Officer
Somebody
Somebody
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“The only things that evolve by
themselves in an organization are
disorder, friction, and mal -
performance” ~ Peter F. Drucker
themselves in an organization are
disorder, friction, and mal -
performance” ~ Peter F. Drucker
"Any system, which is by definition a
system, will perform as desired if given
time to perform." ~ Barry M. Baker
system, will perform as desired if given
time to perform." ~ Barry M. Baker
There's a high probability that you're going to hear Officer Somebody
referred to frequently. "Get Somebody to do this -- get Somebody to do
that." Officer Somebody is an elusive individual, because you'll never
actually meet or see Officer Somebody.
Police departments used to be some of the most well organized entities
within state and local governments, and I'm sure some still operate at a
high level of organizational efficiency. However, many have succumbed
to a new generation of new ideas which are frequently ill conceived and
poorly implemented.
When you join a police department, you're going to make your own
observations regarding organizational issues. Everybody knows how to
do something better, and it's always been that way. You won't be any
different; however, in your case, a person in higher authority might
actually steal your observation and implement it as a new idea solely
conceived by that person in higher authority.
There's nothing new about bosses claiming ownership of ideas originally
conceived by the rank and file. What is different is the frantic pace by
which new ideas are implemented. Gone are the days when a new idea,
which could significantly impact an organization's efficiency, is
thoughtfully debated and reviewed. This new paradigm of little, if any,
debate and review, combined with little, or no, consideration for the
negative impact of a new idea being a bad idea, has made your potential
for confusion greater than for police officers who preceded you.
There really are few new ideas. Most new ideas are simply old ones that
have been forgotten for any variety of reasons. If you're working in a
police department that operates efficiently, you'll notice that any
changes in that department's organizational structure and systems
occur at a slow and measured pace. If you join a police department
where changing people, procedures, and systems occur frequently, you'll
feel the impact of poorly implemented bad ideas.
If you find yourself working in an environment of constant change,
you'll hear supervisors and commanders frequently turn to Officer
Somebody. You'll know it's bad when a supervisor says to you, "Have
Somebody do that." Since you won't be able to find Officer Somebody,
you'll end up trying to complete an unfamiliar and undefined task with
little to no direction.
While change has always been -- and always will be -- inevitable, you're
beginning your police career during an unprecedented period of social
and technological changes. I had the advantage of beginning my career
in a stable, well managed organization and ending my career in one that
had been turned upside down and inside out by constant and radical
changes. While Part 1 seemed rigid and boring at times, Part 2 was just
plain unpleasant.
There is a significant possibility that you'll frequently assume the alias
of Officer Somebody. Since Officer Somebody rarely receives
supervision and guidance, you'll have to rely on your own sound
judgement to properly complete tasks which may, or may not, be of any
importance, or -- for that matter -- even remembered by those who
assigned them to you.
referred to frequently. "Get Somebody to do this -- get Somebody to do
that." Officer Somebody is an elusive individual, because you'll never
actually meet or see Officer Somebody.
Police departments used to be some of the most well organized entities
within state and local governments, and I'm sure some still operate at a
high level of organizational efficiency. However, many have succumbed
to a new generation of new ideas which are frequently ill conceived and
poorly implemented.
When you join a police department, you're going to make your own
observations regarding organizational issues. Everybody knows how to
do something better, and it's always been that way. You won't be any
different; however, in your case, a person in higher authority might
actually steal your observation and implement it as a new idea solely
conceived by that person in higher authority.
There's nothing new about bosses claiming ownership of ideas originally
conceived by the rank and file. What is different is the frantic pace by
which new ideas are implemented. Gone are the days when a new idea,
which could significantly impact an organization's efficiency, is
thoughtfully debated and reviewed. This new paradigm of little, if any,
debate and review, combined with little, or no, consideration for the
negative impact of a new idea being a bad idea, has made your potential
for confusion greater than for police officers who preceded you.
There really are few new ideas. Most new ideas are simply old ones that
have been forgotten for any variety of reasons. If you're working in a
police department that operates efficiently, you'll notice that any
changes in that department's organizational structure and systems
occur at a slow and measured pace. If you join a police department
where changing people, procedures, and systems occur frequently, you'll
feel the impact of poorly implemented bad ideas.
If you find yourself working in an environment of constant change,
you'll hear supervisors and commanders frequently turn to Officer
Somebody. You'll know it's bad when a supervisor says to you, "Have
Somebody do that." Since you won't be able to find Officer Somebody,
you'll end up trying to complete an unfamiliar and undefined task with
little to no direction.
While change has always been -- and always will be -- inevitable, you're
beginning your police career during an unprecedented period of social
and technological changes. I had the advantage of beginning my career
in a stable, well managed organization and ending my career in one that
had been turned upside down and inside out by constant and radical
changes. While Part 1 seemed rigid and boring at times, Part 2 was just
plain unpleasant.
There is a significant possibility that you'll frequently assume the alias
of Officer Somebody. Since Officer Somebody rarely receives
supervision and guidance, you'll have to rely on your own sound
judgement to properly complete tasks which may, or may not, be of any
importance, or -- for that matter -- even remembered by those who
assigned them to you.
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| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
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