Category: General

A while ago I heard someone describe the fundamental problem with modern office design as being that office workspace designers design workspaces that would work perfectly well for offices that housed office workspace designers. Unfortunately most of us aren't office workspace designers. That thought has been bouncing around my head in recent weeks as I … Continue reading Designed for (my) life

The way in which you communicate sets the tone for what people think about you. Not so much what you say, but how you say it. This is the essence of a brand, creating the perceptions held about organisations and individuals by their customers and clients. In many ways the world of Corporate IT is trying … Continue reading Ditch the SLAs

A while back I wrote about an increasing feeling of worry I have with the way in which many disruptive digital start ups seem to take a fairly dismissive attitude to the established norms of society. Whilst that's on the one hand somewhat obvious (how can you be disruptive if you're not challenging the status … Continue reading The only way is ethics*

A few weeks ago I was able to announce, somewhat cryptically, another role on my ever-extending LinkedIn profile - as a Research Associate for the Leading Edge Forum. Now I can put some meat on the bones... The LEF have commissioned me to run an extensive research project looking into a topic which has fascinated … Continue reading The Sharing Organization

This week I have learned: the summer can come to an end quite spectacularly quickly my children are absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs a two-day working week really doesn't do itself justice Next week: first work proper with Leading Edge Forum.

This week I have learned: - un-constructive name-calling is surprisingly hurtful. Criticize by all means... - being the edge case of an automated process is surprisingly stressful. But at least they had the sense to talk to me about it... - there is a pre-holiday tax to be paid - and probably a post-holiday tax … Continue reading Weeknote 254: en vacances

The coal mining industry of post-Second World War Britain might not be the most obvious of places to seek ideas for how to address contemporary issues of digital transformation but, hey, go with me. The coal industry in the 1940s had barely changed since the turn of the century. Although coal was a primary source … Continue reading Down Pit

This week I have learned; - it's not so much "when one door closes, another door opens" as "will somebody please slow these ruddy revolving doors down before I puke!" - being recognised by complete strangers because of one's online activity is still a little unnerving (that sounds a lot more sordid than I meant) - once … Continue reading Weeknote 242: promotions

I spent a great couple of hours in the company of Anne Marie McEwan yesterday in the inspiring setting of the Royal Festival Hall. Our conversation covered many areas, but one thing that sprung up was why issues of improving the world of work should be of particular importance to employers at this point in time. … Continue reading The Employer 5 Forces

Things I have learned this week: - if you want to get a big audience for a blog post, paraphrase The Sound of Music Next week: Edelweiss.