Tears, cheers and bears   |  March 9, 2007  

Our most anticipated issue of the year will lead many readers to analyze their own corporate strategies. Let me in on a few of those conversations

As editor of Backbone I always want to know what readers think of the magazine. Heck, I would like to sit right there with you while you read, scoping out which articles you flip by, which you read carefully and which you drop on your boss’ desk.

I’m even more keen to participate in your reading of this, our third annual Branham300 issue. If your company is a strong player in Canada’s tech sector, it is likely in these pages somewhere, and long before you get around to reading this column you’ve already checked out your ranking and those of your competitors, and looked up the hot players in other fields.

And while it’s a bit of an editorial stretch to suppose the Branham results will cause actual weeping, these numbers may hold disappointment for some.

On the other hand, if your company’s ranking is good news, then it’s time for a celebration, and I would love to join you at the pub to hear the recap of the year’s marketing moves, tech developments and competitive strategies; which successes surprised you, and which bombs you will try to forget.

Of course, I don’t usually get to hear that stuff. I only get invited to the conversations people typically have with the press: corporate briefings delivered by media-trained execs who have been warned not to be too honest.

But listen, if you feel like really opening up—even if it is primarily to trumpet your own smarts—drop me a line. I know there are great stories behind the stats, and I would like to hear a few of them.

How to get on next year’s list:
And now a plea from me to you. Every year I hear from companies that did not make the list: “Why didn’t you include us?” “Weren’t we tracked?” “How do I get on the list next year?” Backbone staff plays no role in the actual assembly of the data; the heavy lifting is done by Branham and we publish the results. To get on the radar for 2008, please read the piece on page 55. It details how the process works and where to get more info. If you’re not here this year, read up and get going for the next round.

In our next issue:
As I write this, Wikinomics by Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams has been on The Globe and Mail non-fiction best sellers list for five weeks and is climbing The New York Times hardcover business best sellers chart. The book argues that the collaborative processes businesses have employed for years—namely meetings, telephone calls, brainstorming sessions, etc.—are outmoded and should be replaced by mass collaboration enabled by Internet technology.

A group of strangers, the argument goes, can often come up with better ideas than a company’s own cadre of trained professionals.

It’s a disruptive idea but the book supports it with many real-world examples, and Tapscott will explore the power of wikis in an exclusive Backbone article in our May/June issue.

Peter Wolchak
Editor
pwolchak@backbonemag.com