Blog

Empowering key workers in the NHS

What do frontline NHS workers need to use their time more effectively – especially in this COVID-19 crisis? A way to cut through red-tape and quickly communicate their needs to those who can help. In partnership with Ropes & Gray and Methods Analytics, we have built a prototype for a simple communication tool: a survey […]

Digital Transformation – Time to burn the boats?

In a new blog article published at Digital Leaders, Professor Alan Brown asks whether the recent acceleration in digital transformation is a significant permanent step forward or a temporary blip. Here is a short introduction: ——————– The global economy is struggling to cope with the unprecedented challenges of the last few weeks as we proceed […]

Presentations for The Oxford Group

Recently, our Professor Alan Brown presented a series of short lectures for The Oxford Group. These videos are now available online, covering a range of topics from sustainable recovery to digital transformation. Five dilemmas Risk, trust, value Digital Transformation directions Sustainable recovery  

Innovation in a time of crisis is all about speed…but also requires direction

An important and thoughtful piece this week by Roan Conway from the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) reminding us that speed is just one of the levers for innovation. https://medium.com/iipp-blog/purpose-driven-innovation-in-a-time-of-covid-19-296e9d05cb   He points out that a lot of the rhetoric from the UK government is quite rightly about the urgent need for […]

Post-COVID: re-organising Localism around 3 digital principles

On Tuesday, I keynoted a senior leadership session for Birmingham City Council. The session was for leaders, councillors, and senior executives – about 35 in total – to discuss post-COVID re-organisation and management. We discussed a range of pressing issues confronting the Council. These included: data trusts, data security, supply chain resilience, efficiencies, and cross-silo […]

The Invincible Company

Just released in the last few days is the latest book by Alex Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur entitled “The Invincible Company: How to constantly reinvent your organization with inspiration from the worlds best business models”. https://www.strategyzer.com/books/the-invincible-company In line with their previous books, this builds on their success with the business model canvas to explore its […]

Community and Public Service Post-COVID

On 17th April I participated in a TechUK panel of people considering the impact COVID-19 is having on local public services, together with the themes that will be very important in shaping our Place-based post-COVID future.  I was joined by Paul Brewer, Director for Digital & Resources, Adur & Worthing Councils, Helen Gerling, Managing Director, […]

Living through a digital revolution – what’s next for large established organisations?

Just published at Digital Leaders, Professor Alan Brown has been considering the implications of the current crisis on digital transformation at Large Established Organizations (LEOs). For LEOs the impact of moving to digital ways of working is a complex journey. With all such change, major barriers must be addressed, especially for LEOs. Overcoming inertia, dealing […]

From Big Tech Platforms to Digital Utilities

Now published on the Digital Leaders platform, Professor Alan Brown has been considering the implications of the current crisis on digital technology platforms, and some of the lessons that can be drawn from this. Digital Leaders is a shared professional online space and face-to-face programme promoting digital transformation best practices that has a subscriber list […]

Public Sector Innovation Conference: Chair’s Blog

By Mark Thompson (pictured) Like ‘digital transformation’, innovation is an over-used and under-examined term. This applies within business generally, but more especially within the public sector, where there are limits to the amount of disruption and risk that it is considered acceptable to carry within the public domain. Further, a range of questions arises when government […]