Unfolding plans 80 – green shoots?

There was a real contrast between two of the meetings that I attended yesterday.  At the ICT Services management meeting in the morning we had a dozen or so attendees.  Each of them had a laptop or tablet with them and they were being used to take notes and share information throughout the meeting.  In … Continue reading Unfolding plans 80 – green shoots?

Unfolding plans 78 – less magpie and more moth

What are the most important things that I need to be working on? That’s what Mike asked me. It seems like an easy question but in truth can be really hard to answer.  How much of what I do is driven by circumstances and how much is in line with my own ambitions and focus?  … Continue reading Unfolding plans 78 – less magpie and more moth

Unfolding plans 77 – the rule of thumb

Does a good business sound good?  Does a successful organisation give off a pleasant smell of success?  Does an excellent company feel excellent?  I ask these questions because of the work that we have been doing with data.  Nearly all of the ways that we report on how successful an organisation is performing are visual.  … Continue reading Unfolding plans 77 – the rule of thumb

Unfolding plans 76 – products we buy that don’t really work

Would it surprise you to know that the most popular apps are to do with the weather?  Probably not if you live in Great Britain.  Here the weather is the main topic of everyone’s conversation.  If you are ever in any doubt about what to say, the weather is safe ground to start any conversation.  … Continue reading Unfolding plans 76 – products we buy that don’t really work

Unfolding plans 75 – having a fresh face helps

A future driven by the customer, that was the message that Paul left us with on his last slide at the presentations.  I’d asked for volunteers from the management team this time as I think having a fresh face helps to keep them well… fresh.  Paul was the first to put his hand up.  He … Continue reading Unfolding plans 75 – having a fresh face helps

Unfolding plans 71 – Thinking Digital makes your head hurt #TDC15

I’ve been at Thinking Digital today.  It started yesterday afternoon with some workshops but the main event takes place today and tomorrow.  If you have never been you should.  Once you have been you’ll want to come back again and again.  It is the must attend event of the year. So why is it such … Continue reading Unfolding plans 71 – Thinking Digital makes your head hurt #TDC15

Unfolding plans 70 – I was barred

An interesting thing happened to me the other day. I’d like to tell you about it but I was banned or at least barred.  I was in a meeting with Broadband Delivery UK in the HM Treasury building on Horse Guards Road and it was a few days before the election and the cloak of … Continue reading Unfolding plans 70 – I was barred

Unfolding plans 68 – I’m really really looking forward to #TDC15

Next week I will be attending Thinking Digital 2015, one of the leading events in the North East digital calendar.  I’m not sure if this is the third time or the fourth that I have been.  It doesn’t matter because they are great events and I take so much away from them.  They are an … Continue reading Unfolding plans 68 – I’m really really looking forward to #TDC15

Unfolding plans 57 – Big Data. It is bigger than you think.

My first meeting as chair of the Society of ICT Managers (North East) went well enough.  There wasn’t a spare seat in the house, we got through the agenda, we finished on time and lunch was nice.  We tried something new this time which made a big difference.  It was Graham’s idea to theme the … Continue reading Unfolding plans 57 – Big Data. It is bigger than you think.

Unfolding plans 52 – you must come and talk to us about

I was stopped in the lift by one of my colleagues.  She said ‘you must come and talk to us about…’  At this point I braced myself ready for whatever problem was at the root of her statement.  I guess it’s a hazard of my profession in that most people stop me when something goes … Continue reading Unfolding plans 52 – you must come and talk to us about