Treating parts of the organisation as customers in an internal market is a great idea except for one thing – it doesn’t work. Why not? Before I expand it is worth defining what is meant by a customer and a supplier. A customer is someone who has a demand for products and services and expresses … Continue reading The internal customer
Hawkeye
Sunday 11th August and the third day of the ashes test is well underway at the Riverside ground in Chester-Le-Street. Australia’s first innings is close to the end. Anderson takes a run up and bowls. The ball bounces and strikes Lyon on the pad. The England team turn to the umpire, raise their hands in … Continue reading Hawkeye
A great day at the office
Tuesday 30th July was a great day at the office. I started and finished the day with a couple of strategically important meetings and I felt like I was moving the business forward. In between I had some other meetings and talked to some very interesting people but these only made the day good.But Tuesday … Continue reading A great day at the office
Trees have great structure
Apparently I talk in metaphors. It’s something I have learnt about myself recently. Whenever I want to get a point across I think about it in a way that is parallel to what I am saying, something that requires the listener to use their imagination and draws them into a picture that I am trying … Continue reading Trees have great structure
The Shape of Water
Some of my blogs are eaten by the birds while others fall on stony ground. Occasionally though one seems to take root and ends up giving me a good crop of readers. Such was the case with one of my latest, ‘Do structures make a difference? ’ a subject that has been exercising my mind … Continue reading The Shape of Water
Only humans need apply
We are running a programme called Digital Durham to improve the roll out of superfast broadband in County Durham and the wider region. Things are going very well and we have got to the point where we need to take someone else into the team. So to get this started it’s quite simple. All we need … Continue reading Only humans need apply
International calendar alignment
You know what happens, you get your diary organised, management meetings, opportunities to meet with suppliers time to work with customers and the odd space to talk to your team. Oh and don’t forget some time for yourself to get that all important work done. Your calendar is looking good with everything neatly colour coordinated … Continue reading International calendar alignment
Seeming to be helpless invokes support
Check this out http://www.blabdroid.com. I’m at Thinking Digital 2013 and just had a presentation from Alexander Reben who describes himself as a roboticist – very cool indeed. He is working with these Blabdroids, small robots that go round filming people, asking them questions and creating content without a human behind the lens. It is incredible … Continue reading Seeming to be helpless invokes support
Alex Ferguson – lesson in leadership
I have never really been a fan of Alex Ferguson but must admit to having a begrudging admiration for him and his achievements. I have never liked the way he seemed to lose his temper at a whim and the way he used this as a tool in his armoury or the mind games he … Continue reading Alex Ferguson – lesson in leadership
Do structures make a difference?
There is that quote attributed to Gaius Petronius Arbiter, the Roman Emperor Nero’s adviser on elegance and good taste that goes along the lines of ‘We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganised. … I was to learn later in life that … Continue reading Do structures make a difference?
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 