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 enroute.How it manifests is captured in propositions,providing a view of key interactions and consequences.