Five thousand years ago the Egyptians buried people under pyramids. Businesses have been doing the same ever since. It is an old joke. The first time I ever heard it though was from Stephen Kelly, CEO of Sage and he was giving the keynote presentation at that year’s Dynamo conference. Everyone laughed yet it is … Continue reading Don’t bury people under pyramids
Another goodbye
Losing one of your team is unfortunate but losing two in the same month is downright careless. I said goodbye to Neil a couple of weeks ago but today was Pam’s turn. She was one of the first people I met on coming to Durham, although I think it was up at Rivergreen rather than … Continue reading Another goodbye
Unfolding plans 178 – Out of the toolbox
The topic for this round of presentations has been ‘Out of the Toolbox’. The title is an obvious reference to thinking outside the box but also attempts to draw us back to the work that we do. It was Saul Kaplan who said that we need to take our ideas off the white board and … Continue reading Unfolding plans 178 – Out of the toolbox
Unfolding plans 171 – Document management
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 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 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 162 – #Dynamites15
Last night’s Dynamites15 was excellent. The banqueting hall in Newcastle Civic Centre was packed to the gunnels with a whole host of people interested in the tech industry across the North East. Every seat was sold which made it a bigger and better event than the first one we had last year. A huge amount … Continue reading Unfolding plans 162 – #Dynamites15
Unfolding plans 161 – Fun Day
Of all the audiences that I speak to, I find young children to be the hardest. I’m sure I would get used to it but I’d have to work hard to be a teacher. This morning we laid on a fun day at the education development Centre for a group of Year 5 pupils from … Continue reading Unfolding plans 161 – Fun Day
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
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 