Unfolding plans 57 – Big Data. It is bigger than you think.

My first meeting as chair of the Society of ICT Managers (North East) went well enough.  There wasn’t a spare seat in the house, we got through the agenda, we finished on time and lunch was nice.  We tried something new this time which made a big difference.  It was Graham’s idea to theme the … Continue reading Unfolding plans 57 – Big Data. It is bigger than you think.

Unfolding plans 56 – leaders struggle the most with teams.

The most important piece of work that I am involved in at the moment is trying to organise the service so that it can survive.  By this I don’t mean hang on by the skin of its teeth or slip into some catatonic state hoping for the better times to come.  I have already described … Continue reading Unfolding plans 56 – leaders struggle the most with teams.

Unfolding plans 55 – change is a great agent for change

Change is a great agent for change.  They say that necessity is the mother of all invention and it is much easier to introduce change during periods of turmoil. Austerity has helped in a strange way.  The need to save money has allowed us to introduce many things that we could well have struggled with … Continue reading Unfolding plans 55 – change is a great agent for change

Unfolding plans 54 – 23 and 1/2 hours

There is a really interesting yet frightening video on You Tube called 23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?  I’m not usually bothered about such things.  I’m aware I don’t do enough exercise and eat too much of the ‘wrong’ things yet I’ve been that way … Continue reading Unfolding plans 54 – 23 and 1/2 hours

Unfolding plans 53 – ICT is not just Microsoft office or computer games

ICT is not just Microsoft office or computer games.  It pervades all of our lives.  There is nothing that we do that doesn’t have technology behind it somewhere.  There is a shortage of young people coming into the industry.  We need to get out there and show young people how exciting ICT is. We need … Continue reading Unfolding plans 53 – ICT is not just Microsoft office or computer games

Unfolding plans 52 – you must come and talk to us about

I was stopped in the lift by one of my colleagues.  She said ‘you must come and talk to us about…’  At this point I braced myself ready for whatever problem was at the root of her statement.  I guess it’s a hazard of my profession in that most people stop me when something goes … Continue reading Unfolding plans 52 – you must come and talk to us about

Unfolding Plans 51 – not the best time for a photo shoot

Perhaps this morning wasn’t the best of times for a photo shoot.  By nine thirty when we had all gathered to have our pictures taken the moon had made its way across the sun.  Our two greatest celestial bodies had combined to turn day back into night.  I know that the eclipse, however partial, had … Continue reading Unfolding Plans 51 – not the best time for a photo shoot

Unfolding plans 50 – Stories are the best way to get information to stick

A funny thing happened to me on the way into the office.  I was listening to the radio and an advert came on for a well-known broadcasting, media and content company.  The gist was that they said that they were offering an excellent service to their customers as ninety per cent of their service calls … Continue reading Unfolding plans 50 – Stories are the best way to get information to stick

Unfolding 49 – more women into ICT

Getting more women into ICT has been made a key objective of Dynamo.  Charlie has produced an excellent infographic which lays out our plans and objectives in an easy to understand and very saleable chart.  It is a wheel or a roundel, with the Executive team the Main Board and Work-stream Leaders in the middle … Continue reading Unfolding 49 – more women into ICT

Unfolding plans 48 – I like driving the electric cars

Taking the electric car is an experience in itself.  We have a few of them around the organisation ready to be borrowed providing you have passed the special test.  They range from the upmarket Leaf which tends to reside at County Hall to the car that I took today from Meadowfield. We’re in the middle … Continue reading Unfolding plans 48 – I like driving the electric cars