Author: alan

Strategy, Architecture & Problem-Solving

Hospital ward

How much is too much training?

I’m divided in this, but lean towards only brief training, just enough to inform them, rather than enough to practice.   On one hand, it pays to understand why change in general is necessary and specifically, why the change that you’re about to implement is necessary. Often I see professionals who spend time with the…
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Exclusivity

Exclusive Relationships

Have you considered the exclusivity of your relationships? This follows on from the post regarding the value of the data and the priority attached to the relationship or the data. I want to further explore the value of the relationship and shine some light on a different approach. The Scenario It’s the same scenario as…
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Traynor Guitar Amp

How accurate is your testing routine?

Testing is not just for software, but for the business processes, organisation or service that you’re implementing? I’ve seen many test routines that are too artificial, too removed from the reality of what the users will go through. Fortunately this factor has improved over time, especially with more focus on user stories. Let’s consider one…
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Suggestions Template

Suggestions Template

Downloadable template in Excel and pdf for use with the forthcoming book Running with Knickers on Your Head covering change and service improvement in front-line services. Use this for grouping suggestions by affinity, i.e. those with the same theme go in the same column. Excel download: Suggestions Template Pdf download: Suggestions Template  

RACI Matrix

RACI Matrix Template Download

Downloadable template in Excel and pdf for the RACI and RASCI matrices for use with the forthcoming book Running with Knickers on Your Head covering change and service improvement in front-line services. Excel Template: RACI Matrix Template PDF of RACI Version 1: RACI Matrix Version 1 PDF of RACI Version 2: RACI Matrix Version 2 PDF of RASCI: RASCI…
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Objectives Download

Downloadable template in Excel and pdf for use with the forthcoming book Running with Knickers on Your Head covering change and service improvement in front-line services. Objectives PDF Objectives Excel Template

RigourAndCreativity

Art requires rigour, science requires creativity

I heard this quote the other day, but I didn’t catch who originally said it. Art requires rigour, science requires creativity The first point is that it’s contrary to the standard view. The second point is that both perspectives are valid and that there shouldn’t be that much of a difference. It then made me…
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rain

Rain versus Innovation

The following tweet made me consider, initially thinking about the place of Manchester in innovation, but also the wider concept of personal transport versus climate. It rains in Manchester. From personal experience, Manchester doesn’t feel the rainiest place in the United Kingdom, but it does have a reputation for significant rainfall. That doesn’t dampen the…
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Agreement

Draft or Final

Some organisations have a different approach to how they handle the status of a document. The approach belies a more fundamental culture of how work is commissioned and reviewed and how staff are viewed. Background One of my clients exhibited odd behaviour regarding commissioning work and approving it. Due to the nature of the engagement,…
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Gibson Guitar

Gibson, where is the strategy?

As news increases of looming bankruptcy for Gibson, the guitar manufacture, I’m left to wonder what happened. How did such an iconic brand end up in such a situation. Gibson is iconic. Ask anyone to name a brand of guitar and it’ll be the answer roughly 50% of the time. I’m reminded of Harley Davidson…
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