I’m going to have to stop using that joke, the one that goes ‘He has more holidays than Thomas Cook’. Perhaps I can insert the name of another travel agent, Hays would be a good fit. Not that the demise of the UK’s oldest travel company is anything to laugh about. The passing of any … Continue reading More holidays than Thomas Cook
Driving #CyberFest
Several factors have been driving this year’s #CyberFest. Firstly and obviously the key driver is to meet its aims. These are to raise awareness of the North East as a place to address cyber resilience; to get people engaged in the Dynamo work stream and; to educate and inform of the threats and opportunities from … Continue reading Driving #CyberFest
I wouldn’t start from here
There’s that old joke that goes along the lines of someone is lost and stops another for directions. ‘Can you tell me the way to so and so?’ they ask, only to get the reply ‘Well, I wouldn’t start from here.’ There is a point to this joke and that is, if I have to … Continue reading I wouldn’t start from here
Smart Stanley again
Smart Stanley seems to be going well. The idea is to have a number of small projects that use digital to enhance the experience of the town for everyone that lives there, works there or is a visitor. We made a major breakthrough with the launch of the web site a few weeks back. Daniel … Continue reading Smart Stanley again
Opening data
I think I’m finally beginning to win the argument over open data. It has been a long haul and there are many sceptics. They are quite right to be so, as it’s very hard to prove the benefits of opening up data for all to see. Some projects have done it very well and are … Continue reading Opening data
Judging the competition
You would think that judging a competition is easy, well let me tell you that you would be wrong. When I was asked to chair the panel for this year’s Dynamites 16, the North East Technology Awards event, I thought that it would be a piece of cake. I mean how hard can it be? … Continue reading Judging the competition
Creative and artistic work
I have come to admire artists, those who can see things that others can’t, those who can create beauty from oil on canvas, clay or marble and those who can challenge our perceptions and help us to see life in a different way. I don’t know much about the art world however, yet I finally … Continue reading Creative and artistic work
Our precarious positon
I was woken this morning by the flash of lightning and the long low rumbling of thunder. It was quite a storm, a tempest perhaps but it was dark outside so I rolled over and tried to get back to sleep. It was no good however. The storm was too big and too long. I … Continue reading Our precarious positon
Awards again
It is the awards season again and I'm in two minds. I never know if award events are good things. I am not alone. A quick straw poll of my Leadership Team would suggest that we are all of the same view. We are all slightly uncomfortable with them yet recognise that they have some … Continue reading Awards again
Doing our own thing
We are prisoners of our language. It defines what we mean yet it confines our ability to change. The way we describe things sets the tone for all subsequent thought about that subject, if we are not careful. I recall reading how Taiichi Ohno, considered to be the father of the Toyota Production System, had … Continue reading Doing our own thing
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 