A recent article in Foreign Policy Magazine caught my eye, referring to Secretary Robert Gates as "Obama's Machiavelli" for his skillful turnaround of the Administration's approach to the war in Afghanistan (as well as the public perception). Author Kori Schake identifies a number of techniques employed by Gates that resonate with concepts that arose in our study of management, leadership and organizational change this semester:

1. Define the goal
2. Put the right people in the right place
3. Justify resource requirements
4. Anticipate spoilers and take corrective action before the problem starts
5. Utilize support of key political allies
6. Communicate strategically with internal and external stakeholders.

It's arguable that Gates' success can be attributed to his ability to manage through multiple frames. From the structural perspective he sought to establish clear goals for Afghanistan and secure necessary resources for the Administration to be able to achieve those goals through the proper channels. He knew, as the human resource frame teaches, that he had to ensure that the people leading his operations were well-matched for the job. And when the head of the operation had to be let go, he exercised care in identifying a replacement. As any politically-oriented public servant knows, he kept his eye on the political playing field to resolve potential conflicts before they advanced and bolstered his mission through strategic partnerships. Finally, he persuaded the public through the symbolic gesture of giving his private advice to the President in public to demonstrate his confidence.

It's exciting to recognize these tools in case studies outside of the course readings. I feel that learning to frame has been one of the most valuable skills that I have learned in this course and that it will continue to shape the way I perceive events both in my own professional life and my interpretation of current events.