Thinking Out Loud
Insights
Articles and features on technology strategy — published in industry outlets and on LinkedIn.
External Publications
Features and bylines in CIOReview, Retail Tech Insights, and Samsung Newsroom.
Wired for the Future: Retail Tech Leadership
A leadership essay on what it takes to run retail technology at scale — balancing strategic execution with innovation, building empowered lean teams, and positioning technology as a genuine business enabler. Written during Morris's tenure as VP of Retail Systems.
Read articleFail Fast, Fix Faster: The Reality of Piloting Tech in Retail
Championing an agile approach to retail technology pilots — test in 60–90 days, measure against specific KPIs, and accept 80% confidence to move forward. Includes real examples: switching from Microsoft to Samsung tablets based on associate feedback, and pivoting digital price tag vendors mid-pilot when infrastructure gaps emerged.
Read articleAshley and Samsung Debut Connected Home Experience
Coverage of the Ashley × Samsung connected home experience — a flagship demonstration of what the store of the future looks like when digital and physical retail converge. Morris led the retail technology strategy behind this initiative at Ashley Global Retail.
Read articleLinkedIn Articles
Long-form pieces published on linkedin.com/in/morrisstern.
The Retail Barbell Effect: Why the Middle of the Road Is the Most Dangerous Place to Be in 2026
Retailers in the middle — not luxury, not ultra-value — face existential pressure from both ends. This piece explores why the barbell dynamic is reshaping retail strategy and what leaders can do about it before the squeeze becomes a crisis.
Read on LinkedInWhy Most Retailers Will Fail at Agentic AI (And the Three Who Won't)
Everyone is talking about agentic AI in retail. But adoption without a clear operating model is a fast track to wasted spend and abandoned pilots. This article breaks down the three retailer archetypes that are actually positioned to succeed — and what separates them from the rest.
Read on LinkedInNavigating the Risks and Rewards of ERP and SaaS Integration
The debate between centralized platforms and best-of-breed microservices never really ends. This piece cuts through the noise with a practical framework retail leaders can use to evaluate their integration architecture without getting sold to.
Read on LinkedInTransforming Tech Leadership: How 'The Advantage' Shapes Success
Patrick Lencioni's 'The Advantage' applied to retail IT leadership — how organizational health principles directly shape whether a technology team ships or just plans to ship.
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