Unfolding plans 165 – the demand curve

You can do anything with ICT given enough time and money.  Well, nearly anything.  That’s great.  It means that we can all do thousands of things now that we couldn’t do in the past.  Things are certainly different from when I was a lad.  When I was at school we had no computers at all.  … Continue reading Unfolding plans 165 – the demand curve

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 162 – #Dynamites15

Last night’s Dynamites15 was excellent.  The banqueting hall in Newcastle Civic Centre was packed to the gunnels with a whole host of people interested in the tech industry across the North East.  Every seat was sold which made it a bigger and better event than the first one we had last year.  A huge amount … Continue reading Unfolding plans 162 – #Dynamites15

Unfolding plan 159 – the data trail

Somehow I’ve let data slip off my agenda.  It has slipped off the map.  I realised this when I was at the Open Data Event put on by Dynamo North East and the Federation of Small Businesses.  I should mention Sunderland Software City as well.  I realised that while we were full of intent we … Continue reading Unfolding plan 159 – the data trail

Unfolding plans 158 – three great speakers

We’ve held the last Society of ICT Managers (SOCITM) meeting for the year.  It was a bit touch and go at times getting the speakers and the running order sorted but in the end Graham, as always pulled it off. What could have been a bit of a pup turned out to be another interesting … Continue reading Unfolding plans 158 – three great speakers

Unfolding plans 156 – No secrets

Would the world be a better place if there were no secrets?  There would be no need to hide anything, no need to keep things under lock and key and no need to encrypt our precious or most dark information assets. If there were no secrets there would be no cyber-crime.  There would be nothing … Continue reading Unfolding plans 156 – No secrets

Unfolding plans 151 – Employee engagement and culture

This week is flying by.  It’s day four of National customer Service Week already.  I’m still wearing my Institute of Customer Service badge (with pride) even though I’ve changed jackets since yesterday.  Today’s theme is employee engagement and culture which is perfect as we’re having our second day of our Lean Start-Up training.  The group … Continue reading Unfolding plans 151 – Employee engagement and culture

Unfolding plans 150 – Wear your badge

Day three of National Customer Service Week.  I’m cheating a bit today as I’m not involved in any specific event to celebrate the week and so I’m going to  talk about what I got up to yesterday afternoon.  Having said that, focussing on customers should be and is a constant activity.  Peter told me that … Continue reading Unfolding plans 150 – Wear your badge

Unfolding plans 146 – Simplicity

Life is complicated.  The more I think about it the more complicated it becomes.  It seems as if complexity is an inherent part of the way the world works.  It’s that second law of thermodynamics again. It states that (forgive me for I paraphrase) ‘In any closed system the amount of usable energy is always … Continue reading Unfolding plans 146 – Simplicity

Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills

Video was never my medium.  It just doesn’t work for me.  I fluff my lines and get all tongue tied.  I’m more nervous on video than with any other format.  I don’t know why, perhaps it is the permanence of it all.  I think I get hung up on how I’m coming across rather than … Continue reading Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills