Cloud computing has been changing the shape of IT provision for several years now. If you include private cloud then you could argue it has been for decades. It has broken the link between the ownership of computing infrastructure and its use for many yet its economic argument is still to be proven. As with … Continue reading Nebulous Contracts
Why can’t I get the data?
I’m trying to help grow the IT industry across the North East. This is why I am a member of Dynamo North East, Digital Union and Socitm. All of these organisations have the same problem - a lack of meaningful data. I would like to know how many businesses there are in the industry across … Continue reading Why can’t I get the data?
What is ethics anyway?
Thinking about ethics does your head in, or at least it does mine. I bought a download of ‘A Short History of Ethics’ by Tim Dalgleish, to try and get a better understanding of the subject and listen to it in the car but miles can pass by without me being any the wiser. The … Continue reading What is ethics anyway?
Dissatisfaction sells
We all know it really, it is dissatisfaction that sells. The quenched don’t buy drink, the satiated don’t buy food and once you have everything you need then all that is left is stuff that you don’t. Of course, most of us have passed the point of having met our basic needs a long time … Continue reading Dissatisfaction sells
Trading groups
Is there only so far that a trade group can go before it has to reinvent itself? I think so, mainly on the back of conversations that I have been having over the last few weeks as I continue to try and develop the Dynamo cyber work stream. What is bothering me is that I … Continue reading Trading groups
Corporate Social Responsibility
‘We never use the phrase Corporate Social Responsibility, or the initials CSR at Ringtons.’ said Richard from the Newcastle based tea and beverages company. ‘It sounds too much like a crime. Instead we focus on our business doing good things in the community.’ I was at Muckle LLP for a breakfast event as part of … Continue reading Corporate Social Responsibility
Zero hours
Zero hours contracts have had a hard time of late and quite rightly so. They are the scourge of the gig economy with the employer having the upper hand in the relationship with their workers. Turn up and there might be work for you but if not you will just have to go home again … Continue reading Zero hours
North East Fraud Forum
I went to my first North East Fraud Forum event last week. There is such an overlap between fraud, cyber crime and business ethics that it was a natural fit with many of the other things that I am involved in. It was also the first time that I had been inside the Virgin Money … Continue reading North East Fraud Forum
Say R
My head is still hurting. I have spent all morning in an introductory session to R, the open source statistical computing and graphics package. Now, I am no programmer and much of what was shown to us went over my head but I am blown away by the power of the tool set. It gives … Continue reading Say R
University Technical College
When I was asked if I would give a careers talk at the recently opened North East Futures UTC, I said yes. I’m always happy to help in whatever way I can to bring young people into the North East’s technology sector and also like to get involved in new things that challenge me. The … Continue reading University Technical College
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 