The power of paws, no sooner do I write about the lack of any national conversation about digital when we get the modestly titled “A New National Purpose” from the odd Marvel/DC team up of Tony Blair and William Hague. Martha Lane Fox has set out very well the Groundhog Day feelings of those ofContinue reading “All the numbers account for years”
Tag Archives: civil service
Policymanship
Readers of the late great Stephen Potter’s works on Lifemanship and Gamesmanship may wonder if the same techniques can be applied in government. The answer is “Of course!” Here are a couple of examples of Policymanship in action. “Cutting grant fraud” Ministers are very keen to launch a big new business grants programme which willContinue reading “Policymanship”
Efficiency
In my last blog post I said that whilst greater efficiency may reduce the number of staff needed it does not work if you try to do it the other way round, that is cutting staff numbers and expecting greater efficiency. But assertions are not evidence so let’s show the consequences of cutting staff withoutContinue reading “Efficiency”
Carousel
I have said many times that working for any large organisation, public or private sector, is like being on a merry-go-round. There is a constant sense of motion but for some reason the same sights keep coming round again and again. And here we are again with Francis Maude being commissioned to look at CivilContinue reading “Carousel”
Transformation as Euphemism
When we talk about transformation, especially digital transformation, then most organisations do not actually mean transformation, they mean “change” and familiar change at that. Transformation will be announced with speeches and posters, there will be cascades and all staffs. The seriousness of the transformation will be marked by the appointment of someone from outside toContinue reading “Transformation as Euphemism”
Slight Return
No sooner had I pressed [Submit] on the last blog post than this happens… My immediate response to this blog post was a sense of recognition. And not just in the sense that it reads a lot like a Hacker News comment. Stripped of the rhetoric, hyperbole, and political bias much of what is inContinue reading “Slight Return”
Woefully Unprepared
The Guardian has a piece today under the headline “Civil service told it is ‘woefully unprepared’ for Cummings’ reforms“ It is based on a report in The Daily Telegraph but as there is not enough money in the world to make me read the Telegraph we will have to settle for The Guardian’s coverage. TheContinue reading “Woefully Unprepared”
Impermanent Secretary
The Labour Party have decided that the biggest barrier to the successful delivery of their political agenda are the Permanent Secretaries who run government departments. This is sometimes known as the “Grand Vizier” theory of organisational inertia. I worked for many different Perm Secs in my time and they were as mixed a bag asContinue reading “Impermanent Secretary”
Mark O'Neill 