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
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
The writer’s craft
It was a very Morpeth affair at the Autumn Authors Evening at the Chantry. There we were, upstairs amongst the bagpipes, a group of grey haired, mostly white, mostly retired upright citizens of our small and I am afraid to say, provincial town. Provincial is a word I don’t like but in this case it … Continue reading The writer’s craft
Driving data to the average
Data is such a hot topic now. There are many good examples emerging of where it has been used to improve businesses as well as plenty of examples of when things have gone wrong. I was at a Digital Strategy and Business Intelligence Breakfast Meeting in Newcastle last week and one of the speakers, from … Continue reading Driving data to the average
Guerrilla Workers unite
‘You’re not the only Guerrilla Worker you know’ Ian said to me. I must admit I was a little taken aback by his tone. It was as if he was accusing me of claiming to be something that I wasn’t. When I stopped and thought about it however I felt better. Perhaps I am not … Continue reading Guerrilla Workers unite
Elephant eating party
How do you eat an elephant? Why, a slice at a time of course. Everyone knows that. So what do you do if you are faced with an elephant that needs to be eaten? You get a few friends round and ask them to tuck in. You have an elephant eating party. It was Su’s … Continue reading Elephant eating party
North East Data Group part 2
This is the second part of the presentation I gave last week to the North East Data group at Campus North on what Durham is up to with Open Data. I am pleased to say that our elephant has given birth. Mother and baby are doing well and we are off and running. We are … Continue reading North East Data Group part 2
North East Data Group part 1
Last night I had the pleasure of presenting to the North East Data group at Campus North on what Durham is up to with Open Data. There were twenty or so people in the room and it was interesting how many of them I already knew. It was a story of two halves, with my … Continue reading North East Data Group part 1
Fresh perspectives
I read that Taiichi Ohno would draw a circle on the floor and make his new disciples stand in it and observe how things really worked. He would make them stay there until they had a strong understanding of the business. I think it was in the book ‘The Machine that Changed the World’ in … Continue reading Fresh perspectives
Who should run the project
This is a question that has troubled me for some time. Who is it that should run a project, or rather which team or service should they come from? Good project management skills are hard to find, certainly within an organisation that has a lot of operational stuff going on. Change happens all the time … Continue reading Who should run the project
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 