We must admit that high-level work in the government sector is suffering from something called “committees”. These committees have become an indicator of managerial success.
The more committees that are formed, the more success there is. There are ministers and deputy ministers who build and plan their strategies on a network of committees.
The danger in all this is that because of these committees, work is indefinitely delayed.
Many managerial departments automatically become a place for collecting paperwork and waiting for committees to finish their job. The work in government departments thus becomes unproductive bureaucracy.
Committees have transformed many government departments into a place where paperwork is delayed until the committees make a decision. There is paperwork that ought to be done by department managers.
Some officials think that they can protect themselves by surrounding themselves with committees. Members of these committees have nothing to do but exchange job titles.
Sometimes one of them is named “president” and then “member” and finally “vice president” — all of the same committee! Exchanging titles and the illusion of leadership is as ineffective as ever.
There are officials who love and enjoy forming committees.
They form a subcommittee, then an observation committee and then an executive committee.
Urgent things are delayed until these committees meet and reach a decision. Many problems also remain unaddressed and unsolved until the committees meet.
The result is that people’s time is wasted and their business is inexcusably delayed. Not surprisingly, many committee are just places to make contacts and do deals.
People know very well the fate of their paperwork if it falls into the hands of committees.
They also know that the committees are usually a sign that the official has a weak personality and lacks the will to make decisions. He forms a committee to save himself the embarrassment and trouble of facing problems.
Committees are a kind of fraud and they represent a weak personality and poor leadership. Committees are the best way for these unqualified officials to escape their duties.
We hope that in future we will see some strong officials who are able to make decisions without resorting to committees.
- Arab News Local Press 11 September 2003
