Strategic v piecemeal
While we are no longer surprised people cannot afford basic things in life, it has become too easy to scrabble together a minimal solution to get through the next period. Consequently, it leaves us in a situation that relies on a sticky tape infrastructure piecing together emergency help for people to get through each week.
Too often we can fall into the ‘system is broken’ analysis mode when confronting challenges, and yes, it is broken on many levels, but too few are prepared to explore ways around things. It also partly explains why genuine transformation in the sector is so rare with leaders preferring to approach change systematically in search of a silver bullet, thinking change can be driven top-down, unwilling to persevere over 3-4 years, and recognizing that a successful search is a never-ending journey. This is best achieved through community development.