Disqus - Latest Comments for Duncan Drennan

Re: Guest post: Sig Rinde – Abolish Accounting

Duncan Drennan — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:57:24 -0000

I've been reading Sig's blog for a short while now, and really buy into his concepts. As I read this though, there is one thing which stuck me, which is common to ALL business systems and processes, and niggles away at me the whole time.

Everything runs on people.

Every time the blue widget moves from warehouse to warehouse that information has to be captured somehow. What if the underlying process - the person - fails to capture the info? It is common to all processes. How can data capture become a natural process?

Re: Is there a future for free legal content or am I being a hippy?

Duncan Drennan — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:53:19 -0000

Just to add to what has already been said...

I think one of the keys to understanding the issue is to separate knowledge and skill. In my mind the internet is the great knowledge leveller - as Dave said it is all out there if you're prepared to search hard enough. We could probably say that the internet has commoditised knowledge.

What the internet can't deliver is skill, and that is where the key lies. Again to quote Dave, "separating the wheat from the chaffe" is the hard part. You could probably go and download just about all the knowledge that I picked up studying 6 years of engineering, but the skills imparted via lecturers, practical training, self-learning, project work etc. etc. can't be downloaded (unless you go all Matrix-ey or something).

So I could go and download a contract, but not be sure whether that is suitable for my business - who am I going to ask? The person who is handing out free knowledge in an interesting and insightful way.

You know that I've contacted you about certain things (for which you've referred me to the relevant expert) - that has all come about through contact with you on the internet through your blog and forums.

I like your blog and think you've got a good understanding of where the balance lies in all of this.

You might find that you'll end up doing less work, but I'm sure that it will be more interesting and higher paying - giving you more time to blog and play with the puppies ;)

Re: Is there a future for free legal content or am I being a hippy?

Duncan Drennan — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:57:02 -0000

ARG!! Just lost the long and well thought out post I made...not too sure why :( Will try again, but it is never the same

Re: Is there a future for free legal content or am I being a hippy?

Duncan Drennan — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:03:25 -0000

Okay, summary of what I said in lost post,

1) Key lies in the difference between knowledge and skill
2) Internet has commodotised knowledge
3) Requires skill to "separate the wheat from the chaffe"
4) Skill requires time to learn

So, I can download a contract, but not necessarily know if that is suitable for my business - skill is in interpretation and application (and customization).

Even though all the knowledge that I learnt in 6 years of engineering studies is available on the web, my skill has been imparted through lecturers, practical training, work experience, projects etc.

I think you have a really good understanding of the issues at hand to find the right balance. I really like the way you are sharing knowledge and insight through your blog - it keeps you at the fore of my mind when someone asks about lawyers (and I mention you when I get the chance!)

You might find that at the end of the day you will do less work, but it will most likely be more interesting and higher paying.

Re: Featured business: Engineer Simplicity

Duncan Drennan — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:59:02 -0000

Hi Paul,

Thanks so much for the feature, it is really appreciated. I've put a brief post up thanking you, http://blog.engineersimplicity.com/2007/03/feat...

@Dave, wow, thanks Dave - the comment is much appreciated.

Re: Freshbooks integrates with Basecamp

Duncan Drennan — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:20:00 -0000

Paul, are you currently using Basecamp? Happy with the service?

Re: Viacom sues YouTube for $1bn

Duncan Drennan — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 04:29:58 -0000

I'm not really sure what YouTubes revenue model is, but how about this - Viacom could ask that their advertising be allowed to show when one of their videos is being watched.

Re: Can you trust Facebook?

Duncan Drennan — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:03:02 -0000

One of the terms of use items that jumped out at me when I first signed up for Facebook is that they own all content which you upload to the site. I suspect a lot of people wouldn't be very happy with that if they were aware. My solution is just to not upload anything that I may want ownership to.

Re: An open letter to Helen Zille about the energy crisis in South Africa

Duncan Drennan — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:24:30 -0000

Hi Paul,

I thought you might be interested to take a look at my post about a the 7 best ways to stop load shedding. It is a message that I want to get out to everyone, care to post about it on your blog(s)? http://blog.engineersimplicity.com/2008/02/7-be...

Thanks :)

Re: Common creativity at work (part 3)

Duncan Drennan — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:33:25 -0000

Paul, what are your thoughts on the use of Creative Commons licenses for things like software code, and open hardware? Typically licenses like the GPL have been applied to these. Is there any particular reason that the CC license has been applied mostly to things like music and writing?

Re: What Facebook's revised terms of use mean for your content

Duncan Drennan — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:06:36 -0000

I think the most disturbing aspect is that website owners who have a "Share this on Facebook" link are also affected by this. The way I read the terms any content on another website with this type of a link is automatically licensed to Facebook.