[Kharon]

Easton – Choc frog #2.

“This is a failure of leadership,” said the PM&C boss. “This is a failure of their own personal leadership. When we neglect to reach far and wide for ideas, we open ourselves up to a lethal combination of arrogance and ignorance, and that’s not acceptable in any context, but particularly not in a modern public service.

Coming from anyone else, I’d call Bollocks; but, as it’s from the PM&C boss I’d say there’s a small glimmer of hope for an outbreak of common sense.  Probably not today, maybe even not tomorrow, however we may hope this becomes a feature of Turnbull’s tenure.

“Once we come up with ideas though, wherever that we’ve garnered them from, they should be rigorously questioned. This isn’t about putting people through a ringer and saying ‘I’m smarter than you’, it’s actually about testing and refining ideas because by testing and refining, you will find the best way to ensure success.

There’s a hint of ‘big business’ methodology in that.  The best of the best use their ‘thinking folk’ ruthlessly to make sure every project has a chance of becoming a winner and the rewards reward the innovations – refreshing approach to an age old problem.

“Open, candid discussion winnows down ideas to find those that have the best probability of being able to be implemented successfully. And involving a wide group of people in blue-sky thinking gives not only a broader set of perspectives, but it gives every person a stake in making the resulting decisions work.”

One can only hope this notion filters down stream and purblind, hidebound seat warmers, like Oliver get the message.  Not that he will, but perhaps some of the ‘new blood’ will, in time adopt modern thinking.

Going back to the HIP debacle, Parkinson picked another quote from the Shergold review about the need to consult “those who best understand the environment in which a policy will be delivered” to understand implementation issues.

The part in bold needs to be framed, then used to replace the ridiculous ASA poster; it’s worth repeating:- 

need to consult “those who best understand the environment in which a policy will be delivered” to understand implementation issues.

Real consultation; not the pitiful, shambollic CASA version - great place to start.  Good example for 'other' departments of how not to do it; PM&C could start there, make an example...  

Thanks Stevie for the welcome report, lets hope the PM&C can make this happen, soon. You daren’t bet on it; but a small prayer to a pagan god of choice may help keep the notion alive.  

Toot toot.