Life is complicated. The more I think about it the more complicated it becomes. It seems as if complexity is an inherent part of the way the world works. It’s that second law of thermodynamics again. It states that (forgive me for I paraphrase) ‘In any closed system the amount of usable energy is always … Continue reading Unfolding plans 146 – Simplicity
Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills
Video was never my medium. It just doesn’t work for me. I fluff my lines and get all tongue tied. I’m more nervous on video than with any other format. I don’t know why, perhaps it is the permanence of it all. I think I get hung up on how I’m coming across rather than … Continue reading Unfolding plans 145 – Video kills
Unfolding plans 144 – Scrum
Somebody has sent me a copy of ‘Scrum, The art of doing twice the work in half the time’ by Jeff Sutherland. I don’t know who it was. I had my suspects but one by one they are being crossed off my list. It just turned up at work in a manila envelope (C5 in … Continue reading Unfolding plans 144 – Scrum
Unfolding plans 143 – Leading the way in Open Data
I’ve been at another conference. This time it was presented by the Federation of Small Businesses in conjunction with Dynamo and Sunderland Software City. It was titled ‘North East Leading The Way In Open Data’ and I was asked to speak. You know that amongst my interests is helping to develop the region so that … Continue reading Unfolding plans 143 – Leading the way in Open Data
Unfolding plans 140 – be mindful of others
A couple of days ago I was telling you about Lee and his stories. His tale of children and coasts tugged on a few strings. It brought back memories of childhood, happiness, helplessness and an innocence lost. It gets me every time I hear it (and I’ve heard it a few times now!). He has … Continue reading Unfolding plans 140 – be mindful of others
Unfolding plans 139 – we need fewer rules
First break all the rules. That is what the book said. If this is a rule then should we break it? First stick to all the rules? It’s all a bit confusing. There are too many rules, too many regulations. I can’t be expected to know them all yet every time we are faced with … Continue reading Unfolding plans 139 – we need fewer rules
Unfolding plans 134 – Sonic coats
Lee told some great stories today. It was at our latest round of presentations. It was his turn to get involved. I try to spread the love around. The theme for this time was trust and no doubt I’ll come back to this in a later blog. Lee went on to talk about how we … Continue reading Unfolding plans 134 – Sonic coats
Unfolding Plans 131 – A SOWE
I’ve been thinking about how we create a self-organising work environment. A SOWE. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I saw Sugata Mitra’s work at the first Dynamo conference and that was well over a year and a half ago. How do you get your teams to come together and deliver what is required … Continue reading Unfolding Plans 131 – A SOWE
Unfolding plans 130 – Lean start up
Lean start up sounded an interesting concept. Justin, one of my colleagues at Dynamo was telling me about it. In essence I took it to be a way of shaping your business ideas before you get too bogged down in business plans and financing. It is a way of making sure that your idea has … Continue reading Unfolding plans 130 – Lean start up
Unfolding plans 129 – I should have got the train
I should have got the train into Seaham. It’s obvious once I’d thought about it. I was sitting at Nose’s point working on the strategy (see Unfolding plans 124) when a train rumbled past on the line that hugs the coast. It was a two carriage Northern Rail train on its way to Middlesbrough, I … Continue reading Unfolding plans 129 – I should have got the train
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 