One of the most thought provoking and challenging presentations that I have witnessed took place at last week’s Socitm Local CIO Council. It was given by Vishanth Weerakkody and Paul Waller from Brunel University. It had the very appealing title of ‘Overcoming the Systemic Failure of Transformation’. I was salivating at the thought. The presentation … Continue reading The wrong job
Stressful work
Stress at work is a big problem, so I am led to believe. It is a difficult thing to manage however as the causes are manyfold and may not be related to the working environment. It is certainly a contributing factor. I know this, as I have recently completed my ‘Recognising and managing stress in … Continue reading Stressful work
Another goodbye
Losing one of your team is unfortunate but losing two in the same month is downright careless. I said goodbye to Neil a couple of weeks ago but today was Pam’s turn. She was one of the first people I met on coming to Durham, although I think it was up at Rivergreen rather than … Continue reading Another goodbye
Talent management
We’re tucking into our elephant. Every so often we cut off another slice and chew away at those seemingly intractable problems that get in our way. Yummy! We’ve had a first look at some of our performance management systems and this morning a small group of us got together to think about talent management. Now … Continue reading Talent management
We’re no basket case
It seems to be a bit of a sport these days to paint the North East as a bit of a difficult area, with the differing authorities at logger heads and each secretly scheming up plans at the others’ expense yet this is a picture that is far from true. Yes, we do have our … Continue reading We’re no basket case
Collaborating now
The demonstration was impressive but then again they always are. Microsoft had done a good job in setting up some mock environments to show their newest technology in action. It all went on in the banqueting suite at the Centre for Life in Newcastle, which seems to be the favourite domain of the big tech … Continue reading Collaborating now
Great stuff
Our Great Staff, Great Stuff awards is one of those annual events that stand out in the calendar. It marks the change of season from Autumn to Winter and shows that the calendar year is coming to an end. It just seems to have come round so quickly this year. I can still remember sitting … Continue reading Great stuff
Open data
What is the idea? Use the active release of Open Data in a controlled way to facilitate regional e economic growth. Background The UK Commission For Employment and Skills in their report of December 2014 Careers of the Future said ‘While we can’t predict the future, it seems increasingly likely that technology will pervade all aspects … Continue reading Open data
Bring back my blog
At the last round of presentations, I was asked a question. ‘What has happened to my blog? Not this blog but rather the one I used to do religiously every Friday at work. I had it down as one of my weekly tasks. It was only a small piece describing what I was up to … Continue reading Bring back my blog
Effect on performance
A trip down to Manchester seemed like a pleasant day out. I was asked to go down and speak at the North West regional meeting of Socitm. The invitation had come about when Paul and I had met at the Local CIO Council and he was one of the people who had seen my book. … Continue reading Effect on performance
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 