George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Alankar,
It may be that one does not need “to decide between policies and politics,” if you recognize the following perspectives:
- From an etymology perspective, these two words have a shared heritage to the Greek word “polis,” that is, loosely stated, the administrative center of a city/state or citizens -- where planning occurs.
- In modern definition (in part):
-- [A] Corporate politics exist to achieve “change” within an organization, and policies is one of the tools for its implementation.
-- [B] Policies are only as good as the “change” that follows it over time, meaning that politics are engaged as part of the process to implement and maintain policy.
So, although I do not know the exact context of your question, it may be helpful to recognize the relationship that “in principle” exists between these two elements. Saving Changes...
Policies are like laws of the organisation and are not open to negotiation. You follow policies as they are.
Politics, on the other hand, is a way of understanding dynamics within the organisation/ department. These can vary based on different personalities, roles and/or circumstances. Saving Changes...
Amany NuseibehSpeaker, Global Leader | Optimal ConsultingSydney, Nsw, Australia
Alankar, thank you for posting a very interesting question that us resulting in a very interesting discussion. As the context is important, I would say, it depends! (and yes, I know some would say a typical consultant response). The questions that come to my mind is that
- Is the policy up-to-date? - Is the purpose of the policy well stated, clear, supported and subscribed to? - Does it provide the agility required to address the situation at hand?
The politics as "influencing" a change, communicating with stakeholders and ensuring successful delivery will always be part of what we do. The question is whether the policy provides a fit for purpose approach that is empathetic, ethical and legal or does it need to be changed, and hence "more politics" will be required. Saving Changes...
Marcus UdokangProject Manager| Aivaz ConsultingCalgary, Alberta, Canada
You can't avoid politics. Policies are usually needed. I deal with both. Depending on the environment, sometimes politics comes first. Saving Changes...
Alankar KarpeProject and program management, Speaker and mentor | WiproBangalore, India
Jul 10, 2020 8:41 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Alankar -
I think you need to clarify your question. Policies are usually not open to negotiation - not following them would put you, your team or your organization at risk.
Kiron
I encountered a situation where politics actually ignore policies and took some decisions Saving Changes...
Alankar KarpeProject and program management, Speaker and mentor | WiproBangalore, India
Jul 10, 2020 8:18 AM
Replying to Matteo Girotto Moretto
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As a PM, I'd put to stakeholders(politicians) attention that policies are not aligned with what they reccomend. Doing this, hopefully they feel engaged in focusing on policies and contributing on their improvement.
Thank you Matteo! Saving Changes...
Alankar KarpeProject and program management, Speaker and mentor | WiproBangalore, India
Jul 10, 2020 9:53 AM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
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Well Alankar, it depends and is always situational.
If following policy results in bad consequences for many, you have to make up your mind. It certainly is a ethical dilemma. Looking at it from different perspectives and asking others for their view helps.
Deciding to break policy may expose you to punishment, so this decision also needs courage. Make the ethical decision assuming you have the courage to stand by yourself.
We see this every day, e.g. protesters being harassed or detained, journalists killed or silenced. You hope that the guy at the atomic button makes the right decision. The Nazis did nothing illegal.
Three perspectives should be used in ethical decisions: deontology (following rules), utilitarism (best outcome for most) and Aristotle (virtue-based).
And 3 tests can be used to check your decision: would you mind having your decision made public, is your decision a template for others, and if you see yourself in the mirror, are embarrased or proud?
Thank you Tom for your contribution! Saving Changes...
Wade HarshmanScrum Master| GDITIndianapolis, In, United States
One definition of politics I read was that you choose your words based on how you think another person will react, rather than what is the most true. Perhaps that's impossible to completely eliminate, but it's a form of manipulation that indicates an absence of trust on a team.
There's another definition I like:
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." This is cynical but sometimes accurate. If someone is talking about office politics, I immediately think of someone trying to scare someone else in order to elicit a desired response. Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Alankar's question starts "As a PM..." As a PM your number one task is to successfully deliver the project.
If a policy gets in the way - deal with it. Explain to the Executive the risks of negative impact on the project and propose changes. Anticipate the consequences. If it can't be changed, find ways to mitigate.
Same with politics. However, I would caution against the temptation to use politics to get your way - it flies in the face of honesty, integrity and mutual respect.
Keep your eyes on the objective, delivering the project. Anything in the way needs to be addressed openly. If you can't fix it (eliminate the risk), mitigate so as to reduce the impact. Saving Changes...
