Unfolding plans 143 – Leading the way in Open Data

I’ve been at another conference.  This time it was presented by the Federation of Small Businesses in conjunction with Dynamo and Sunderland Software City.  It was titled ‘North East Leading The Way In Open Data’ and I was asked to speak.  You know that amongst my interests is helping to develop the region so that … Continue reading Unfolding plans 143 – Leading the way in Open Data

Unfolding plans 142 – Women in IT

You know that this is one of the areas that I am interested in.  It’s not just me though.  SOCITM has launched it as one of their key themes, getting more women into Information and communication technology. Last Wednesday marked the launch of their (its?) ‘Women in IT’ initiative held in Central London.  The event … Continue reading Unfolding plans 142 – Women in IT

Unfolding plans 141 – Teaching people how to learn

At work I would like to teach people only one thing.  I would like them to learn how to learn.  Once you have learned how to learn you never need to be taught anything again. Give a man a fish or teach him how to fish.  I’m sure the same thing applies to women. I … Continue reading Unfolding plans 141 – Teaching people how to learn

Unfolding plans 129 – I should have got the train

I should have got the train into Seaham.  It’s obvious once I’d thought about it.  I was sitting at Nose’s point working on the strategy (see Unfolding plans 124) when a train rumbled past on the line that hugs the coast.  It was a two carriage Northern Rail train on its way to Middlesbrough, I … Continue reading Unfolding plans 129 – I should have got the train

Unfolding plans 124 – Head space

I’m racking my brains.  I’m trying to do some work on our ICT Strategy and I just can’t get my head around what needs to be done.  It’s not even one year old.  It’s the third ICT strategy that I have written since I came to Durham but we made a commitment to review it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 124 – Head space

Unfolding plans 123 – Solutionsim

The hand dryer said fifteen.  The numerals flashed in blue and counted down to zero while the hot blasts of air desiccated my hands.  I moved them up and down as instructed to make the drying process more effective.  There was a handy pictorial guide.  Why was there a counter?  Can I not work it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 123 – Solutionsim

Unfolding plans 122 – Writing a cheque

Yesterday I cashed a cheque.  It was for a very small amount, less than seven pounds.  The day before I happened to write a cheque.  This time it was for a larger amount.  It had a seven in it.  I’m letting you know about this because they are such rare events these days.  I can … Continue reading Unfolding plans 122 – Writing a cheque

Unfolding plans 120 – The internet of things

We’ve created a new collective noun. A parliament of crows.  A bank of things, a bunch of things, an internet of things.  The Internet used to be a proper noun and then became an ordinary noun only to mature into a collective noun.  Is this the evolutionary cycle of a word?  Is it its product … Continue reading Unfolding plans 120 – The internet of things

Unfolding plans 117 – paperless meeting

So there it was, our first Resources Management Team meeting without paper.  We’d all been issued with new tablet computers from a leading manufacturer (but not fruit related).  Actually we had only borrowed them as Bob was quick to remind me. We’d also been given some training on how to use our new devices along … Continue reading Unfolding plans 117 – paperless meeting

Unfolding plans 111 – work as a performance

I’ve been thinking a lot about work as a performance.  It’s something that Mike and I have been talking about.  The word covers such a wide range of meanings from entertainment, to carrying out an action and to how well something works.  In this case I am talking about something presented before an audience, potentially, … Continue reading Unfolding plans 111 – work as a performance