Boundaries and cultures

You may be able to rearrange the lines or move the boxes around; but philosophies, cultures, and approaches to problem solving cannot necessary be changed. This discussion on another blog is about election results and long-standing cultural divides that are not necessarily affected by redrawing the map. It made me reflect on the government environment in which I work. Over my career I have audited city, county, and now regional government. Some of the organizational problems that are identified during the audit might be attributable to historical antecedents that were not affected when boundaries were changed.

Many county services were previously managed by the state or city. The library was a non-profit organization that was brought back into the county. Police services are now primarily provided by cities; but the county operates the jails and the state operates the judicial system. At the regional level, many of the services were transferred from the city or county. Some of the services meet state-wide objectives and attempt to organize the region to meet those objectives. Finding effectiveness and efficiency in systems that operate according to different cultural norms is a challenge. Understanding the antecedents can be helpful when conducting an audit and crafting meaningful recommendations.