Dr Dan Honig, Associate Professor of Public Policy at UCL and Georgetown University, explores with Dr Michael Spence how organisational systems can empower or frustrate people trying to do good work. Even mission driven organisations can fall into a regulations trap.

It can feel like we're drowning in regulations, yet we keep creating more. The same people complaining about red tape often suggest adding new policies when problems arise. Could it be that the solution isn't eliminating rules and bureaucracy – it's recognising their hidden costs: eroded trust, wasted time, and reduced autonomy?

And how much underperformance should organisations tolerate to preserve creativity? Dan's research shows that when you give people more autonomy, the middle group – neither stars nor slackers – often improves because they feel trusted and empowered. Dan shares inspiring examples: Pakistan's first female revenue collector proving employees’ capabilities, South Sudan's census director who believed "even God used statistics," and civil servants in Liberia finding purpose in their work. He says most people want to contribute meaningfully, not just collect their salary. The question is whether management systems unlock or suppress that motivation.

And context and culture are everything. What works in one country won’t transplant directly to another. However, Dan finds that almost everywhere, organisations have too much compliance relative to their optimal level, and so most should move toward greater autonomy.

The key is making sure employees, especially in an organisation like a university, understand the discretion and autonomy they already have. We should celebrate those using it well, then have broader conversations about which rules need changing. As one bureaucrat told Dan: "What I want is a place where my existence matters." That's the key to thriving organisations.

Credits:

Presenter: Dr Michael Spence, UCL President & Provost

Guest: Dr Dan Honig, Associate Professor of Public Policy at UCL and Georgetown University

Produced by UCL Communications and UCL Educational Media