This is the third of a three part series on IBM Connections , their collaboration platform. In this post we will look at the new analytics capabilities, as well as the advantages of being able to work both inside and outside the enterprise through the same platform. What is exciting here is the integration of social capabilities and analytics. I recently had an extended conversation with Suzanne Livingston, Senior Product Manager for Connections. MORE >>

IBM, which has quietly supported many telecom players, is now stepping up its mobile profile, buying up Israeli mobile app provider Worklight and releasing a new device management tool for enterprise customers. The moves help IBM capitalize on the push toward mobile by companies as they manage an exploding number of devices and apps. Worklight, which has previously partnered with IBM, also offers an integrated development environment along with middleware, management and analytics. MORE >>

Over the last decade IBM has driven a significant transformation of its business model as they shifted to higher value areas, improved efficiencies, and invested in a number of firms to fill out their portfolio of software offerings. IBM’s most recent earning reports indicate a strong growth in demand for their Social Business offerings.   We also discussed the convergence of social business and analytics. We next focused on analytics in more detail. MORE >>

A recent McKinsey study says that by 2018: The United States alone faces a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with deep analytical skills as well as 1.5 Stephen Gold, vice president of worldwide marketing at SPSS, an IBM company, talked with me about how people and educators should be thinking about the opportunities that this shortage presents and how people can become data-savvy managers (and individual contributors). Social analytics : Metrics from social media and networks. MORE >>

This is another in a series of my notes on IBM Connect 2013. Bob Piccano, IBM General Manager led the opening session.    He has moved to a new post leading the big data efforts across IBM. IBM is moving from systems of transaction to systems of engagement. IBM is doing more than technology but also helping with the social change. They have started a pilot of IBM Connections with 1,000 employees. Jeff Rhoda, General Manager, IBM. MORE >>