Weeknotes

Weeknote 430: co-floundering

This week I have learned: I appear to have gone from three co-founders to one founder at an alarming rate of knots. Hey ho. Professional game designers. Fascinating. I ask for a room to use for the afternoon. God answers. The Grief Curve is a funny thing. Especially when combined with relief. I love Decathlon. … Continue reading Weeknote 430: co-floundering

Management, Social, Technology

What three questions?

I love simple questions that have complex and nuanced answers. In a conversation with my dad at the weekend, we came up with three that might for the starting point for a deep dialogue with a group of people about how they work together. The first one is one I've used a fair bit already, … Continue reading What three questions?

Management, Technology

What if “commodity” IT isn’t a commodity?

Fungible is one of those words that sounds like it should be onomatopeiac but isn't. It does, though, represent a crucial element of what makes something a commodity: fungible means that you can swap in and out without concern. For example, I can buy Tate and Lyle white sugar or Silver Spoon white sugar, put … Continue reading What if “commodity” IT isn’t a commodity?

Other Stuff

What if your systems are the result of your culture?

Semiotics is something in which I'm becoming increasingly obsessed. The study of signs and signals to understand underlying culture and beliefs, it's a method of interpreting the world around us at more than face value. In my work over many years now I have regularly heard the words Culture and Behaviour used interchangeably, and the … Continue reading What if your systems are the result of your culture?

General

10 questions to ask about collaboration

I'm currently working with colleagues at the Leading Edge Forum to pull together some of the work that I've done with them on the concept of collaboration. Checklists of questions are often a useful tool, so here are 10 questions you can ask when thinking about improving collaboration in your organisation... 1. How well does … Continue reading 10 questions to ask about collaboration

Weeknotes

Weeknote 428: saying it out loud

This week I have learned: the challenges of being a founder can start before you've even begun say it out loud. It helps. for all the planning it's not until you're actually in the room with people until you know whether things will work or not. My Dad Wrote A Porno is probably the least … Continue reading Weeknote 428: saying it out loud

collaboration, Management, Technology

The problem with “free”

Would Microsoft Teams be used more effectively if customers had to pay for it rather than it being bundled for "free" into Office 365 packages? Here's my logic... The successful adoption of any software depends on good change management around its introduction. The amount that is spent is directly proportional to the overall cost of … Continue reading The problem with “free”

Weeknotes

Weeknote 427: getting under the bonnet

This week I have learned: A relatively small number of liquorice allsorts can make me feel quite sick. Politics is now beyond me. A few words can take immense emotional effort. Get people to talk with other people. They'll work it out with a bit of course correction. Make it physical. Make it tactile. It … Continue reading Weeknote 427: getting under the bonnet

Management, Technology

The trouble with Enterprise Architecture

About 15 years ago I found myself running a project management course for a local authority in Scotland. I was doing my usual pitch at the start of my career history, talking about how I'd been an architect, first solution then enterprise, at the BBC. A chap in the front row's face looked like thunder. … Continue reading The trouble with Enterprise Architecture