Blog
We don’t just provide services to turn data into information – we write about it too.
Iron triangle project management – and the 2024 Autumn Budget
The UK government’s 2024 Autumn Budget got me thinking about the ‘iron triangle’ project management rule...
From Total Football to ‘total IT’: how a ‘radical’ approach can benefit the beautiful game and system design
In this blog, I reveal the surprising connection between the Total Football philosophy and my work in system design and development...
What physics teaches us about systems analysis
The start of a new academic year reminds me of my own time at school and, more specifically, which learnings have stayed with me.
Why ‘Just Do IT’ is anything but when it comes to system implementations
Watching the Paris Olympics, it was hard not to notice the athletes’ sponsors. Product colours have become more prominent, advert locations are more diverse, and placements are more orchestrated.
But perhaps most remarkable is you can now identify a brand simply from its logo or slogan, thanks to familiarity with the company or organisation...
Electoral maths: data and the UK general election
Last week’s general election made me think about what was scrutinised more closely in the run-up to the vote: the parties’ policies or the opinion polls?
Navigating the numbers in run-up to 2024 general election
The UK general election takes place in two weeks. For many, mention of this political event might provoke a heavy sigh, but for anyone fascinated by numbers, the nationwide ballot is heaven-sent.
Why artificial ‘intelligence’ is better than artificial ‘knowledge’
Today’s artificial intelligence (AI) services are remarkable things. They can write. They can draw. They can even speak. And thanks to their training on large volumes of data, they can produce answers to a wide variety of questions.
The 5 stages of IT solution maturity
Last month’s blog about Birmingham City Council’s financial woes inspired me to delve deeper into the issue of IT in local government – and, in fact, IT solutions more widely.
IT system tails and operational dogs
I won’t stray into political discussions about funding for local government in England. But one of the most striking aspects of Birmingham City Council’s recent financial problems was a (very) large cost overrun associated with an IT project.
Is it time to ‘kill’ your operational darlings?
Last month’s blog about reimagining IT systems started out with a slightly different introduction from the version eventually published.
But even though I could see the need for the change, I was still slightly disappointed at having to let go of my initial inspiration. When I said this, my colleague mentioned this was an example of the old writer’s adage: ‘kill your darlings’...
Reimagining IT systems – for the better
When I see how organisations approach their IT system implementations, I often think, “There has to be a better way."
The visual language of Christmas and other festivals
The approaching winter solstice has got me thinking about the different traditions and festivals that have light and reflection as central themes. There’s Christmas of course, and also Diwali and Hanukkah, to name just a few. And as well as the many words associated with each event, there are numerous pictures, symbols and icons, too...
Grammar for operational metrics
There’s an old business management adage: ‘You can’t control what you can’t measure.’ And while the phrase might sound obvious, it isn’t just management speak.
Data messaging or sharing: which should you choose?
I’ve had several discussions recently about the need to allow data in one system to be used to control processing in another. These conversations have involved both developers and designers...
What we can learn from the UK air traffic control failure
The UK air traffic control failure caused chaos on the busy August bank holiday. Thankfully, all flights could land safely. But the incident caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled or delayed.
As someone who works in IT, I felt an inevitability to the way the problem developed...
Why being on the side of the project is key to success
Over the years, I’ve been involved in many meetings between customers and suppliers.
Here, I explain why the key to project success is being loyal to the project, rather than taking sides.
The secret to discovering what you don’t yet know you need to know
After a problem has taken place, you may find yourself thinking, ‘I should have seen that coming’ or ‘I should have seen that happening’.
Why you need more than a ‘picture’ to tell an organisation’s ‘story’
You’ll know the phrase ‘a picture’s worth a thousand words’, used to express how a single still image can tell a story just as well as, if not better than, many written words.
What can engineers and businesses learn from nature?
Nature can often be a great source of information for engineers. Animals and plants have developed over long periods and have adapted to the conditions around them.
The secret behind artificial intelligence – data in context
It seems everyone is talking about artificial intelligence, with many of its enthusiasts lauding it as the potential answer to just about everything. AI is now being used in everything from web search to photography… and even in toothbrushes.
Why are operational metrics important?
There’s an old marketing adage along the lines of “I know half my advertising budget is wasted, but I don’t know which half”.
While this might make for a wry summary of the subjective nature of marketing, I suspect the phrase itself is only half true...
What does the Nativity have in common with operational metrics?
In the Christmas Story, the three wise men follow a bright star to Bethlehem to pay homage to the baby Jesus and offer him gifts. But did you know there's a link between the three kings of the Nativity and operational metrics?
How to avoid ‘spaghetti systems’ and make IT better
In the past, when an organisation needed IT support for its operations, it was possible for it to consider using a single computer system.
Is small and wide data the new big?
When they were younger, my daughters would describe one of our favourite holiday destinations as a ‘long-short’ cottage. At first, this sounded like a beautifully childish paradox. But in the literal minds of children, it made perfect sense.
What makes a good engineer? (Clue: you need more than a background in science)
It’s often thought that to be a good engineer you need a background in science, and especially its ‘language’: mathematics.
What is small and wide data, and why does it matter?
By 2025, 70% of organisations will shift their focus from ‘big’ to ‘small and wide’ data, according to predictions by technology research firm Gartner. The company believes this change will provide better operational data, more context for analytics, and make artificial intelligence (AI) less data hungry.
Is it time for IT architecture to be more ‘social’?
What’s remarkable about the recent spate of flight delays is not so much there are so many, but so few. Today’s travel networks rely on such close co-ordination it’s surprising the connections don’t break more often.
The importance of sharing – not duplicating
I often travel by train as part of my work. But rather than having a daily short commute, my journeys tend to be less frequent and longer.
Ahead of each trip, I receive a reminder email with ticket confirmation, as well as advice about timings, luggage, connections, and Covid-19 precautions.
Software, chocolate… and wizards: how did I end up here?
When I explain what I do – to family, friends and acquaintances – it can be all too easy to disappear into a world of jargon and abbreviations.
Job titles can also be unhelpful, rarely showing what’s involved in a role or what experience is needed.
Turning data into information: so what?
When a scientist makes a discovery, you may ask “so what?”. That’s because the benefits of the discovery are an essential part of its explanation.
So, if the scientist discovers how to make a car go faster, you could describe the benefit as “reduced journey times” or “increased enjoyment”.
How ‘road maps’ can help your business
You’ll have heard the term “road map” a lot last year. After all, the Government’s strategy to relax England’s Covid-19 restrictions was known as the “road map out of lockdown”. But is it the “road” or the “map” that is the key to finding a solution to a problem?
The Ghost of Changes Past
“It is what it is” has become a catch-all answer to just about any unfathomable situation.
Bringing Information to Life
When I was at school, a favourite statement of one of my teachers was: "Geography is learnt through the soles of your feet." This teacher was a firm believer in the benefits of ‘in the field’ learning, as opposed to relying just on classroom-based teaching and textbooks.
From ‘big’ data to ‘good’ information
Today, your organisation – whatever its size – is likely to use multiple applications and computer systems. The days of a single, monolithic application being able to support all your required functionality are passing, if not already gone.
Welcome back to Quantiv
Hello again.
You may have wondered why we’d gone a bit quiet. Or perhaps this is your first interaction with us?