If your business uses digital technology in anyway then you should have some sort of forum or group that comes together to talk about it. I always recommend this to any business that I work with as it makes such a difference to the understanding and direction that the company is taking. There is a … Continue reading The IT group
Transport modelling
There are some conversations which make my head hurt, where I struggle to keep up with what is being said. When the people I am with are talking I recognise some of the words but can’t picture the concepts in my head. I am the kind of person that thinks in metaphors and if I … Continue reading Transport modelling
Five simple steps
Whenever I am asked if I can get involved in a helping an organization with a strategic approach to technology I always come back with the same answer. I will do it but only if I can start with an understanding of the business. To get this understanding, I talk to as many people as … Continue reading Five simple steps
Dynamo Cyber Workstream
Following our successful Think Tank event in February, the Dynamo Cyber Workstream is going from strength to strength. Dynamo is a volunteer led group set up with the core mission to ‘Grow the North East IT Economy’ through collaboration, innovation, skills. We are a voice for the sector regionally and nationally and we generate ‘noise’ … Continue reading Dynamo Cyber Workstream
Forget bimodal
Have you heard about bimodal IT? It's a new one on me. Apparently it is one of Gartner’s and has been around for a while. I can't be expected to keep all of the jargon. That would be a lifetime's work. In short, bimodal means that there are two types of IT. The stuff that … Continue reading Forget bimodal
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
Doing our own thing
We are prisoners of our language. It defines what we mean yet it confines our ability to change. The way we describe things sets the tone for all subsequent thought about that subject, if we are not careful. I recall reading how Taiichi Ohno, considered to be the father of the Toyota Production System, had … Continue reading Doing our own thing
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 