For many years our friends in the Finance team have been able to argue that a computer system is a tangible asset, something that has book value. It's meant that you've been able to treat computer systems as capital assets, amortising the cost of them over a number of years in that witchcraft that is … Continue reading CIO Priorities 24: Replatforming legacy
This week I have learned: the old Likely Lads thing about not finding out the score is utterly impossible in our connected world. Cambridge is basically a theme park from the mind of JK Rowling and a bunch of drunk academics. That's not to say that it's not utterly enchanting. there are few things as … Continue reading Weeknote 394: Fotboll
Security is a topic that seems to slip in and out of priority in organisations primarily based on experiences within (a hack) or without (a massive hack that gets publicity) but just too often in ways that are reactive. And there is inherent tension between getting stuff done and doing things securely because the only … Continue reading CIO Priorities 23 – Security
This used to be a really big thing, but the environmental agenda for greener IT seems to have dropped down the list for many in recent years. Indeed, every organisation that talks about doing things with Blockchain is taking the environmental technology stance of someone who buys a Porsche SUV. Cloud, however, is a really … Continue reading CIO Priorities 22 – Green IT
This specific priority, better integrating with the Facilities Management function has come from some of the many priorities I have observed that CIOs have at the moment. The world of property management is one that like so many has become increasingly technology-driven in recent years. The number of devices in buildings that have IP addresses … Continue reading CIO Priorities 21 – Integrating across the support silos
I've been lucky in the last few years to have had the opportunity to explore the world of technology startups, first in my short and somewhat underwhelming stint at Microsoft, and more recently through organisations like Digital Catapult and L Marks. There's a whole industry today that worships the idea of the startup, and encourages … Continue reading CIO Priorities 20 – Playing with startups
There is a weird dual-speed thing happening in organisations at the moment. The pace at which modern technology can be developed and deployed is running at a far faster pace than the speed at which we as humans can adapt. My favourite benchmark here is the gap between the invention of the internal combustion engine-powered … Continue reading CIO Priorities 19 – Speed of delivery
I've just read some of the John Doerr book Measure What Matters as the latest title from the WB40 book club. I say "some of" because it's a classic example to prove my theory that you only need to read the first three chapters of most business books. It's good, though. You can hear Chris … Continue reading Stamp OKRs
This week I have learned: - something of the creative potential of Oblique Strategies - that getting some people together in a room for a day can really move things forward - that I'm quite glad I ended up stuck on an aeroplane for the England game - what a slip diff is and when … Continue reading Weeknote 393: fútbol
You may have noticed a thing called GDPR in the past few months in your inbox. But compliance with data regulations is an ongoing headache for many CIOs, with occasional spotlights like GDPR thrown onto the subject over time. The fluidity of data in complex, web-enabled systems means that it's going to continue to be … Continue reading CIO Priorities 18 – Dealing with Data Compliance
