Premium Columnists Allan Hawke was right. Learned helplessness is an enemy of good public administration Editors' Picks Learned helplessness can be seen in successive APS Employee Census reports, where staff often rate their seniors in less-than-glowing terms.
Premium Columnists Vale Allan Hawke, good and faithful public servant September 9, 2022 By Verona Burgess Defence Allan Hawke was the ultimate professional public servant, as straight as a die. He was not, of course, perfect. For a start, that laugh…
Tributes flow for APS stalwart Allan Hawke September 1, 2022 By Julian Bajkowski Defence Allan Hawke, AC, one of Australia’s most respected and trusted senior public servants, diplomats and ministerial confidantes, has died in Canberra, aged 74.
Premium Insights and analysis Get the relationships right: Allan Hawke on how to be an excellent public servant March 17, 2020 By Allan Hawke Career Advice Allan Hawke reflects on the role of public servants as distinct from that of ministers, sharing timeless insight into how to make the most of our parliamentary system.
Premium Expert briefings ‘Get the people-side right.’ Allan Hawke on the nitty gritty of what leaders need to do to get a high-performing organisation December 18, 2019 By Allan Hawke Career Advice Allan Hawke wades past the leadership fads and fashions that have not worked in Australia to dive deeply into a few timeless lessons that bring out the best employee-engagement levels in organisational workforces.
Former Defence boss calls in favour for Raiders October 4, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Culture A throng of mandarins will be supporting the Canberra Raiders in their fight against the Sydney Roosters at the NRL grand final this weekend.
Premium Columnists Deep links between the private sector and Defence have been to the nation’s benefit. But it’s complicated. The department has expanded its toolbox to manage this ‘revolving door’ September 27, 2019 By Bernard Keane Career Advice Former government employees with defence-related skills will end up working in defence-related industries, and that’s been a concern to some in the Australian community about the questions it raises about what leads up to the job offers. The Department of Defence has been refining its approach to this perceived conflict of interest.
Performance pay doesn’t work in the APS, according to a former secretary September 27, 2019 By Shannon Jenkins Career Advice Former secretary Allan Hawke has called for the end of performance pay in the Australian Public Service. He argues that the system clashes with public service culture, ignores how the public service actually works, destroys morale and teamwork, and gives senior leaders an excuse to avoid real leadership.
Premium Insights and analysis What’s the most effective way to motivate staff? Performance pay schemes are trending again, but Allan Hawke saw distorted results September 26, 2019 By Allan Hawke Australian Capital Territory Allan Hawke is aware of the argument that performance pay is supposed to work in organisations where rewards constitute a significant part of total remuneration, judgments about performance are based on things under the direct control of the individual being assessed, and people are satisfied that the assessments and mechanisms used are fair and reasonable. And, he’s ‘absolutely certain’ none of those preconditions can be assured of in the APS.
Collegiality and the collaboration paradox for bureaucratic reform August 17, 2016 By Stephen Easton Career Advice Five years in the making, reform of the ACT public service legislation confronts a common paradox: cross-government collaboration is vital, but the Westminster tradition naturally creates bureaucratic silos.
