The pace of change

Melrum asked me today if they could reprint an article of mine first published in one of their reports 'How to use social media to engage employees'. It was first published in summer 2007 and I've just re-read it and realised that, although things have moved on a bit, it's not a hugely different picture than it was two years ago. This illustrates quite nicely my assertion that change in business communications always seems to take longer than we all expect. I think one of the contributory factors is the resistance and reluctance we face from the traditionalists who still far outnumber the progressives in the employee communications industry.

Mobile intranet

Being able to access the intranet from anywhere is already a reality for many organisations. However, very few are providing effective mobile access on devices such as Blackberrys or iPhones. Mostly, the service is set up for the PC, but increasingly people want access through a truly mobile device – and which may not even normally be part of their corporate network. The danger is that it will take some time for our IT colleagues to step up to this challenge, which will be in stark contrast to the speed with which apps for these small devices are appearing which, of course, is setting our expectations.

Intranet Futures

Last week I was invited by Paul Miller, founder of the IBF to be ‘in conversation’ with him in front of an audience at an IBF meeting. The idea was that we’d have a conversation about the future of intranets and then turn it into an open forum. And it worked very well. There was an audience of about 25 people, from a range of different organisations. It was also good to catch up with some people in the audience whom I interact with on Twitter etc., but had never actually met.

We had a wide ranging discussion, covering a variety subjects and we certainly stimulated a useful debate amongst the audience.

One subject we discussed was senior awareness and ownership of the intranet – where many organisations are moving to more of a shared ownership model, to replace the single ownership model that existed up to now. This is happening because of the continued elevation up the criticality scale of intranets and an increasing role in business process and change, rather than being exclusively the domain of comms activity. At present, I think most intranets are managed out of communications – primarily because they’ve been communications led, not because of any underpinning logic. However, the changing role of the intranet does not seems to be putting pressure on communications people to relinquish their role and I think that may be because we’re adapting into this new, broader, business focused role.

We also discussed why some organisations with excellent intranets give poor customer service and whether the intranet could be an enabler for improvement. This opened up an interesting discussion around the difference between intranet, internet and extranet. Although I’ve been saying this for some time and it is yet to happen, I firmly believe the distinction is breaking down and that in future we’ll just have The Net and people will be able to access any information that is relevant to them no matter where it sits, or where they are. There are one or two technical challenges with that approach however, and there’s also a usability challenge as people take comfort in knowing where they are. In other words, knowing that a particular piece of content is ‘inside’ an organisation (and therefore may be privileged) is important in terms of how people view it and use it.

Platform wars

When will technologists stop arguing amongst themselves about which platform is best, and start to think about what is going to be best for users? When will technologists realise their platforms are a means to an end, not an end in themselves?

Please!

Digital Divide

I spent a fair amount of time thinking about digital futures. I have recently been looking at the take up of social media in the organisation where I work. In the early days of social media, people used to talk about 95% of people reading, 5% of people contributing and 0.1% of people originating. However, as social media have matured and found its place in many organisations, I think we need to re-think this. I witness a fair proportion of people who simply don't engage at all. Look at Facebook. How many people do you know who have "no friends", or who signed up once and never went back, or just can;t be bothered? And who never read a blog. Or don't really know what Twitter is. Or Wikipedia. It's not that they don't have the technology - the traditional Digital Divide - it's more that they don't see any need to engage. There's nothing in it for them. Translate that into the workplace and you can quickly see how the 'transformational effects' many commentators say will come from these services may take a little longer to deliver than we think.

But then, isn't that always the case?

Philadelphia

As the Phillies won the 2008 World Series, the baseball tour this year was to Philadelphia. It was a great tour. Four of us travelled out from Heathrow and met up with two more of the guys who'd spent the previous few days watching baseball in New York and travelled down and meet us. The ballpark was great and we saw the last four Phillies games of the season. Unfortunately, the Phillies had won the pennant the night before, so we missed those celebrations, but we were there for the last game of the season - which the Phillies won - complete with fireworks and plenty of give-aways.

Philadelphia is a great city. Older than you'd expect for the US, and we stayed in one of the oldest buildings in town - the Alexander Inn - pretty central in downtown. The hotel was very comfortable, good sized rooms, a great price and with a very friendly staff. Should I ever return to Philadelphia it's where I'd stay.

As is tradition, I took an open-top bus tour of the city, and also did a fair amount of walking - not something you can do in many US cities. Naturally, I ran up the 'Rocky' steps in front of the Museum of Art, although it is a little disappointing that the 'Rocky' statue has been relegated to a spot at the bottom of the steps under some trees. The statue was donated to the city after the filming had ended and it took pride of place in front of the Museum for a few years until the city luminaries decided it wasn't really art and needed to be moved. So it was moved to elsewhere in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, there followed a big decline in visitors to the Museum and so eventually the City came to its senses and the statue was moved back.

Of course, we had Philly Cheesesteak - at Jim's Steaks on South Street, which is probably the most famous 'restaurant' in Philadelphia. Huge queues, moving slowly through the restaurant, just like at a London Pie and Mash. In fact, it was just like a Pie and Mash shop. Only instead of "pie, mash and liquor please" it was "Wizz, With, please".

The main evening hang out was Dirty Frank's Bar just round the corner from the hotel. An old Prohibition era dive bar, which had no name outside it, was filthy dirty and is only called 'Frank's' because of the murals painted on the outside walls - all of which as famous Frank's (Sinatra, Frankenstein and so on). However, it was a bar full of character, full of characters.

So, with the New York Yankees winning the 2009 World Series, we need to decide where we go on tour. It won't be NY as we've already been there. But we will need to see the Yankees. That's a tour rule.

Thorn Audax

I've had the new Thorn Audax bike for a few weeks now and have put about 500 miles on it. It's a beautiful ride. Smooth and comfortable, and you can really feel the quality in the components. The braking is impressive and the gear changes wonderfully smooth. And it's faster than I expected for a steel bike, with wider tyres than my normal road bike.

All I need to figure out now is how to break in a firm leather saddle!

Tiger Tales

Now the weather has turned, it is time to put the Tiger away until the Spring. Before then however, a group of us drove the Kent countryside down to Deal for breakfast on the pier. Beautiful weather, some great driving and a pretty decent breakfast made for a fun morning. In fact, the breakfast was huge - as you can see in the photo.

The only hiccup was an odd noise coming from the engine on the way back. Which got louder and louder and sounding very much like a wallet threatening catastrophy. I made it home okay and left the car for a few days before daring to go and investigate. When I did, I couldn't find the source until, just as I turned the engine off there was a bang and out from under the car rolled the alternator pulley wheel. So, not so serious after all as I was able to put a new pulley and fan on the alternator using parts from an old broken one I had in the garage.

And that's probably it for the year, with just a couple of small jobs to do over the winter - re-fixing the new seats and installing an oil pressure guage, which I think is essential for track days. Oh, and I'd probably better clean it.

Baseball

I've decided to start playing baseball again. I was injured for much of the season before last and last year I decided not to play so I could fit in all the other things I'm up to - the car, bike, exercise and so on. And now I'm really looking forward to it. I was elected chairman of the the Kent Mariners club, which is a non-executive position, but allows me to help out with the running of the club. When it comes to playing however, I think I'm now too old to play competitively, but in many ways that takes the pressure off, allowing me to enjoy the opportunities I do get more than I would have.

The club looks like it will have some useful fresh playing blood in the team and we're finally going to have some strength in depth. 2010 should be a good year for The Mariners.

And training begins properly right after Christmas.

Borough Market

Borough market has become one of my favourite places. Full of character, full of life, full of good food. Quality food. Food like it should be. Food like it used to be.

And the other day, after a successful shopping trip and wander through the market we rose up in the lift for lunch in Roast. A great, honest, restaurant using fresh market ingredients, sering great English dishes. I started with Haggis and poached egg, followed by a burger and Kim had suckling pig as a main course. Beautifully cooked, great service and a friendly and lively atmosphere. We'll certainly be returning. And you should try it too.

39 Steps

I went to see the West End production of the 39 Steps at the Criterion the other day. I got a great seat off Lastminute.com - four rows back in the centre of the stalls. It was a show I'd been meaning to see for some time, but it was never quite top of the list, so I never got round to it.

But last week I did. And on balance I'm glad I went.

It was an entertaining, ripping yarn. Only four actors playing all the characters inevitably meant an original production, which bowled along at a frantic pace. But it was well done, even if there was a touch of farce about it. A little bit childish. A little bit public school. But still good fun.

Five or six out of ten I think.

Mott the Hoople

A few weeks ago I was in Philadelphia. When I was there I discovered that Mott the Hoople were playing at the Hammersmith Apollo. But the concerts were taking place whilst I was away. I was gutted. One of my favourite bands from the seventies, I regularly have Mott tracks on my MP3 player.

So I couldn't make the concert. But I could get the CD. I ordered the live concert CD the moment I got back. What a disappointment! Mott had been stuck in time for me, and hearing them playing some of the early material and some of their big hits just made me realise that Ian Hunter is now in his seventies..... and sounds it. He's still a rocker, but I'm afraid these gigs were simply a step too far for this great band. You should have stayed at home boys!

Reasons not to commute London on a bike...

Taxis.

Red buses.

White vans.

Rain.

Lack of drying facilities at the office.

Cycling home in wet gear.

La Cage Aux Folles

I saw John Barrowman in the leading role in La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre a couple of days ago. Not a show I'd seen before, although I have, of course, seen the Hollywood interpretation - The Birdcage - with Nathan Lane and Robin Williams.

What a delight. I found this Menier Chocolate Factory production a delight. The theatre was perfect for this production, with a smaller stage favouring a simpler set, and a great view from my seat in the central stalls. The show was deliciously camp, over the top in just the right places, and featuring one of the greatest musical scores. The humour was well done, and there was a real, and seemingly genuine, connection with the audience - unusual for a West End production.

Simon Burke (Georges) - who I'd previously seen in The Sound of Music - was excellent, particularly in one of the show's big numbers (and my favourite) Song on the Sand.

Special mention has to go out to John Barrowman however, playing Albin. I'm not his biggest fan, but I do think this was a role he was destined to play. He has terrific stage presence, his delivery is not too precious and his singing voice is great - better live than any of the recordings I've heard.

All in all, one of the best London shows I've seen for a while. I may even go back.

Norton

The other day my PC had 'a moment' and the Norton security software crashed and wouldn't re-start. I did a quick internet search and ended up on the Norton support site. Rather than try and fix it myself, I opted for the remote help service - which is free. In no time at all an agent in India had taken control of my PC, diagnosed the problem, fixed it and in the process, upgraded me to the next version of software.

All in a very short space of time and for free.

Throughout the process he kept me informed of what he was doing, what would happen next and how long we had left to go. I was very impressed, and the experience has left me feeling a sense of loyalty towards Norton because I know that if I have any problems in future, they will be sorted promptly and effectively. What a delight!