"Dead Ideaville"

The western gunfighter had Boot Hill. The heroic war dead have Arlington National Cemetery. And now finally, I have found my own piece of hallowed ground in cyberspace for all my worthy concepts and ideas that were shot down in a blaze of glory. Okay most were stabbed in the back by gutless, hack creative directors. The important thing is that they be given a home to be remembered and honored.

This first idea to be laid to rest is for Unisys, an information systems and management company. The brief was to create something "not typical" for the category. If I was given a penny for every time I heard that I'd be sipping coconut-based cocktails in Tahiti right now while watching a school of dolphins perform specially for me from my ocean-front mansion.

Alas I followed the brief and, unlike The Who, got fooled again. The idea died because it "didn't feel very business technology".

Unisys - “The  New  Breed of CIO” 

The strategy was to present Unisys as an information systems and management company with the specialized tools and know how to successfully predict future problems and anticipate future opportunities in this globally connected world.

This branded-entertainment idea aimed to intrigue prospective Chief Information Officers by creating a mystery around the apparent emergence of a new breed of CIO, one with the uncanny ability to successfully predict future outcomes. Amazing foresight and effective problem solving would be just two new traits that distinguish them.

The vehicle for this mystery would be a “special investigation” program sponsored by Unisys and to be aired on the business cable channels, maybe even Discovery/National Geographic. The program would seek to answer many intriguing questions with the help of scientists, evolutionists and paranormal experts. Question like, where are these CIO’s coming from? Has the changing business environment caused this new breed of leader to adapt and develop “special” powers of foresight as a way of planning for the future? Or is there another explanation for their emergence?

A very targeted advertising campaign to promote the show would be aimed at CIO’s and all relevant IT folk. Post show, a D/M piece with the DVD of the program would be sent to the same target.

A micro-site would expand and enhance the user experience.

A moment's silence, please.