Unintended Consequences
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 @ 8:37 pm
Filed Under Bureaucrats, Computing
No responses
In short, all the failings attributed to government happen in private enterprises too. These failings are a fixture of human nature and organizational dynamics.
Smoke and Mirrors
Posted on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 @ 12:13 pm
Filed Under Michigan, Political Process, Work
No responses
American government is designed to accomodate disagreement, though the tension often makes folks uncomfortable. What we need, sometime soon, is a civil discussion about what Michigan's government is for, how we get to that point, and what tax structure we need to support that effort. The (less-than-complete) success of the Michigan budget efforts demonstrates that it's not necessary to continue talking past each other just because we've been doing so in the past. Discussion isn't helped when each side caricatures the other's positions. The habit many have of simplifying and dismissing the other party's position is really poisonous to the civil culture. It's time we stopped, and started finding solutions.
Sympathy for the Devil
Posted on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 @ 12:58 pm
Filed Under Bureaucrats
No responses
It's not often I feel sympathy for Scott Adams' idiot Pointy Haired Boss, so yesterday's edition deserves a comment.
Reconfiguring
Posted on Friday, April 30, 2004 @ 10:03 am
Filed Under Work
No responses
Although the department has internal reorganizations regularly, this is the first major reconfiguration of the external operation during my career. Said differently, this is a strategic move in an area where we've usually made tactical adjustments. It's going to be an interesting year. I expect to see some modifications to the plan as the politics play out, but things will likely shape up pretty much as announced. Since my responsibilities are primarily internal, I'll mostly be a spectator.
Excellence
Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 @ 10:25 am
Filed Under Work
No responses
From May 5, 1985 through March 3, 1988, my job title was Leadworker (it's an assistant supervisor position, without enough authority) in what was then called Data Input. I mention this because the successor unit to Data Input was honored by the department yesterday, and because Joan is the current incumbent in that Leadworker position.
keep looking »