I thought the traffic was bad through the Team Valley but having travelled to Manchester yesterday I'm thinking I've been getting away with it lightly. Lee and I were making our way to a Local Government Strategy Forum at the Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club just north of the city. The drive down … Continue reading Unfolding plans 170 – free from location
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 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 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 158 – three great speakers
We’ve held the last Society of ICT Managers (SOCITM) meeting for the year. It was a bit touch and go at times getting the speakers and the running order sorted but in the end Graham, as always pulled it off. What could have been a bit of a pup turned out to be another interesting … Continue reading Unfolding plans 158 – three great speakers
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
Unfolding plans 152 – taking stock
Friday is always a good day to take stock. Today is day five of National Customer Service Week and so it’s a great opportunity to think about what has happened. It was not just ICT Services that got involved. Social Care Direct, Transport, First Contact, Customer Services (of course), Neighbourhood Services, Highways, Regeneration and Economic … Continue reading Unfolding plans 152 – taking stock
Unfolding plans 150 – Wear your badge
Day three of National Customer Service Week. I’m cheating a bit today as I’m not involved in any specific event to celebrate the week and so I’m going to talk about what I got up to yesterday afternoon. Having said that, focussing on customers should be and is a constant activity. Peter told me that … Continue reading Unfolding plans 150 – Wear your badge
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 