It’s World Paper Free Day today. I hope you’re enjoying it. I hope you didn’t send a card! I didn’t know there was such a thing until a couple of weeks ago but I put it in my diary and here it is. I’ve long been an advocate of getting away from paper at work. … Continue reading Unfolding plans 172 – World Paper Free Day
Unfolding plans 171 – Document management
So, one of the best things about going down to the Local Government Forum in Manchester earlier this week was the drive there and back. I know it was awful. I said so in my blog. We got stuck in bad traffic both on the way down as well as the drive home yet it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 171 – Document management
Unfolding plans 170 – free from location
I thought the traffic was bad through the Team Valley but having travelled to Manchester yesterday I'm thinking I've been getting away with it lightly. Lee and I were making our way to a Local Government Strategy Forum at the Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club just north of the city. The drive down … Continue reading Unfolding plans 170 – free from location
Unfolding plans 168 – I wouldn’t start from here
It’s an old joke when asked for directions to reply that ‘I wouldn’t have started form here’ yet it is a truism that we arrive where we are because of where we started from. I am thinking of this in context of this year’s planning round. We’ve started on our service plans which, while covering … Continue reading Unfolding plans 168 – I wouldn’t start from here
Unfolding plans 167 – The governors
We govern our ICT with three overlapping circles, a trefoil or a shamrock. Our governance is a lucky charm. We have three overlapping groups that set direction and hold us all together. The Strategic ICT Group comprises directors and Head of service. Their job is to set the direction and need for technology. They also … Continue reading Unfolding plans 167 – The governors
Unfolding plans 164 – challenging assumptions
The Lean Start-up training is paying dividends already. No, I haven’t invented some new product that is going to cure world poverty or even make me a small fortune yet I have been able to apply some of the principles that I have learnt, especially around the use of assumptions. I have come to realise … Continue reading Unfolding plans 164 – challenging assumptions
Unfolding plans 163 – Durham City connectivity
Superfast broadband connectivity across Durham and the region has been a big issue for us. The Digital Durham programme has been running for a few years now. Indeed our first ever cabinet to go live was number 56 just around the corner from Next in the centre of the city. That was a good day … Continue reading Unfolding plans 163 – Durham City connectivity
Unfolding plans 160 – Meetings
I spend a lot of time in meetings. They seem to be a part of what we do. They are a part of the fabric that holds our organisation together. But why? Not why do meetings hold us together but rather why do we have them? What is their purpose? Well that is easy isn’t … Continue reading Unfolding plans 160 – Meetings
Unfolding plans 149 – Customer complaints
Day two of National Customer Service week and the festivities are well underway. Today’s themes are Customer Complaints and MOT. I think the MOT idea was one of our own where a small team of people descend upon a part of the wider organisation to help solve issues and identify learning opportunities. I know it’s … Continue reading Unfolding plans 149 – Customer complaints
Unfolding plans 147 – What have you planned for National Customer Service Week?
I covered this in Unfolding plans 106, some seventy five days ago, and here it is. The first week in October has arrived already, the time we set aside to recognise and celebrate our customers. Time is really flying. National Customer Service Week has come around again. It doesn’t seem like five minutes since the … Continue reading Unfolding plans 147 – What have you planned for National Customer Service Week?
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 