About Me

I am a Systems Integrator at the University of York, UK, specialising in web and media systems for our e-learning and Library services. Although this blog is intended to cover work-related items amongst other things, it reflects my own personal opinions and interests, and not those of the University I work for.

I will freely admit that I have not asked anyone at work whether it is all right for me to discuss work related matters on a public blog. That’s partly because I don’t really want to burden my management with having to come up with an official view on the matter. There is, after all, an interesting balance to be struck by organisations wishing to be open and empowering to their staff in discussing ideas, but at the same time manage information appropriately. Best practice on this front is evolving – see for example the results of the recent Oxford Social Media Convention 2009 entitled “The Growth of the Corporate Blog: ‘Letting go’ of Information Control or Maintaining the Official Line?“. Nevertheless I think my employer should rightly expect that I, at the very least, do my best to exercise careful judgement on this matter, and this I shall attempt to do.

To be honest the main reason for not consulting beforehand is because any adverse repercussions presupposes an audience, for which there is as yet no evidence. If I can generate debate on this matter using this blog that will, in one sense at least, be a sign of success.