Comments for Municipal (and Public-sector) Solutions http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog Innovation solving public sector problems. Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Effective Municipal Broadband: RFPs & Vendor Evaluation by minimumloon 2013 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=75#comment-3017 minimumloon 2013 Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:51:56 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=75#comment-3017 I feel that is among the such a lot significant information for me. And i'm happy studying your article. However want to remark on few basic things, The website taste is perfect, the articles is actually great : D. Good job, cheers I feel that is among the such a lot significant information for me.

And i’m happy studying your article. However want to remark on few basic things, The website taste is perfect, the articles is actually great : D. Good job, cheers

]]> Comment on Is your Security Consultant an Expert? by NotWorthMyLife http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=77#comment-3016 NotWorthMyLife Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:32:59 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=77#comment-3016 This is the primary reason that I left international development. I found most security contractors in Afghanistan and then Iraq to be shockers. They would frequently have no understanding of the local environment, and drink to excess most evenings. Many would be pumped up on steroids and other drugs, and spend much of their time in the pursuit of alcohol, women, and meat for bbqs. I met very few that I would trust with my life, and yet I was expected to. I trusted local staff security to a greater degree in many instances. This is the primary reason that I left international development.

I found most security contractors in Afghanistan and then Iraq to be shockers. They would frequently have no understanding of the local environment, and drink to excess most evenings. Many would be pumped up on steroids and other drugs, and spend much of their time in the pursuit of alcohol, women, and meat for bbqs.

I met very few that I would trust with my life, and yet I was expected to. I trusted local staff security to a greater degree in many instances.

]]> Comment on Iraq’s Local Government Success by Ann Andrews http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=83#comment-3010 Ann Andrews Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:34:36 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=83#comment-3010 Thanks for sharing this Dave. Its always more informative to read from direct experience rather than take to heart everything you hear from the media - the human aspect and the every day reality. What an amazing work to be able to do. Take Care Thanks for sharing this Dave. Its always more informative to read from direct experience rather than take to heart everything you hear from the media - the human aspect and the every day reality. What an amazing work to be able to do. Take Care

]]> Comment on Restoring Honor to Public Service by Zuhair http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=89#comment-2938 Zuhair Sun, 10 Jul 2011 05:25:05 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=89#comment-2938 Indeed we all need to restore honor and reconsider our values in every where. Indeed we all need to restore honor and reconsider our values in every where.

]]> Comment on Transforming Government by Jerene http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2931 Jerene Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:06:30 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2931 Adding a thought here . . . the flip side is that when appointed leadership is putting the building blocks in place for the innovation and change to occur from the employees, bottom up, but that "change" collides with the elected leadership and their own paradigm of what a municipal organization "SHOULD" be doing, it can get messy and is more often unsuccessful, especially in challenging economic times. Innovation is about change, and most human beings simply don't take to change without a lot of push back. Your thoughts are right on as it speaks to awareness, but you could write another blog about the many potential paths that could be taken once you embrace soul-searching and awareness that change needs to occur. Adding a thought here . . . the flip side is that when appointed leadership is putting the building blocks in place for the innovation and change to occur from the employees, bottom up, but that “change” collides with the elected leadership and their own paradigm of what a municipal organization “SHOULD” be doing, it can get messy and is more often unsuccessful, especially in challenging economic times. Innovation is about change, and most human beings simply don’t take to change without a lot of push back. Your thoughts are right on as it speaks to awareness, but you could write another blog about the many potential paths that could be taken once you embrace soul-searching and awareness that change needs to occur.

]]> Comment on Transforming Government by nheydari http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2929 nheydari Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:28:58 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2929 I completely agree. It is troubling that we think we can create significant positive change in places like Afghanistan with organizations that are not well-suited to implement appropriate solutions. For example, if we look at the projects in Afghanistan, success is measured mostly by Dollars spent and number of projects. Little attention is paid to what the real impact of these projects is or even if there is a better "Afghan" solution. As you state, many people note this "stink" but few do anything about it- there are few like the friend you mention. Instead, most of us are concerned with our own performance evaluations and not stepping on anyone's feet which could get us "black-listed". This is especially the case if we are not in a high or decision-making position- although one can probably see with more clarity organizational flaws from a non-decision making position by being closer to on-the-ground realities. This then creates a vicious circle..and new cycles of staff come in and find it easier to continue the same patterns of "by the book" behavior which in the eyes of the higher-ups makes a tour successful. I myself, while working in Afghanistan was black-listed by the PRT for pointing out several organizational flaws and proposing solutions. Definitely something deemed out of line coming from a young female civilian that is not even part of the PRT! Other than the black-listing, however, the results were, as you say, refreshing, since we were successfully able to implement some of these solutions. I completely agree. It is troubling that we think we can create significant positive change in places like Afghanistan with organizations that are not well-suited to implement appropriate solutions. For example, if we look at the projects in Afghanistan, success is measured mostly by Dollars spent and number of projects. Little attention is paid to what the real impact of these projects is or even if there is a better “Afghan” solution. As you state, many people note this “stink” but few do anything about it- there are few like the friend you mention. Instead, most of us are concerned with our own performance evaluations and not stepping on anyone’s feet which could get us “black-listed”. This is especially the case if we are not in a high or decision-making position- although one can probably see with more clarity organizational flaws from a non-decision making position by being closer to on-the-ground realities. This then creates a vicious circle..and new cycles of staff come in and find it easier to continue the same patterns of “by the book” behavior which in the eyes of the higher-ups makes a tour successful. I myself, while working in Afghanistan was black-listed by the PRT for pointing out several organizational flaws and proposing solutions. Definitely something deemed out of line coming from a young female civilian that is not even part of the PRT! Other than the black-listing, however, the results were, as you say, refreshing, since we were successfully able to implement some of these solutions.

]]> Comment on Transforming Government by Kathryn Stokes http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2926 Kathryn Stokes Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:17:41 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2926 Very well said and straight to the point!! It's sad when the "stench" becomes the norm. Very well said and straight to the point!! It’s sad when the “stench” becomes the norm.

]]> Comment on Transforming Government by jhoman06 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2924 jhoman06 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:16:01 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2924 David; I agree, but it takes a type of leadership that while simple is rare. Notice I said leadership not management. This means delegating authority not responsibility and allowing people to act within a broad vision. And then, as you say, seeing suggestions that don't appear to fit as opportunities not criticism. Damn, it works!! Jim Homan David; I agree, but it takes a type of leadership that while simple is rare. Notice I said leadership not management. This means delegating authority not responsibility and allowing people to act within a broad vision. And then, as you say, seeing suggestions that don’t appear to fit as opportunities not criticism. Damn, it works!!
Jim Homan

]]> Comment on Transforming Government by Brian Muir http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2923 Brian Muir Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:25:19 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2923 Great metaphor Dave. In an age of turf protection, political correctness, and denial, it takes a courageous voice like yours to tell it like it is and help organizations and people recognize then begin real change. Great metaphor Dave. In an age of turf protection, political correctness, and denial, it takes a courageous voice like yours to tell it like it is and help organizations and people recognize then begin real change.

]]> Comment on Transforming Government by brethvoice http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2922 brethvoice Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:34:06 +0000 http://www.municipalsolutions.org/blog/?p=90#comment-2922 David, you are absolutely correct. Our noses soon fail to detect our own stench once that scent becomes a constant part of who we are. We do need others' help to "open our Johari window". David, you are absolutely correct. Our noses soon fail to detect our own stench once that scent becomes a constant part of who we are. We do need others’ help to “open our Johari window”.

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