Improvements, learning and change LO25938

From: Roy Greenhalgh (rgreenh@attglobal.net)
Date: 01/19/01


Replying to LO25870 --

Dear LO-ers

>The relationship between initiative, innovation and risk. It seems to
>me that you cannot tap into the new ideas, etc. within your organization
>without your employees feeling free to take the initiative to bring them
>forward, experiment, etc., which is impacted by their own individual
>perceptions of risk.

This topic is connected with an policy initiated by the UK central
government. All local government, fire and police authorities have to
review all of their public-facing services over a 5 year period ..
starting last April 2000.

They have to be seen to improve the quality of those services. Which
services are deemed important are partially dictated by central
government: partly a result of consulting the local populace. Central
government have produced over 350 National Performance Indicators ..
targets, that all authorities have to aim for and achieve. Further, at
the end of the 5-year period, all authorities must have their own
target-matching value in the top quartile!!

After the first 6 months, the Inspectors have come up with three main
criticisms:
 - There is little understanding of performance information,
 - Little understating of how to use performance information in creating a
performance management system,
 - And there are poor skills in bringing about programmes of Process
Improvement.

When you talk to senior management in local government they are torn
between meeting government targets, possibly by distorting data .. and
taking risks in creating a really innovative programme that will produce
improvements but over a longer period than 1 year.

Cake and the eating thereof come to mind.

Roy Greenhalgh

Peggy Stuart wrote:

> I am interested in your thoughts on the following two points.
>
> 1. The relationship between improvements, learning and change.
[...snip by your host...]

> 2. The relationship between initiative, innovation and risk.
[...snip again...]

-- 

Roy Greenhalgh <rgreenh@attglobal.net>

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