Filling the gap with a different voice

I must admit to loving the radio and take it with me wherever I am. The advent of the podcast and interactive radio means that I can catch up on programmes I have missed. Several blogs have been stimulated by a radio programme or part of a programme. The BBC is an excellent source of news, ideas and views. Over the last week, I have been listening to lunchtime broadcasts and have been fascinated by two particular series.

In the first of these, the wonderful Stephen Fry traced the evolution of the mobile phone, from hefty executive bricks that required a separate briefcase, to sleek fashion smartphone carried by billions of people around the world. This social, technological and economic history of the telephone examined the development of cellular networks, messaging and texting and traced the miniaturisation of the components that made these possible. This was achieved through five accessible 15 minute programmes, now available from the BBC website, which has a huge range of downloadable programme suitable for the classroom and offering stimulus for debate and research. You will have to hurry though, because the Stephen Fry programmes are only available until 2nd December.

The second series was on the BRIC countries; those of Brazil, Russia, India and China. These were ‘shorts’ focused on one small aspect of each of these countries and lasting from 4 to 7 minutes.

These programmes can be used in the classroom to stimulate debate and to provide a focus for research. For example, rapid developments in the mobile phone market had massive ramifications for every industry, and the move from a niche business device to a mass lifestyle consumer product in little over twenty years is a perfect example of significant change in the external environment; one which was never envisaged by the original developers. The growth of emerging markets, and those of the BRIC economies in particular, is shifting the dynamics of global trade, and will influence the future strategic approaches of global business.

So if you are looking for something to add a new dimension, have a look at the BBC sites and listen to past radio programmes on iPlayer and the BBC Facebook pages. The World Service programmes offer a wide range of superb programmes, broadcasting in 27 languages across the globe. There are, no doubt, many fantastic alternatives in your countries. If you would like to recommend any of these, and if they are accessible internationally, please leave a comment with a link offering that further business voice.