What exactly is an executive summary?

August 12th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

I am a part-time portfolio worker who represents consumers in various regulated sectors, notably communications and water. I spend a lot of time reading long, complicated documents from Government Departments, regulators and companies, many of which invite me to submit comments on these documents and to answer a host of specific questions.

It is a struggle, so I look for a well-constructed executive summary to help me out – but I rarely find one. What do I want?

Above all, a genuine summary of the main text and not a background or introduction to it. So, as an illustration, not: “This document looks at five options and examines the arguments for and against”. But: “This document examines five possible options. Option 1 is … The main arguments for are … The main arguments against are ….”
Next, a summary that can be read independently of the main document and still make complete sense. So no use of acronyms without spelling them out and no use of complicated terminology without the term or phrase being explained.
Also highly desirable is a summary that is very clearly laid out with good use of headings and bullet points.
Finally, a summary that is long enough to capture all the key issues in the document but short enough that it is not almost a document in itself.

I know that this is a challenge, but we all had lessons in English at school to teach us how to identify the key points in a text and, if the Government Departments, regulators and companies cannot manage it, they should commission a consultant who can.

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Academics condemn Government’s trade union bill

August 11th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

Over 100 leading UK academics in the field of employment and industrial relations have today published a letter expressing concern over what they call “the draconian provisions of the Trade Union Bill which will amount to the most sustained attack on trade union and workers’ rights since the Combination Laws of the early 19th century”.

You can see the text of the letter and the full list of signatories here. You may recognise a family name in the media release and at the head of the list of signatures – it is, of course, my brother. As someone who was a full-time national trade union official for 24 years, I condemn the Government’s blatantly ideological attack on trade unions.

Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)

Exploring the Multiverse

August 11th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

For the third time in a week, I attended a one-day course at the City Lit in central London. The previous two courses were on Henry V [my blog posting here] and climate change [my blog posting here], but this latest course could not have been more different. Andrew McGettigan [his slides here] and Rich Cochrane [his slides here] spoke about the notion of the multiverse.

So, what exactly is the multiverse? The relevant Wikipedia page offers this definition:

The multiverse (or meta-universe) is the hypothetical set of infinite or finite possible universes (including the Universe we consistently experience) that together comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, and energy as well as the physical laws and constants that describe them. The various universes within the multiverse are sometimes called “parallel universes” or “alternate universes”.

Now I confess that I found the course a disappointment. I was looking for a scientific case for the notion of the multiverse, but we had very little actual science except the double-slit experiment (the relevance of which was not entirely clear). . Also I was hoping for an examination of how the notion has been used in culture – such as “His Dark Materials” trilogy – as a device to develop character and plot, but all we had was a suggestion that Sherlock Holmes actually exists in some universe out there.

I think the problem was that neither of the lecturers was a physicist or a writer; instead both have a background in philosophy and mathematics. I am highly sceptical about the whole notion of the multiverse: I don’t see how it helps us understand the mysteries of quantum mechanics; I don’t think there is any meaningful evidence to support it; I don’t think we have any tests to prove or disprove it; and playing with such concepts can be a slippery slope away from any meaningful sense of truth and reality.

But I could be wrong and, in another universe, another version of Roger Darlington could be laughing at me.

Posted in Science & technology | Comments (7)

A review of the film “Testament Of Youth”

August 10th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

There was a time in the early 1970s when I met Shirley Williams – than a Labour MP and Cabinet Minister – on several occasions. Very recently, I passed her – now a Liberal Democrat peer – while walking near Parliament and I just couldn’t resist saying ‘hello’, even though of course she had no idea who I was.

Now Shirley Williams had an amazing mother, Vera Brittain, and Brittain is perhaps best known for her memoir “Testament Of Youth” published in 1933. The book was turned into a film last year to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, but I only caught up with the film this weekend. You can read my review here.

Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)

How much can you legally pay in coins?

August 9th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

A friend has drawn my attention the little-known legal position. According to the Coinage Act of 1971, the position is as follows:

1p – for any amount not exceeding 20p
2p – for any amount not exceeding 20p
5p – for any amount not exceeding £5
10p – for any amount not exceeding £5
20p – for any amount not exceeding £10
50p – for any amount not exceeding £10
£1 – for any amount
£2 – for any amount

So now you know. Personally I am trying to avoid the use of coins by using a contactless credit card for as many small purchases as possible.

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How does the American political system really work?

August 8th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

I can offer at least two answers to this most important question.

The first answer is to suggest that you read my “Short Guide To The American Political System” here.

A second answer is that you note a comment by Donald Trump in the hustings this week between 10 Republicans who want to take on the Democratic candidate – presumed to be Hillary Clinton – in the presidential election next year.

Now Trump has long courted the Clintons and donated to the former secretary of state’s Senate campaign fund – but he had a simple explanation:

“I was a businessman. I give to everybody. When they call, I give. When I need something from them two years later, three years later, I call them, they are there for me.”

Posted in American current affairs | Comments (0)

A review of the documentary “Amy”

August 8th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

I loved the music of jazz singer Amy Winehouse and mourned at her death. This brilliant documentary is heart-rending in its tale of her descent into a kind of madness – see my review here.

Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)

My 22nd short story: “Time To Move On”

August 7th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

For five months now, each week, I’ve been ‘republishing’ one of my collection of short stories. This one – like some others – starts with the realisation that so often we do not really know what is going on in the lives of our family, friends and colleagues. Check it out here.

Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)

Is it time for some facts about those migrants?

August 7th, 2015 by Roger Darlington

One of the hottest topics in the British media at the moment is the issue of migrants into Europe and especially the numbers at Calais seeking entry to the UK. The debate is an emotional one and it’s useful to have some relevant facts

Posted in British current affairs, World current affairs | Comments (0)