I find that in my line of work there is a continual tension between the need for control and the desire to enable. Part of me wants to standardise everything so that we have less technology that is easier to manage and support. The other part of me doesn’t want this at all. It wants … Continue reading Unfolding plans 43 – these apparently intractable positions of standardisation and liberty
Unfolding plans 41- trying to address a big issue within the ICT industry
Have you ever felt out of your depth? I have, many times. Indeed I quite pride myself in that my comfort zone is to be outside of my comfort zone. This morning I felt out of my depth though and not always in a comfortable way. I was chairing a group meeting what I hoped … Continue reading Unfolding plans 41- trying to address a big issue within the ICT industry
Unfolding plans 40 – digital is a personal journey
Reading may have been a long way to go for a conference, especially when I was up and down in a day. Still, it gave me a chance to travel on the new Virgin East Coast and then to catch a train from Paddington. I also got to visit the Madejski Stadium although I didn’t … Continue reading Unfolding plans 40 – digital is a personal journey
Unfolding plans 39 – self-organising work environments
I’ve talked about Sugata Mitra’s School in the Cloud idea before. It’s more than an idea as it exists and has proven to deliver benefits. Following a visit to Newcastle University’s Culture Lab I met up with Dr James Stanfield to talk about how we could learn from this approach. I am interested in using … Continue reading Unfolding plans 39 – self-organising work environments
Unfolding plans 38 – I’m not supposed to be reading management theory
I’ve been reading Wallander again as I’m not supposed to be reading management theory. This time it is ‘The Troubled Man’, a heart-breaking tale of descent into despair and darkness that serves as a totem for what great crime writing can achieve, as the Irish Times put it. This must be the fourth or fifth … Continue reading Unfolding plans 38 – I’m not supposed to be reading management theory
Unfolding plans 37 – structures get in the way
It is my belief that structures are needed yet that they get in the way of what we are trying to achieve. This is demonstrated by inter-team rivalry, competition and the apparent differing priorities and objectives discussed amongst us as a service. We have been successful in bringing the organisation through the last five years … Continue reading Unfolding plans 37 – structures get in the way
Unfolding plans 34 – our runaway thoughts
Our thoughts are like trains on a track. They trundle along in whichever direction you send them. Backwards and forwards they go, trapped in their linear travels. They are very hard to stop are our runaway thoughts. Sometimes we come across a branch line, a quiet siding where we can let our thoughts and dreams … Continue reading Unfolding plans 34 – our runaway thoughts
Unfolding plans 32 – I am a type seven personality, the quintessential Renaissance man
I may be the quintessential Renaissance man, a polymath, a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. That’s because I am a type seven personality. According to the Wisdom of the Enneagram I am ‘The Enthusiast’, the busy, fun-loving type who is spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive and scattered. I’m enthusiastic about almost … Continue reading Unfolding plans 32 – I am a type seven personality, the quintessential Renaissance man
Unfolding plans 31 – the concept of separable verbs
Learning a language can be hard especially if you are fluent in your mother tongue. Foreigners speak in different ways. They construct their sentences in ways that seem alien to the English speaking world, with strange word order and an ill-defined use of the definite article. What’s the matter with them? I’ve been struggling with … Continue reading Unfolding plans 31 – the concept of separable verbs
Unfolding plans 30 – Are we living in parallel universes?
Are we living in parallel universes? I was due at a meeting of the North East ICT Managers and was a little early so I did what I always do and looked for somewhere with free WiFi. It was at Newcastle Civic Centre and the city centre offers a lot of choice for the online … Continue reading Unfolding plans 30 – Are we living in parallel universes?
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 