Implementation procedures may look rigorous. Nevertheless forces, even within a relatively homogeneous organization, conspire to severely weaken the strategy relative to the original expectations. Scott-Morgan remarks that even the chief executive officers of major corporations have difficulty in coming to grips with this phenomenon and are worried that they no longer understand what is going on. Under such circumstances, there is a need to be extremely concerned about the possibilities of effectively implementing the major strategies which are the apparent focus of the attention of the international community, whether with respect to the environment, health, education or employment. Wishful thinking On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, there have been calls for candour about its actual operations.
Attention is required to the unwritten rules of the game which are undermining our best initiatives.
Scott-Morgan opens the debate in a useful manner. The dominant concern with formulating a single strategy, and attracting widespread adherence to it, may be fatally flawed. Alternative interpretations of the performance of such global plans could well suggest that dependence on them is not as appropriate as is widely assumed.