In the B2B world companies have been reluctant to open up to their customer networks. Rather than use social media, for instance, they rely on the traditional way of engaging with prospects and customers. So, if you have a problem with your industrial cement mixer, you usually have only two options: read the manual or call your sales rep.

All of us aspire to work for leaders who truly value our input. We're looking for a "speak-up culture" - the kind of workplace where we feel welcome and included, free to express our views and opinions, and confident that our ideas will be heard and recognized. But it's not just employees who benefit from this kind of workplace culture. So do employers and shareholders.

Longer commute times are just one sign that congestion is creeping into our lives, and clogging the supply chain.

Recently, McDonald's, the world's iconic largest food service provider, has been (forgive the cliché) through the grinder. Poor performance has led to the departure of its CEO and plenty of critical attention in the business pages. Part of this story relates to the provenance, or origins, of its products: Chains that provide more upmarket "fast casual" dining such as Panera, Chipotle, and Shake Shack have brands that speak of freshness, health and trustworthy sourcing.