Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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I have written about this book previously and I do believe, from my perspective, it would be my book of the year. The year is not finished so that is why I say I do believe, but it is probably the most interesting business and marketing book I have read for the year.
It will be interesting, when everyone’s non-fiction book of the year list comes out, to see how many of them refer to this particular book. I suspect books like Homo Deus are going to get more references, which is all about how robots are going to take over from man and follows on the author’s equally impressive Homo Sapiens. I love business, I am obviously somewhat of a specialist in marketing and the book is not just about Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple. Those are the big four, but in explaining their dominance a lot of business principles are explained. For example, the reason that Apple dominates, the author argues, is because Apple decided to position its shops in up-market shopping centres and only target the more up-market or upwardly mobile people. In other words, they have left the less profitable middle-class market alone to other competitors and those other competitors are forced to sell similar phones at far reduced prices to win over that market whereas Apple goes out of its way to continually increase the prices on its products as well as their profit margins. The book is scathing on just about all of the companies – for example, noting that Jeff Bezos of Amazon said that he believes that once robots and computers start taking over much more, and a lot of Amazon’s delivery fulfilment is already done by robots, that people should be given a social security net – an amount that they are given each month. The book says he really needs to come up with something better when his company spends all its time trying to work out how to pay less tax – after all, who is going to pay for this social security net if one of the biggest companies in the world is not paying its fair share of tax.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 19-Jan-18
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Comments
Zindy said:
on Thursday 25-Jan-18 07:49 AM
It is a scary taught to think however we have become so use to and dependent on the current technology that we really function without it.
Jadine Richards said:
on Wednesday 24-Jan-18 10:53 AM
My view is that Social security nets promote laziness and non accountability. South Africa is a prime example of where business entities get away with murder where tax is concerned (just enlist any of our Big Four Auditors and I am sure that you can get away with Company Tax Fraud) , whilst the ordinary man in the street bears the brunt of increased taxes and rising costs (eg Eskom rate increases that are used to pay crooked CFO's). So in answer to your question, the few hard working individuals who do not accept the monthly security net as the norm, will be the people paying for that same security net.
Michelle D said:
on Tuesday 23-Jan-18 08:23 AM
It is interesting to read about the strategies used by these big four and Galloway's commentary on how they manipulate consumers to stay ahead. These companies play a dominant role in our society and therefore it would be desirable to understand the strategies used by these companies in order for us to recognize and appreciate the impact they have in our day to day lives.
Jolene said:
on Monday 22-Jan-18 11:23 AM
This sounds like a very interesting book. It doesn’t surprise me that Jeff Bezos believes that robots and computers will start taking over more, with the rate that technology improves every day, nothing is impossible. It is however quite a scary thought.
Helen said:
on Monday 22-Jan-18 09:31 AM
This subject makes me scared, most of the jobs can be replaced with robots today and this way companies will save on paying staff and Tax! But what about the people, pure people who has too support their families and put food on their tables?
Clare said:
on Monday 22-Jan-18 08:59 AM
This looks like a good book to read, However my feelings of a robot taking over is very much at a defense as to what happens to the people what do they do to get money and food into there homes?
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 03:11 PM
I am far to skeptical to rely on a robot but I guess one cannot be left behind. I don't particular want to live in a world where we rely on robots - we are killing job creation and soon we will be killing each other to eat (dramatic I know). Sounds like a great book to read regardless if marketing is one of your interests or not. It rules our world, may as well get a better understanding of it all.
Alexis said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 01:45 PM
Sounds like quite a book to read, I agree with Jess A however with her comment as well as Ash, the days when things were simplea and personal - not the way pf the world these days. Terminator...here we come, just kidding...but the way technology has and will carry on growing is something. And yes, these big 4 will be around for a very long time to come
Megan said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 01:34 PM
ability*
Megan said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 12:58 PM
Morals, emotions and the able to differentiate between right and wrong are what make us human, I don't think that could be programmed into robots. The world might turn out to be a dark place of Hierarchy and injustice. Technology is also evolving at a rate not fully comprehensible which will be the reason for imbalances in societies.
Daniella said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 11:35 AM
Robots replacing humans, when thinking of something like that i just think of I robot where highly intelligent robots fill public service positions throughout the world, which wasn't the greatest idea. There are also a lot of people that 'live' for their jobs. However Apples plan to target the rich is actually a really clever tactic, just because the rich are always so competitive with each other and trying to 'up' one another.
Bianca R said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 11:11 AM
For me it is quite a scary thought to imagine that robots could one day replace all of us, in our careers. I must agree with Jess, humanity would just reap the rewards from not working/doing anything to contribute towards the bettering of their country/economy. This would just make the desire to actually do anything, less and less.
Liat Grindler said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 09:41 AM
This book seems interesting, I see two sides to this. One being positive and the other rather pejorative and very much capitalist. The positive being that a social security net can provide people with greater protection and help in terms of welfare, unemployment benefits, healthcare and possibly public transport usage. However in my personal view this is more of a negative strategy as it does not necessarily improve the good for the majority of the population. As this blog post states, such major companies are centered around wealth and as we can see- the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. I would say that at the end of the day, this method of a social security net and implementing robot operating workers is somewhat not giving workers the ability to succeed and contribute to the economy. Rather give society their independence and choice to work and earn their privileges than take away job opportunities and environments for people to learn in. Robots cannot be the answer to an equal or a successful society. Wealth should be distributed or the poor should have the opportunity to become rich, with hard work.
Ashleigh said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 09:18 AM
Its strange how we lived without these things before but now we cannot live without either of them now.
Sarah said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 09:14 AM
It sounds good in theory,but will it work in the real world. The way the economy is going lately. This book looks interesting . Whether you want to compete with them, do business with them, or simply live in the world they dominate, you need to understand the Four.
Bianca N said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 08:13 AM
It seems like an interesting book to read. It's sad that in our time we are not able to completely avoid these no matter how hard we try.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Friday 19-Jan-18 08:02 AM
A 'social security net' is a very interesting thought - but realistically could never be implemented. Humans should not benefit from being 'lazy' (for lack of a better word). These companies continue to 'remake' our world and their dominance will be around for quite a while hence the relevance of this book for some time to come. The Four are almost impossible to avoid and have infiltrated every avenue of our life, quite sad but it is reality. That being said, I think I will look into purchasing it!
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
