In my time working at the Government Digital Service I have to admit I got a bit weirded out by the relentless focus on User Needs. It felt cultish. To an extent it still does. But having had some time to reflect, and having spent some time working in different environments in the past six … Continue reading Business needs, user needs, theory x and theory y
Category: Themes
This week I have learned: - once you start to ask questions is difficult to know when to stop - the desire to create solutions is strong - "digital" had created a new wave of magic boxes to solve intractable problems - is all about the network - it's hard to emotionally detach from critique … Continue reading Weeknote 284: multiple personae disorder
During my recent research project, which I continue to write up into a coherent report for the lovely people at the LEF, one of the conversations that appeared to happen again and again with my interviewees went along the lines of: Me: "Would I be able to attribute this conversation to you?" Them: "I'd love … Continue reading Uncommunicative
I spent a bit of time last week with a couple of salespeople from one of the big PC manufacturers. It was an eye-opening experience. It's been awhile since I've looked at that end of the devices business. When I was at Microsoft in those heady days in the lead up to and release of … Continue reading The point of no differentiation
A new week, a new adventure. On Monday I started a new professional challenge, at the heart of professional services organization, heading their digital initiatives. What does digital even mean these days? Well, it's everything and nothing, but for my own sanity I see it as a way of describing the ways in which technology … Continue reading Digital professional services
Things I have learned this week: for supply chain organizations it's the same story: "How do we innovate?"; "How do we scale that innovation?" problem is, supply chain organizations are geared for scaled supply chains, not innovating. case studies trump models just about every time - practice over theory. thing is, case studies are just … Continue reading Weeknote 280: Rubik’s revenge
The recent hubbub about Google's Go-Playing Artificial intelligence beating one of the world's finest human players got me thinking myself. Firstly, one of the interesting reflections on the tournament was that the machine was playing moves that a human just wouldn't have thought appropriate (or even thought of). What this seems to belie is that … Continue reading OK, Go
We aren't the sort of family that has much in the way of heirlooms passed from generation to generation. In fact I think that the only thing that I have inherited (other than my wit and dashing good looks, naturally) is a bound edition of a volume of the satirical magazine Punch from around 1918. … Continue reading Advertorial
This week I learned: sometimes the new gigs literally just appear. This is why I just network endlessly rather than worrying about a pipeline. new gig is a time for application of what I've been learning over the past few years (more details to come shortly). the creative process is painful and slow and painful … Continue reading Weeknote 278: timing
Earlier this week I ordered a new pair of glasses. I did it online. Last summer I was looking for a new pair of prescription sunglasses. After getting my eyes tested, and selecting some frames, the high street optician I was using (one of the chains) came up with a number in excess of £500 … Continue reading The first time…
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