I was awarded the scholarship to study the challenges faced by organizations in the public sector or nonprofit sector where commercial operations have been introduced. I wanted to explore the tensions that this causes – with the commercial sector who may view this as anti-competitive activity; it can conflict with an organization’s ethos and culture, creating internal organizational tensions; and it may create problems in ensuring that organizations meet public sector governance and public accountability requirements. This work will build on my experiences at the Ordnance Surveys in Great Britain and Ireland (north and south), my policy role in the sports, museums and recreation sector in Northern Ireland, and more recently in dealing with governance and accountability issues when a government created company collapsed.
Although I was accepted by Fulbright last year, I was asked to defer my departure for a while, due to ongoing work on the Northern Ireland Events Company, (I have been winding up the company’s somewhat complex affairs). I was also leading within DCAL on its Organizational Change Programme, or at least getting it under way. I am expected to return to DCAL at the end of my time here in the US (July) so if I am to do something else, and I would really like to try something else – I must decide soon.
I intend to use the Fulbright scholarship to explore opportunities beyond the specific area of study and research. Therefore I am developing my cultural knowledge, professional and career aspirations, whilst ensuring a balance with my personal life.
(I can hear my conscience say "Sounds like he means a holiday, but doesn't want to call it that").
This means making the most of the place – going to see as much as is possible, and experience as much as I can in the time available – but time is short! Harvard really is a magnificent place, and its libraries alone are astounding (see earlier Blog entries!) and the sense of purpose, public service and endeavor is almost tangible. I have also found the history of Boston as the cradle of Independence, particularly interesting, and am trying to visit all of the sites of relevance. A visit last weekend to the official J.F. Kennedy Museum and Library gave a very interesting insight into this truly inspiring world leader, and on Sunday we went to the site of the Battle for Bunker Hill – the first true battle in the War of Independence. Visits to Salem, famous for its Witch trials, and Plymouth where the Mayflower landed, where they have reconstructed the original village of this first settlement and a native American Indian village of the same era, are still planned, and we want to go Whale Watching as well. Oh, and eat as much seafood as is possible….
("See ... told you it was a holiday").
But only 3 weekends left, and all that work to do as well.
("Oh dear, I don't hear any sounds of sympathy anywhere").
I have been asked to make a presentation to the the Alumni Association of the Federal Executive Institute (senior US Federal civil servants) in Washington DC in early May – basically on Leading Change in Northern Ireland– hopefully I can do this subject justice. We will be moving down to Washington DC at the start of May, where I will be based at the Smithsonian Institution, and explore their approach to commercialization. – but more of all this later…..
I intend to use the Fulbright scholarship to explore opportunities beyond the specific area of study and research. Therefore I am developing my cultural knowledge, professional and career aspirations, whilst ensuring a balance with my personal life.
(I can hear my conscience say "Sounds like he means a holiday, but doesn't want to call it that").
This means making the most of the place – going to see as much as is possible, and experience as much as I can in the time available – but time is short! Harvard really is a magnificent place, and its libraries alone are astounding (see earlier Blog entries!) and the sense of purpose, public service and endeavor is almost tangible. I have also found the history of Boston as the cradle of Independence, particularly interesting, and am trying to visit all of the sites of relevance. A visit last weekend to the official J.F. Kennedy Museum and Library gave a very interesting insight into this truly inspiring world leader, and on Sunday we went to the site of the Battle for Bunker Hill – the first true battle in the War of Independence. Visits to Salem, famous for its Witch trials, and Plymouth where the Mayflower landed, where they have reconstructed the original village of this first settlement and a native American Indian village of the same era, are still planned, and we want to go Whale Watching as well. Oh, and eat as much seafood as is possible….
("See ... told you it was a holiday").
But only 3 weekends left, and all that work to do as well.
("Oh dear, I don't hear any sounds of sympathy anywhere").
I have been asked to make a presentation to the the Alumni Association of the Federal Executive Institute (senior US Federal civil servants) in Washington DC in early May – basically on Leading Change in Northern Ireland– hopefully I can do this subject justice. We will be moving down to Washington DC at the start of May, where I will be based at the Smithsonian Institution, and explore their approach to commercialization. – but more of all this later…..
("sounds like its an excuse to enjoy yourself - but don't pretend it is anything else, cause no one will believe you!")
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