Duncan O'Leary
Duncan works on projects looking at public services, skills and work.
- Quote of the week "An honest and good point, well made" - Labour MP Harry Cohen on John Prescott's (alleged) comment that George Bush has been 'crap' in the MIddle East. continue reading on 18th August 2006 Comments (1)
- Built to last - but how do you build it? I've been having a read of the Conservatives revised Built to Last document, that was released today. I think it is quite a good illustration of both the strengths and shortcomings of the Cameron project to date. continue reading on 16th August 2006 Comments (1)
- Sufficing - or not There are lots of different ways to make money in the same market – high value added and low value added products for example. The government in the wants the UK to move towards becoming a high value added economy – high skilled people employed, high wages paid. Everyone wins, don't they? continue reading on 14th August 2006 in Confronting the Skills Paradox
- Who are you? Having watched five episodes of the West Wing this weekend (i'm a late starter) i feel duty-bound to post this up: see which character you are most like from the show. Turns out i'm most like Sam Seaborn...although if i'm honest i think i was aiming for that... continue reading on 7th August 2006 Comments (5)
- In the bag This is a smart idea of from Tesco - people will be able to earn loyalty points for every old plastic bag they bring back and use in their stores. It looks like one of those win-win ideas: it works for the environment, adds to Tesco's green credentials, and encourages people to return to shop there. continue reading on 4th August 2006 Comments (1)
- Local professionalism I’ve been doing a bit of reading for a new project that we are starting with the IDeA, looking at how efforts in local authorities to re-orient services around the needs of users are disrupting professional boundaries, roles and status, and am struck by the suggestion that John Craig makes in Production Values that we may be witnessing the birth of local professionalism. continue reading on 2nd August 2006 in Professional Authority
- The last word So Tom Bentley finished as Demos Director on Friday – completing seven years at the helm. He’s off to Australia to be an adviser to the premier of Victoria. Presumably before his (second) leaving party on Friday he wrote some reflections on British politics over the last ten years for the Sunday Times. The article draws on his experience of being Director of Demos and as an advisor to David Blunkett prior to that. Have a read… continue reading on 31st July 2006 Comments (1)
- Fit for purpose Oh dear. Tony Blair has made a speech saying that people need to adapt their lifestyles if they’re going to be healthy. And apparently he stole the ‘idea’ from David Cameron. continue reading on 26th July 2006 Comments (1)
- Get involved! Welcome to the project blog for this project. During the project we will be posting some thoughts up on this page and bookmarking some of the interesting things that we read during the project here.Leave a comment or drop me an email if there's some research or analysis that you think we should be reading... continue reading on 25th July 2006 in Confronting the Skills Paradox
- From strategy to reality In The Leadership Imperative, published by Demos last year, Hannah Lownsbrough and I argued that: "The danger for Every Child Matters…lies not in an outright rejection from the people being asked to deliver it, but in the day-today difficulties of making it work on the ground. Entrenched patterns of professional behaviour lead to scepticism and distrust of the capabilities of professionals from other backgrounds..." continue reading on 25th July 2006 in Professional Authority