The BJSS Podcasts: Recent Episodes
BJSS
In this episode we discuss the importance of collaboration in successful project delivery, focusing on the roles of Delivery Manager, Business Analyst and Technical Architect.
Contributors:
Nigel Burgin, DM Capability Lead
Martin Smyllie, Technical Architect
Tom Brooks, BA Capability Lead
Shas Ruparel, Delivery Manager
In this episode we take a deep dive into the world of Artificial Intelligence and what it means for Delivery Management.
Contributors
Simon de Timary, Head of Data & AI, BJSS
Laura Musgrave, Lead Researcher In Responsible AI, SPARCK
Jonathan Hadley, Group Head of DM Capability, BJSS
Shas Ruparel, Delivery Manager, BJSS
Further links
Microsoft Co-Pilot: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/business/copilot-for-microsoft-365
Claude: claude.ai
Notion: https://www.notion.so/
What makes a good consultant? What do clients look for, and how can we be better consultants? In this episode, we talk to two of our delivery managers Tim Haines and Alistair Wright, about the do’s and don’ts of consultancy, what makes a good one, what we think our clients look for, and how we can be better.
In this episode, Mario De'Cristofano is joined by Emma Sterry, DevOps engineer at D|Ops Digital, and one of our own platform engineers, Marija Zinevica. They talk about what it's like being a woman in tech, getting your foot in the door, biases in organisations, and how we try to tackle these issues at BJSS. Emma and Marija represent amazing success stories (you should check them out on Linkedin) and in this episode you can hear their top tips for women wanting to get into tech.
If you want to come and work at BJSS, learn more about all our opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/joinus/
In this episode, Mario De'Cristofano is joined by Paul Bailey and Max Earp, Head of Design and Strategy Consultant, respectively, at Sparck. They talk about why the human being should be at the centre of every technology project (whether you're building for the Public Sector or not) as well as how to think about the users and how your product can make them feel. They also discuss tips and strategies to put users at the heart of a project.If you're a Delivery Manager, learn more about opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/joinus/
In this episode, Mario De'Cristofano is joined by BJSS Delivery Managers, Sebastien Bonicel and Tim Haines.
Both Sebastien and Tim have recently completed a large multi supplier project. Taking their learnings from this engagement, they share what agile techniques and principles work, how you deal with supplier complexity and what things you should consider when running a large complex digital project.
Learn more about our delivery management opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/joinus/
As you progress through your tech career, there are certain aspects outside of the day-to-day that are important for your personal and professional development. In this episode, BJSS senior engineers Chris May and Chris Sewart delve into the important non-tech related skills that will help you excel in your career path, including how to progress your career and still code, how to be a nurturing leader, and how to effectively communicate.
Learn more about the software engineering opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/engineering-roles
Working as an IT delivery manager is not just about the delivery of enterprise-scale technology projects.
There is a significant people element to the role that is often undervalued by many tech consultancies.
In this episode Mario de Cristofano is joined by Tony Buzzard-Nall, delivery manager and people lead for BJSS Midlands, to discuss the importance of people and communication skills in delivery management and what you can do to build better relationships with both clients and your delivery team.
Learn more about the delivery management opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/joinus/
According to Stack Overflow, almost 80% of developers worldwide class DevOps as being at least somewhat important in scaling software development.
But what exactly is DevOps? What business benefits can it generate and what does good look like?
In this episode Mario de Cristofano is joined by Alex Moore, DevOps strategy consultant at BJSS and Ollie Strachan, test lead at BJSS to explore the topic of DevOps in more detail, why it’s important in the world of technology delivery and how you too can start to implement DevOps best practices in your workplace.
Learn more about the delivery management and DevOps opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/joinus/
Join BJSS Engineers, Andrew Beattie and Joseph Cheverton-Wynne, alongside Head of Academy, Dan Webb, as they uncover the five reasons why experienced and junior developers alike should consider adding Go to their tech stack.
They share their experiences of using the programming language and how you too can start your Golang journey.
Learn more about the software engineering opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/engineering-roles
There has never been a better time to opt for a career in tech. And there's never been a better time to join BJSS.
Hear from three BJSS software engineers and the Head of the BJSS Academy, Dan Webb, about their experiences of getting into tech. They also share their tips on searching for a great place to work and dealing with interviews.
Learn more about career opportunities at BJSS here: https://www.bjss.com/joinus/
In the first of our 12 part delivery management series, Mario deCristofano is joined by BJSS’ Midlands Delivery Lead, Lisa Mountford, to talk all things relating to delivery management.
Mario sits down with Lisa to hear about her experience of working at BJSS since joining the company three months ago. Lisa also shares some delivery management best practices and advice on overcoming the common challenges associated with enterprise technology projects.
Lisa is a Project, Programme & Portfolio Manager with experience in multiple industry sectors including Healthcare, Manufacturing & Retail & Banking. Lisa started her career working with Samsung Electronics before moving into IT Delivery management with Axon (later HCL-Axon/HCL) and then Atos working predominantly in the SAP Space.
More recently Lisa has worked within smaller a smaller consultancy where she was Head of Project Delivery and combined this with looking after a Portfolio of strategic projects for an NHS Organisation.
People focused, Lisa is passionate about enabling businesses to deliver better outcomes and achieve greater results.
In this episode of Deployed, BJSS’ cloud experts share their key takeaways from the live AWS Partner Keynote hosted by Doug Yeum, Head of Worldwide Channels and Alliances. Watch the recording of the keynote here.
At least one in five people in the UK have a long term illness, impairment or disability - and even more have temporary disabilities too. With most public sector websites and mobile apps failing to currently meet accessibility requirements, new regulations are in place to make it a legal duty for public sector organisations to meet these standards.
This is a monumental shift that challenges long standing design principles. But it needn't be a big deal! There are quick wins to achieve compliance and to build accessibility in from the outset. Susheel Dodeja and Robert van Tol explore in this episode of BJSS Deployed.
Is possible to trade in the cloud? Greg Allen, Group Chief Technology Officer of the London Stock Exchange shares his perspective and experiences and explores the innovation that took place during his time at TMX where he led IT Governance, Architecture, and Planning. BJSS CTO Larry Ryan moderates.
For more about BJSS and trading in the public cloud, or to watch the recorded webinar, please visit bjss.com/trading
So you’ve planned your Sprint. Surely it will run like clockwork - what could possibly go wrong?In this episode of BJSS Deployed, Craig Howarth, Charlotte Sutton, Donna Tosney, and Leah Unsworth-Hughes identify some real world Sprint challenges and discuss the tactics they use to handle them.
From testing, to fake news, and then shifting scopes and priorities, our team takes a look at the gap between textbook and reality. This episode is moderated by Hannah Ellston.
Is it better to develop apps using the language that the target device is built on? Or is it better to use another language so that the app can be used by multiple device platforms? What are the advantages? And are there any pitfalls to avoid?
In this episode of BJSS Deployed, Lee Crossley chats with Joe Thornton and Leonie Collier about hybrid vesus native mobile development.
In this first episode of the BJSS Deployed Podcast, Lee Crossley and John Gill discuss the pros and cons of monolithic vs microservices architectures based on experiences gained on a range of recent engagements.
In 2019, the average British company spent over £1,000 on new employee training. And with recent research suggesting that companies which offer structured training programmes generating over 200% higher income per employee than companies that don't, what type of training works best? Formal courses or on-the-job? Face-to-face or e-learning?
Join the BJSS ChangeMakers as they explore how best to enable employees to learn and develop. In this episode they ask: is training really worth it?ChangeMakers is the change podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. It is hosted by BJSS People & Change consultant Becca Duncan, supported by Tom Silver and Georgie Wickman. Visit us at bjss.com to learn more.
This is a special edition of OnRetail recorded live at NRF 2020's Kustomer Stage. The panel was hosted by Jake Knowles, Senior Business Consultant at BJSS. Panelists were Alexa Geovanos, Brand President, North and South America for Chloe; Dave Wood, General Manager (Americas) for Joules USA; Heidi K Isern, Senior Director of Customer Experience Innovation for Gap Inc; and Alex Genov, Manager of Research and User Experience at Zappos.com
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Innovation and customer obsession. They aren't just buzzwords. You’ll hear how retailers are actually achieving this.
But there’s no single recipe for success, some aim to create personal and emotional connections with their customers, others focus on empowering their employees with more access to customer knowledge than they’ve ever had before.
So combine this with a desire to learn and experiment, and an understanding that you can fail fast when you innovate- sometimes you’ll learn more from your failures than your successes.
Some brands are nailing this, and in this session, we'll hear about their secrets to ensuring that customers remain at the heart of their business, and how a culture of innovation drives them forward.
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On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com to learn more.
Brick and mortar is so last century. And online is so last decade!
The next big trend is Retail as a Service (RaaS). It offers solutions for cost-conscious retailers to provide a great brick and mortar service, but without splurging out the cash. It’s being driven by a new consumer trend - “showrooming” - where consumers spend time browsing, touching and feeling physical products in a traditional store, before making the purchase online or via an app.
But why is this a game changer for retailers? Put simply, RaaS is a great way to merge online channels with a physical high-street environment. Sales associates are trained to familiarise themselves with each product, and then educate consumers on how that product might benefit their daily lives. And it goes beyond the shop floor too - think advanced checkouts, live product recommendations, and cutting edge inventory management!
On this episode of On Retail, Senior Business Consultant Jake Knowles, and BJSS Head of Retail, David Gore explore the types of markets that exist for RaaS applications.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com to learn more.
We often display a sense of resilience when change occurs in our personal day-to-day lives. But then we tend to struggle when we're faced with change at work.
What contributes to how we handle change? And what can we learn about how consumers adapt to change?
ChangeMakers is the change podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. It is hosted by BJSS People & Change consultants Tom Silver and Becca Duncan. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
It's Christmas! And retailers up and down the nation are being lambasted for their seasonal sins.
Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, M&S and Amazon - no one's immune from the public's festive scorn. In this special Christmas episode of On Retail hosted by Jake Knowles, we take a look at last Christmas's funniest Twitter rants.
From those predictable complaints about rancid turkey, to disappointment over questionable pizza choices, and cars getting egged in the car park, Giorgia Gallarati, David Gore and Lizzie Willett share their reactions to these real life #MeanTweets.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
IPA takes a human process and makes it full (or semi) automated. But what are the pitfalls and opportunities that companies face when deploying IPA technologies into their organisations? The aim is to assess and challenge the real need of an RPA licence, or asking if better results can be delivered in a shorter space of time and at a lower cost using several tools.
This first episode of Value in AI is hosted by Katie Gibbs and guest Carl Austin. Value in AI is the AI podcast of BJSS. Visit us at bjss.com/ipa to learn more about IPA.
Things are getting hot! From weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that cause catastrophic flooding, the impact of climate change is now socially and politically toxic. And the spotlight is well and truly on the energy companies.
So in response they're:
- Developing greener energy,
- Producing energy in a more effective way,
- Promoting products which produce a smaller carbon footprint.
But do renewable or low carbon products really meet consumer and industry needs? Is society really ready to accept a trade off for using greener alternatives? And are they secretly happy to cast a blind (but vocally judgemental) eye to the continued use of carbon sources instead?
In this inaugural episode of On Energy, hosted by BJSS business consultants Bruce Wen, Anna Cheong and Joyce Tang, we look at real life examples of the Energy Sector's response to climate change.
On Energy is the energy podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Veganism has gone mainstream. And organisations are doubling down their efforts to attract vegan consumers.
How is it some companies have quickly adapted to these changing consumer needs and desires, while others have struggled to keep up with what people really want? With examples from Burger King to Greggs, and TFL to Uber, this inaugural episode of ChangeMakers looks at how companies are able to rapidly pivot whenever the direction of desire switches.
ChangeMakers is the change podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. It is hosted by BJSS People & Change consultants Tom Silver and Becca Duncan. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
This year will be remembered for the death of some of Britain's most iconic retail brands.
But some have survived administration.
With Karen Millen and Coast rescued by the plucky boohoo, Sports Direct snapping up a mismatched Jack Wills, and rumours of mega-mergers in the grocery space, is the high street set for revitalised success? Or have they bought cash-haemorrhaging pigs in a poke?
This episode of On Retail is hosted by Giorgia Gallarati andfeatures analysis from BJSS business consultants Lizzie Willett and Jake Knowles. On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Sustainability and AI – two of the hottest topics to emerge in 2019's retail sector. And with 77% of major retailers looking to deploy AI technologies within the next three years, we ask the question: can they happily coexist? Or will there be a trade-off between advanced technology and sustainability?
On this episode of On Retail, Joe Hurman, who joined BJSS on a summer internship, is joined by BJSS business consultants Giorgia Gallarati and Hannah Tharp. They explore the intersection between these two topics and they also discuss Joe's article AI in Retail: A pathway to a sustainable future or an expensive gimmick?
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Within the next three years, and with fantastic new use cases including recommendations, sizing and intelligent automation, the retail industry is expected to spend over US$7.3 billion on AI. These technologies will improve customer experience, forecasting, environmental impact and back-office functions.
Put simply: the retail sector is all set for AI.
But some including Ocado, Walmart, Nike, Asos and Macy’s have already started the journey. This episode of On Retail – which is presented by Jake Knowles, Mel Wade and BJSS Head of AI, Katie Gibbs - looks at the ways that these retail pioneers are using and advancing AI.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Unicorns - not the mythical creatures, but imaginative retail startups that have achieved valuations of over $1billion.
In this episode of On Retail, BJSS Retail Consultants Giorgia Gallarati, Mel Wade and Jake Knowles look at some of the world's most exciting Unicorns and discuss the key ingredients that define these highly profitable organisations.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
BJSS launched its latest research - You, Me and Sustainability - on World Environment Day 2019.
In this episode of On Retail we examine a key theme in our report. Nimble start-ups are now building entire business models around being sustainable through shared consumer values, and through supporting truly sustainable businesses. To illustrate these points, we speak with Henrietta Adams, founder of Henri and Megan Adams, founder of Re:Store.
Download the report at bjss.com/sustainability.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Rowing Blazers was founded in 2017 by author, archaeologist and U.S. national team rower Jack Carlson and his girlfriend, national champion oarswoman Keziah Beall.
This episode of On Retail is all about this brand where classic British and American menswear is produced for the modern world using vintage patterns, details and construction techniques and ethically-sourced materials.
Rowing Blazers was named as one of New York's newest and most innovative retail concepts in BJSS' Concrete Comparisons report. See the leaderboard and download your copy at bjss.com/stores.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Is the department store format dead, or does it need a shake-up? The Ocado and M&S deal: Is it a deal born out of desperation or could it be the joint venture of the year? And will we start to see the rise of social commerce or it just a fad?
Retail Consultants Hannah Tharp and Lizzie Willett tackle these questions alongside their host, Mel Wade, in the fifth episode of On Retail.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
The Phluid Project is the world's first gender-free part-retail, part-community space.
After visiting Burning Man, The Phluid Project founder Rob Smith became inspired to move on from a 30-year career in corporate retailers like Macy's and create an inclusive retail experience for gender-nonconforming customers.
This episode of On Retail is all about the inspiring story of this community hub where people can stop, shop and engage.
The Phluid Project was named as one of New York's newest and most innovative retail concepts in BJSS' Concrete Comparisons report. See the leaderboard and download your copy at bjss.com/stores.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Retail isn't dead but mediocre retail is. What causes the biggest retailing headaches: delivery or returns? Will the next generation know what a CD is for? And is veganism here to stay, or has plant-based dieting become a Veganuary fad?
This episode of On Retail is all about the two conflicting perspectives of Retail Consultants Hannah Tharp and Mel Wade.Giorgia Gallarati reprises her role of (completely unbiased) judge, and Jake Knowles presents.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Over 38,000 attendees and 16,000 retailers from across the globe descended on New York to attend this years NRF Big Show. BJSS' Head of Retail, David Gore, and Retail Consultant, Jake Knowles were there too and they share their NRF perspectives in this edition of On Retail.We also released our latest research: Concrete Comparisons. Looking at 20 stores as diverse as Converse, Rowing Blazers and Phluid Project, the report analyses New York's newest and most innovative retail concepts. See the leaderboard and download your copy at bjss.com/stores.
This episode is moderated by Melissa Wade, Retail Consultant.
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.
Which retailers are the ones to watch? Which have to desperately pull their socks up? And by the end of the year, what will Britain's high street look like?
BJSS' Head of Retail, David Gore, and Retail Consultant, Jake Knowles duel in this inaugural episode of On Retail, with Associate Retail Consultant Giorgia Gallarati playing the role of unbiased judge!
On Retail is the retail podcast of BJSS Business Consulting. Visit us at bjss.com/business to learn more.