Observations and insights
I want to share what I’ve thought and what I’ve learned. The Observations section contains commentary on events and on what others are saying. You will find a mix of articles published on this site, and often elsewhere. Other sections contain reflections, best practice guides and “observations from the field.”
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Latest posts
- Political interference in the public sector, and the accountability void
Here we go again. Both sides of politics claim they want an independent, high-performing APS. Yet neither side can resist the urge to interfere, and the APS leadership seems to continually tread the path of least resistance. The latest is the reported forming by the APSC of a consultative committee… - AI, and all that I fear
First published in The Mandarin 26 March 2025 AI, and all that I fear āItās too new. Itās just guessing. I donāt know how it works. Itās just a probabilistic word generator. Itās taking my job. I donāt know how to use itā, These are a few of the reasons… - Why I left Kiah, and other answers
It has been almost three months since I cleaned out my office at Kiah. I am often asked if I have really left or is it a faƧade and am I still pulling the strings, and if I have left, why? In short, I have left Kiah and am no…
Occasional papers
White papers, deeper opinion pieces, and submissions to government generated here, and over time inside the company I ran. Click link to download
Observations and commentary
The status quo leads us nowhere new.
Critical reflections and sharp opinion pieces on how government works ā or doesnāt.
- Political interference in the public sector, and the accountability voidHere we go again. Both sides of politics claim they want an independent, high-performing APS. Yet neither side can resist the urge to interfere, and the APS leadership seems to continually tread the path of least resistance. The latest is the reported forming by the APSC of a consultative committee…
- Why I left Kiah, and other answersIt has been almost three months since I cleaned out my office at Kiah. I am often asked if I have really left or is it a faƧade and am I still pulling the strings, and if I have left, why? In short, I have left Kiah and am no…
- Generalists ARE specialists
As published in the Mandarin 21 March 2025: Why generalists ARE specialists Firstly, congratulations to The Mandarin on their conference last week. It is one of the better conferences I have attended because they had the courage to allow competing ideas to be put forward. It was a bit unusual,…
Practical practices
Real-world tools, tips, and strategies ā tested in practice ā to help you get the job done.
- Negotiations arenāt just for negotiators
As published in The Mandarin December 3, 2024 by Kiah MD John Glenn If I had realised this when I first started out my life would have been much easier ā everywhere! I would have got more of what I wanted to achieve with much less angst. At home, at… - Getting stuff done ā executable strategies
As published in The Mandarin November 1, 2024 by Kiah MD John Glenn Most of us have to get stuff done ā at least at work! For some, itās simply done by managing a process. Start at the beginning, work through the process, end up with an outcome. For most… - If KPI’s work, why doesn’t my contract?
As published in The Mandarin October 29, 2024 by Kiah MD John Glenn Itās de rigueur to run performance-based contracts. Deliver the agreed performance, get paid. Donāt meet the performance standard, get paid less. Should make sense, but does it? Do the job, get paid In a business-to-business (B2B) relationship,…
Pursuits and procurement
Two sides of the same coin. From writing RFT’s to understanding both government buying and selling.
- If KPI’s work, why doesn’t my contract?As published in The Mandarin October 29, 2024 by Kiah MD John Glenn Itās de rigueur to run performance-based contracts. Deliver the agreed performance, get…
- How government can break free of the Big Four consulting firms
As published in The Mandarin November 7, 2023 by Kiah MD John Glenn Iām not against the āBig Fourā ā they have things to offer…. - Buying an SME ā itās different
As published in The Mandarin September 5, 2023 by Kiah MD John Glenn Enough with the noise about the āBigā 4, and the parallel Defence… - Three ways to deal with deadlock negotiations
Negotiation is the process of trading something of value for something you value more. Deadlock is where there is no movement. It happens when creating… - Navigating the public-private sector boundary
*Warning, itās unsafe Any conversations that suggest alternative contracting models can engage companies to deliver social outcomes, acting in the public interest over their own,…
AI in practice
Exploring how AI is changing the way we think, write, decide, and deliver ā especially in public work.
- AI, and all that I fearFirst published in The Mandarin 26 March 2025 AI, and all that I fear āItās too new. Itās just guessing. I donāt know how it…
Negotiation & Influence
On how we reach agreement, navigate power, and shape the conditions for good delivery.
- Negotiations arenāt just for negotiatorsAs published in The Mandarin December 3, 2024 by Kiah MD John Glenn If I had realised this when I first started out my life…
- Stop wasting your time with contract management
As published in The Mandarin September 10, 2024 by Kiah MD John Glenn I know Iām a heretic. Surely, itās obvious we need good contract… - Three ways to deal with deadlock negotiationsNegotiation is the process of trading something of value for something you value more. Deadlock is where there is no movement. It happens when creating…
- Deal-making isnāt a dirty word
Some years ago I did a Harvard program called āstrategic deal-making for businessā. I followed on with a masterās unit in strategy at Edinburgh Business… - Strategic partnering with government? Snowballās chance
As published in the Mandarin 23 May, 2022 Talking about building strategic partnering relationships is the flavour of the month, especially in Defence where there…
Defence
Recent thinking on delivery, procurement, and reform inside Australiaās Defence environment.
- Veteran suicide – when doing your best isnāt good enough
Itās the scoutās creed āDo Your Bestā, but sometimes doing your best just isnāt good enough. As published in The… - Which bias do you like? Delayed Defence ERP has them all
A large IT project off the rails, who would have thought? Itās not actually news and picking on the Defence… - Defenceās shameful but laudable lessons are for everyone
You donāt have to be at the top to demand that your organisation delivers. Hold yourself, your colleagues and your…
Leadership
Observations, advice and commentary on leadership.
- Political interference in the public sector, and the accountability voidHere we go again. Both sides of politics claim they want an independent, high-performing APS. Yet neither side can resist…
- Why I left Kiah, and other answersIt has been almost three months since I cleaned out my office at Kiah. I am often asked if I…
- Generalists ARE specialistsAs published in the Mandarin 21 March 2025: Why generalists ARE specialists Firstly, congratulations to The Mandarin on their conference…