Category Archives: local government

Is augmented reality the future for archives in a digital age?

I have been thinking about the future of archives for the next 20 years and how services will be delivered.  I am interested in how the public (archive users) will access the archives. In particular, I am interested in how … Continue reading

Posted in culture, information management, learning organisation, local government, records management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Are we all managers now?: the rise of the self-organising organisations.

The future of manager is connected to the future of work.  There has been talk of the self-organising organisation, which would cut or end the need for managers.  Instead, we are all managers now. The future of work will be … Continue reading

Posted in change managment, culture, learning organisation, local government, management | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Has horizon scanning failed the public sector by its inability to scan the financial crisis?

In 2008, I attended The February meeting of the FAN Club (Future Analysts Network).  This was a meeting jointly hosted by Foresight Horizon Scanning Centre and the Cabinet Office’s Strategy Unit. The meeting was there to discuss the horizon scanning … Continue reading

Posted in change managment, information management, innovation, learning organisation, local government, path dependency | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two smart phone apps that need to be built now to help police and local government.

Over the weekend, I have considered two applications that are needed to help police and local planners. In the age of social media, I am not sure why these do not already exist.  The first is about accident investigations. The … Continue reading

Posted in innovation, knowledge worker, local government | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monologue vs. dialogue: The myth that governments need more or better communication.

There is an on-going myth within social media circles that governments need more and better communication.  The problem is that this is not true. Governments spend a large amount of time and money communicating with the public. They have annual … Continue reading

Posted in information management, innovation, knowledge worker, leadership, local government | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Using your company’s services like a customer: your chance to learn and change?

In a recent blog post, Dan Lee had an excellent suggestion that gets to the heart of local government improvement. On point 12 of the post, he suggested that  ”Use local government services like a resident would to see how … Continue reading

Posted in change managment, culture, customer service, innovation, local government, management | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Do we still have typing pools?: Why culture trumps technology even social media

Dan Slee posted an interesting and provocative post with predictions about the future of social media in local government. http://danslee.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/epic-change-12-predictions-in-digital-in-local-government-for-2012/  I thought I would give my response and my prediction at the end. Overall, I tend to agree with him … Continue reading

Posted in change managment, knowledge worker, learning organisation, local government, path dependency | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Outsourcing Records Management and Archives: A hypothesis in search of evidence

In today’s financially constrained times, there is a search to find ways to do more with less yet increase efficiency and effectiveness with records management.  One area where savings and efficiencies have been promised is in records management.***  In particular, … Continue reading

Posted in knowledge worker, local government, management, records management | 4 Comments

Does the fish rot from the head down? When organisations go toxic

An ancient phrase says that a fish rots from the head down.  The phrase is known in China as well as Europe in the middle ages. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fish-rot-from-the-head-down.html  What is interesting about the consistency between the meanings for the phrase is … Continue reading

Posted in change managment, learning organisation, local government, management | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Freedom of Information and Transparency performance improvement tools: Case Study: Camden squatters and empty properties

In the press there has been some concern that the move towards transparency either in £500 spend lists or specific requests for disclosure of information, has led to increased fraud.   However, I would argue that neither FOI nor the transparency … Continue reading

Posted in change managment, customer service, information management, local government | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments