Nine Shift

Should Amazon sell food?

Amazon will soon start selling - - groceries!

In 2001 Webvan, the online and delivery grocer, went out of business. One commentator said the concept would catch on again in ten years.  A little ahead of schedule, Amazon is getting into selling food. 

On the one hand, food is not Amazon's strength.  And the shipping costs for big bags of dog food,  canned goods and paper towells seems daunting. And Amazon has no local delivery partners, no local or area warehouses.

On the other hand, food is a staple of life. Everyone needs it. There's got to be some profit margin there. And people can save lots of time ordering canned goods online (Amazon won't carry fresh produce).  What's your vote?  Should Amazon sell food?

Status update on the 21st century

Well, these numbers are as close as one can get for a summary of the status of the transition into the Information Age in the U.S.

How far we've come.  How far we have to go. From the Society for Human Resource Management 2006 Job Satisfaction Report, "the degree to which companies accommodate worker desires."

Flextime: 57%

Ability to telecommute on an ad-hoc basis: 45%

Family leave above the required federal Family and Medical Leave Act: 27%

Abililty to telecommute on a part-time basis: 26%

Family leave above required state law: 25%

Ability to bring child to work in emergency: 22%

Ability to telecommute on a full-time basis: 19%

Job sharing: 18%

Full-time telecommuting at 19%, a great start, still a long ways to go. At least telecommuting is on the list three different times/ways.   Who likes telecommuting more, employers or employees? What's the acceptance of telecommuting in your organization?