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Search listings: The Organisation Behind the Organisation
On Monday morning the executive team discusses recruitment. Too many vacancies. On Tuesday they review retention. Too many good people leaving. On Wednesday they examine absenteeism. Too many...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 21 Aug 2026

0; "Cash-first matters so I'm not left feeling ashamed."
"Cash-First and why it matters was a focus of our contribution to the Myth-Busting workshop at the Cash-First Communities Conference, organised by the Independent Food Aid...

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By:
Paddy McKenna
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Last updated: 20 Aug 2026

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Community Food Network for Scotland; Knowledge Hub Data & Apps Workshop
Some people here may remember my original vision for the Knowledge Hub, which was a combination of Communities and a data repository and app library with tools for users to create and share the...

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By:
Stephen Dale
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Last updated: 15 Aug 2026

0; When Organisations Go Blind
Triffids have a deadly sting. Yet they pose little threat to sighted people because they are slow moving and completely blind. Anyone who can see them can simply avoid them. The danger comes when...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 14 Aug 2026

0; Help Shape the Future of Public Sector Innovation
How can the public sector find, test and adopt innovative solutions? The Innovation Marketplace pre-market engagement notice is now live, and Government Commercial Agency, working with the...

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By:
Craig Geraghty
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Last updated: 14 Aug 2026

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Public Sector Innovation Alliance; Russian Doll
Imagine an organisation as a Russian doll. The outer doll is the one everyone recognises. Structures. Policies. Job descriptions. Budgets. Performance targets. Reporting lines. This is the formal...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 13 Aug 2026

0; Too Young to Manage? Then Why Are So Many Already Doing It
“McDonald’s claims that one in three of its managers are under 25. So why do we still assume young people can’t manage?” The assumption is familiar: too immature, not enough experience, still too...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 13 Aug 2026

0; Communication Isn't About Communication
The first item on the Executive Team agenda was communication. The Chief Executive looked around the table. "I've discovered our communication strategy isn't working." There were a few raised...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 12 Aug 2026

1; Organisations don’t have a culture problem. They have a tolerance problem.”
Organisations don’t have a culture problem. They have a tolerance problem.” Behaviour Spreads. You Don’t Manage It. Organisations still believe that if you tell people how to behave, they...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 11 Aug 2026

0; The Emotional Cost of Getting Things Done
Organisations measure almost everything. Performance. Productivity. Efficiency. Customer satisfaction. Financial performance. What they rarely measure are the emotional by-products generated in...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 11 Aug 2026

0; Federal Investigation Bureau
Analytical Assessment Report Prepared by: Special Agent Jack Donovan Distribution: Supervisory Review Classification: Internal Analytical Assessment – Not for External Distribution Subject:...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 10 Aug 2026

0; Witness 5 – Full-time Trade Union Official
Organisational Crime Unit Case File 003 Exhibit B Witness Interview Summary Witness 5 – Full-time Trade Union Official Interviewing Officer: Detective Inspector Sarah Whitmore Interview...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 07 Aug 2026

0; Witness 3 – Front-line Employee (New Starter)
Organisational Crime Unit Case File 003 Exhibit B Witness Interview Summaries Witness 3 – Front-line Employee (New Starter) Interviewing Officer: Detective Inspector Sarah Whitmore Interview...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 06 Aug 2026

0; Witness 2 – Head of Human Resources
Organisational Crime Unit Case File 003 Exhibit B Witness Interview Summary Witness 2 – Head of Human Resources Interviewing Officer: Detective Inspector Sarah Whitmore Location: Human...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 05 Aug 2026

0; Witness interview summary
Witness 1 – Senior Executive Interviewing Officer: Detective Inspector Sarah Whitmore Location: Executive Meeting Room 3 Interview Status: Completed Purpose To establish why the declining...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 04 Aug 2026

0; FORENSIC REPORT
Organisational Crime Unit Case File 003 Exhibit A FORENSIC REPORT Reporting Officer: Detective Inspector Sarah Whitmore Case: 003 – The Autopsy of an Employee Survey Classification: Internal –...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 03 Aug 2026

0; The Autopsy of an Employee Survey
Organisational Crime Unit Case File 003 The Autopsy of an Employee Survey Episode 1: New Case EMAIL From: Detective Inspector Sarah Whitmore Organisational Crime Unit – United Kingdom To:...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 31 Jul 2026

0; AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #16
AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #1630 July 2026 Welcome to the final AI Engineering Lab newsletter As AI Engineering Lab Phase One ends this month, this is our final newsletter for now. Read on...

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By:
Alana Barrett-Frew
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Last updated: 30 Jul 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; Death by KPI
Case No. OCU/26/041 Joint Intelligence Briefing Victim: The Emotional Organisation Suspected Cause of Death: Death by KPI From: Detective Inspector Sarah Whitmore, Organisational Crime...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 30 Jul 2026

0; The FBI Comes Calling
Every organisation has an emotional crime scene. Some just don't know it yet. The following correspondence has been released by the Organisational Crime Unit. From: Special Agent Jack...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 29 Jul 2026

0; Case File: They're All Connected
The phone rang just after nine. "Organisational Crime Unit." A voice with a thick French accent replied. "Good morning. I am calling from Interpol." The detective laughed. "Very good. Dave's...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 28 Jul 2026

0; Case File: The Pattern
Police today dismissed media speculation that a serial killer is targeting organisations.Senior officers described the claims as "unhelpful speculation." However, sources close to the...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 27 Jul 2026

0; How can you see where your work fits with prevention?
In the last blog we explained what prevention means for public health and for the community food sector. In this blog post we explain how it can be evaluated. Earlier this year, Evaluation Support...

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By:
Alice Baird
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Last updated: 27 Jul 2026

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Community Food Network for Scotland; Case Files: The Mystery of the Endless Change Programme
Reports and rumours are circulating about a puzzling crime wave. Police admit they are struggling to explain what is happening. However, this reporter has been told by a source close to the...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 24 Jul 2026

0; Case File 004: Death by Accumulated Emotional Disappointment
Speculation Unhelpful, Police Warn Case Number 004/ED Initial Report The initial report concluded no crime had been committed. It was another sad case of burnout. Tragic but not unusual in...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 23 Jul 2026

0; The Curious Case of the Vanishing Accountability
It has all the ingredients of the latest Netflix psychological thriller. More intriguing than a Sherlock Holmes investigation. More perplexing than an Agatha Christie mystery. Except this isn't a...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 22 Jul 2026

0; Why People Leave Organisations
An exciting and rewarding opportunity to join our diverse workforce where your skills and experience will make you a valued member of our team.” The recruitment pack goes further. It describes the...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 21 Jul 2026

1; Case File from the Emotional Organisation: Missing Pride
News Headlines Search Operation in Full Swing as Outside Expert Drafted In A major search operation is underway following the disappearance of Pride from a large organisation. It remains...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 20 Jul 2026

0; AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #15
AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #1516 July 2026 Welcome to the bi-weekly AI Engineering Lab newsletter What's happeningMonday 20 July 2026•2pm: Tech Drop-InInformal support and troubleshooting...

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By:
Alana Barrett-Frew
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Last updated: 17 Jul 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; AI Ambassador Network meeting: practical, people-centred AI across health and social care, lived experience, patient data and national updates
Your Invitation: Join us as Isaac Samuels, OBE and Debora Mo, Empowerment Awards Winner 2026, discuss how AI can increase independence, confidence and opportunity, while highlighting why...

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By:
Lewis Edwards
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Last updated: 15 Jul 2026

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Systems Leadership - Local Vision; AI Ambassador Network meeting: practical, people-centred AI in health and social care and more...
Your Invitation... Join us as Isaac Samuels, OBE and Debora Mo, Empowerment Awards Winner 2026, will discuss how AI can increase independence, confidence and opportunity, while highlighting why...

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By:
Lewis Edwards
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Last updated: 15 Jul 2026

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AI Community; Soft Thinking: The Art of Navigating Complexity with Flexibility, Empathy and Imagination
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Cross-Govt Socio-Economic Diversity Network (CGSEDN) I am a member of the DWP Faith and Belief Network - Knowledge Hub Introduction: Why...

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By:
Mavarine Du-Marie
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Last updated: 14 Jul 2026

0; Every Organisation Has an Emotional Crime Scene
The morning starts with a familiar local radio story. "Our top story this morning. A leaked employee survey from one of the region's largest employers paints a bleak picture. Morale is down....

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 19 Jul 2026

0; What is prevention and what does it mean for the community food sector?
Prevention is central to a range of Scottish Government policies, including the Population Health Framework, Cash-First: Towards Ending the need for Food Banks and will help us in Scotland to...

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By:
Alice Baird
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Last updated: 24 Jul 2026

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Community Food Network for Scotland; Why Organisations Run on Hope
“It’s the hope that kills you.” I first heard Gary Lineker use the expression when discussing the fortunes of his beloved Leicester City. Since then it has become part of football folklore. Every...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 10 Jul 2026

0; People Don't Resist Change. They Remember.
I was introducing plans for yet another reorganisation to my team. The rationale was familiar. New challenges. Greater efficiency. Better outcomes. A structure fit for the future. Before I could...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 09 Jul 2026

0; The Most Dangerous Emotion in the Organisation? Envy
You discover someone in the team is being paid more. Quite a lot more. Not because they are doing a different job. Not because they have greater responsibilities. They simply negotiated a better...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 08 Jul 2026

0; The Most Expensive Emotion in the Organisation? Embarrassment
They say no one ever died of embarrassment. My GP disagrees. Patients who are too embarrassed to come forward with a lump, a rash or a discharge in an awkward place sometimes do die. Not because...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 07 Jul 2026

0; The thinking behind the England World Cup squad
The build-up to a World Cup is always accompanied by excitement, hope and endless speculation. Fans debate the manager’s selections. Players dream of their moment on the biggest stage. Expectations...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 06 Jul 2026

1; Relief: The Workplace Emotion We Pretend Not To Notice
Organisations talk a lot about excitement. They celebrate innovation, transformation and success. They rarely talk about relief. Yet relief may be one of the most common emotions in organisational...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 06 Jul 2026

0; When Failure Feels Like Justice
Schadenfreude is a German word for taking pleasure in someone else's misfortune. Most people assume it is about enjoying failure. In organisations it is usually something else. It is what...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 03 Jul 2026

0; Social Impact of Housing Licensing in Nottingham
Nottingham City Council has undertaken the first known UK Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluation of private rented sector licensing. Covering a five-year period 2020–2024, the study...

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By:
Sophia Beswick
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Last updated: 03 Jul 2026

0; The Emotional Life of Organisations
“I hate this job.” “Me too.” It was one of those conversations that happens after a meeting has finished and most people have left the room. Neither person sounded angry. Neither was looking for...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 02 Jul 2026

0; AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #14
AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #142 July 2026 Welcome to the bi-weekly AI Engineering Lab newsletter What's happeningMonday 6 July 2026•2pm: Tech Drop-InInformal support and troubleshooting...

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By:
Alana Barrett-Frew
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Last updated: 02 Jul 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; Relationships Unplugged: A new podcast from OnePlusOne
We’re excited to announce our new podcast, Relationships Unplugged. Bringing together the latest relationship research and insights from real-life, the series explores relationships, why they...

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By:
Tabitha Frangoullides
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Last updated: 01 Jul 2026

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Reducing Parental Conflict; The Hidden Emotion in Post-Covid Organisations
It isn't burnout. It isn't disengagement. It isn't cynicism. It is accumulated emotional disappointment. Organisations spend a great deal of time worrying about burnout, engagement and wellbeing. ...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 30 Jun 2026

0; Should You Turn Your Working Group Into a Community of Practice?
Your working group project has just finished. The deliverable is signed off, the steering board has thanked everyone, and the working group's online space should, by every normal rule of project...

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By:
Michael Norton
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Last updated: 25 Jun 2026

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Online Facilitators Community; The Orchestra Without a Conductor
The concert hall is quiet except for the restless sound of musicians tuning up. Violins rising and falling softly. Brass muttering in short bursts. Pages of sheet music covered in handwritten notes...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 25 Jun 2026

0; The Office Aquarium
The office occupies three floors of a sleek glass building. Light floods through floor-to-ceiling windows. The furniture is modern. The coffee is excellent. The branding celebrates...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 24 Jun 2026

0; The Pit Crew and the Jazz Band
The car arrives like an explosion. One moment the track is empty. The next, twenty people in fireproof overalls throw themselves towards a machine still radiating heat and violence. Floodlights...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 23 Jun 2026

0; 12 Angry Managers
The men file into the room already convinced the discussion is largely a formality. Most minds already made up before anyone has properly sat down. Coats loosened. Papers shuffled. A quick vote...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 22 Jun 2026

0; Don't Look Up: When Appearance Matters More Than Reality
If you had irrefutable scientific evidence the world was facing an imminent extinction-level event unless immediate, dramatic, collective action was taken, how would you expect governments, the...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 19 Jun 2026

1; Why Nothing Ever Really Changes at Work — But This Time Will Be Different
Phil wakes up at exactly the same time, in the same hotel room, on the same day. The day just repeats itself. It’s an endless loop. He goes to bed knowing that when he wakes up it won’t be...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 18 Jun 2026

0; AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #13
AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #1317 June 2026 Welcome to the bi-weekly AI Engineering Lab newsletter What's happeningMonday 22 June 2026•2pm: Technical Drop-InInformal support and...

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By:
Alana Barrett-Frew
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Last updated: 17 Jun 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; Jurassic Park and the Change Programme
The helicopter emerges through thick cloud towards a remote tropical island. Dense jungle. State-of-the-art laboratories hidden among the trees. Inside, people in white coats explain their...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 17 Jun 2026

0; The Corporate Body Snatchers
A man runs into the road in panic and crashes onto the bonnet of a moving car. “They’re coming! They’re coming!” He looks terrified, exhausted, desperate to be believed. Then he runs. Behind...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 16 Jun 2026

0; The Blade Runner Problem
Rain falls constantly in Los Angeles. Neon flickers in oily puddles. Steam rises from street food stalls beneath giant electronic billboards. Crowds drift through the dark speaking languages the...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 15 Jun 2026

0; Can you fault the day?
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Cross-Govt Socio-Economic Diversity Network (CGSEDN) I am a member of the DWP Faith and Belief Network - Knowledge Hub "Let the morning bring me...

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By:
Mavarine Du-Marie
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Last updated: 14 Jun 2026

0; World Record Guaranteed
The advert opens with a heartbeat. The camera cuts between flexed muscles, starting blocks, sweat, stadium lights and a crowd roaring beneath fireworks. A voiceover announces: “This summer....

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 10 Jun 2026

0; The Wagon Train Problem
The stories of the American West usually focus on the destination. A better life. Open land. Freedom. Opportunity. The chance to start again. The wagon trains heading west were presented as proof...

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By:
Blair McPherson
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Last updated: 09 Jun 2026

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