The demonstration was impressive but then again they always are. Microsoft had done a good job in setting up some mock environments to show their newest technology in action. It all went on in the banqueting suite at the Centre for Life in Newcastle, which seems to be the favourite domain of the big tech … Continue reading Collaborating now
Great stuff
Our Great Staff, Great Stuff awards is one of those annual events that stand out in the calendar. It marks the change of season from Autumn to Winter and shows that the calendar year is coming to an end. It just seems to have come round so quickly this year. I can still remember sitting … Continue reading Great stuff
Effect on performance
A trip down to Manchester seemed like a pleasant day out. I was asked to go down and speak at the North West regional meeting of Socitm. The invitation had come about when Paul and I had met at the Local CIO Council and he was one of the people who had seen my book. … Continue reading Effect on performance
Elephants again
It was time to think about those elephants again, you know the ones in the room. Those hulking great issues that everyone knows about yet nobody wants to talk about. We’ve had a few sessions with dawn to try and flush them out. Can you flush out an elephant? Perish the thought. Was this session … Continue reading Elephants again
Work is changing
There is a very real issue we face and that is whether we can maintain the way that we work by continuing to be organised as we are. Many organisations, especially public sector ones are at a tipping point where the addition of greater and greater amounts of funding will not solve the underlying problems of demand and supply. … Continue reading Work is changing
General regulation
In this post-referendum, pre-Brexit era, the reach of the European Union can still be felt throughout the land. I’m not stating my position on the in or out campaign but anyone who really knows me would be clear about my views. Instead I wanted to talk about the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR for … Continue reading General regulation
Building skills
I must admit that I find children and young people the worst audience to present to. They scare me stiff and as Graham and I walked into the main hall at Farringdon Community Academy I began to wonder what we had let ourselves in for. There were at least one hindered and fifty of them, … Continue reading Building skills
Mega board revisited
Yesterday we had our first performance meeting under the new management arrangements. Bringing the management and leadership teams together every fortnight hadn’t delivered what we, or at least I had hoped for. The meetings had lacked focus and purpose and so it was time to try something new. We need to keep trying until we … Continue reading Mega board revisited
Driving data to the average
Data is such a hot topic now. There are many good examples emerging of where it has been used to improve businesses as well as plenty of examples of when things have gone wrong. I was at a Digital Strategy and Business Intelligence Breakfast Meeting in Newcastle last week and one of the speakers, from … Continue reading Driving data to the average
Guerrilla Workers unite
‘You’re not the only Guerrilla Worker you know’ Ian said to me. I must admit I was a little taken aback by his tone. It was as if he was accusing me of claiming to be something that I wasn’t. When I stopped and thought about it however I felt better. Perhaps I am not … Continue reading Guerrilla Workers unite
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 