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
Stressful work
Stress at work is a big problem, so I am led to believe. It is a difficult thing to manage however as the causes are manyfold and may not be related to the working environment. It is certainly a contributing factor. I know this, as I have recently completed my ‘Recognising and managing stress in … Continue reading Stressful work
Talent management
We’re tucking into our elephant. Every so often we cut off another slice and chew away at those seemingly intractable problems that get in our way. Yummy! We’ve had a first look at some of our performance management systems and this morning a small group of us got together to think about talent management. Now … Continue reading Talent management
Getting to be number one
I haven’t written about Andy Murray for a while. There are many things I haven’t written about but I do have form on this one. I first mentioned him back in October 2014 and he has made an infrequent yet regular appearance ever since. Now I know he is a bit Marmite. Some people for … Continue reading Getting to be number one
Who should run the project
This is a question that has troubled me for some time. Who is it that should run a project, or rather which team or service should they come from? Good project management skills are hard to find, certainly within an organisation that has a lot of operational stuff going on. Change happens all the time … Continue reading Who should run the project
Taking time to get out there
We always try to start our meetings off with some good stories. It gets everything off on the right tone. Brian told us how he had been out doing some mock interviews with some school students and how much he had enjoyed it. Some of the young people were very good while some were less … Continue reading Taking time to get out there
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
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
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 