| When kids take classes on government in high | | | | perhaps this is why the book is so profound. The |
| school and college the picture painted is not | | | | core strategies for any government organization |
| actually what's really going on. Yes, we wish our | | | | are pretty cut and dry, and they have to do with |
| citizens to submit to at least some authority, so | | | | the "mission statement" or the reason for the |
| we can run our civilization correctly, so everyone | | | | existence of the agency. |
| is on the same page, and that we all trust the | | | | Unfortunately, there are many government |
| government which we have created. | | | | agencies at many levels that are so far away |
| Still, the reality is that much of our government is | | | | from their intended mission statement that one |
| inefficient, and it has become an overbearing | | | | has to wonder why they exist, what they are |
| bureaucracy. This happens with any large complex | | | | doing, and what their purpose, or usefulness really |
| system, whether it is a corporation, agency, | | | | is anymore. The authors address this very issue. |
| nonprofit, or even an army. | | | | The consequences strategy obviously has to do |
| If you've ever wondered about all this, and | | | | with what you hope to achieve, and all too often |
| wondered what we can do to fix the problem, | | | | government agencies make rules and regulations |
| there is a very good book I'd like you to read. | | | | or set forth procedures that are diametrically |
| This is book that I own personally, and one that I | | | | opposed to their mission, worse they are almost |
| have had a chance to read several chapters and | | | | impossible to follow, and they end up tying the |
| skimmed through the rest. The name of the book | | | | agency into a situation where they become |
| is; | | | | ineffectual. Luckily, after the authors explain this |
| "Banishing Bureaucracy; the Five Strategies for | | | | they give strategies to overcome it too. |
| Reinventing Government" by David Osborne and | | | | When it comes to customer strategy, the |
| Peter Plastrik, Addison Wesley publishing company | | | | authors suggest that since a government agency |
| Inc., New York, New York, 1991,(397 pp); ISBN: | | | | is working for the people, the taxpayers, and the |
| 0-201-62632-2. | | | | constituency, that it needs to listen, and there is |
| You may recognize David Osborne's name, as he | | | | no sense on providing what is not needed, |
| was also the co-author of; "Reinventing | | | | wanted, or ill afforded. The authors give case |
| Government" and he has served as a senior | | | | studies to address these points. The control |
| advisor for VP Al Gore. This book is broken into | | | | strategy are mechanisms that must be put in |
| three parts; "Part One; Is Finding Your Leverage, | | | | place but cannot be overbearing, which brings us |
| Part Two; Is the Five Strategies, in Part Three; | | | | right into the culture strategy of working to |
| Using the Strategies." In part one the authors | | | | change the mindset of the employees in the |
| discuss this similar principles of Sun Tzu for | | | | agency. |
| instance know yourself, and know your enemy, | | | | It is my belief that you should read this book, and |
| or in this case the challenges you face. | | | | also follow it up with some philosophy from |
| Part two discusses "the Five C's" which are "core | | | | Ludwig Van Misses, and his famous work called; |
| strategy, consequences strategy, customer | | | | "Bureaucracy" and in doing so I believe, you will |
| strategy, control strategy, and culture strategy." | | | | begin to understand why government is needed, |
| These strategies could work in almost any type | | | | why it's not working, and what we can do to fix |
| of business, nonprofit or government agency. | | | | it. Indeed, hope you'll please consider all this. |
| They might even work for a sports team, and | | | | |