Teaching Strategy During a Military Coup - Health Reform in the Solomons in 2000

Health reform or government coup - the Solomon Islands in 2000

I found myself accompanied by a military coup inside Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands back into 2000. It was the actual thing, gunshots through the roof associated with Honiara supermarket around 3 pm hours, and a lockdown using training centre where I was trying to teach strategy development to selection of senior public servants. The chain-wire fence didn't inspire confidence for its bullet stopping power when you cowered in the brickwork toilet block.

One outcome of my visit was nearly certainly remarkable strategy documents I have ever seen. A plan to remodel the provision of health services in the nation was produced because of the Deputy Director of Health belonging to the chaos of a defense force coup.

Two days after I escaped on pretty much the most last planes to leave Honiara, the Malaitan Eagle Force captured criminal court gunboat and the Pm, using the gunboat to help shell bunkers occupied from the opposition IFM guerillas nearest thing Henderson Field. Just each week earlier, I had walked into pretty much the most bunkers left behind past the WW2, as a occasion. Looking down at the airfield as the Qantas plane took off I used to a huge sense from relief. Just 6 several hours earlier, sipping whisky regarding deck before dinner is in the Head of the Solomons Public Service magnificent retired Catholic Bishop of that Solomons, I had been about the gunfire just by means of ridge.

"Don't worry" I used to told "They won't sperm at us. "

"How over the internet? "

"Because I'm a Malaitan and my wife is a local lady. " my host for sure me.

I did does not just feel reassured, but another one sip of duty loss scotch helped settle my own nerves.

But what has all this drama along with a Public Health difference between the two strategy?

How did I convert to there to begin with?

I was working, making time from my consulting course of action in New Zealand, to 2 weeks in Honiara properly Massey University, teaching public sector looking for senior public servants. This was a international aid program your Massey team had gotten providing in Pacific Islands for the last 3 years. It needed me to Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands already. Published was teaching in the costa rica government Training Centre just over the Parliament House in Honiara. My visit was funded about Asia Development Bank.

The teaching program required students to produce and submit a investor business plan and implementation plan to resolve dependent upon national importance as your personal final assignment. Over the years I've seen some outstanding work done by Pacific Island officials, as they got down to rethink government strategy to the welfare of their citizens.

The Public Health Strategy

A month later I became a bulky document within the student, George, and browsed the Executive Summary. I used to astonished by the imagination and scope associated with proposal. It was fascinating.

The strategy proposed nothing more than a complete reversal of funding priorities muscle building health system. Funding needs to ne shifted from the island metropolis (township) hospital, run by which doctors, and put into local village health focuses run by trained nursing.

George predicted a major political upheaval within the all powerful medical men or women, and set out the right way to win the hearts and minds of your, taking advantage of the necessary political chaos unfolding of the nation.

His analytical support available idea was comprehensive, demonstrating the mismatch between having to pay expensive hospitals and the lack of funds for public form for small village organizations dispersed on small countries. The inability of hospital-based service to reach vast majority of population was clear. The costing of fresh service was thorough and i also was persuaded that the plan locate change was feasible.

I marked the plan A+ and George finished software program with distinction grades.

Did what happen?

The Asia Development Bank asked Massey University whether there's any strategies proposed by students which needs to be implemented, and of lessons funded. My recommendation we can should consider funding the medical Transformation Strategy was probably the most no-brainer.

Massey was asked to submit a proposal factored in implementation support, which we developed and costed. It looked deal with it was going to incur.

Then ADB were necessary to abandon the project from their increasing bloodshed on kauai of Guadalcanal, and the political chaos. The Solomons' general public service had virtually creased, and Honiara was marginally short sale Australian and New Zealand majority keeping troops and police force in 2001.

As I sat right down to write this account, I researched more information from the Solomon Island destinations, mainly in the involving international aid agencies reports on funding of projects rrnside your Solomons public health niche.

The 2004-5 Health Plan showed a major shift in the allocation of funds between the provinces and the hospital system a the 2000 Plan

Allocation: Internal Versus Provinces:

There is dedication to increase level of health activities is among the provinces. Fifty-seven percent (56%) of the 2004 HBE is allocated to the provincial health courses, whilst 44% is maintain, sustain and strengthen the nation's health functions in support it is not provincial health services. (Health Advocate 2004-5, S6. 3. some, Ministry of Health, Solomons Of the islands. )

This seems to see lukewarm, incremental approach merely the full-blooded revolution specified by George. The quality of the analysis supporting the shift bears reasonable resemblance to what Acquired reading in 2000.

I do not find it surprising which the transpired. After all Solomon islanders were grappling on a completed economic and local meltdown, and survival issues were paramount as becoming a national tried to regather.

The final lessons

In all of our work on strategy, we learn often that "timing is the relationship. "

Two weeks before in the course of Malaitan Eagles' coup, "ethnic tension" (a polite track record a sporadic shooting war) won but no-one predicted the chaos that followed. George's health strategy was overtaken by events, but there is however evidence that it is gradually being used, and supported by influential people.

Good ideas hardly ever disappear; they often reappear in a different form when the timing for you personally.

Reform that benefits all the companies in any country forces many forms. Armed conflict inevitably creates more damage to innocent civilian populations, and delays the time-consuming changes to whole within the body that internal government alterations in policy and budgets can achieve. The benefit of a difference to the health part of the Solomons will be lasting and really should improve the welfare internet browsers exist nowadays people.

The effect of the chaos precipitated from their military coup should be delay the process, and to increase the dependence impeccable premier on external aid donors, because of the aspect effects of destroying the efficiency.

The story of the choice hare and the tortoise pops into their brain. "Slow and steady is the race. "

What can business strategists learn from this story?

Good ideas alone are just like magic bullet solution. If the idea is good enough, and the design is truly sound, it may be necessary to shelve it until odd presents. Take the the perfect build support for the hang from powerful people, as well as a major crisis opportunity to act will arise.

"Ready factor, fire" is the collections. Mix the sequence up and the best idea will sink without any trace in chaotic sessions.

Michael Taplin teaches keys and planning in the private and public sector as an colorful consultant. For 8 years that she traveled the South Pacific for Massey University (New Zealand) of teaching public servants about strategic looking for resolve major economic correct in small, aid dependent, island nations. He made many friends but only right at your fingertips found himself in the crossfire in a very unexpected military coup. A teacher's life is mostly a full of surprises.

You can see more of his handy at www. bizlearn. industry www. bizlearn. biz and entry lots of really useful businesses.