So, one of the best things about going down to the Local Government Forum in Manchester earlier this week was the drive there and back. I know it was awful. I said so in my blog. We got stuck in bad traffic both on the way down as well as the drive home yet it … Continue reading Unfolding plans 171 – Document management
Unfolding plans 168 – I wouldn’t start from here
It’s an old joke when asked for directions to reply that ‘I wouldn’t have started form here’ yet it is a truism that we arrive where we are because of where we started from. I am thinking of this in context of this year’s planning round. We’ve started on our service plans which, while covering … Continue reading Unfolding plans 168 – I wouldn’t start from here
Unfolding plans 167 – The governors
We govern our ICT with three overlapping circles, a trefoil or a shamrock. Our governance is a lucky charm. We have three overlapping groups that set direction and hold us all together. The Strategic ICT Group comprises directors and Head of service. Their job is to set the direction and need for technology. They also … Continue reading Unfolding plans 167 – The governors
Unfolding plans 166 – War and Peace
I’m not sure if I remember this correctly as it is a long time since I’ve read War and Peace. I’ve always loved the way that the Russian classics were written and whilst it is a long book, (my version was in three separate books) it is well worth a read. I think I have … Continue reading Unfolding plans 166 – War and Peace
Unfolding plans 165 – the demand curve
You can do anything with ICT given enough time and money. Well, nearly anything. That’s great. It means that we can all do thousands of things now that we couldn’t do in the past. Things are certainly different from when I was a lad. When I was at school we had no computers at all. … Continue reading Unfolding plans 165 – the demand curve
Unfolding plans 164 – challenging assumptions
The Lean Start-up training is paying dividends already. No, I haven’t invented some new product that is going to cure world poverty or even make me a small fortune yet I have been able to apply some of the principles that I have learnt, especially around the use of assumptions. I have come to realise … Continue reading Unfolding plans 164 – challenging assumptions
Unfolding plans 163 – Durham City connectivity
Superfast broadband connectivity across Durham and the region has been a big issue for us. The Digital Durham programme has been running for a few years now. Indeed our first ever cabinet to go live was number 56 just around the corner from Next in the centre of the city. That was a good day … Continue reading Unfolding plans 163 – Durham City connectivity
Unfolding plans 160 – Meetings
I spend a lot of time in meetings. They seem to be a part of what we do. They are a part of the fabric that holds our organisation together. But why? Not why do meetings hold us together but rather why do we have them? What is their purpose? Well that is easy isn’t … Continue reading Unfolding plans 160 – Meetings
Unfolding plans 155 – Change Management Institute
I did my pitch to the Change Management Institute last week. The evening was held in the Northumbria University Business School where the Manor’s goods yard used to be. It was the first time I had ever been in the building and I must say it was impressive. I think what I said went down … Continue reading Unfolding plans 155 – Change Management Institute
Unfolding plans 153 – men or women
The presentations at the Women in IT event that SOCITM launched were great. There were lots of similar stories that reminded the audience, if it needed to be reminded, that the job of getting true diversity in the IT industry is far from over. I covered most of what went on in a previous blog … Continue reading Unfolding plans 153 – men or women
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 