Writing & commentary
The public and private sectors live in their own swim lanes. Too often forgetting each other’s purpose and misunderstanding perspectives.
I want to share what I’ve thought and what I’ve learned. Testing how we govern, measure, and deliver public services, through the public and private sectors, and at the intersection of the two
You will find a mix of articles published on this site, and often elsewhere.
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Latest posts
- Why I’m doing this nowAfter stepping away from running a business, I found the hardest part wasn’t the work, it was letting go of the identity that came with it. These are some thoughts on that journey, still at its beginning.
- How will Marles’ defence procurement plan make a difference?
No one has cracked defence procurement. How will Marles’ plan make a difference? - 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…
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 — or doesn’t.
- 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 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 façade 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 — tested in practice — to help you get the job done.
- Negotiations aren’t 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 – everywhere! I would have got more of what I wanted to achieve with much less angst. At home, at… - Getting stuff done – executable strategies
As published in The Mandarin November 1, 2024 by Kiah MD John Glenn Most of us have to get stuff done – at least at work! For some, it’s 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 It’s de rigueur to run performance-based contracts. Deliver the agreed performance, get paid. Don’t 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 It’s 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 I’m not against the ‘Big Four’ — they have things to offer…. - Buying an SME – it’s different
As published in The Mandarin September 5, 2023 by Kiah MD John Glenn Enough with the noise about the ‘Big’ 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, it’s 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 — especially in public work.
- AI, and all that I fear
First published in The Mandarin 26 March 2025 AI, and all that I fear “It’s too new. It’s just guessing. I don’t know how it…
Negotiation & Influence
On how we reach agreement, navigate power, and shape the conditions for good delivery.
- Negotiations aren’t 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 I’m a heretic. Surely, it’s 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 isn’t a dirty word
Some years ago I did a Harvard program called “strategic deal-making for business”. I followed on with a master’s unit in strategy at Edinburgh Business… - Strategic partnering with government? Snowball’s 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 Australia’s Defence environment.
- How will Marles’ defence procurement plan make a difference?No one has cracked defence procurement. How will Marles’ plan make a difference?
- Veteran suicide – when doing your best isn’t good enough
It’s the scout’s creed “Do Your Best”, but sometimes doing your best just isn’t 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? It’s not actually news and picking on the Defence…
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…