What was Germany's secret weapon in the World Cup?

What significance does the German victory in the 2014 World Cup have for you and your business?

Here's an interesting angle on the win by Jack Rosenberger, writing for CIO Insight.

"All of the final 32 teams competing for the World Cup in Brazil had a dedicated performance and video analyst, but Germany appears to be the only one that had a specially built database to measure and analyze individual and team performance and strategies. Not only did the German team collect and analyze a vast amount of data on its own and opposing players, but it delivered the data in a visual and easily understandable manner to its players, trainers and coaches, via a custom-built app, so they could use it on their mobile phone or tablet, as one German coach said, 'whenever and wherever they want.'"  

Scheduling systems: protocols and punishments

Quote of the week

What should happen to someone who manipulated the VA hospitals’ scheduling system? Should they lose their job?
(asked by Senator Johnny Isaakson)

"I don't know whether that's the appropriate level of punishment or not."

- Robert Petzel, Honorable Undersecretary of Health

Enigmatic acqusition: Apple to buy Beats

Quote of the week

What are the key factors that make this acquisition of a headphone maker by the iPhone company so unusual?

"This would be the biggest ($3.2 billion) deal ever by Apple, the first significant acquisition by (its new CEO) Tim Cook, and the first where Apple would likely want to keep the brand going, rather than absorb it." 

- Jan Dawson, Jackdaw Chief Analyst