The Play Zone : Unlock Your Creative Genius and Connect with Consumers

Rating:
Summary: A Johnny Mnemonic (Consumer) Experience
Review: A startling new take on the Consumer Experience. Where 'retail anthropologist' Paco Underhill leaves off on the Why and How We Shop, Pinault immerses us in the physical and technological context that has now begun to 'Shop Us.'

He breaks The Play Zone into three main chunks, each one of which carves out important new territory for both consumers and the companies that serve them: 1) An introduction to complexity science - and its applications to organisations - that stands on its own right as one of the finest primers in the area, chock full of examples from nature to business, and of course, shopping; 2) a review of some of the great new tools - and in Play, one of our own, most important intuitive tools - that unlock a new and increasingly necessary means of tackling complexity (the LEGO material is particularly irresistable - where do you get those kits?!) and 3) a future-state view of how key technologies are blending to transform the consumer environment and experience, from biometric scanners to next-gen customer profiling software to miniscule radio-frequency ID tags.

The technology even invades the book. There's a little sticker inside with its own serial number unique to each copy of the book. Check out Pinault's Website theplayzonebook.com for a neat and playful dive into all this stuff, including links to what you can do with the 'electronic product code' serial number.

It's a bit like a Johnny Mnemonic experience, cramming a lot into a little space, both in the book and brain. A long version or workbook might help. Take it when you're awake!

Rating:
Summary: A Johnny Mnemonic (Consumer) Experience
Review: A startling new take on the Consumer Experience. Where 'retail anthropologist' Paco Underhill leaves off on the Why and How We Shop, Pinault immerses us in the physical and technological context that has now begun to 'Shop Us.'

He breaks The Play Zone into three main chunks, each one of which carves out important new territory for both consumers and the companies that serve them: 1) An introduction to complexity science - and its applications to organisations - that stands on its own right as one of the finest primers in the area, chock full of examples from nature to business, and of course, shopping; 2) a review of some of the great new tools - and in Play, one of our own, most important intuitive tools - that unlock a new and increasingly necessary means of tackling complexity (the LEGO material is particularly irresistable - where do you get those kits?!) and 3) a future-state view of how key technologies are blending to transform the consumer environment and experience, from biometric scanners to next-gen customer profiling software to miniscule radio-frequency ID tags.

The technology even invades the book. There's a little sticker inside with its own serial number unique to each copy of the book. Check out Pinault's Website theplayzonebook.com for a neat and playful dive into all this stuff, including links to what you can do with the 'electronic product code' serial number.

It's a bit like a Johnny Mnemonic experience, cramming a lot into a little space, both in the book and brain. A long version or workbook might help. Take it when you're awake!

Rating:
Summary: Great book for understanding consumers
Review: I've read a fair number of business books over the years - some more useful and insightful than others. The Playzone is definitely one that's worth the buy and the reading time. The perspectives given in this book are very fresh and as you read it, make a lot of sense (actually, a lot of common sense - despite almost being put off by the near-scientific "complexity theory", the book neatly and easily explains the chaotic world of customer behaviour). I was looking for a book on customer service and ended up reading a book on consulting techniques using Lego bricks (very cool !) and some new stuff coming our way like the radio product tags - as well as some really great insights into customer service with some great stories. All good stuff for my MBA dissertation !! Check out Chapter 4 - its inspired. Everything you need to know about delivering great service to customers - stores that REALLY think about how I feel and what I want, and entertain me : now that's the stuff that flicks my switch !

Rating:
Summary: Great book for understanding consumers
Review: I've read a fair number of business books over the years - some more useful and insightful than others. The Playzone is definitely one that's worth the buy and the reading time. The perspectives given in this book are very fresh and as you read it, make a lot of sense (actually, a lot of common sense - despite almost being put off by the near-scientific "complexity theory", the book neatly and easily explains the chaotic world of customer behaviour). I was looking for a book on customer service and ended up reading a book on consulting techniques using Lego bricks (very cool !) and some new stuff coming our way like the radio product tags - as well as some really great insights into customer service with some great stories. All good stuff for my MBA dissertation !! Check out Chapter 4 - its inspired. Everything you need to know about delivering great service to customers - stores that REALLY think about how I feel and what I want, and entertain me : now that's the stuff that flicks my switch !