Osborne lessons in procurement performance management

Before:

“To bring some accountability to economic policy, I have set out eight benchmarks for the next Parliament against which you will be able to judge whether a Conservative Government is delivering on this new economic model... So we will maintain Britain’s AAA credit rating.”

After:

"[... maintaining Britain's AAA is] not the be-all and end-all"

Inappropriate lessons:

1. Agreeing in advance what it is absolutely paramount for procurement to deliver isn't that important - just say what you think is politically acceptable and re-write, with the benefit of hindsight, if you completely miss the #1 priority;  
2. Do not use measurable KPIs as there is too much clarity if your strategy doesn't work;
3. There's always the hope that food supply chain debacles or political scandals will act as a distraction.

Appropriate lessons:

1. Plans don't always go as well as you hope;
2. Regularly review your strategy for appropriateness - agree a change of KPIs before it's too late to gain ownership;
3. Hubris, stubbornness and blind optimism do not deliver long term benefits.