My first meeting as chair of the Society of ICT Managers (North East) went well enough. There wasn’t a spare seat in the house, we got through the agenda, we finished on time and lunch was nice. We tried something new this time which made a big difference. It was Graham’s idea to theme the … Continue reading Unfolding plans 57 – Big Data. It is bigger than you think.
Unfolding plans 55 – change is a great agent for change
Change is a great agent for change. They say that necessity is the mother of all invention and it is much easier to introduce change during periods of turmoil. Austerity has helped in a strange way. The need to save money has allowed us to introduce many things that we could well have struggled with … Continue reading Unfolding plans 55 – change is a great agent for change
Unfolding plans 54 – 23 and 1/2 hours
There is a really interesting yet frightening video on You Tube called 23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health? I’m not usually bothered about such things. I’m aware I don’t do enough exercise and eat too much of the ‘wrong’ things yet I’ve been that way … Continue reading Unfolding plans 54 – 23 and 1/2 hours
Unfolding plans 52 – you must come and talk to us about
I was stopped in the lift by one of my colleagues. She said ‘you must come and talk to us about…’ At this point I braced myself ready for whatever problem was at the root of her statement. I guess it’s a hazard of my profession in that most people stop me when something goes … Continue reading Unfolding plans 52 – you must come and talk to us about
Unfolding Plans 51 – not the best time for a photo shoot
Perhaps this morning wasn’t the best of times for a photo shoot. By nine thirty when we had all gathered to have our pictures taken the moon had made its way across the sun. Our two greatest celestial bodies had combined to turn day back into night. I know that the eclipse, however partial, had … Continue reading Unfolding Plans 51 – not the best time for a photo shoot
Unfolding plans 50 – Stories are the best way to get information to stick
A funny thing happened to me on the way into the office. I was listening to the radio and an advert came on for a well-known broadcasting, media and content company. The gist was that they said that they were offering an excellent service to their customers as ninety per cent of their service calls … Continue reading Unfolding plans 50 – Stories are the best way to get information to stick
Unfolding 49 – more women into ICT
Getting more women into ICT has been made a key objective of Dynamo. Charlie has produced an excellent infographic which lays out our plans and objectives in an easy to understand and very saleable chart. It is a wheel or a roundel, with the Executive team the Main Board and Work-stream Leaders in the middle … Continue reading Unfolding 49 – more women into ICT
Unfolding plans 46 – What is digital?
Last week I attended my first Executive Leader’s Network in Reading. There is another one in September and while it’s a long way away it might be worth considering. I was asked to host or chair or lead a round-table discussion which turned out to be me standing up in front of twenty five or … Continue reading Unfolding plans 46 – What is digital?
Unfolding plans 45 – a day of meetings
Yesterday was a day of meetings. It was management Wednesday after all. I started at nine and finished at five with a few minutes in the middle for lunch. I know that’s not a particularly long day but keeping focussed for such a period is an achievement in itself. I was mentally exhausted by the … Continue reading Unfolding plans 45 – a day of meetings
Unfolding plans 44 – communication and coordination
It all boils down to communication. Fred Brooks in his excellent collection of essays entitled ‘The Mythical Man-Month’ said that the purpose of organization is to reduce the amount of communication and coordination necessary. Note he didn’t say the role of an organization, just organization. What a sweeping statement borne from logic. We organise to … Continue reading Unfolding plans 44 – communication and coordination
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 