I’ve noticed a subtle change. Services are coming to us asking for help. The drive to use technology is growing at pace. I don’t know if austerity has helped but it has certainly sharpened our focus. As the cuts have gone deeper and deeper there is an increasing realisation that we can’t do the same … Continue reading Unfolding plans 25 – Something has to give and the technology is going to help
Unfolding plans 24 – the true test of artificial intelligence is for it to deliver something unpredictable
It’s an interesting concept. How do you test artificial intelligence? It is a concept that is difficult to define yet we all can understand that human intelligence is different from so called artificial intelligence. I’ve already said in a previous piece that I struggle with the definition of artificial intelligence, or machine intelligence as all … Continue reading Unfolding plans 24 – the true test of artificial intelligence is for it to deliver something unpredictable
Unfolding plans 23 – bad data gives off the repulsive odour of decay
Aren’t graphs great? You can make them say whatever you like. Play about with the x and y axis and you can make things look better or worse as you wish. Alan showed us some at the extended management team to do with channel shift. The optimists amongst us saw the lines getting better while … Continue reading Unfolding plans 23 – bad data gives off the repulsive odour of decay
Unfolding plans 22 – It might be time for a rethink
It might be time for a rethink about our Strategic ICT Group. It has met every other month or so for a few years and the agenda has changed to accommodate the new things that we have done but basically the format has remained the same: an update on projects; agree new projects; discussion on … Continue reading Unfolding plans 22 – It might be time for a rethink
Unfolding plans 21 – I’m not one for using sporting analogies
So Andy Murray was the runner up at the Australian open. It was a shame. He’d been playing as well as he had ever been but he was up against a formidable opponent. Number six in the world was playing number one. It was sublime tennis. The match ebbed and flowed with each player gaining … Continue reading Unfolding plans 21 – I’m not one for using sporting analogies
Unfolding plans 20 – coming back to apprentices
I said I would come back to apprentices. I’ll keep coming back to them throughout the year as they are important in so many ways. They are also the seventh thing I want to achieve this year. According to the North-East Chamber of Commerce the region faces a "ticking time bomb" due to a lack … Continue reading Unfolding plans 20 – coming back to apprentices
Unfolding plans 19 – the value tree
I was intrigued. The invite said that during the meeting we ‘will capture these (Mission Statement, objectives and priorities) in a “Value Tree” which is a graphical way of presenting the key objectives that requires them to be ranked in order of importance. The Value Tree can then be used at future “Gateways” to check … Continue reading Unfolding plans 19 – the value tree
Unfolding plans 18 – All purchases needed to be approved by Neil
My Christmas gift was a very generous book token. It came with a caveat however. All purchases needed to be approved by Neil, one of my team. The note said that to avoid disappointment it is unlikely that he would approve any non-fictional text in the area of management. The message was clear. I needed … Continue reading Unfolding plans 18 – All purchases needed to be approved by Neil
Unfolding plans 17 – Who remembers the future?
Who remembers the future? We were going to be living in the sky, with hover cars to get us about and robots to do our bidding. We were going to wear futuristic clothes, usually in silver and have pills instead of meals. Do you remember that happening? In the movie ‘Back to the future’ 2015 … Continue reading Unfolding plans 17 – Who remembers the future?
Unfolding plans 16 – Keeping a blog is a gift and a curse
Keeping a blog is a gift and a curse. Having to think of something new to write every day can be a chore. It can become an obsession, a fetish perhaps that consumes all of your waking moments. Everything you see and all the experiences you have are played out in your mind as sentences … Continue reading Unfolding plans 16 – Keeping a blog is a gift and a curse
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 