I am a strong believer in the benefits of making your company operate as virtually as possible.  Done right, it can make your firm  more cost effective and efficient.

A well designed virtual operation is also far more resilient against interruptions caused by unexpected events such as the H1N1 outbreak and the recent Icelandic volcano eruption.

However, managing a virtual workforce effectively is no trivial undertaking.  This Entrepreneur.com article outlines some  strategies for getting the best out of your remote personnel.  Key recommendations include setting clear expectations, establishing objective performance measures and using technology to keep up with virtual employees.

LinkedIn is a useful tool for small-business people too and this Open Forum post discusses 10 ways your business can benefit.

There has been much excitement around the “Internet of Things” concept for some time now.  The idea is that rapidly improving sensor technology is turning the physical world into a giant information system that can be integrated into the cyber-world.  There certainly have been many movies created around this theme.

This vision is slowly turning into reality with senors, actuators and networks becoming better and more pervasive.  Real opportunities are also opening up for entrepreneurs with the foresight to build solutions around this internet of things.

Read this recent McKinsey report for insights into emerging sensor driven business models.  Also view this YouTube video of an event at the Stanford Business School called The Internet of Things: Sensors Everywhere.