The Intelligent Nation: How to Organise a Country (Citizenship and Sustainability in Organizations)

The Intelligent Nation proposes a systemic and radical transformation of the organisation, management, ownership and performance of the services of the state by capitalising on the potential offered by contemporary information capability and fulfilling the rights and obligations both to and of citizens. In this book, John Beckford shows how, by adopting the principles of an Intelligent Organisation, the state can thrive and meet the needs of its citizens. He proposes a complete rethink of the state as the enabler or provider of public services. In particular, he points to the failure of the public sector to significantly emulate the massive gains in productivity and customer focus experienced in both manufacturing and services (e.g. finance, retailing, insurance). Governance and all public services must be redesigned to align to the contemporary needs of the citizen and exploit the power of information to enable a transformation of their effectiveness, redefine efficiency and support human-based services in crucial areas. Each chapter provides the key learning points, a discussion of the problem in theory and practice, integrated case studies, and discussion points. Written in an accessible style, the book provides thought-provoking supplemental reading for masters and undergraduate students reading organisation theory, organisation development, political science, public administration, healthcare, information systems and business and management science. Cover Endorsement Page Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of case studies List of figures List of tables Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: The dysfunctional state and the state of the problem Introduction Bureaucracy and the centralisation of power Functional or systemic organisation The pursuit of effectiveness The democratic imperative Democracy and technology: the emerging challenge The Intelligent Nation: A transformation Summary Key points References Notes Chapter 2: Sustainable and resilient state Introduction Principles of Intelligent Organisation Purpose, identity and legitimate governance Integration by design Autonomy Resilience Reformation or revolution Summary Key points References Notes Chapter 3: Sustainable and resilient citizen Introduction The individual as Intelligent Organisation Nurturing identity Personal resilience Networking for resilience Resilient citizens and democracy What is the purpose of government? Model for an Intelligent Nation Summary Key points References Notes Chapter 4: Social infrastructure and services to the public Introduction Design for a resilient infrastructure ecosystem Social infrastructure Systemic efficiency Systemic effectiveness Organising for citizen outcomes Prevention or cure: Value enabling or value creating Summary: Living with complexity Key points References Notes Chapter 5: Fundamental infrastructure and utilities Introduction Infrastructure interdependency and networks Asset vulnerability and criticality The purpose of infrastructure Infrastructure ownership and business models Towards a future ownership model Summary Key points References Notes Chapter 6: Understanding performance, serving citizens right Introduction Performance beyond GDP Systemic reporting: Managing the whole Governance in a complex adaptive system Measurement and judgement The homeostat: A governance device Dimensions of performance The potentiometer The compound potentiometer Governance and the Intelligent Nation Key points References Notes Index "The Intelligent Nation proposes a systemic and radical transformation of the organisation, management, ownership and performance of the services of the state by capitalising on the potential offered by contemporary information capability and fulfilling the rights and obligations both to and of citizens. In this book, John Beckford shows how, by adopting the principles of an intelligent organisation, the state can thrive and meet the needs of its citizens. He proposes a complete rethink of the state as the enabler or provider of public services. In particular, he points to the failure of the public sector to significantly emulate the massive gains in productivity and customer focus experienced in both manufacturing and services (e.g. finance, retailing, insurance). Governance and all public services must be redesigned to align to the contemporary needs of the citizen and exploit the power of information to enable a transformation of their effectiveness, redefine efficiency, and support human-based services in crucial areas. Each chapter provides the key learning points, a discussion of the problem in theory and practice, integrated case studies, and discussion points. Written in an accessible style, the book provides thought-provoking supplemental reading for masters and undergraduate students reading organization theory, organization development, political science, public administration, healthcare, information systems, and business and management science"-- Provided by publisher