‘The Book I Wish Every Policymaker Would Read’
Produced by the Ezra Klein Show podcast, dated 6th June 2023, ‘The Book I Wish Every Policymaker Would Read’ is an interview with Jennifer Pahlka, author of ‘Recoding America’.
Why did this interest us?
Pahlka speaks from an impassioned and vastly experienced position, about how to bridge the gap between the positive intent of many government policy-makers and the flawed reality of policy implementation. In this interview and the book that prompts it, she offers detailed and varied examples of the forensic investigations she has often led, into complex public systems, which frequently fail the intended beneficiaries of that system.
Pahlka doesn't simply bring to life different system failures, she gives inspired examples of how she has worked with others to fix those systems. Whilst specific to the US, the examples chime with the challenges and frustrations we get to see through our work across government and the wider public sector and civil society in the UK. Her work brings to life the human stuff of complex systems; that they are rarely rational, designed things, which can be described by neat flowcharts. They are usually the messy result of multiple stakeholders and agendas, of time and cultural norms.
“When systems or organizations don’t work the way you think they should, it is generally not because the people in them are stupid or evil. It is because they are operating according to structures and incentives that aren’t obvious from the outside.”
Why might this be of interest to you?
If you work in a complex system, especially if you are trying to work with others to lead change in a complex system or set of systems, this interview offers an engaging way into Pahlka's book, though the book is definitely worth the investment.
What else did this make us think of?
As Sir Keir Starmer is talking about the need for a change in how government does its work in the UK, we wonder what he means by how. Clearly, in setting out a mission-approach, he means an approach that cuts across silos, is more collaborative and less competitive, all of which are indeed necessary to tackle complex challenges. We're just wary that attempts to change systems, without a greater central focus on the messy stuff of people, relationships and culture, might result in a differently flawed flowchart.
You can listen to the interview – or read the transcript – here.
References/ citations:
Klein, Ezra. ‘The Book I Wish Every Policymaker Would Read’. The Ezra Klein Show, n.d. Accessed 10 July 2023.
Pahlka, Jennifer. Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. Metropolitan Books, 2023.
Evans, David. ‘5 Missions for a Better Britain: A “Mission-Driven” Government to End ’Sticking Plaster Politics’. The Labour Party, February 2023. https://labour.org.uk/wp content/uploads/2023/02/5-Missions-for-a-Better-Britain.pdf.