Tag Archives: governance

263 – System governance is the key to shifting the local government paradigm

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850 words (9 minutes reading time) by Lancing Farrell

The need for a new paradigm in local government in Victoria has been mentioned in a few posts recently (see 241 – Rate capping – the final words (from our future), 253 – Minds Change: My Journey to Transform Local Government Performance, and 261 – Reinventing Local Government). Model collapse, as described by Carole Parkinson and Tim Whistler, signals the end of an existing paradigm. This raises critical questions about the current paradigm in local government and the need for change. A recent podcast in the Reimagining Government series by the Centre for Public Impact, ‘What on earth is a paradigm shift?’, discusses paradigms and provides insights and practical tips for those wanting to bring about transformative change.

Defining Paradigms

The podcast features host Adrian Brown and Professor Toby Lowe from the Centre for Public Impact, Henk-Jan Dekker from the International Centre for Environmental Research and Development, and Jessica Studdert from think tank ‘New Local’. Drawing on the work of Thomas Kuhn and Margaret Masterman, a paradigm was defined as a ‘grand explanatory narrative for how a part of the world works’.  It operates on metaphysical, sociological, and exemplar levels, shaping perceptions of what exists and what should be valued. Understanding how paradigms work is crucial for those seeking systemic change in local government.

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252 – Preserving the Essence of Citizenship: A Plea for Traditional Values in Local Governance

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700 words (8 minutes reading time) by Lancing Farrell

Former Prime Minister, Paul Keating

I have been reading an MBA thesis written by an experienced local government CEO in 1999. It looks in detail at performance measurement and discusses many aspects of local government management in a thought provoking way. I have been reflecting on how much or how little has changed since then and whether or not the expectation evident in the writing, i.e. that the major reforms endured by the sector in the 1990s would herald improved performance, have been realised.

I selected the insight into citizenship and consumerism to draft a short post. Rather than test your patience with my detailed analysis, I asked ChatGPT to craft my notes into a speech in the style of former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating.

Enjoy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the realm of local governance, we witnessed tides of transformation during the 1990s, as corporate management and managerialism made their grand entrance. These management practices, often lauded for their prowess, introduced a new lexicon into the world of local governance, terms like ‘client,’ ‘customer,’ and ‘consumer,’ now marching in lockstep with our cherished ‘citizen.’ Three decades on, it is imperative that we hold fast to the timeless values of traditional governance and citizenship.

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248 – Some recycling.

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700 words (8 minutes reading time) by Lancing Farrell with ChatGPT

In the best traditions of blogging, I have started recycling some early posts. To add value I have asked ChatGPT to analyse three posts (Post 103 – Classic paper – ‘Managing Government, Governing Management’ by Henry Mintzberg, Post 229 – Coronavirus and local government – time for a new O/S?, and Post 231 – A New City O/S – Stephen Goldsmith and Neil Kleiman) and re-write them as one post.

Mintzberg challenges traditional perspectives on government organization and management, Goldsmith & Kleiman’s book complements Mintzberg by proposing a comprehensive transformation of local government operations. Both identify the need for flexibility and adaptability in addressing the challenges of governance.

Here is the ChatGPT analysis.

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