Category Archives: General

Flaunt your flaws: Don’t communicate the Toyota Way

Posted on 10 February 10 by Scot

In this information age, your customers will find out what you’re trying to hide sooner or later and you’ll be well ahead of the game if you are the one supplying that information and engaging your community in an appropriate solution from the start. Continue reading →

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Competition vs. Cooperation – another angle on why astronomy needs sound management practices

Posted on 1 February 10 by Scot

Introducing competition to astronomy projects is not always an easy task. Here, I explore the reasons why competition is healthy and question some of the real issues behind this concern. Continue reading →

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The Role and Need for an International Observatory

Posted on 20 January 10 by Scot

One immediate natural outcome of the UK’s withdrawal from Gemini is that until/unless another partner is found, the existing partners will likely divide up the UK’s share and the USA, now a 50% partner in Gemini, will become a clear … Continue reading →

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Some of my take-home thoughts from recent management books I’ve read….

Posted on 11 January 10 by Scot

I wanted to jot down some key points from some recent books I read, so decided here to give some brief summaries and key ideas from some recent readings in management. Continue reading →

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Towards more realistic project costing…

Posted on 30 December 09 by Scot

I’ve been involved and associated with a number of astronomical projects now that have depended on some level of external funding. One almost universal feature of these projects has been a pitched price tag that is known to be too … Continue reading →

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Gemini without the UK

Posted on 20 December 09 by Scot

The UK appears to be pulling out of Gemini at the end of 2012. I explore some steps I feel Gemini must take in order to survive the likely resulting loss of funds. Continue reading →

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Climbing the Corporate Ladder

Posted on 9 December 09 by Scot

I consider and discuss the pitfalls of blindly climbing the career ladder and point out how astronomy particularly needs to pay attention to finding people with management talent and encouraging them to supplement their talents with skills and training. Continue reading →

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The Management Corollary

Posted on 28 November 09 by Scot

I finally close out my initial discussion of the Scientist Dilemma with an introduction of what I call the Management Corollary. Astronomy’s modern projects require effective management, yet nothing in our current system really prepares us for properly satisfying this need. Continue reading →

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