Processes and Policies Aren't Totally Bad

Normally, when I think about processes, I’m thinking about writing processes. I’m seeking to bring greater awareness of a non-linear exploratory set of writing practices to my students, or I’m thinking about process compared to product. 

Lately, though, I’ve been thinking about processes in terms of policy. Sometimes the limitations of policies seem aggravating at best and designed to prevent meaningful work. We have to present this for a discussion no one wants to have in order to eventually have a vote few have enough information to meaningfully make. The policy establishes a limiting process that seems designed to steer a system but no one is actually in control. Or no one admits to being in control.

Taking ownership of decisions becomes unnecessary as policies are deemed to be responsible for situations. And the outcome is likely to be stagnation. I’ve spent too long reading about bureaucracies and feeling incredibly frustrated by them.

I see a lot of problems with policies and processes set out by them. I’ve been critical of this aspect of how various groups and  institutions work for a long time. 

But recently, I’ve come to appreciate policies that set forth processes. Sometimes, it’s good to have widely understood ways of doing something, to have agreed-upon or at least explained priorities and ways of approaching decisions. I guess sometimes it is good to see the upside to things that are perpetually annoying.