One of the most thought provoking and challenging presentations that I have witnessed took place at last week’s Socitm Local CIO Council. It was given by Vishanth Weerakkody and Paul Waller from Brunel University. It had the very appealing title of ‘Overcoming the Systemic Failure of Transformation’. I was salivating at the thought. The presentation … Continue reading The wrong job
Mega board revisited
Yesterday we had our first performance meeting under the new management arrangements. Bringing the management and leadership teams together every fortnight hadn’t delivered what we, or at least I had hoped for. The meetings had lacked focus and purpose and so it was time to try something new. We need to keep trying until we … Continue reading Mega board revisited
Smart Stanley again
Smart Stanley seems to be going well. The idea is to have a number of small projects that use digital to enhance the experience of the town for everyone that lives there, works there or is a visitor. We made a major breakthrough with the launch of the web site a few weeks back. Daniel … Continue reading Smart Stanley again
Opening data
I think I’m finally beginning to win the argument over open data. It has been a long haul and there are many sceptics. They are quite right to be so, as it’s very hard to prove the benefits of opening up data for all to see. Some projects have done it very well and are … Continue reading Opening data
Judging the competition
You would think that judging a competition is easy, well let me tell you that you would be wrong. When I was asked to chair the panel for this year’s Dynamites 16, the North East Technology Awards event, I thought that it would be a piece of cake. I mean how hard can it be? … Continue reading Judging the competition
Creative and artistic work
I have come to admire artists, those who can see things that others can’t, those who can create beauty from oil on canvas, clay or marble and those who can challenge our perceptions and help us to see life in a different way. I don’t know much about the art world however, yet I finally … Continue reading Creative and artistic work
Our precarious positon
I was woken this morning by the flash of lightning and the long low rumbling of thunder. It was quite a storm, a tempest perhaps but it was dark outside so I rolled over and tried to get back to sleep. It was no good however. The storm was too big and too long. I … Continue reading Our precarious positon
Awards again
It is the awards season again and I'm in two minds. I never know if award events are good things. I am not alone. A quick straw poll of my Leadership Team would suggest that we are all of the same view. We are all slightly uncomfortable with them yet recognise that they have some … Continue reading Awards again
Doing our own thing
We are prisoners of our language. It defines what we mean yet it confines our ability to change. The way we describe things sets the tone for all subsequent thought about that subject, if we are not careful. I recall reading how Taiichi Ohno, considered to be the father of the Toyota Production System, had … Continue reading Doing our own thing
National Boss / Employee Exchange Day
So yesterday was National Boss / Employee Exchange Day. I’m not sure which nation this refers to but I suspect it is America. There seems to be a day for everything now. Who make these things up? What does swapping the boss and employee actually mean? According to the blurb the day gives employees and … Continue reading National Boss / Employee Exchange Day
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 