Comments for Helpful Technology http://www.helpfultechnology.com Digital for people with more sense than money Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:44:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Feet on the ground by Steph http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2012/02/feet-on-the-ground/#comment-96530 Steph Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:44:16 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=2290#comment-96530 I like that idea. Whether there's the culture and awareness internally to get individuals or small outfits like mine to do that stitching, I'm not sure. As a COI-er, I certainly found it easier to nix bad client ideas frankly and quickly than I do now, where it's easy to be seen as just plain obstructive. But let's be optimistic, and hope things are shifting that way. I like that idea.

Whether there’s the culture and awareness internally to get individuals or small outfits like mine to do that stitching, I’m not sure. As a COI-er, I certainly found it easier to nix bad client ideas frankly and quickly than I do now, where it’s easy to be seen as just plain obstructive.

But let’s be optimistic, and hope things are shifting that way.

]]> Comment on Going where the people are by Getting community conversations going | Helpful Technology http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2009/02/going-where-the-people-are/#comment-96529 Getting community conversations going | Helpful Technology Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:38:40 +0000 http://blog.helpfultechnology.com/?p=137#comment-96529 [...] customer service and even co-production of resources initiated by those communities. I’ve banged on about examples like the BIS partnership with The Student Room for long enough, but I still think it’s the future. (It’s great to see the crew are [...] [...] customer service and even co-production of resources initiated by those communities. I’ve banged on about examples like the BIS partnership with The Student Room for long enough, but I still think it’s the future. (It’s great to see the crew are [...]

]]> Comment on Feet on the ground by Philip McAllister http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2012/02/feet-on-the-ground/#comment-96323 Philip McAllister Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:01:26 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=2290#comment-96323 Early on in your post you hit on an important aspect for me; that Helpful Technology is a service integrator. I think it's service integrators who will replace COI in this transaction model. I can see a model similar to that of an independent financial advisor, an independent technology advisor if you like, who can make sense of the new marketplace and find ways to stitch the different offerings together into useful and coherent solutions. Early on in your post you hit on an important aspect for me; that Helpful Technology is a service integrator. I think it’s service integrators who will replace COI in this transaction model. I can see a model similar to that of an independent financial advisor, an independent technology advisor if you like, who can make sense of the new marketplace and find ways to stitch the different offerings together into useful and coherent solutions.

]]> Comment on The republic of UKGovcamp by WordUp Glasgow 2012 | Digital MY Way http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2012/01/the-republic-of-ukgovcamp/#comment-94480 WordUp Glasgow 2012 | Digital MY Way Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:30:40 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=2253#comment-94480 [...] done brilliantly elsewhere) I thought I’d try and do a “Ten Thoughts” blog, as inspired by a few of the guys who were at UKGovCamp earlier this year. I learned just as much about organising events as I did about WordPress, so this [...] [...] done brilliantly elsewhere) I thought I’d try and do a “Ten Thoughts” blog, as inspired by a few of the guys who were at UKGovCamp earlier this year. I learned just as much about organising events as I did about WordPress, so this [...]

]]> Comment on Coming up with maturity model for digital in the public sector by BrianSJ http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2012/01/a-maturity-model-for-public-sector-digital/#comment-94030 BrianSJ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:32:09 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=2246#comment-94030 I am sure you guys won't be surprised to know that large communities of people have spent decades working on this, and I am sure you won't want to waste your lives re-inventing the wheel. The link to wikipedia says as much. The constructive way ahead is to tailor what you need from ISO 15504, ISO 12207, and ISO TR 18529. I am sure you guys won’t be surprised to know that large communities of people have spent decades working on this, and I am sure you won’t want to waste your lives re-inventing the wheel. The link to wikipedia says as much. The constructive way ahead is to tailor what you need from ISO 15504, ISO 12207, and ISO TR 18529.

]]> Comment on World of WordPress by There’s plenty of Wordpress-powered online properties in Government right now and some very busy freelancers building them. For a while now, I’ve been trying to compile a list of useful people,… | lloyd shepherd dot com http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2009/09/world-of-wordpress/#comment-93935 There’s plenty of Wordpress-powered online properties in Government right now and some very busy freelancers building them. For a while now, I’ve been trying to compile a list of useful people,… | lloyd shepherd dot com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:19:14 +0000 http://blog.helpfultechnology.com/?p=466#comment-93935 [...] World of WordPress at Helpful Technology Share this:EmailRedditDiggStumbleUpon ← Does anyone still have a pen pal? Things I learned today → [...] [...] World of WordPress at Helpful Technology Share this:EmailRedditDiggStumbleUpon ← Does anyone still have a pen pal? Things I learned today → [...]

]]> Comment on The next step by Directgov Dog http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2012/02/the-next-step/#comment-93146 Directgov Dog Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:45:21 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=2266#comment-93146 "They’re starting to get out there in the government buildings across the UK where online transactions get built for real out of monstrous Oracle databases and J2EE middleware. It’s there that the money gets wasted and the user experience for millions of people gets sacrificed …". This made me bristle when I first read it, but I understand your point of view. I work in a public sector organisation with an out-of-date Oracle database and J2EE middleware. We have limited resources; if HM government want to improve public services they should invest in our infrastructure. We also have our own writers, content editors, designers and developers. You need to ask whether GDS are in a position to genuinely improve the usability of our services when their London-based advisors (usually consultants, on temporary contracts) are on the other side of the country. They don't understand the financial constraints we're under or the minefield of regulations we have to negotiate as public-sector bodies. Something for GDS, with their 'headhunted external expertise' to think about. “They’re starting to get out there in the government buildings across the UK where online transactions get built for real out of monstrous Oracle databases and J2EE middleware. It’s there that the money gets wasted and the user experience for millions of people gets sacrificed …”.

This made me bristle when I first read it, but I understand your point of view. I work in a public sector organisation with an out-of-date Oracle database and J2EE middleware. We have limited resources; if HM government want to improve public services they should invest in our infrastructure. We also have our own writers, content editors, designers and developers.

You need to ask whether GDS are in a position to genuinely improve the usability of our services when their London-based advisors (usually consultants, on temporary contracts) are on the other side of the country. They don’t understand the financial constraints we’re under or the minefield of regulations we have to negotiate as public-sector bodies.

Something for GDS, with their ‘headhunted external expertise’ to think about.

]]> Comment on The next step by Birth of Betagov « Digital by Default http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2012/02/the-next-step/#comment-92982 Birth of Betagov « Digital by Default Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:26:00 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=2266#comment-92982 [...] O’Reilly piece did a really nice job of setting it in the bigger picture and closer to home Steph wrote an insightful post. Also Dominic pretty much summed up the importance of the open source methodology with this one [...] [...] O’Reilly piece did a really nice job of setting it in the bigger picture and closer to home Steph wrote an insightful post. Also Dominic pretty much summed up the importance of the open source methodology with this one [...]

]]> Comment on 10 things Alpha.gov.uk gets wrong (Part 1) by Steph Gray: The next step for Gov.UK | Government In The Lab http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2011/05/10-things-alpha-gov-uk-gets-wrong-part-1/#comment-92950 Steph Gray: The next step for Gov.UK | Government In The Lab Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:22 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=1887#comment-92950 [...] guys) – tucked away on a disused floor of a government building in south London. The site had rough edges, but it pointed in an exciting [...] [...] guys) – tucked away on a disused floor of a government building in south London. The site had rough edges, but it pointed in an exciting [...]

]]> Comment on Coming up with maturity model for digital in the public sector by Adrian Capon http://www.helpfultechnology.com/helpful-blog/2012/01/a-maturity-model-for-public-sector-digital/#comment-92911 Adrian Capon Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:43:08 +0000 http://www.helpfultechnology.com/?p=2246#comment-92911 Hi Steph, This is interesting and much needed area to explore as we strive to keep pace with technology and consumer experiences. Please find this link useful from the Institute of direct and digital marketing. They have created a tool called Mcap which I think goes a long way to do what you're looking for. http://www.theidm.com/download/pdf/Definingthemarketingcapability.pdf If I can be of any further help, please let me know. Thanks Adrian Hi Steph,
This is interesting and much needed area to explore as we strive to keep pace with technology and consumer experiences.

Please find this link useful from the Institute of direct and digital marketing. They have created a tool called Mcap which I think goes a long way to do what you’re looking for.
http://www.theidm.com/download/pdf/Definingthemarketingcapability.pdf
If I can be of any further help, please let me know.
Thanks
Adrian

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