On Government Innovation
David Foster from the Chicago Boyz – outlines the systemic failures of an attempt at new ID card system –
Obviously, budgetary constraints are real, and normative regulations must exist and must be followed. And “interest” is a factor in a democracy, or indeed in any political system. But it is hard to escape the conclusion that things are out of balance, and that in our society–and most especially in the areas of society dominated by government–the relative power of the Harold Talbotts has increased at the expense of the relative power of the Bernard Schrievers.
And ends with a call for better innovators in the system –
The recent track record of large programs for defense against terrorism is spotty at best (see another example here, also here.) We urgently need more Schrievers, Ramos, and Gardners in positions of national defense leadership, and most of all we need the sense of urgency to enable them to do their jobs before it is too late.
Frankly, I don’t think it will or can be done. This isn’t a question of the lack of human talent, but rather one revolving around emergent property of the large scale system we’ve built up that makes innovation “‘like swimming in glue”. Requiring that the right people be at the right place at the right time is a sign that something has gone very wrong.
-Shlok
Sign up for my newsletter.