The hidden trade-offs of development
What else changes when a reform succeeds? Reflecting on Michael Woolcock's final lecture at the World Bank, this article explores the hidden trade-offs that shape implementation.
The System Is Not Broken
Most implementation problems are not failures. Instead of asking Why isn’t this working?, better leaders ask What is this system actually designed to produce? This article explores how public servants can diagnose reform failure by understanding incentives, mapping institutional behavior, and identifying the hidden assumptions that keep poor results in place. Because real change starts when we stop treating symptoms and start seeing how the system actually works.
The most useful tool I found in public policy
Most public sector reforms don’t fail at approval. They stall in implementation—when technical design, operational capacity, and political support fall out of alignment. The Strategic Triangle helps you see where your reform is likely to break—and where to act before it does.
Three ways to make sure important work doesn’t get lost
Important work doesn’t usually fail. It gets lost. Not in strategy—but in the daily pressure of meetings, emails, and competing priorities. Small commitments slip. Follow-ups don’t happen. Decisions lose momentum. The result is the same: work that mattered quietly disappears. This article explains three ways leaders can protect their bandwidth—and make sure important work actually moves.
How Things Actually Get Done in Government
Vision is easy. Implementation is everything. This practical guide dives into why government reforms stall—and what effective public leaders do differently. Learn how to move from strategy to execution with a realistic roadmap, overcome coordination debt, and build the systems that make change stick. If you’re a public servant tasked with delivering results, this isn’t theory—it’s your implementation field guide.
AI Is Transforming Business. Can Government Keep Up?
AI Is Transforming Business. Can Government Keep Up?
AI is moving fast — but government is stuck in pilot mode. While 78% of companies are using AI, just 12% of public agencies have deployed GenAI. The gap is growing. In this post, I unpack why — and what it’ll take for government to catch up, scale up, and lead.
Procrastinating Again? Six Fixes Every Public Servant Should Know
Why do we put off the things we care about most? In government, where time is tight and stakes are high, procrastination isn’t about laziness—it’s about friction. This post unpacks six common blockers and practical ways to overcome them. If you’re stuck on that task you’ve been avoiding, start here.
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