Less money, probably a lot less money is going to be
spent on not only on the 'frippery' of change management, organisational
development and public engagement (etc.), but also on the wages of people
providing direct services to some very vulnerable citizens.
Whilst there may well be very limited room for manoeuvre
with the amount by which budgets will have to be reduced in these austere
times, I am wondering just how much scope there is in just how budgets are reshaped.
Who has the ideas? Who needs to be involved? How will
those people be involved?
I am concerned that many managers will feel driven to
retreat behind closed doors, perhaps with a tame accountant, to craft the
changes to be made. This is not an unreasonable course of action, of course. If
people's jobs & indeed livelihoods are being questioned, if services to
people in severe need are being scrutinised or if some critical priorities are
being examined then confidentiality is to be expected.
The stakes are so high and the interests so potentially
in great conflict, as to prevent anyone else (staff member, other connected
departments & agencies, the wider public & service users) being
involved in a more open & transparent discussion... would be the argument
from many people, I suspect.
I have argued previously on this blog for 'Austerity
Charters' (see below) and I
stand by this.
But, am I alone in thinking that there is much to be
gained from having more inclusive approaches to deciding just where and how
budgets should be cut? I take the view, that given the right context, the right
leadership and the right information, many more people could contribute
constructively to building these new austere budgets. Yes, there will be
conflict and yes, people will seek to express and protect their interests. But
also, I think, people could earnestly, collaboratively and creatively find many
more ways to do more with less than a manager (with tame accountant) is able to
achieve on their own.
Or am I living in some fairytale world a million miles
away from the grinding & crushing reality of austerity budgets where the
only 'involvement' of staff, colleagues and citizens must only be during the
titular 'consultation' periods?
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