Mr Minister! Come see the Dinos!

RE: The 'it is policy' approach

This forum letter-writer, a former civil servant, suggests that "Perhaps our ministers could start springing surprise visits to the various departments within their ministry and interview the most junior officers to get a real sense of what is happening on the ground."

A former schoolmate then suggested that the Ministers could try these surprise visits ala Undercover Boss style.

LOL! I think Undercover Boss is a staged production. 

Even if the ministers can pull off an Undercover Boss without being recognised, why would ministers want to alarm top public servants with 'surprise visits'?
Ministers need these top people to be on their side, more than they need you.

Top management-wishes-to-connect-with-the-ground gestures such as 'surprise visits', small-group informal chats with junior officers etc are only useful if they are (i) carried out in a sustained manner, and (ii) feedback is followed up with real material changes in a timely manner.

Most of the time, what happens is that the chat takes place, the feedback is taken, change is made... but all during the top guy's term only. After that, those dinosaur members in top management will revert all changes to their original states.

So, really, the problem lies in having the dinosaurs around, and whether one can find better and different people, not necessarily younger, to replace these prehistoric creatures and the attendant culture they have set up and perpetuated throughout the organisation.

Even the herbivorous dinosaurs can crush you with their sheer weight
and lack of agility, intelligence or confidence.

But always remember: Why would ministers want to alarm top public servants?
Ministers need these top people to be on their side, more than they need you.