Contrary to the stereotype that Change Managers typically want paperwork in triplicate, this particular Change Manager has always been dead set against duplication of effort, and so triplication will be right out. Today I want to write a little about duplication, value, and how to keep the right balance. When I think about duplication, I’m […]

To an outside observer, the Change Manger appears to undergo a shocking change during the start of semester period, like something out of gothic fiction. We go from a normal, everyday perspective on making changes, to locking down the work that we do in order to reduce the immediate risk to the services we run, […]

Prepnicalities is a horrific portmanteau that I’ve created just for the purposes of this blog post. It’s such an awful combination, that I’m hoping it’s memorable. Or at least, that it sticks in your craw long enough for me to illustrate the concept I’m outlining in this post. The thing is, considering Changes isn’t usually […]

Both Robert and I have recently talked about Risk, which is one of the key factors we use to categorise Changes into Minor, Significant or Major types. The other factor that plays into this categorisation is Impact. How we categorise Changes is important, because it affects how they can be authorised for Release, as well […]

Change Management is an interesting proposition, when it comes to risk. At first pass Change Management sounds like the kind of discipline where it would be important to minimise risk. In practice, Change Management is better described as balancing risk. Changes are inherently risky. Any time we upset a known quantity, we’re introducing risk. It’s […]

There’s a subreddit called “ATBGE” which stands for “Awful Taste… But Great Execution!” What lurks within is a lasting testament to the possibility of perfectly implementing a thing of no value. Or worse. Worse such as when a design, despite flawless execution, actively goes against the purpose of the thing to which it’s being applied. […]

Hi folks, Matt here again! One of the first big changes that I was responsible for after coming into post as Change Manager, was to implement a regular, weekly CAB. You can thank James Jarvis for the name: Go CAB. If you didn’t already know that James came up with that name, you might have […]

The term “standard” varies greatly based on context. In gardening, a standard is an ornamental way of growing shrubs, so that there are no lateral branches below the head of the plant. In technology, standards are published documents that establish specifications and procedures designed to maximize reliability and interoperability. And in common parlance, a standard […]