Thank you for Support

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all those in the community who shared their condolence with us on the death of my mum and who celebrated the life of a remarkable person. 

I particularly want to thank SQLBits for this year for making The SQLBits 2025 Charity, the main charity for the event with donations going to The National Museum of Computing 

The National Museum of Computing is also a fantastic visitor attraction, recognised as one of England’s top 100 ‘irreplaceable places’, allowing visitors to follow the development of computing from the ultra-secret pioneering efforts of the 1940s, through the large systems and mainframes of the 1950s-70s, to the rise of personal computing in the 1980s and beyond. The museum hosts lots of events throughout the year and does not receive government or Heritage Lottery Funding. I feel it is important to preserve the past and help the museum with some ambitious projects in the future. If you missed the opportunity to donate there is a direct page where you can make donations. 

I would also like to thank the #MVPCommunity and the team at #DataToboggan for there tremendous support during this time. #MVPBuzz

You can read more about my mum, Joan Frances Holt here 

Thank you again my #sqlfamily #datafamily

Introducing the CODEX Framework

The Cadence Alpine framework was created from rigorous academic research undertaken to understand best practices usage of data by Dr Victoria Holt FBCS. It was created before researchers had the option of using agentic AI. With the new Microsoft Researcher agent 'it helps you tackle complex, multi-step research at work, delivering insights with greater quality and accuracy than previously possible'. It was also created before 16 May 16, 2025 when 'OpenAI launched Codex, a new fully agentic AI coding assistant built into ChatGPT. Unlike traditional code autocomplete tools, Codex goes beyond being just a smart editor. Codex is OpenAI's series of AI coding tools that help developers move faster by delegating tasks to powerful cloud and local coding agents.'

The CODEX framework was named in 2017 based on transition and change into the digital age.

From the PhD Storybook

Cadence Alpine’s Strategic Compass for Data and AI Maturity

The CODEX is Cadence Alpine’s guiding framework. A strategic compass that helps organizations navigate the evolving terrain of data and AI. It is designed to assess maturity, uncover blind spots, and chart a path toward clarity, resilience, and innovation.

The CODEX Framework (2017)

CODEX in Practice

Together, these five Alpen Themes:  Control, Control of Operations, Data, Expediently and X (Unpredictable Events) form a dynamic map, not a static checklist. They help Cadence Alpine, and its partners assess where they stand, where they’re vulnerable, and where they can lead.

•       The CODEX framework isn’t a one-time climb. It is a cycle of elevation. Organizations revisit each layer as they grow, recalibrate, and lead. It is adaptive, shows emergent properties and can help with complex or chaotic business that are affected by environmental changes.

•       It enables the mindset of controls for data governance

•       It is in the right place for EIM and EDM to start management of data assets

•       It helps to transform the Executive mindset

•       To stop unknown destruction of data and AI decisions

•      To identify the hidden cost of data with poor data quality, ineffective decision making, out of data and inconsistent and duplicate data. In addition these compliance failures can mount

•       Increase ROI by reducing inefficiencies

•       Enables a strong Data base for intelligent foundation of AI, analytics and governance

Each of its five Alpen Themes represents a vital elevation in the landscape of intelligent operations. Each Alpen Theme has many Subalpine Elements which enable the breadth of complexity to be examined. These are:

Control (Business)

Focus: Strategic alignment, governance, and stakeholder clarity

Purpose: Ensures that data and AI initiatives are rooted in business vision, ROI, and ethical control.

Key Themes: Stakeholder mapping, governance frameworks, cultural alignment, KPI integration

“This is the summit where business vision meets operational reality.”

Control of Operations

Focus: Technical execution, system resilience, and process integrity

Purpose: Maintains control over infrastructure, applications, and workflows to ensure reliable delivery.

Key Themes: Security, cloud architecture, orchestration, documentation, implementation

“The ridgeline where systems must hold firm under pressure.”

Data

Focus: Data quality, architecture, governance, and ethical stewardship

Purpose: Builds a foundation of trustworthy, accessible, and responsibly managed data.

Key Themes: Lineage, ownership, availability, responsible AI, metadata, cost control

“The bedrock beneath every intelligent decision.”

Expediently

Focus: Agility, learning, and adaptive intelligence

Purpose: Enables rapid response, shared understanding, and modular thinking across teams.

Key Themes: Microlearning, business glossaries, agile pods, architectural flexibility

“The switchbacks that allow us to move swiftly without losing balance.”

X (Unpredictable Events)

Focus: Resilience, foresight, and strategic adaptability

Purpose: Prepares the organization to absorb shocks, pivot under pressure, and lead through ambiguity.

Key Themes: Scenario planning, crisis communication, regulatory agility, thought leadership

“The weather system we must read, not resist.”

The strategic benchmark shows the business alignment index.

CODEX Business Alignment Index

The CODEX Ascent Is Iterative.

Philosophical View in Action

The CODEX enables the positioning across four forward-looking dimensions: Human in the Loop, Understanding Societal Impact, Economic Impact, and Learning Intelligence. This reflects how the company sees itself within each domain, based on its strategic framework and operational ethos.

SHEL Map

Each dimension is explained

Strategic Positioning Map Explained

A current positioning and aspirational direction are recorded each time the CODEX is run and mapped against other businesses in the same sector.

In Summary the CODEX is a strategic compass for navigating the evolving terrain of data and AI, guiding organizations through five Alpen Themes: Control, Control of Operations, Data, Expediently, and X (Unpredictable Events).

It enables businesses to assess maturity, uncover blind spots, and elevate their operational intelligence through iterative ascent and not a one-time climb.

Each theme contains Subalpine Elements that examine complexity across governance, agility, resilience, and ethical stewardship, forming a strong foundation for AI, analytics, and executive decision-making.

CODEX also positions organizations across four dimensions: Human in the Loop, Societal Impact, Economic Impact, and Learning Intelligence ensuring that intelligence grows responsibly and adaptively.

By identifying hidden costs, preventing destructive data practices, and aligning with EIM and EDM principles, the CODEX transforms executive mindset and increases ROI through strategic clarity and control.