“Strong” leadership during crises

Came across a passage while reading that reminded me of that famous ‘strong-man’ mentality that has prevailed so often in Pakistan.

It is a common belief that the decision-making process guiding crisis-response efforts must and will be centralized (‘t Hart, Rosenthal, and Kouzmin 1993). This so-called centralization thesis underpins the public want of a figurehead who is “in charge” during times of crisis. In reality, crisis-response efforts depend on many people in several networks. At the political-strategic level, efforts to radically centralize decision-making authority tend to cause more friction than they resolve because they disturb well-established authority patterns (Benini 1999).

In most democracies, governance takes place in shared power settings: Political leaders and institutions share power among each other, central government shares power with supra-national and subnational governments, and the state shares power with societal groups and private corporations. Unless there is an overwhelming need for drastic measures (during war, for instance), actors in the crisis-response network whose policy-making roles are abruptly diminished by the ad hoc centralization of authority will, to say the least, not be motivated to contribute their resources and comply with centrally issued policy directives.

From Public leadership in times of crisis: Mission impossible? [PDF] – Arjen Boin; Paul ‘t Hart. Public Administration Review; Sep/Oct 2003.

How to think about systems innovation

Or, what if everyone thought like Charles Leadbeater?

Tootin' the horn amidst a sea of suits at #mesh11

The thing about Charles Leadbeater is that he speaks so carefully and so seriously that it is difficult to grasp how radical the changes he is proposing are. There he stands, a balding middle-aged man with plain black glasses and what can only be described as an intelligent frown, and he speaks slowly and articulates the need for radical change so clearly that it’s almost frightening. A journalist full of righteous anger and a mass unstructured movement like the Occupy protests currently percolating around the world aren’t met with alarm because we expect those things. But we don’t expect a newscaster to quietly tell us that we’re being invaded by aliens, and we certainly don’t expect a soft-spoken management thinker to advocate for uprooting systems that we cling to for stability like it is the only reasonable way forward. It is, indeed, the only way forward for systems to innovate continuously as problems refuse to silently go away, but the implications don’t really strike us all that often. Most of us don’t really understand innovation – Leadbeater not only understands it, but he helps others understand too.

Three jailed Pakistani cricketers, and hope.

Searching for silver linings on a cloudy, cloudy day: three jailed Pakistani cricketers, a system imprisoned by incompetence, and the possibility of respite.

I felt a little sick today as I scrolled through the tweets and learned that three of Pakistan’s best players in recent years would go to jail. There is a mixed sense of anger and injustice rippling through Pakistani fans, but more than anything else, there is a sinking feeling that we all hoped we would never have to experience again.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?

Clearly, I need to start following Stephen Fry on Twitter.

Because this is brilliant.

“Almost the whole of my text at the moment, in my head as I fall asleep, is summed up by the word “contempt”. Contempt, in politics, for the hypocrisy, the double standards, the double dealing, the corruption and the moral suasion. It’s almost impossible for me to explain just how deeply I feel contempt. I want to go into detail – and I think you’ll be rather shocked, and I hope rather edified, by what I have to say.

IBA’s Right Hand Man – Yonus Bhai

Note: This was originally written for the IBA newsletter in spring 2006, based off an interview Sarim and I did. For the most part this isn’t too meaningful, but his recommendations for improving IBA are quite insightful in retrospect, and it’s interesting that he repeatedly urged for the need for not only cosmetic but also structural change. His plea for foreign exposure eventually materialized after several years (by 2009, three years after this interview, IBA students were regularly participating in international conferences such as Model UN). This post is mostly relevant for the relatively small group of students from IBA, Main Campus. The interview was taken in Urdu and flavored with some imaginative expletives, a Yonus hallmark. Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t remember the exact phrases anymore.

I Have An Option – the Leaders Debate

Note: This is part of a political reporting assignment for a very interesting summer course I took this year at Ryerson: Power, Media and Politics. We were assigned the task of watching the legendary 1984 Canadian federal election leader’s debate, and reporting on it using the vehicle of our choice – newspaper or magazine article, blog post, radio or television report, or even audio/video podcast. Very interesting assignment, and it was a great course – highly recommended for anyone who’s out there and curious about how media, technology and politics influence each other and intersect (hint: it’s highly complicated and amazingly powerful).

Yes, I do. I have the option of breaking free from editorial diktat. I have that which numerous writers and journalists around Canada do not – financial freedom. Since I’m not relying on the good graces of a publisher for my income, and instead rely on you, my wonderful readers – I can break from the monotonous ‘knockout blow’ coverage usually afforded to leadership debates in elections.

All to play for in Wembley

 

“You see Barça on TV and they have fantastic players. They’ve got 3 of the best in the world playing in their team.” RIO FERDINAND

Photography: Bending fork, bent mind.

New photo uploaded on deviantART: Bending fork,bent mind

As the weather is changing, here`s one of my personal favorites from fall 2010: a new couple is dumbfounded by the mysterious bending fork at a magic show at Yonge/Dundas in Toronto.

 

 

 

Pakistan vs India: Is the hype justified?

Is it possible to overstate the importance of an India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal? Yes, I think so.

As Yuvraj and Raina took India home against Australia on Thursday, Ravi Shastri, voice trembling, noted that if India won it, they would set up ‘the mother of all games‘. Not for the first time, he was merely stating the obvious. But was the cliche still true?* Everyone certainly swallowed it whole, including yours truly, and the hype has been unrelenting ever since the mere possibility of this game emerged when Pakistan beat Australia. I called up a friend in Pakistan yesterday,someone I haven’t talked to in months,and practically the first thing she said was ‘So who do you think will win?’ This, by the way, is someone who has never before expressed any interest in sport whatsoever, except for appreciating the legs of some footballers.

Fakmalife

A selection of the best on Akmal today, from Twitter.

Shoaib to Akmal: Bhai ball ko paison ki gatthi samajh - @gkhamba

IDEA! #fakmal should be made to train with balls which have an explosive inside them. either he gets better or HE DIES! win-win for everyone – @mediagag

Come on, Pakistan. Injure Fakmal. RT @TheSunCricket BREAKING NEWS: Stuart Broad is out of the rest of England’s World Cup campaign. – @sanakazmi

What do #Fakmal and Michael Jackson have in common? They both wear gloves for no apparent reason! – @cpyala

Akmal should just go sleep with a bunch of dirty hookers. I mean…not like he’s going to catch anything… – @obakhtar

Karta raha tamaam match dropped catchoun ka hissab // match kay baad Shoaib nay jootay be hissab lagayae #Fakmal - @DrRashidAli

Allah karay terri papoo ass par shehad kee makhi kat jaye #Fakmal. – @hafsa_khawaja

#Fakmal comes in. He drops his bat five times on the way to the crease. – @ZaltzCricket

Likely. Considering his dressing-room rape by Lala. RT @cpyala #Fakmal walking into bat injured. #ThingstoLookForwardTo - @KarachiVagabond

The best ever Int’l Women’s day celebrated by Pakistanis today thanks to #Fakmal, some earth shattering maa behan swearing we witnessed. – @Am1rA2h3R

Happy Birthday Taylor. Love, Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Akhtar. #CWC2011″ #fakmal - @HumaImtiaz

#fakmal zala-lat ki bulandiyoon par – @najamsikander

Mar Razzaq mar , pehle Kiwi ko mar phir dressing par #fakmal ko mar #PakCricket - @schawlaf

So to recap, #Fakmal, ordered by US handler Raymond Davis, took a bribe from the Indo-Jewish illuminati to throw the match. – @mlotia

Three things:

1) Spare a thought for poor Fawwaz Akmal,whose Twitter handle is – you guessed it – Fakmal.
2) Pakistan lost, but poor bowling and poorer top-order batting are as much to blame as dropped catches. You don’t lose a 50 over game by 110 runs in two deliveries. Better deal with these issues sooner rather than later.
3) This thread isn’t meant to vilify one player, it’s meant to marvel at the verbal dexterity he inspires!

Add your own in the comments!