The biggest barrier to managers allowing their team members to work from home some or all of the week is still their attitude. Being able to see their staff sitting in front of a computer somehow fills them with confidence that they are working 110%. However in my own experience the weekly or daily audio conference call still has the power to bring people to account for the work they have been doing, perhaps even more so when they are on the same call as their collegaues and peers. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Homeworking: Changing Attitudes?
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010Remote Working: Technology can only save your business money if used in the right way
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010Forget second life technology as a cost saving tool, remote working is still the best way to provide cost savings and great customer service.
As you may have read recently, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council spent £36,000 on a virtual town hall in the online portal known as second life. I admire their forward thinking approach to using technology in a bid to provide an attractive customer service which can also cost cuts, however organisations must do their return on investment studies before jumping head first into the latest trend. (more…)
BT clamps down on copper cable thieves
Monday, July 26th, 2010Copper cabling theft has risen by 9% in the last year as BT spends millions to replace local telecoms circuits. (more…)
Podcast To Prevent Flood damage? Council Passing The Buck?
Friday, July 23rd, 2010Flood risk management is being passed to the residents of villages in Gloucestershire via a podcast. What will be next? Residents becoming members of the Emergency Planning Society?
Gloucestershire County Council has produced a 7 minute audio podcast which gives a step-by-step guide to villagers living in isolated areas which are at a high risk of experiencing flooding. The podcast offers advice as to how to form an action committee, complete an emergency management plan and organise real-life exercises.
Now I am all for not relying on the council and emergency planners completely, and for communities to take responsibility for managing an immediate response to any kind of local disaster, but really, shouldn’t the council planners be also explaining/ improving/ expanding their role in these situations? It does feel like the responsibility is being placed on residents rather than authorities.
One particular resident, aged 77, pointed out that in the 1950s the rivers were dredged all the time to prevent flooding. I’d be interested to know why this is not happening now if it worked then? Surely flood prevention should take the bulk of the council’s investment rather than producing multimedia soundbytes which more elderly residents may not know how, or be able to access anyway?
Councillor Will Windsor-Clive is quoted as saying, “The idea behind these community resilience plans is not for communities to carry out the role of any of the emergency services.” That may be true but what of the responsibilities of the council’s numerous emergency planners? Surely this following list should be completed by them rather than the residents, so that they can understand the issues within these communities firsthand?
Identify the risks to the community and relevant response actions
Identify vulnerable people / groups in the community
Identify resources in the community available to assist during an emergency
Provide key contact details for the Community Response Team, Key Community Resources, the Emergency Services and Local Authorities
It seems to me that the council are passing the buck to the residents rather than the people we pay our taxes to do this for us! I’d love to hear your views…
If you are an emergency planner in Gloucestershire perhaps you’d like to argue your case? Let’s get a Friday debate going…
Telecoms Resilience: Keeping Going, Not Just Recovery
Monday, July 19th, 2010Do the majority of people understand that telecoms resilience is about keeping a company’s communication channels always open, rather than simply trying to recover them when it all goes wrong? (more…)
Flexible Working Top Of The List For Britons To Stop Taking ‘Sickies’
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010Flexible working came top of the list of the 5 things that would encourage Brits to take less time off work.
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Will you embrace government incentives for flexible working?
Monday, July 12th, 2010Will organisations embrace new government incentives for introducing flexible working? (more…)
Business Interruptions: SMEs Losing Money, But It’s Avoidable!
Friday, July 9th, 2010Many small businesses are losing revenue unnecessarily because of business interruptions or emergencies. Avoidable losses to reputation, revenue and productivity are being incurred when all that is required is a sufficiently drafted and tested business continuity plan. (more…)
BT Strike: Cancelled But What About The Future?
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010As BT breathe a sigh of relief that their lawyers have held off the planned strike by its CWU member employees, businesses should not be resting on their laurels.
What the threat of strike has brought into focus is the risks associated with an absence of technical helpdesk staff and engineers.
Paul Wayman of GemaTech Government Sales, ex BT engineer, ex CWU member, offers this advice:
Following the temporary reprieve from the BT strike, we have all been given some time to plan. The same issues are faced, strike, or not, as the loss of telecoms will still happen from time to time, so this may be the window to get in touch with those of us able to get your organisation through such issues. If your organisation is looking to prepare itself against anything that will disrupt the service levels given to the public such as:-
Loss of telecoms from the telephone exchange, through general technical failure, flood, fire or road excavation
Loss of telecoms system
Reduction in staffing due to snow or ‘flu pandemic
Shutting of buildings due to building failure (Air conditioning, power etc)
You may consider calling GemaTech to discuss how to “keep calm and carry on”.
To find out which local serving exchange your business is connected to:
Go to http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/adslchecker.php
Type in your number
This will find your exchange. If the query shows “error connecting to database” it is likely your organisation is not a direct or indirect relationship with BT. Do not be fooled though, some bits may be managed by BT.
Take the postcode and input this into multi-map and select the aerial view. This will show the exchange. You can now get an idea of the risks associated with current development, flood risk, distance etc from your main buildings.
Top 8 Future Threats From the Civil Contingencies Conference
Monday, July 5th, 2010Speakers at the Civil Contingencies Conference held last Tuesday (titled, Meeting Tomorrow’s Threats and Challenges Today) put forward their views on the future threats which could affect business continuity in the UK: (more…)
