tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3048449668150968412.post2887703764098972470..comments2023-11-14T08:19:54.657+00:00Comments on DMossEsq: Digital government, empowerment and the Estonian fallacyDavid Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12345636878071983416noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3048449668150968412.post-74554944386007441212014-04-13T12:20:59.819+01:002014-04-13T12:20:59.819+01:00Well said "empowerment" needs a re think...Well said "empowerment" needs a re think on management style away from "command and control" which senior bureaucrats love to one that is called "systems thinking". Such an approach is about a bottom up empowerment of people and was used by Dr W Edwards Deming who was credited as instrumental in the spectacular rise of Japanese industry after World War II and influenced many of the world's most innovative managers in the ensuing decades. This booklet is a good read http://www.transformationforum.org/PDFs/managing_transformation_means_transforming_management_sopk2.pdf <br /><br />We may not have been at physical war but with a £1.5Trillion debt and global turmoil as we face major “resets” in the financial markets; not helped by the US delays in facing reality see this good summary from Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/11/g20-economy-idUSL2N0N31FP20140411?feed <br /><br />We really do need to re think how “we” work but politicians on both sides use easy word often in ignorance of the real world. I think your summary just confirms that. I have been very critical of GDS as they have completely hood winked politicians with their very superficial “digital by default” and not recognising that 'Digital is about your business operations' as articulated by Sally Howes http://central-government.governmentcomputing.com/features/sally-howes-technology-supports-digital-4210584 She understands the big picture (should be running GDS …….!). It is about people and yes the citizen should be empowered to do more self help but let’s remember the civil servants and volunteers at the front line where real empowerment can make a big difference. <br /><br />So how does this happen? Well for sure it is a lot more than the geeks at GDS building web pages and "personal data stores" which is as far as Government have got so far! As Dr Deming indicates it is about changing management style – with need for fewer bosses. There in lies the real challenge?<br /><br />Today we have a big advantage with software that now reflects the real world of work and supports people in achieving the desired outcomes. Empowerment needs transparency of activity to allow knowledge to be used to help continuously improve the way work is undertaken and using such supporting adaptive software will contribute to this. This is debated here http://linkis.com/bpm.com/my-bpm/forum/ehajo Sadly GDS just do not understand or want to understand so suggest politicians read that booklet and do some deep research…..and then ask why have we missed this….?<br /> <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com