Rudd's paradox

Prime Minister Rudd's strategy for achieving his 21st century 'education revolution' is clearly based on Pavlov's 19th century insight to do with animals, stimuli and responses. In doing so he has created a paradox for those involved: the strategy (stimulus and response) is inconsistent with the intended outcomes (high level skill building and sense making).

Since Pavlov's initial work focused on eliciting primitive responses from animals the strategy may not be as successful when 'applied' to communities of committed, principled and intelligent professionals. On the other hand, Mr Rudd is clearly hoping to have unionists seen as making primitive self interested responses.

This approach conflicts with some principles for achieving improvements with people

• Change occurs more easily if both the change strategy and intended outcomes are able to function as 'attractors' for those involved, however, the strategy focuses on establishing severe boundaries (sacking Principals of 'under performing schools'
  
• As complex adaptive systems, people adopt patterns modeled by others much more readily than information and instructions provided by others
  
• Thus, initiatives need to be consistent with (and model) the outcomes they are intended to achieve.