Week 45

Hi - it’s been a while. Thought I’d give this a try again. May be thin while I get my mojo back.

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My intention had been to get back to writing these on a Friday, when things were still fresh(er) in my mind. But GovCamp Cymru happened this past Friday which derailed that.

What’s happened in the last 2 months?

We went to Costa Rica, it was incredible and the long holiday we both desperately needed. And the dog had a lovely 2 weeks with her sitter and a pack of other dachshunds. We now know we can leave her for long periods and she’s okay.

Renovation work has continued, slowly, quickly, slowly. Not a lot happened while we were away in October, which was frustrating to come back to. And then all the noisy stuff happened which made back to work even more stressful.

BUT. The studio now has a proper, double insulated, rubber roof. All four new skylights have been installed. Massive milestone reached. We are waterproof and can remortgage. The fifth skylight for the link has arrived. The final plaster boarding inside is in progress. The plasterer arrives in 2 weeks. That will be the next major milestone.

We’ve started buying all the fixtures and fittings - lights, switch and plug plates, bits for the kitchenette.

Work It’s a rollercoaster, but that’s consultancy life, right?

I’ve moved back to a 90% contract working 2 Fridays a month. It’s temporary, but it’s helped to get through some things that I just wasn’t able to in 4 days. I can keep my Fridays clear of meetings and focus on the admin/writing/decks that I struggled to do in the week.

I’ve got a partner in crime now, another senior partner helping me across our Welsh client base. It’s taken a lot of stress out of my world. It’s great to have someone to bounce things off of and plan together for common issues. Clients are getting more from us, as we have complimentary skill sets.

Took a week or two post holiday, but I’ve got my mojo back again.

We’ve got some new work to start in the new year which will be exciting as well.

I’m still trying to figure out how I talk about the shape of my role as a Senior Partner now. We all do it a bit differently. Some reflection next week when I have more time to sit down and write.

GovCamp Cymru I didn’t go last year, as I was still processing the post-CDPS emotions. But now I’m back in the world of public service delivery in Wales and I was sooooo excited to get back in the fray with GovCamp Cymru this year!

TPX was a sponsor this year and I’m so pleased that we invested to support this really important event. There’s so few opportunities for folk in Wales to come together to talk, plan and share pain at the pace and shape of delivery.

I turned with up a bit of an agenda. I’m frustrated, both from a personal point of view but also from a supplier point of view.

We’re over 5 years post-System Reboot and four years since I co-founded CDPS. Ten years since the first GovCamp Cymru. I’m struggling to see that much has changed. I can’t see it, I can’t feel it.

I pitched a session on how suppliers can help nudge and prod and support change from the outside.

The first session I went to was titled “How can we get better at telling the stories of digital transformation.” It was incredibly well attended, we were jammed in like sardines for it!

We talked about specific stories we’ve come across in the past, why they worked and what was successful about them. Another part of the discussion was about the barriers to this in Wales, we touched on things like confidence and permission to work in the open, both of which are still lagging behind.

The second session had 2 related questions “Accountability - What mechanisms are in place for accountability for senior leaders in Wales” and “Why aren't more UCD practitioners promoted to senior roles?” I may have ranted.

I attended a session on “10 years on... how can the community help Welsh Gov do digital better”. I ranted again. But also talked openly and honestly about what we got wrong when we set up CDPS, what is still missing (spoiler: STICKS). We ended up challenging ourselves to DO something, rather than just leave it for another year and moans. So a few things will be incoming on that, to give the community a place to come together regularly and some thoughts about actions that people can take in their different capacities.

And then I facilitated the session on supplier pressure and procurement. Re-united with my CDPS co-founder Simon.

Then off to the pub and some proper plotting with a few folk. It’s great to turn frustration and anger into positive action.

There is definitely a lot of frustration in the community at the slow pace of delivery, the day to day difficulties, and the lack of leadership.

And on that, where WERE the senior leaders in digital in Wales at this event? There wasn’t a single one there.