Cube’s Public Value Compass describes key individual and community dimensions of public value outcomes. This blog is the third in a series that looks at each of these dimensions in detail. This month, we look at ‘growth and prosperity’. It’s hard to escape the fact that growth and prosperity dominates a significant part of national discourse. From the Global Financial Crisis to budget surpluses, from tax cuts to austerity measures, economic management, growth stimulation, and prosperous economies are ever-present themes for all governments. But what exactly is growth and prosperity, and why is it important as a public value outcome?

Once upon a time when disaster struck, our emergency services responded. Over time, our expectations of emergency services and supporting agencies have broadened enormously. Now, we not only expect a swift and capable response but we want effective mitigation or prevention of disaster, personalised education and advice on how to prepare for various emergencies, and specific and sustained support to recover from the impact of an emergency. We also want to receive targeted and timely warnings if an emergency is going to affect us. During 2014, Cube had the privilege of supporting a National Review of Warnings and Information, overseen

The Public Value Compass is Cube’s way of modeling the key individual and community outcomes of public value. This blog is the second in a monthly series that looks at and explores each of the outcomes in detail. Living in a fair and equal society You see a job advertised that you know you’re qualified for, and you’re confident that the process will be merit based. Your name, gender or race will have no bearing on whether you get the job, or even an interview. After all, everyone in Australia is treated fairly aren’t they? Aren’t fairness and equality the

Posted by He who seeks to regulate everything by law is more likely to arouse vices than to reform them. It is best to grant what cannot be abolished, even though it be in itself harmful. – Early advocate of red-tape reduction, Benedict de Spinoza (1670) Regulating for public value? Regulators face some unique challenges in discharging their missions. Public value perspectives offer valuable insights into strategy and operations. Directly or indirectly, regulators impact the lives of millions of Australians. This reach and resonance is a major motivation behind Cube’s regulatory practice: supporting regulators’ effectiveness and efficiency allows us the

Language is principally a communication tool, but it’s also a marker of identity and difference. The ways that organisations and industry sectors talk about their objectives, goals and purpose can vary widely. Unique and native languages often frame ways of working, interacting and excluding. Think of the legal community and its adherence to ‘legalese’ – a language that baffles all but lawyers. It’s no surprise that government and the not-for-profit community sector have distinct and native languages. Although these may vary only slightly, a word or phrase here or there, this still impacts the extent to which organisations and their people

When Charlie Sutton, the legendary and only premiership coach of the Western Bulldogs, aka Footscray, implored his young team in the 1954 VFL Grand Final to “shop early and avoid the rush”, very few of his players realised he was talking about funding submissions or business cases. Charlie understood that to get a successful result you have to follow a proven process, but you also need to think laterally.  Irrespective of who you are, if you’re seeking additional funding you need to start early so you have enough time to develop a robust submission and engage all the right stakeholders.

Living in a safe society So you or your loved ones have decided to turn a new leaf to put exercise back on the agenda. But winter is coming, the days shorten, and a challenge emerges. Do you feel safe heading out for a walk or run in the morning darkness? This is a classic example of how community confidence in a safe and protected society has a direct impact on the way we live our lives. At Cube Group, community confidence is one of our four public value markers with safety and protection featuring on our Public Value Compass

Posted by Not all of us like to digest information in frameworks and lifecycles, but it’s hard to deny they have a unique way of sticking in our minds and influencing our behaviours. In fact, many aspects of our lives have been cleverly captured in conceptual models. Hot day? Slip, slop, slap. Sprained your ankle? Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE). Crossing the road? Look left, right and left again. In a business context, we look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), and set SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. As concepts become more complex, so do

Posted by In my previous blog, I took a fresh look at public value organisations by exploring the dimensions of public value awareness and public value achievement. Four types of organisations emerged: worker bees, dreamers, drifters and entrepreneurs.  Where does your organisation sit? Below are some strategies to improve your position in the model. Worker Bees Worker bees make up a large proportion of public value organisations in Australia. They are technically capable and proficient, but inwardly focused. They need more intention in their approach to public value. 1. Start With Why Simon Sinek’s ‘Start With Why’ (2011) explores the psychology of

Posted by Does your organisation ‘get’ public value? In a recent post, I discussed some key challenges facing today’s public value leaders. In part one of this two-part blog, I build on that concept by introducing a profiling tool that describes how different organisations approach the concept of public value.  Where does your organisation fit? There are two key dimensions to understanding the public value maturity of your organisation: public value awareness and public value achievement. Let’s take a look at each, so you can use the profiling tool. Eyes wide open: public value awareness Public value organisations exist to