Culture

Team hiring, management and appraisal

All Posts

People

Aug 4, 2026

You Can’t Opt Out of AI

Every business must learn how to use AI while controlling what it can do.

Simon Maughan

People

Jul 28, 2026

The Intelligence Layer

Why competitive advantage will come from redesigning how businesses make decisions, not automating work.

Simon Maughan

People

Jul 14, 2026

The Trust Premium

AI may commoditise products, but it does not commoditise trust, reputation or operational execution.

Simon Maughan

People

Jul 7, 2026

Ticking the Box

AI workshops satisfy compliance, but they rarely change how people work.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Jun 30, 2026

The AI Playbook

AI training should teach people how to design, test and govern systems, not just write better prompts.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Jun 9, 2026

Own a Small Market

The fastest route to scale is to become indispensable to a specific group of customers.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Jun 2, 2026

The Manufactured Internet

Why the most popular information is often the most heavily promoted.

Simon Maughan

Technology

May 26, 2026

The Scale Advantage

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund shows how embedding AI into workflows reduces cost and expands capacity.

Simon Maughan

Technology

May 12, 2026

The Build vs Buy Shift Has Started

AI is changing the economics of software and what companies can do for themselves.

Simon Maughan

You’re Asking the Wrong Question About Strategy

Technology

May 5, 2026

You’re Asking the Wrong Question About Strategy

Most advice sounds right. That’s exactly why it’s dangerous.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Apr 28, 2026

Built to Adapt

How flexible systems and clear metrics beat rigid plans in business and war.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Apr 21, 2026

Unplanned Adoption

Most technology spreads without a plan, but this time is different.

Simon Maughan

Mar 24, 2026

The New Apprenticeship

AI is removing junior work. Companies now need a better way to develop judgement.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Mar 17, 2026

Sell the Outcome

If you want people to adopt a product, show them the outcome not the capability

Simon Maughan

Revenue

Mar 10, 2026

Trust Your Instinct

When the numbers cannot tell you what to do, experienced judgement matters.

Simon Maughan

Mar 3, 2026

The Hidden Cost of Vibe Coding

Why generating more code does not mean creating more value

Simon Maughan

Technology

Feb 17, 2026

The Benchmark is Boss

Why putting AI in the corner office will fail unless we stop measuring the wrong things.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Feb 3, 2026

The Wrong Side of Easy

A Practical Map for Avoiding the Automation Squeeze.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Jan 27, 2026

The Last 10%

Why automating the wrong work destroys value faster than standing still.

Simon Maughan

People

Jan 20, 2026

The Problem With AI That Never Forgets

How digital memory can lock businesses into outdated ways of working.

Simon Maughan

Your Best People Are Busy for the Wrong Reasons

Technology

Jan 13, 2026

Your Best People Are Busy for the Wrong Reasons

Why efficiency problems are really talent allocation problems.

Simon Maughan

Where Automation Fails After the Christmas Rush

Technology

Jan 6, 2026

Where Automation Fails After the Christmas Rush

Shortcuts adopted under time pressure are the main reason automations are abandoned.

Simon Maughan

People

Dec 30, 2025

Why Everyone Is “Above Average” and Why That’s a Problem

Grade inflation, weak metrics and the uncomfortable truth about performance reviews.

Simon Maughan

Technology

Dec 23, 2025

Why AI Spending Works

How an AI investment bubble lays the foundation for what businesses want.

Simon Maughan

People

Dec 9, 2025

Persistence is the New IQ Test

Persistence, Curiosity and Collective Drive are my preferred hiring criteria. Here’s why.

Simon Maughan

Culture

You Can’t Opt Out of AI

The Intelligence Layer

The Trust Premium

Ticking the Box

The AI Playbook

Own a Small Market

The Manufactured Internet

The Scale Advantage

The Build vs Buy Shift Has Started

You’re Asking the Wrong Question About Strategy

Built to Adapt

Unplanned Adoption

The New Apprenticeship

Sell the Outcome

Trust Your Instinct

The Hidden Cost of Vibe Coding

The Benchmark is Boss

The Wrong Side of Easy

The Last 10%

The Problem With AI That Never Forgets

Your Best People Are Busy for the Wrong Reasons

Where Automation Fails After the Christmas Rush

Why Everyone Is “Above Average” and Why That’s a Problem

Why AI Spending Works

Persistence is the New IQ Test

The Profit Elevator