Tag Archives: Politics

We pay for better.

Posted on June 18, 2013 by strategyaudit

  As this excruciating  election campaign continues, the trivial, irrelevent, personal, short term crap we have come to expect is getting laid on with a spade. Nothing substantive is being considered by the pollies, and whilst it is easy to … Continue reading →

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How do we judge political performance?

Posted on May 19, 2013 by strategyaudit

This week we have had a budget, arguably the first half realistic assessment of the economy for some time, with some politically unpalatable pills swallowed. Not before time. We have also had the budget reply, which was more an election … Continue reading →

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Failure of commission, or omission.

Posted on May 15, 2013 by strategyaudit

On this Budget “morning after” where public spending is at 33.5% of GDP and rising, all the debate is about the detail, weather or not the  “baby bonus” should be retained, the validity of the forward estimates given recent history, … Continue reading →

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Is the Government serious about Innovation?

Posted on March 14, 2013 by strategyaudit

Leaving aside the fact that it is an election year, and rhetoric is the usual fare served up, there remains an economy to run. Lots of space will be allocated to “Innovation” plans, the Manufacturing jobs announcements a few weeks … Continue reading →

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Leaders, and those who lead.

Posted on February 25, 2013 by strategyaudit

 I am constantly struck by the so called “failure of leadership” displayed in all sorts of places from the top of our political, economic and social system, to the bottom. People who reach positions of power, positions that have as … Continue reading →

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The failure report

Posted on February 11, 2013 by strategyaudit

How often do we hear that we learn more from our failures than our successes, that if we do not fail sometimes, we have not done enough, and that an innovative, exciting culture embraces failure? Thomas Watson Senior, creator of … Continue reading →

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The good news and the bad news

Posted on January 31, 2013 by strategyaudit

The good news is that at least part of the nasty, smelly, political wind coming our way in 2013 will be avoided by the Prime Ministers announcement yesterday of the September election date. The context of the statement, that she … Continue reading →

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Where to now my friends?

Posted on January 26, 2013 by strategyaudit

Today is Australia Day, January 26, 2013. As I watch what is going on around me, I see a lot of frenetic stuff, the hype at the cricket, crowds of people carrying “Australia” bags, hats and eskies, Pollies offering platitudes … Continue reading →

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Radical transparency

Posted on November 26, 2012 by strategyaudit

What you do, say and think is no longer private. Our lives are opening up to scrutiny as our previously private data moves into the public domain at geometric speed.  Much of being human depends on our ability to forge … Continue reading →

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The cloud grows on trees

Posted on October 3, 2012 by strategyaudit

Talking about “the cloud” is common around the BBQ’s I go to, (pass another beer please, the sausages need turning). However, it seems few of my verbal combatants have any idea that the cloud, is, somehow, in fact, an industrial … Continue reading →

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Rocking horse syndrome

Posted on September 3, 2012 by strategyaudit

I observe lots of activity in all sorts of enterprises, public and private, see KPI’s set and met, initiatives announced with fanfare (and in the case of the NSW Government re-announced)but little of any value seems to be happening. Familiar? … Continue reading →

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Labor productivity and politics

Posted on August 2, 2012 by strategyaudit

The much waited review of the” Work Choices” legislation will be released today, after the Minister has had it for a month considering the implications. It will be absorbing to watch and listen to the “argy bargy” and strident demands … Continue reading →

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3 aspects of Leadership and responsibility.

Posted on July 29, 2012 by strategyaudit

Recently my local council took a decision under extremely dubious circumstances, and against the wishes of much of the local community, and their own guidelines. In preparing for my 3 minute opportunity to voice my disgust at the decision, and … Continue reading →

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Australia Inc. A strategy please!

Posted on July 1, 2012 by strategyaudit

If Australia was a company, it would be a case study for the need for a coherent strategy as the basis for commercial sustainability. As it is, the place is a shambles, the Directors are held in contempt, clearly they … Continue reading →

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Politics trumps policy

Posted on May 3, 2012 by strategyaudit

When this Parliament came to us “hung”, as it were, I hoped that its nature would engender a vigorous debate, the merits of policy would take centre stage as the various sides argued their point of view. Naively, I believed … Continue reading →

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Investing for the future Vs paying for the past.

Posted on April 20, 2012 by strategyaudit

It is encouraging to see some intelligent debate emerging on the state of Australia’s productivity. The business forum in  Canberra on April 12, the comment on the speech and scary graphs Don Argus presented a few weeks ago, and just … Continue reading →

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Encouraging evolution protects against revolution.

Posted on March 30, 2012 by strategyaudit

Evolution happens in most circumstances in the absence of strong ‘anti-evolution” measures, and often even then, generally there is stuff happening at the fringes. However, rigid barriers hold back change, until like the boy in the dyke, you run out … Continue reading →

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Politics Vs Organisational dynamics

Posted on March 28, 2012 by strategyaudit

“Politics” is a dirty corporate word, but “Organisational Dynamics” appears to be OK, and is gaining traction as a cliché. What is the difference? Both describe the process of accumulating the wherewithal to exercise influence, and dictate outcomes. It is … Continue reading →

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Marketing problem of the climate debate.

Posted on March 21, 2012 by strategyaudit

Marketing is all about defining the problem we want to solve, poor definition leads to poor analysis and solution implementation. In the climate “debate” to give it more credit that it deserves, we have absolutely failed to include the capital … Continue reading →

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Crowdsourcing electricity

Posted on March 20, 2012 by strategyaudit

On March 14, IPART, the NSW Utility regulator made public a decision that put a price of 6-8 cents for energy exported to the grid, compared to the current cost of 30-44 cents for any power consumed from the grid. … Continue reading →

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