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…
Helping Out in Digital Jersey’s COVID-19 Challenge
We are delighted to announce that Professor Alan Brown has been announced as a judge in Digital Jersey’s COVID-19 hackathon taking place this week. Professor Brown joins a distinguished panel that will be assessing the entries to decide who is awarded support from a £30,000…
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…
Helping set the strategic agenda at the Home Office
As the senior leadership of Police and Public Protection Team (PPPT) of Home Office Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) division gathered on 31 March 2020 to evolve their vision for public protection in the digital era, Professor Mark Thompson was invited to deliver a keynote…
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…
Turbocharging localism
Post-election, the government now has headspace to consider some more ambitious policies for the coming few years. How will it wield its power? By devolving it, perhaps? Localism is gaining traction – but critically, we need to understand the concept differently. It needs redefining for the age…
Getting it right this time: Why the strategy is not about delivery for NHSX
Mark Thompson’s blog for ComputerWeekly.com: The Government needs to move on from the mantras and beliefs that exist around digital and technology – the new NHSX organisation could set an example by transforming healthcare. Read more.
There is No Such Thing as a Digital Strategy
Let me say it again. There is no such thing as a Digital Strategy. Honestly. If you think your organization needs a new digital strategy in 2019, then I’m sorry to say that you’ve completely missed the boat. It is misguided and dangerous to be…
The Slow Pace of Digital Transformation in Business Schools
Business Schools are struggling to keep pace with the digital business world. Observers point to the sterile teaching methods, the scale and composition of cohorts, and outdated content taught at business schools they too often find. Some go further and argue that their structure and…
The Battle for “Digital” at the Heart of UK Government
The brave and inspired comments by Tom Loosemore at the Science and Technology Committee on their inquiry into digital government this week remind us that there is a battle raging over the future of digital transformation at the heart of the UK government. https://government.diginomica.com/2018/11/27/tom-loosemore-reminds-us-just-how-much-digital-government-is-flailing-in-the-uk/ As…