A war rages in the UK between the the elements of change and improvement vs. status quo and entrenchment.  The battle between command and control thinking vs. a systems thinking approach.  As a friend once told me the government “holds the gold and he who holds the gold rules.”  Maybe . . . but he who rules foolishly doesn’t rule long.  For this reason I am happy that David Walker (Audit Commission) lashed out against John Seddon. 

This will shine light on the larger battle and I am afraid that David Walker’s first attempt at a rebuttal shows the unwillingness (or at least engagement in logical debate) to relent to new and better thinking.  As a partner to John Seddon and being from the United States, I am waiting to see how this plays out.  My own battles here in the States with government management have been wrought with the same attitude of “not invented here.”  Public sector innovation in thinking doesn’t seem to be an invitation accepted by those that are entrenched in the status quo.

Mr. Seddon’s attack on the Audit Commission is based on real evidence of the foolishness of the activities.  Some of the things he cites as problems:

  • The use of targets making the performance worse making them the defacto purpose rather than the customer.  Always people are focused inward vs. outward.
  • Raising new specifications for compliance without knowledge to do so.
  • The assumption that shared services will reduce costs. This thinking based on economies of scale rather than economies of flow.
  • The waste of money by preparing for inspections and obviously supported and recognized by the comments at the Local Government Chronicle.

In turn he is asking the Audit Commission to:

  • Reign back its activities to following the money.
  • Limit inspectors to one question: “What measures are you using to understand and improve performance?”
  • Put measures and method with the local authorities to promote innovation and responsibility.

I am hopeful that Mr. Seddon prevails in his argument with the support of his country in transforming government management and thinking.  This would break free the iceberg of better thinking and innovation in many countries including mine . . . the US.

Tripp Babbitt is a speaker, blogger and consultant to service industry (private and public).  His organization helps executives find a better way to make the work work.  Download free from www.newsystemsthinking.com “Understanding Your Organization as a System” and gain knowledge of systems thinking or contact us about our intervention services at info@newsystemsthinking.com.  Reach him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TriBabbitt or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/trippbabbitt.