In many of the organisations in which I have worked, whenever we have been faced with a big issue to resolve, someone always pipes up with ‘What do [insert name hear] do?’ The name to insert is our neighbouring authority, our biggest competitor or our most admired organisation. Everyone agrees that a visit to that … Continue reading Solve your own problems
It’s cold outside
It's cold outside. The mercury has dropped to five below. There is ice on the windscreen. It may even snow today. I think it used to be called winter. I've been keeping an eye on the news and I'm up to date with all of the weather warnings. I've followed all of the advice and packed … Continue reading It’s cold outside
16% more likely to die
I have read with interest today several articles in several papers, which say that people are more likely to die if they are admitted to hospital at the weekend. This follows a lengthy study of a huge amount of NHS data. Apparently, compared to a Wednesday, 16% more patients die on Sunday, whilst 11% more … Continue reading 16% more likely to die
Subliminal biscuits
Why it is that shortbread biscuits are embossed with heraldic or religious symbols I don’t know? I mean shields, flags, fleur-de-lys, Celtic crosses, that sort of thing. Surely it’s a set of quaint historical devices, redolent of a time when biscuit eating was a more refined and genteel pastime. No, it’s not that at all. … Continue reading Subliminal biscuits
First, second and third line
It is a very common approach to have service provision to customers split into layers, or lines. The first line is the one that greets the customer and gathers information about them and their requirements. This is where the customer gains their first impression of the business and usually covers their high level and easy … Continue reading First, second and third line
Milk snatcher
At between 09:30 and 10:00 yesterday morning someone stole my milk. It was in the fridge on the bottom shelf, two pints and had ICT written on the lid in black marker. It was daylight robbery. I’d made myself a cup of tea, went into the kitchen, opened the fridge and noticed. I reached for … Continue reading Milk snatcher
Management decisions
The traditional approach to management is that it is there to make decisions and to control the output of the work force. Information flows up the hierarchical tree and the results of the decision making process flow back down to the people who carry out the tasks. At the same time it is usual for … Continue reading Management decisions
If I could talk to the animals
If I could talk to the animals, what would I say? If I could talk dog or horse or snake, what would I talk about? Even if I could bark or whinny or hiss, would we have anything in common? Would they understand my train of thought? Would we have enough joint experiences to hold … Continue reading If I could talk to the animals
Primo Levi
As Holocaust Memorial day draws to close I would like to pay tribute to Primo Levi, an Italian atheist of Jewish decent and a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. I first became aware of him when I read his book ‘The Periodic Table’ (Il sistema periodico), a collection of short stories retelling his days … Continue reading Primo Levi
The states of traffic
This is not my idea but traffic exists in three states, gas, liquid and solid. You are driving along, the road is relatively clear in front. You pass the odd car and lorry here and there, slowing down occasionally to avoid a collision or speeding up to overtake. There is very little interaction between your … Continue reading The states of traffic
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 