Development Entrepreneurs

A week ago I was pleasantly surprised to learn, in a workshop on  Local Road Network Development Planning, that the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur had created not one, but at least five move “Industry Maps” and infographics.  These maps show the location of key players in a specific sub-sector that drives the Provincial economy of Agusan del Sur. Provincial planners use these maps to identify roads that connect key players. They then identify road segments that require investment, and propose  projects for inclusion in the  road network development plan. Compiling the list of key players and mapping their location can be challenging. So when ADS agreed to explore this idea with us about two years ago, we decided to focus on one specific commodity: Palay (rice).  The Provincial project team, working with the local Chamber of Commerce, identified organizations, business, facilities that performed functions described in Michael Porter'...

12th Anniversary of Mayor Tommy Osmena's Management Team, May 5th 2017 T o be a member of Tommy Osmena’s “Mayor’s Management Team”, one has to have graduated at least cum laude . As MMT you go through training on service improvement, project management, and perhaps most important, handling intimidation.   Reformers need to know how to manage intimidation because they’re sure to encounter it. Intimidation is anything that seeks to prevent her from doing what she intends to do. It could take many forms - withholding of favors, diversion/distraction, sabotage, even threats - plata o plomo and everything in between. To persist in her reform, the reformer needs to be aware when she is being intimidated, needs to know how to deal with it, and even (when appropriate) how to intimidate right back. All MMTs start out implementing a service improvement project, then manage special projects. Some take on a regular appointments in the City Government, a few become Department Hea...

S ince 2012 we have been working with selected organizations of businessmen (Chambers of Commerce and Business Clubs, also known as Business Service Organizations or BSOs) to see how they can influence public spending for roads. Businessmen need roads to move goods from production and processing sites to customers, and to deliver services to their clients. They have a natural interest in having certain roads fixed. The challenge was, could they get Government to spend for these roads? They did. They proposed road projects to strengthen their Province’s economic drivers, and got funding for their roads. How did they do it? Some used the old-boys’ network. They tapped Chamber members who have social capital with specific Key Actors at the Provincial and Regional levels. These members asked for the latter's support at key points in the project identification and funding process.  Some secured the Chairmanship of key Provincial and Regional Development Council Commit...