea is that Kodak sells more film, customers get a freebie, and the advertiser gets the exposure they crave. The company proposes running the slogan “Shoot me with Kodak film, and get a free extra set of prints” on billboards or giant screens at sports events, famous landmarks and theme parks. The ads contain a digital pattern that is recognised by an optical sensor in the photo lab when you get the film developed. The lab then automatically prints the free copies (US 2005/0084259).”
Ok, here’s the question: Will it work?

It is difficult to understand where some authors of management books get their inspirational themes from. One is reminded of the book ‘1000 ways to get rich’ which lists one method as “writing a book about getting rich”. This seems to be the general philosophy behind some management books; selling old theory with new packaging and catchy titles. Sun Tzu’s ‘The art of war’ supposedly has important things to tell us about management, and is still on the top management book list, despite having been written 2400 or so years ago on the subject of military tactics. Now PK has brought to my attention another book, where Shakespeare apparently has a lesson for managers. Is ‘Shakespeare on Management’ another poor attempt at cashing in on gullible managers, whose understanding of both Shakespeare and management is minimal? Or is this trend reflective of the fact that management issues are unseparable from daily human activity?