Abstract
This paper discusses evolving willingness and ability during transformation initiatives in public sector organisations, a novel perspective contributing to addressing the need for better assessment and improved practice in managing transformation journeys. Propositions are formed by synthesising research, providing brief scenarios, and then through a summary narrative of transformation at a public sector organisation labelled PSO. A variation in willingness and ability levels and a divergence in these two variables across stakeholders comes across as an undercurrent to negotiate when the transformation is en-route. How it manifests is captured in propositions, providing a view of key interactions and consequences.