Elemental

I found this post on The Top 25 Signs of a Dysfunctional Workplace via Tim Berry and would normally just have added to my del.icio.us feed. Until I read the comments from T R. :

Thanks, sometimes it is difficult to understand if it’s you or your work place that is dysfunctional. I work for an Engineering Consultancy firm; a new London branch of an American company. I’ve been there over two years as CAD Coordinator and are still waiting for help from both sides of the Atlantic for setting up what I would of thought was one of the most important setions of a company that sends drawings out as the main ‘face’ of the company. I won’t go into detail, but i am basically locked out a system controlled by the States, who don’t understand that things are done differently in the UK and still have yet to send someone here to help set up the system that is at least – metric! There are other added issues with the symbols still not completed due to a requirement of an UK Engineer to actually give the nod that these are the standards we are actally going to use? Finace and marketing have liberally been going back and forward across the Atlantic, but no help for a section which is where all the design work ends up and is displayed. I just don’t get the lack of interest in setting up standards for this section? I also have from your list 1, 2 – the main MD is not allowed to make decisions on the floor of the office as he doesn’t understand how his own company is run or how to do things procedural, 3. The MD isn’t actually the real boss, the project coordinator is. 4. Consultants are not being paid for at least one month pass handing in of bills – run stateside, 6. meetings just aren’t being held, 10. 12, 17. being bullied and yelled at by certain members of staff is the norm…and yes it was over someone using ‘their’ milk. 19..that’s me and 3 other senior Engineers and just as fed up, 22. what’s a holiday again, what’s a 7.5 hr day feel like, what’s it like to be home before 8pm, 25. – this one really pisses me off as it’s common here. You forgot one . 26. High turn over rate of senior members of staff who can already see the writing on the wall. Well thanks for that; though I would like to piont out that I am planning to leave in April if nothing improves by then and coming back to Oz next year where at least the Australians know what the word hard work means.

Thanks

T R, Feb 11, 2008

mel starrs Opinion CAD, London, Tim Berry, United Kingdom

What caught my eye today, February 28th:

• Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business – Chris Anderson of Long Tail fame riffs more on freeconomics. This is the future and BREEAM in particular need to adapt their business model to align with this or lose out.
• May I have your attention please – Pay attention please, BREEAM. Seth Godin makes the point. The interesting thing about most products and services is that we won’t buy them until we know what they are and what they do. And often the best and only way to do that is to use them.
• Andy n t Antarctic – Fascinating blog outlining the construction of Faber Maunsells Halley VI Antarctic base.
• AECB launches CarbonLite at Ecobuild – Building – CarbonLite rumbles on and valiantly aligns itself to CSH. All the disparate standards are starting to convene – which is probably a good thing.
• Chumby – They are here! Been waiting for these for what seems like years. Wireless internet alarm clock, podcasts, internet radio and more. Gadget heaven…

mel starrs News Antarctic, Chris Anderson, Faber Maunsells Halley VI, internet radio, Long Tail, Seth Godin, USD, Wireless internet alarm clock

Remember about a year ago there was an epetition floating around regarding the use of the word engineer?

Because I signed up to the petition (along with 1,726 others), I received the response in my email. I’ve copied it out in full in case anyone’s too lazy to click through. Basically, they aren’t going to stop housewives calling themselves ‘domestic engineers’ but they’re not legally allowed to call themselves ‘domestic chartered engineer’. Hmph.

Lots of stuff on funding I didn’t know about, but it’ll be 2015 before today’s 14 year old’s graduate…

The Government looks to the Engineering Council UK to regulate the professional status of engineers, through its Royal Charter. It is true that there is nothing to stop anyone from describing themselves as an “engineer” but only those individuals who have a current registration on the ECUK Register of Qualified Engineers and Technicians may use the professional titles of Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician. It would not be practical or appropriate for the Government to attempt to introduce new legislation on this matter.

However, the Government is committed to increasing the number of young people studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects right throughout the educational system from the early stages and beyond. If the UK is to be able to compete in the global economy of the 21st century, we must ensure that everyone’s skills and talents are developed throughout their lives so that we have a world-beating workforce.

The Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS) has made a major investment (£12.7 million for 2005-08) in STEMNET – the Science, Technology Engineering and Maths Network – with its UK-wide network of 53 SETPoints. This is designed to promote STEM awareness, especially among young people, to help ensure that the UK maintains a flow of well-motivated, high-quality individuals into STEM jobs.

Under STEMNET, £6.7 million has been provided to set up the Science and Engineering Ambassadors Programme. Over 17,500 Science and Engineering Ambassadors are supporting school activities, offering mentoring, career guidance and are positive role models. There is a commitment to increase the number of SEAs to 18,000 by 2008. This target is likely to be met by this financial year.

DIUS works closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) on the STEM skills agenda; wanting to ensure that the needs of employers are met, that the Science Curriculum is sufficiently challenging for the top 25% and increases scientific literacy of the population at large, and that there are good enrichment and enhancement activities as part of science education.
DCSF have funded a number of measures to take this forward, for example:

• a pilot of 250 after school science and engineering clubs to offer an engaging and stretching programme of activities to Key Stage 3 pupils.
• 9 regional Science Learning Centres providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to science teachers and technicians.

The most recent UCAS figures for 2007 university entry show increases in physics (up 10.3%), chemistry (up 8.3%), maths (up 9.2%) and engineering (up 4.3% overall). We are not complacent. There is more to be done. But we are on the right track.

mel starrs Uncategorized Chartered Engineer Incorporated, Department for Children, Department for Innovation Universities and Skills, Engineering Council UK, GBP, Schools, Schools and Families, United Kingdom

What caught my eye today, February 27th:

• One ?industry? that ought to be declared bankrupt NOW – Change Management (and I have both practical and theoretical experience of this joy). Harsh but funny take on the movement.

mel starrs News

What caught my eye today, February 26th:

• The Art of Speaking: ?There is a special circle in hell for those who use laser pointers,? this and other advice from a master speaker. – via Ben Casnocha, an excellent guide to public speaking and making presentations. Given all the conferences in the upcoming calendar, I hope folks read this before they present…
• The Atlantic – US monthly magazine opens up it’s archives and new issues online. Can’t find RSS feed – must be in there somewhere…
• Lazy Productivity: 10 Simple Ways to Do Only Three Things Today – From a similar school as GTD or even good old Stephen Covey, another top 10 for productivity. Best tip – No.2 – choose impact over urgency.
• It’s the Planet, Stupid!: Great Expectations: Perspectives on Memories – Bry Lynas (Mark’s dad) has a lovely post on how life used to be and who will be best off come the collapse of modern society.
• BRE Global and UK-GBC to partner on BREEAM – Good news from BREEAM – Paul King (UK-GBC) wants it to “continue to innovate and develop if it is to serve the needs of this dynamic sector”. New Director in place too – Martin Townsend of EA

mel starrs News Ben Casnocha, laser, Martin Townsend, Paul King, Stephen Covey, United Kingdom, United States

What caught my eye today, February 25th:

• Man Fired for Posting ‘Dilbert’ Becomes Subject of Comic Strip – Ooops! I have been known to pin Dilbert cartoons to my cubicle – and I usually have the page to a day calendar on my desk too. Better watch out in future…
• Getting the Measure of Property Sustainability: Introducing the IPD Environment Code – IPD code (see previous post) will be available after 26 Feb at www.ipdoccupiers.com. Will look forward to reading it.
• Environmental property code released this week – Building – Dissent from within the industry and EPC’s haven’t even been released yet! BP and CBRE back ‘simpler’ environmental code for commercial buildings
• Action needed to deliver sustainable housing – Report from National Trust, Redrow Homes and Bryant Homes. ‘Volume – Delivering Sustainable Housing’ highlights the major obstacles which need to be overcome to make high environmental standards on volume housing building standard practice across the UK

mel starrs News Bryant Homes, National Trust, Redrow Homes, United Kingdom, www.ipdoccupiers.com

I am still here, as my random del.icio.us postings can attest.  Back to proper blogging in a couple of weeks.  In the meantime a couple of bits and pieces worth mentioning:

• I spotted the new Sponge guide for buying a greener home, and realised I had been very remiss in not joining before.  It’s very easy and all for the princely sum of FREE.  Included is a mailing group and newsletter, so no doubt expect more posting of Sponge news as I get it. It would be nice to have a blog widget advertising my membership – any volunteers to knock one up?
• UK-GBC launch their new website tomorrow (26 Feb).  All kinds of goodies are promised including its interactive tool  ‘Roadmap to Sustainability’, which will help planners with the latest environmental policies. I’m missing EcoBuild this year, but UK-GBC will be there.

I’m cooking up plenty of posts in the meantime – back to normal business from 7 March.

mel starrs Diversions United Kingdom

What caught my eye today, February 22nd:

• Dreamfish – Does the world need another social network – this time for sustainability professionals. Goes live in March.

mel starrs News social network

What caught my eye today, February 21st:

• Semantics – LTSFCW waxes lyrical on right brain and left brain clashes over ductwork…
• How to stop checking email on the evenings and weekends – No.4 is my favourite bugbear from (usually) senior management – stop sending email after hours – bad working culture karma! (I still check emails way too often, but at least I’m not broadcasting it…)
• Average manager works 40 days a year for free – Building – Worth reading the comments, just for the ribbing the first commenter gets at the hands of the others.

mel starrs News

What caught my eye today, February 17th:

• Too much information can lead to worse decisions – Rob May explains representative bias. One of my odd little obsessions – the psychology of decision making.
• TierneyLab: Good Climate Policy, Bad Politics – US presidential candidates ignoring carbon tax as a solution to carbon emissions.
• The benefits of local food: why did we ever leave it? – Stephen lays into India Knight, who is bemoaning the loss of local shops. His ultra free market approach is perhaps a little extreme and assumes everyone shopping in supermarkets has made their choice consciously, instead of drifting there by convenience,
• Woodgas – Good overview of wood gasification plant

mel starrs News local food, Rob May, United States