Those Darned Canadians

I recently read some observations of Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams in their book, Macrowikinomics, Rebooting Business and the World. Oddly enough, their observations of government characteristics are recognizable, and yet they both reside in Toronto. Here’s some of what they say in this thought provoking book:

“Despite being a decade into the twenty-first century, the unfortunate reality is that most governments still reflect industrial age organizational thinking, based on the same command-and-control model as industrial age enterprises.

…As government got bigger, and the revenue of government increased, it became necessary to build more elaborate procedures, structures, and controls, all run by new layers of professional managers. These bureaucracies operated like individual “stovepipes” – with information only flowing vertically and rarely between departments.

…Despite numerous attempts, very little has changed in the past half century.

… The good news is that just as new waves of innovation are washing over the private sector, opportunities to harness new models of collaboration and innovation are arriving at the doorstep of governments everywhere.

… If politicians and public servants are to ensure their relevance and authority going forward, they must move quickly to meet rising expectations for openness, accountability, effectiveness, and efficiency.

…While industrial age government was based on monopoly of power, and structured around rigid hierarchies, today’s governments need to distribute power broadly and leverage innovation, knowledge, and value from the private sector and civil society.”

I see our support system for intellectual disabilities struggling across the US. I have found some inspiration reading this book. In many ways I feel we have a great opportunity right here in Colorado. This is our time. We can reshape our thinking.

Then again, what do I know?