Making Government Work Better: Lessons from the Animal Kingdom

Symbiosis. Noun. The interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association typically to the advantage of both. Commonly referred to as cooperation, teamwork or collaboration.

Government. Noun. The action or manner of controlling or regulating a nation, organization, or people. Often perceived as being obstructionist, engaging in prevarication or adept at obfuscation.

In his “Notes of the State of Virginia”, Thomas Jefferson observed that great societies could not exist without government.

Building upon Jefferson, we can conclude that better societies can exist with better government.

How do we get there?

Let’s learn from the animals.

Cattle & Sheep: Nature’s Blockchain

When cattle and sheep are grown together side by side and graze through the same field, they develop a unique grazing pattern. When cows graze in a field, they don’t feed as deeply as sheep. As a result, sheep can then come through and graze on the same grass and eat it right down to its base. This works out perfectly because cattle are known to like longer-sized grasses and they don’t eat the grass entirely. Sheep, on the other hand, prefer eating shorter-length grass.[i]

When a Developer presents a project to governmental stakeholders, numerous agencies review aspects of the project. Too often, the review occurs in a daisy chain, with each agency conducting a sequential review without sharing its work product with subsequent agencies. Each agency, maintaining its territorial jurisdiction along the chain, performs a review ab initio. This wastes resources, causes delay and builds frustration.

Governments should adopt the cattle and sheep cooperative model. The work done by the earlier agencies should be handed off to the agencies that will perform a later review. Blockchain technology should be utilized to preserve workflow, store work products and maintain a critical approval path.

Humans and Honeyguides: Nature’s Stakeholder meetings

Honeyguides, as their name suggests, direct humans toward beehives.????Initially, these birds gain the attention of humans by making a special kind of noise. Once they know that a human is on their trail, they start flying from tree to tree at a steady pace so that the human can catch up with them. Ultimately they guide them towards the exact direction of the beehive. When humans demolish the hive and collect the honey, these birds feed on the remaining extracts of beeswax and leftover honey.[ii]

When a Developer meets with governmental stakeholders, the developer attends many meetings to present plans, discuss issues and identify problems. Representatives from agencies responsible for work to occur later in the daisy chain of the approval path rarely attend these meetings. This leads to duplication of effort, waste of resources, delay and frustration.

Learning from nature, governments should hold regular stakeholder meetings where all agencies are represented. These meetings should commence at the very beginning of the project’s review. This will avoid making decisions that will negatively impact subsequent reviews and help coordinate efficient peer reviews. Timelines should be established with benchmarks identified that will guide all involved agencies. Once again, blockchain technology will be invaluable in embedding these goals and objectives into the approval path.

Boxer Crab and Anemone Mutualism: The Elected Official and Governmental Agencies

A symbiotic mutualism example in the ocean is that of boxer crabs and the anemones it holds in their claws. These tiny crustaceans can be found walking around with anemones on their pincers-like boxing gloves. The boxer crab can ward predators away by delivering a stinging punch from the anemone wrapped around its claws. In return, the anemone is taken for a free ride around the reef to feed wherever the crab goes. The sea anemone enjoys any food leftovers from the boxer crab.[iii]

Elected Officials must rely upon the expertise of the agencies under their jurisdiction. By using well-supported findings of competent agencies, these officials can vote down counterproductive and destructive projects while supporting those that will preserve the good of the past,?satisfy the needs of the present and create opportunities for the future.

To create, preserve and ensure the integrity and competency of these necessary agencies, the elected officials must budget appropriately and staff these agencies with capable individuals who will earn the trust of the elected official.?

Conclusion

The cooperation and beneficial symbiosis we find in nature can serve as a metaphor for lessons we can apply to government. Buttressed by technology, working together toward a common goal will lead to communities seeing their government together as they bridge the gaps of jurisdiction to bring projects worthy of being built to fruition.

In short, the phrase “do little” will describe the lesson of the doctor and his animals, not the state of governmental inaction.

[i] www.uncanr.edu

[ii] www.Faunafacts.com

[iii] www. diverbliss.com