Tag Archives: policy officer

I am a police officer. 

Posted on August 23, 2017 by

When people ask me, “So what do you do, where’d you work?” I reply… I’m a Policy Officer And inevitably people mishear that as police officer. “Oh really!” they exclaim, looking me up and down with surprise. Then I have … Continue reading →

Posted in clarity of purpose, systems thinking | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Are you a policy fashion victim?

Posted on July 4, 2016 by

I’m a big fan of Nassim Taleb but clearly he’s no fan of the likes of me. My one saving grace?  I do deadlift, 127.5kg for 6 reps, Mr Taleb. He’s never heard of me, but he knows my type.  I’m a … Continue reading →

Posted in all wrong, command and control, public sector, systems thinking | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

The Systemsy Policy Officer takes a bow

Posted on June 14, 2016 by

There’s loads of models of work hanging around. Everybody has one. There’s the dopey triangles with important people at the pointy end… There’s the more credible, though no less hopeful, model of a sensible organisation designing their system around purpose … Continue reading →

Posted in all wrong, command and control, public sector, systems thinking | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

A paper exercise

Posted on September 11, 2015 by

Once upon a time I had to write a plan. I was the Directorate Performance Management officer, so I wrote the Directorate Plan. I sat at my dining room table and I WROTE A PLAN. Except I didn’t. I wrote on … Continue reading →

Posted in all wrong, command and control, plans, public sector, systems thinking | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Do you like my piece of paper?

Posted on February 9, 2014 by

“Say what you see” is the latest tagline of this blog. What I see every day is people creating pieces of paper to take into a room for people to look at and decide if they like that piece of … Continue reading →

Posted in command and control, public sector, systems thinking, systemz comix | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

How to be a Policy Expert

Posted on November 19, 2013 by

I’m a Policy Expert! YOU TOO can be a Policy Expert if you follow these simple steps! Step 0: DON’T follow what other Policy Experts do. Most self-proclaimed Policy Experts write up policies, they don’t change things so that policy … Continue reading →

Posted in command and control, public sector, purpose, systems thinking, thinking | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Head-smashed-in buffalo jump

Posted on November 2, 2013 by

Yes, you read right. Head-smashed-in buffalo jump. For 6,000 years in North America the Blackfoot tribe ate, dressed and made their homes with bison that fell to their deaths at some cliffs called Head-smashed-in Buffalo jump The bison were not … Continue reading →

Posted in clarity of purpose, command and control, public sector, purpose, systems thinking, thinking | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Policy Officer’s Creed

Posted on May 18, 2013 by

This my pen, there are many like it but this one is mine. My pen is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. My pen, without me, is useless. Without … Continue reading →

Posted in me doing it, public sector, purpose, systems thinking | Tagged , | 3 Comments