I’ve worked in a number of govt departments, and dealt with them on a business level as well. The real problem is their motivations and business relationships are all wrong. There is ‘risk’ involved in doing something different, and most government departments seem to be so risk adverse as to be almost unable to even consider something new. There are great people in those IT departments, but until the risk adverse culture begins to change, and the understanding that ‘the same thing we’ve always done’ is much riskier than ‘a small innovation’ permeates the culture, we’re stuck with $117million projects. Status quo all around. Very frustrating for any of the small, agile IT vendors who are perfectly capable of dealing with government projects. Its back to the IT service monoliths to soak up our cash and fire it overseas.

I’d feel different if Joe Karam had been paid to manage publicity and to be a face in the media beyond what a lawyer would normally do out of necessity. (ie. If Joe Karam didn’t do that, another lawyer would have to.) I presume he was doing all his extra interviews and media management unpaid on his own initiative and not charging to legal aid. If the legal team was paying him to do this they yes, I’d feel uncomfortable.

http://geniusnet.blogtown.co.nz/2009/06/01/cow-shit-and-candyfloss-overcomes-high-tech/

But why are more people not speaking up?

F&P have some fantastic products and I think it’s incredibly sad they they should have to sell 20% to a competitor in order to stay afloat. Perhaps the management hasn’t been quite as good as the product development dept. – cue a dilbert cartoon.

I’m a little confused as to National’s approach to creating an innovation economy, what is their thinking behind cutting R&D and funding for business incubators. I’m still waiting for the punchline.

This guy put in a load more than two years on this and I think if he got a bit back in the last couple of years then good on him. He lost a hell of a lot more than what he gained. Whether his complete determination was a little misguided is another question.

Next we’ll have defendants hiring PR firms at the taxpayers expense to spin their stories.

I am extremely sure he has been the person managing the case, all along. It’s not just about lawyers sitting down and delivering a case.

Also imagine being david bain, he’s been in jail for the last 15 years, i suspect that makes him more than a little camera shy.