Politics. We all talk about it, we all have an opinion, we know what is best and we know who to blame. The best horseman is always on his feet.

In business they have invented the term "Client relationship management”. How would a government official or administrator see that? How would you manage when everybody is your client?

"You are all different,” shouts (The Life of) Brian. "Yes, we are all different,” returns the crowd in choir. "I'm not,” says one of them in the multitude.

In Spain there are autonomous communities of which a few -- one, most of all -- are competing to get "more” independence. But then, in that "Nation” as they want to call themselves, they have their own problems. A lot fewer clients yet still difficult to manage.

Managing politics -- public governance -- is so hard just because you are managing non-functional requirements. And what the hell is that?

In business you have two kind of requirements to build your company; functional requirements which is something as a solution for a specific group (treasury, sales, marketing, ICT, Human resources). You also have non-functional requirements. Infrastructure is the most common amongst them. You are talking about things

This is the most difficult part in managing business. And this is because we all -- not only a specific group -- depend on them.

Public governance is all about infrastructure and non-functional requirements. Normally you are not aware of this but when petrol get very expensive (infrastructure) you remember, also when your country is attacked by others. You do not longer feel secure!

Picture yourself as one of them, trying to manage all that (and I do not mean the few at the top). They have got a hard job.

© 2005 Hans Bool