DVLA Inside exposure

[DuxDeluxe]

The huddle can also be in dispersed across the country or indeed across the world tech companies have follow the sun R&D and maintenance teams and it all works really well, it really is an outdated notion you have to be in the same room.

So you say...........

Who am I to argue after 30 years in senior management positions

 

[Dave Scadding]

The OP has nothing to do with working at home, the point here is that the employees at the DVLA are at home NOT working as they cannot log into the DVLA systems.

 

[JockandRita]

explains why I just had to pay them £25 for the log book they never sent me in the first place (that was apparently my fault) tossers.

They tried that one on me too saying that they hadn't received my documents.
An email from me with images of the original V5, the postage receipt, and a tracking receipt with a signature, date, and time, soon sorted that one out.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Coolcats]

So you say...........

Who am I to argue after 30 years in senior management positions

I’m sure you did your job well as do others …..it may well be you have no need for a 24 hour global support but virtual teams are a reality.


A quick check on the we shows many case studies here is one with a quote from it,,,it may be in your senior position you never had a need for virtual teams and virtual working but many organisations do and have done for years and have been highly successful.

"When I finish for the day, I handover to colleagues that are coming in for an overnight shift and to colleagues in other countries. We have team calls every morning and evening, and there’s a handover document created with details of important developments for reference and to avoid any confusion. It’s a very collaborative place to work. We use message boards on Microsoft Teams to ask and answer questions from one another, and there’s always someone with the expertise you need to help you find the solution to your problem."

 

[busby]

I offer no excuses why the DVLa has issues, the underlying criticism around people lazing around if working from home is not a valid one. It is a view of those who have not worked from home or are jealous they never had the opportunity to do so or some imagined world of ‘scoungers’. The reality off working from home is far different and complex than than those who have never done so.

I tried it but somehow it just didn't work,,,,I was a HGV driver though,,BUSBY.

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[JockandRita]

I tried it but somehow it just didn't work,,,,I was a HGV driver though,,BUSBY.

Likewise, you get very few Firefighters working from home.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Coolcats]

I tried it but somehow it just didn't work,,,,I was a HGV driver though,,BUSBY.

Mind you one of the new automated lorries may have meant you could operate it via your lounge

 

[Coolcats]

Likewise, you get very few Firefighters working from home.

Cheers,

Jock.

This is very true but from what I saw the counties HQ was virtually empty during the lockdown periods. No virtual or remote firefighting was reported in the county.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I’m sure you did your job well as do others …..it may well be you have no need for a 24 hour global support but virtual teams are a reality.


A quick check on the we shows many case studies here is one with a quote from it,,,it may be in your senior position you never had a need for virtual teams and virtual working but many organisations do and have done for years and have been highly successful.

"When I finish for the day, I handover to colleagues that are coming in for an overnight shift and to colleagues in other countries. We have team calls every morning and evening, and there’s a handover document created with details of important developments for reference and to avoid any confusion. It’s a very collaborative place to work. We use message boards on Microsoft Teams to ask and answer questions from one another, and there’s always someone with the expertise you need to help you find the solution to your problem."

My Job was a global responsibility for inspection contracts and ships fuels with a major inspection company. We used videoconferences for round table where appropriate and it was very useful but you cannot sit and thrash out cross border contract details and sort out major claims without meeting face to face. Well, you might be able to, but when you are dealing at director level I found that a face on a screen was not impressive with shipping and oil companies as interpreting client body language was essential in how to negotiate more effectively when dealing with multi million dollar contracts. My job also had 24 hour troubleshooting responsibilities which could mostly be dealt with by phone but often elevated into a claim which needed the face to face negotiation to deny responsibility (most often) or mitigate the amount (quite rare)

 

[Larrynwin]

It’s very clear that working from home is effective , case in point the quality of service from the DVLA.

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[Dave Scadding]

I don’t know why this thread has turned into a working from home debate which is best LEFT ON FACEBOOK

 

[Otter Spotter]

Jeez are you kidding as someone who worked from home for years knows that this is not the case. Working from home you have the same measures in place that you have in an office !

But obviously not in the DVLA!

 

[Larrynwin]

I don’t know why this thread has turned into a working from home debate which is best LEFT ON FACEBOOK

Probably because that is the subject of the OP video.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I don’t know why this thread has turned into a working from home debate which is best LEFT ON FACEBOOK

….perhaps it is because working from home with poor access and management incompetence appears to be a major cause of the problems experienced by many people?

 

[Dave Scadding]

Probably because that is the subject of the OP video.

Not really it’s a reporter getting a job as a trainee with the DVLA and it transpires that many of the employees are at home but unable to work due to lack of access to the DVLA systems hence huge backlog with applications left stacked in sacks. My point was why are DVLA training new recruits when skilled employees are at home with no access to their systems. Nothing to do with the pros or cons regarding home working.

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[JockandRita]

This is very true but from what I saw the counties HQ was virtually empty during the lockdown periods. No virtual or remote firefighting was reported in the county.

Well it would be, as it's normally full of non operational civvies who can easily WFH.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Larrynwin]

Not really it’s a reporter getting a job as a trainee with the DVLA and it transpires that many of the employees are at home but unable to work due to lack of access to the DVLA systems hence huge backlog with applications left stacked in sacks. My point was why are DVLA training new recruits when skilled employees are at home with no access to their systems. Nothing to do with the pros or cons regarding home working.

Perhaps the inability to access DVLA systems is because they are installed and designed to be used in situ and if the staff were in the office would no doubt perform better.

 

[Coolcats]

But obviously not in the DVLA!

Maybe maybe not, how is it when the pandemic was at its height I had no issue with the DVLA I re-applied for my personal number plate which was on another vehicle that had been stollen only to be told I had to wait a few more weeks (rules etc nothing to do with people working from home). I gave it a shot a few weeks later as advised and about a week later hey presto the paperwork came through then applied for it to be placed on my replacement vehicle....all done no mess no fuss.

I am not saying there has not been issues but clearly something/someone is working.

 

[Coolcats]

My Job was a global responsibility for inspection contracts and ships fuels with a major inspection company. We used videoconferences for round table where appropriate and it was very useful but you cannot sit and thrash out cross border contract details and sort out major claims without meeting face to face. Well, you might be able to, but when you are dealing at director level I found that a face on a screen was not impressive with shipping and oil companies as interpreting client body language was essential in how to negotiate more effectively when dealing with multi million dollar contracts. My job also had 24 hour troubleshooting responsibilities which could mostly be dealt with by phone but often elevated into a claim which needed the face to face negotiation to deny responsibility (most often) or mitigate the amount (quite rare)

I do not disagree that the nuances of body language can be lost if its a remote video conference, plus some clients expect a visit from a supplier and there is nothing like "pressing the flesh' to close a deal (for those who do not know what this is it is a reference to a handshake). But companies looking at their margins, question the cost of travel, hotels and other expenses one of our Directors used to entertain clients and stay at the Ritz, that was until we had a new FD and that expense was curtailed and it was no surprise we still got the contracts. Sometimes face to face is needed but so much can be done remotely even contracts and that special signing pen sales people use is so yesterday an electronic contract is normally signed within about 20 mins of sending it even it is for 10's of k or the odd million or two.

So in part I agree about meeting in person but just like typing pools and secretaries in my opinion its so yesterday unless there really is a need and that need is receding as more technology advances. (why do I want to travel on a crowded train have an over night in a hotel when I can get the same result working from home and not missing an evening with my wife).

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I do not disagree that the nuances of body language can be lost if its a remote video conference, plus some clients expect a visit from a supplier and there is nothing like "pressing the flesh' to close a deal (for those who do not know what this is it is a reference to a handshake). But companies looking at their margins, question the cost of travel, hotels and other expenses one of our Directors used to entertain clients and stay at the Ritz, that was until we had a new FD and that expense was curtailed and it was no surprise we still got the contracts. Sometimes face to face is needed but so much can be done remotely even contracts and that special signing pen sales people use is so yesterday an electronic contract is normally signed within about 20 mins of sending it even it is for 10's of k or the odd million or two.

So in part I agree about meeting in person but just like typing pools and secretaries in my opinion its so yesterday unless there really is a need and that need is receding as more technology advances. (why do I want to travel on a crowded train have an over night in a hotel when I can get the same result working from home and not missing an evening with my wife).

You are clearly not in the shipping business

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[DuxDeluxe]

Maybe maybe not, how is it when the pandemic was at its height I had no issue with the DVLA I re-applied for my personal number plate which was on another vehicle that had been stollen only to be told I had to wait a few more weeks (rules etc nothing to do with people working from home). I gave it a shot a few weeks later as advised and about a week later hey presto the paperwork came through then applied for it to be placed on my replacement vehicle....all done no mess no fuss.

I am not saying there has not been issues but clearly something/someone is working.

I renewed my driving licence within about 10 days without any problems. Did it all online and without any issues, same as transferring my personal plate which was same day - dealer did it whilst I watched. It is an automated system though

 

[Coolcats]

You are clearly not in the shipping business

Industry can always learn from one another, and no I am not in the shipping business. The number of times I have heard management say 'that won't work here often companies have old process and systems that the organisation grew up with change is hard as there is a belief that there is only one way to do something, that is until a start up comes along and does it more efficiently and cheaper its at that point companies start changing to stay in business. Maybe with the DVLA they will install better/secure remote working process's but I suspect the organisation is like and oil tanker and will take a lot of effort and investment to change direction. Externally we can all criticise yet it could be a monumental cost and effort to get to the the place they need to be.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Industry can always learn from one another, and no I am not in the shipping business. The number of times I have heard management say 'that won't work here often companies have old process and systems that the organisation grew up with change is hard as there is a belief that there is only one way to do something, that is until a start up comes along and does it more efficiently and cheaper its at that point companies start changing to stay in business. Maybe with the DVLA they will install better/secure remote working process's but I suspect the organisation is like and oil tanker and will take a lot of effort and investment to change direction. Externally we can all criticise yet it could be a monumental cost and effort to get to the the place they need to be.

As I thought………..
I tended to actually do what the client wanted and needed and with literally Millions of dollars at stake (Exxon alone was worth over 10 mil). All of these people shipowners and oil companies are very busy and under a lot of pressure. They don’t ask for face to face unless it is necessary and I would not presume to tell an Oil Major or a company like CMA CGM how to run their own business; if they say we need to meet, then we say “ok, when?”. With demanding shareholders certainly we were not in the business blowing dollars on travel and hotels. A typical trip to Japan, for instance, involved at least four meetings a day for three days plus possibly a client dinner - followed by the same in Hong Kong, Korea, China and Taiwan. Believe me, if I could have ducked the whole lot and done it over Zoom, Google meets, Teams or whatever, I would have done so. Add in the 100plus emails a day and operational phone calls and the trip would leave me totally drained. Same applies to European countries

 

[Coolcats]

As I thought………..
I tended to actually do what the client wanted and needed and with literally Millions of dollars at stake (Exxon alone was worth over 10 mil). All of these people shipowners and oil companies are very busy and under a lot of pressure. They don’t ask for face to face unless it is necessary and I would not presume to tell an Oil Major or a company like CMA CGM how to run their own business; if they say we need to meet, then we say “ok, when?”. With demanding shareholders certainly we were not in the business blowing dollars on travel and hotels. A typical trip to Japan, for instance, involved at least four meetings a day for three days plus possibly a client dinner - followed by the same in Hong Kong, Korea, China and Taiwan. Believe me, if I could have ducked the whole lot and done it over Zoom, Google meets, Teams or whatever, I would have done so. Add in the 100plus emails a day and operational phone calls and the trip would leave me totally drained. Same applies to European countries

interesting isn't it, but again I suspect the cost of many meetings (including the ones I and many others attend) could really be done remotely, suggesting to a customer how to change a business process can be fun, your not telling them how to run thier business but what they could be missing out on or how it could give them a competitive edge. Who would have thought back in 1989 all banks would eventually take up the model of First Direct Bank phone to begin with and internet, now they are all at it. Direct Line started in 1985 now many brokers and underwriters follow their model. So who do recon in shipping is going to change the business model you operated in.

Impermanence is inevitable and along with the march of technology business process's have to change its the way of the world

Getting back to the DVLA it will change slowly but surely

 

[DuxDeluxe]

interesting isn't it, but again I suspect the cost of many meetings (including the ones I and many others attend) could really be done remotely, suggesting to a customer how to change a business process can be fun, your not telling them how to run thier business but what they could be missing out on or how it could give them a competitive edge. Who would have thought back in 1989 all banks would eventually take up the model of First Direct Bank phone to begin with and internet, now they are all at it. Direct Line started in 1985 now many brokers and underwriters follow their model. So who do recon in shipping is going to change the business model you operated in.

Impermanence is inevitable and along with the march of technology business process's have to change its the way of the world

Getting back to the DVLA it will change slowly but surely

They have very sophisticated IT systems and it is client driven. You go ahead and tell them how to run their business suggest how they can improve the systems and tell them what they are missing out on if you want. I personally find it hilarious that you think these guys with their sophisticated trading platforms and IT systems for ship management are living in what you clearly regard as the dark ages

You seriously underestimate how these businesses run. It is cutthroat and every cent counts. The clients don't like or want the face to face meeting any more than we did; it is a necessary evil in current times.

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[Coolcats]

They have very sophisticated IT systems and it is client driven. You go ahead and tell them how to run their business suggest how they can improve the systems and tell them what they are missing out on if you want. I personally find it hilarious that you think these guys with their sophisticated trading platforms and IT systems for ship management are living in what you clearly regard as the dark ages

You seriously underestimate how these businesses run. It is cutthroat and every cent counts. The clients don't like or want the face to face meeting any more than we did; it is a necessary evil in current times.

Someone suggested to them the benefits of owning sophisticated software and IT systems for ship management and how it would help their organisation or they would still be using quill and paper, so maybe what I am writing is not so hilarious and as all technology is intermediate technology what they have will be replaced by their next investment round either due to hardware redundancy or changes to the core software, it is inevitable. If they had not invested and if they do not invest it will be the dark ages.

Using todays technology and with bandwidth increasing you can have a shared experience or move the experience to the customer it truly is changing how people work and interact. its not going to be that far away that you can visit a customer virtually with shared experience and 'feel' you are in that meeting whilst still being at home.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Someone suggested to them the benefits of owning sophisticated software and IT systems for ship management and how it would help their organisation or they would still be using quill and paper, so maybe what I am writing is not so hilarious and as all technology is intermediate technology what they have will be replaced by their next investment round either due to hardware redundancy or changes to the core software, it is inevitable. If they had not invested and if they do not invest it will be the dark ages.

Using todays technology and with bandwidth increasing you can have a shared experience or move the experience to the customer it truly is changing how people work and interact. its not going to be that far away that you can visit a customer virtually with shared experience and 'feel' you are in that meeting whilst still being at home.

I give up. Go and see Exxon and tell them they are doing it wrong.

 

[JockandRita]

I give up. Go and see Exxon and tell them they are doing it wrong.

It's a good job I'm not a gambler David, as I had you down for winning that one.

Unlucky pal, but you certainly gave it a good go.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

It's a good job I'm not a gambler David, as I had you down for winning that one.

Unlucky pal, but you certainly gave it a good go.

Cheers,

Jock.

You cannot speak to those who will not hear. I knew my business and still do.

 

[JockandRita]

You cannot speak to those who will not hear. I knew my business and still do.

Are you still galivanting across the world then David, or are we doing Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Skype, or Facebook Live these days?

Oops sorry, we've already done that one to death, haven't we.

Cheers,

Jock.

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