GigaOM Pro

Every week GigaOM Pro chats with one of its analysts to find out which technologies they read about, write about and can’t live without. Today we talk to Larry Hawes, who frequently contributes his expertise to the NewNet Social section of GigaOM Pro. In addition to the three-part report he recently published (see below for more details), Hawes writes about the future of work and the intersection of technologies (such as cloud computing and the rise of mobile products) with the workplace.

GigaOM Pro analyst Larry Hawes and his son

1. Who are you, and what do you do?

Most of my profiles on the Internet use the headline “Observer. Thinker. Writer. Advisor,” which is a tidy summary of my main professional activities. Most notably, I’m the principal of Dow Brook Advisory Services, a firm that helps enterprise software providers understand their market segments, formulate strategies and create supporting tactics. I also blog on multiple sites, including Forbes, Dow Brook and my personal blog. And, of course, I’m a GigaOM Pro analyst.

2. As a GigaOM Pro analyst, what are your areas of focus?

I primarily write about enterprise collaboration, social and content management, although I also research and write about cloud, mobile and other infrastructure-related topics. I particularly love to grapple with meta-trends, such as the future of work and Web-experience management, that represent the convergence of multiple technologies and trends.

3. Talk about a favorite article you’ve written.

That’s a tough question, because there have been so many over the past 14 years. A recent bit of work that I’m very proud of is the three-part GigaOM Pro research briefing “The New IT Manager.” This publication examines how the enterprise adoption of cloud, mobile and consumer computing practices and technologies is impacting corporate IT departments and staff, particularly CIOs and IT managers.

4. What was the last piece of media (music, video, book, etc.) you paid money for?

I just purchased the Kindle version of Design in Nature: How the Constructal Law Governs Evolution in Biology, Physics, Technology, and Social Organization, by Adrian Bejan and J. Peder Zane, but I haven’t started reading it yet. The book is more “big thinking” of the kind that I love and that influences much of my work. As for music, I’ve recently been buying classic rock and jazz albums that I don’t own, but should, via Google Music.

5. What are the first three media outlets (websites, blogs, actual physical publications) you read in the morning?

Outdated as it may seem, I still like to start at the My Yahoo! page I set up years ago for a quick scan of general news. I usually move on to my collection of RSS feeds next, either via Google Reader or Feedly, reading notable items. Then I fire up Bottlenose, to visually scan (and drill down into) what others are reading and talking about in the Twitterverse.

6. You are stranded on a desert island: What are the five gadgets/devices/services/apps you can’t live without? (Presumably, there’s electricity and Wi-Fi on this desert island.)

A laptop with power brick; various Google services and apps; a gun and ammunition; a fishing rod; and a blender (assuming someone has previously stashed a supply of rum and tequila on the island). Hmmm . . . that situation sounds rather appealing!

7. When you’re not writing for GigaOM Pro, what’s your favorite thing to do?

Playing with my 5-year old son. It brings me immeasurable joy, and I simply can’t spend enough time with him.

8. What’s your favorite non-tech blog?

Seth’s Blog. Seth Godin consistently publishes high-quality, thought-provoking content.

9. What do you listen to (or watch) while you’re writing?

I’m a former semiprofessional trumpet player with a master’s degree in music history, so I have a hard time listening to music and working at the same time. The music simply grabs my full attention in most cases. However, I have found that J.S. Bach’s instrumental music can have a very positive effect on my work. Something about its impeccable structure and flow helps me with the same elements in my thinking and writing.