Strasburg Tailors's blog

Department of Veterans Affairs built perhaps the most important medical computer system in history. click to vist article 

The above link is to an article which describes how the office of Veterans Affairs built a superior data system from collaborative grass roots activities.  

Maybe you have heard of the for want of a nail proverb, which explains how overlooking fundamental aspects of a larger project can cause catastrophic failure. You may have also heard the statement "data is the new oil" that describes how important data is in today's economy.

Data is far more important than most business people understand. Business may thinks that by purchasing software they can solve the issue of data management. Purchasing software solutions, is similar to solving a literacy issue by hiring someone to read for you. If you purchased a set of manuals to will run your business, but they are in written Latin, and you don´t know how to read Latin, so you hire a specialist to read them for you. Then when you need to make changes, you must to go to these experts, and ask if they will make these changes.

The want of the nail, the nail you lack is the database, it is the fact that your business does not have full control of the most significant and fundamental aspect of what you do.  Your business has overlooked how important data is,  and has given up - the knowledge, and ability to freely make changes or understand the fundamental structure behind management. 

From  Business Insider      Retailers are bracing for a fresh wave of store closings in 2018 that is expected to eclipse the rash of closings that rocked the industry last year. "Landlords are panicking," said Larry Perkins, the CEO and founder of the advisory firm SierraConstellation Partners. "The last year was pretty apocalyptic from a retail standpoint, and the macro issues haven't changed. There will continue to be a high degree of bankruptcies and store closures." 2017 was a record year for both store closings and retail bankruptcies. Dozens of retailers including Macy's, Sears, and J.C. Penney shuttered an estimated 9,000 stores — far exceeding recessionary levels — and 50 chains filed for bankruptcy. But there's still a glut of retail space in the US, and the fallout is far from over.

From The Daily Pennsylvanian The Vanguard Group, one of the world's largest asset management firms, has been indirectly linked to the weapon used in last month's Texas shooting — and Pehttp://www.thedp.com/article/2017/12/vanguard-amy-gutmann-upenn-retirement-plan-philadelphiann President Amy Gutmann sits on its board.

From marketplace.org..  As the House and Senate consider their respective tax bills, both proposals raise questions about 401(k) savings accounts. As we've reported on Marketplace Weekend, one third of Americans have nothing put aside for retirement. Even so, it turns out, millions of dollars are being left unclaimed in abandoned 401(k) accounts. For more on why people are doing this, Lizzie O'Leary spoke with Charles Thorngren, CEO of investment firm Noble Gold. Below is an edited transcript of the conversation, which started with a question about why people are leaving retirement funds behind.

Listen to audio    See more at marketplace.org