Where Does Reform Start?

Cordova uses smartphones for accurate enforcement of Land Use and Zoning policies. This innovation was conceptualised and implemented by the Municipality's own Planning office.

Where do I begin?

When undertaking a reform, where do I start?

Some of my friends begin with the end in mind - they discern the condition that they would want to see at the end of their work, then they think about what they have to do to achieve this condition.

Another approach is to start with a solution. That was exactly what I did when I first learned about Geographic Information Systems. I saw GIS as a solution - for which I had to find a problem. At first I tried to use it for land use mapping, but the guys in the Planning office did not want anything further to do with it. So I used GIS to address other problems.

This “solution-driven” approach can be seen as starting in the middle, somewhere between a problem and a desired outcome.

A third approach is to begin with the problem. The solution may not be known, the end-result may be uncertain, but there is a clear and present problem.

This approach is where necessity becomes the mother of reform.

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Is one starting point better than others? I think it depends on your reasons for undertaking reforms.

If you are tasked to produce reforms of any kind, starting at the middle would give you much flexibility. Start with a solution, find ways to relate it to a real problem, then work for adoption of your solution. If you fail, simply try another solution-idea.

Much of the flexibility of this approach lies in the fact that you are not compelled to solve a particular problem. Sure, you may have to relate your solution to a problem, so you can say it improved things. But you can chose this problem after you have chosen your solution. After all, your objective is to produce reforms - not to solve a specific problem.

But if the reason for your reform work is that you have to deal with a particular problem affecting yourself, your family, or your community, then you really have no choice but to start with that problem. You can try a possible solution, drop it if it does work, then try another potential solution.

If your children can’t go to school because a river on their path overflows when it rains, you may try to get government to build a better bridge, or to build a school on your side of the river, or to provide internet connection for online learning. You can try many different things, you don't abandon or ignore the problem. After all, it it affects your children.

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There is certainly room for different ways of starting reform. It's nice to have support for reform ideas that should be tested. These ideas could actually lead to improved conditions for many people.

It's also good to have reformers who address specific problems, even if it only affects a little corner of the world. They might feel sorry for achieving only “little reform” - but for those who benefit from their efforts, they won’t have to apologise at all, because relevant reform means never having to say you’re sorry.

#reform #Cordova #innovation