Displaying 241 - 269 of 269
English
Beer at work (how work can make us sick, and Beer can make us better)
Dr Christoph Giagounidis is an occupational health doctor. Prompted by the rising number of stressed people he sees on a weekly basis, he is working on the connection between the health of workers and cybernetic deficiencies in their organisations, mainly through the writings of Stafford Beer. More and more, Beer's thoughts on systems 2 and 3 lead him to think that breakthroughs in ‘sickness...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Beer at work (how work can make us sick, and Beer can make us better)
Dr Christoph Giagounidis is an occupational health doctor. Prompted by the rising number of stressed people he sees on a weekly basis, he is working on the connection between the health of workers and cybernetic deficiencies in their organisations, mainly through the writings of Stafford Beer. More and more, Beer's thoughts on systems 2 and 3 lead him to think that breakthroughs in ‘sickness...
Contact the Author
English
Co-ordinated management of meaning: a systemic framework
Christine Oliver, PhD, is a Systemic Psychotherapist, Group Analyst, Organisational Consultant and University Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire, UK where she is co-course leader of the MSc in Systemic Leadership and Organisational Development. Her publications, particularly in the field of Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory and Appreciative Inquiry, contribute to the development of...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Co-ordinated management of meaning: a systemic framework
Christine Oliver, PhD, is a Systemic Psychotherapist, Group Analyst, Organisational Consultant and University Lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire, UK where she is co-course leader of the MSc in Systemic Leadership and Organisational Development. Her publications, particularly in the field of Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory and Appreciative Inquiry, contribute to the development of...
Contact the Author
English
Power+Systems - systems blindness and systems sight
Power+Systems - systems blindness and systems sight Benjamin will present an overview of the Power+Systems approach, developed by Barry Oshry over more than fifty years of experiential work and analysis with people in real life situations. The work helps to create ‘systems sight’ and help people to see the consistent and predictable patterns driven by human responses to the conditions of...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Power+Systems - systems blindness and systems sight
Power+Systems - systems blindness and systems sight Benjamin will present an overview of the Power+Systems approach, developed by Barry Oshry over more than fifty years of experiential work and analysis with people in real life situations. The work helps to create ‘systems sight’ and help people to see the consistent and predictable patterns driven by human responses to the conditions of...
Contact the Author
English
Navigating Complexity
Arthur passionately believes in and is massively frustrated by local government in equal measure. His current work is mainly in the voluntary sector, with organisations that realise that the issues they face are related to management not just people. Two quotes (NOT from his own writings, NOT from his book: 'Navigating Complexity: the essential guide to complexity theory in business and management...
Read more
Use with Accreditation
English
Navigating Complexity
Arthur passionately believes in and is massively frustrated by local government in equal measure. His current work is mainly in the voluntary sector, with organisations that realise that the issues they face are related to management not just people. Two quotes (NOT from his own writings, NOT from his book: 'Navigating Complexity: the essential guide to complexity theory in business and management...
Use with Accreditation
English
Conflict, courage, and theory of constraints
Ash is a software developer and coach who realised early on that most problems in software are organisational, not technical. The first systems approach he discovered was Theory of Constraints, and he has become notorious for drawing its logic diagrams to understand complex problems. Conflict, courage, and theory of constraints Conflict is an inevitable part of living in a complex system. It...
Read more
Use with Accreditation
English
Conflict, courage, and theory of constraints
Ash is a software developer and coach who realised early on that most problems in software are organisational, not technical. The first systems approach he discovered was Theory of Constraints, and he has become notorious for drawing its logic diagrams to understand complex problems. Conflict, courage, and theory of constraints Conflict is an inevitable part of living in a complex system. It...
Use with Accreditation
English
Deciding on structural options - four approaches from four projects
Deciding on structural options: four approaches from four projects. One of the perennial issues in using VSM for organisational diagnosis and more acutely for organisational design, is deciding on the relative merits of different options for unfolding the operating structure. In diagnosis, its often one of the most important points to work out whether a different operating structure would offer...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Deciding on structural options - four approaches from four projects
Deciding on structural options: four approaches from four projects. One of the perennial issues in using VSM for organisational diagnosis and more acutely for organisational design, is deciding on the relative merits of different options for unfolding the operating structure. In diagnosis, its often one of the most important points to work out whether a different operating structure would offer...
Contact the Author
English
The future of the electricity system in Europe
Radical change, over short timescales, is needed in the electricity industry to meet consumer and environmental needs. Jane and Roger focus on how market, organization, and technology architectures can be developed using viable systems models and other systems techniques.
Read more
Contact the Author
English
The future of the electricity system in Europe
Radical change, over short timescales, is needed in the electricity industry to meet consumer and environmental needs. Jane and Roger focus on how market, organization, and technology architectures can be developed using viable systems models and other systems techniques.
Contact the Author
English
Managing high-complexity problems through methodical participation: experiences with the Participatory Innovation Model
Present-day societies are flooded with high-complexity or 'wicked' problems in cities, sustainability, justice, poverty, education and many other fields. They involve large numbers of inter-dependent actors, issues, disciplines and cultures. The usual means applied to face them lack capacity (i.e., requisite variety), because of their reductionism and authoritarianism, and often make things worse...
Read more
Confidential – Members Only
English
Managing high-complexity problems through methodical participation: experiences with the Participatory Innovation Model
Present-day societies are flooded with high-complexity or 'wicked' problems in cities, sustainability, justice, poverty, education and many other fields. They involve large numbers of inter-dependent actors, issues, disciplines and cultures. The usual means applied to face them lack capacity (i.e., requisite variety), because of their reductionism and authoritarianism, and often make things worse...
Confidential – Members Only
English
A Complexity Approach to Sustainability: Theory and Applications
Jon and Angela will be presenting their new book, published recently by the Imperial College Press, as part of their new book series in complexity. They will argue that most of the current methodologies and paradigms supporting sustainability programs have limitations there is an urgent need for the application of analytical tools that themselves embody the principles of complexity management...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
A Complexity Approach to Sustainability: Theory and Applications
Jon and Angela will be presenting their new book, published recently by the Imperial College Press, as part of their new book series in complexity. They will argue that most of the current methodologies and paradigms supporting sustainability programs have limitations there is an urgent need for the application of analytical tools that themselves embody the principles of complexity management...
Contact the Author
English
Domesticating feral systems
Ferality is the bane of management. Ferality reduces agility, destroys customer service, increases business costs and compromises brand value.
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Domesticating feral systems
Ferality is the bane of management. Ferality reduces agility, destroys customer service, increases business costs and compromises brand value.
Contact the Author
English
Understanding organisations using ‘systems-thinking’ is well established, so what prevents us from turning the organisation into a ‘thinking-system’?
What do adaptive lean principles tell us about the way we need to design, build and operate modern businesses? Can we design organizations that are adaptive, innovative and engaging for employees and customers alike? Can we really change work climates in reasonably short time-frames?
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Understanding organisations using ‘systems-thinking’ is well established, so what prevents us from turning the organisation into a ‘thinking-system’?
What do adaptive lean principles tell us about the way we need to design, build and operate modern businesses? Can we design organizations that are adaptive, innovative and engaging for employees and customers alike? Can we really change work climates in reasonably short time-frames?
Contact the Author
English
Caring Behaviours assurance system; a systems-driven programme in a hospital and community context
Choice Dynamic International have created a unique approach to assuring the quality of caring and compassion CBAS, adaptable for use by staff in all health and social care settings.
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Caring Behaviours assurance system; a systems-driven programme in a hospital and community context
Choice Dynamic International have created a unique approach to assuring the quality of caring and compassion CBAS, adaptable for use by staff in all health and social care settings.
Contact the Author
English
Socio-Cybernetics and Complex Organisations
This session will offer a brief introduction into one perspective on formalising “systems thinking” and socio-cybernetics, using three scenarios to illustrate “the problem” as it presents itself; in the education area of government policy, in an evolving hospital system, and operation of a large business. Discussion will focus on the question of how to envision a management (governance, socio...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Socio-Cybernetics and Complex Organisations
This session will offer a brief introduction into one perspective on formalising “systems thinking” and socio-cybernetics, using three scenarios to illustrate “the problem” as it presents itself; in the education area of government policy, in an evolving hospital system, and operation of a large business. Discussion will focus on the question of how to envision a management (governance, socio...
Contact the Author
English
Systemic Approaches to Strategy
Strategy is a much used and abused term in business. Despite a huge literature and industry that has developed around business strategy, it has a dismal track record. This session looks at business strategy from a systems perspective, provides a short critique of traditional approaches, some radical perspectives on what strategy is and some very different models of strategy and its critical...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Systemic Approaches to Strategy
Strategy is a much used and abused term in business. Despite a huge literature and industry that has developed around business strategy, it has a dismal track record. This session looks at business strategy from a systems perspective, provides a short critique of traditional approaches, some radical perspectives on what strategy is and some very different models of strategy and its critical...
Contact the Author
English
Knowledge Leadership and the Practice of Strategic Knowledge Management
Systemic thinking requires at least 2 types of thinking: open and closed. Open thinking is about the dynamic relationship of the organisation in terms of its environment, and closed thinking about those transactional acts that are worth improving or migrating to partners. Similarly, there are at least 2 kinds of knowledge management practice, one is about supporting the organization’s current...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Knowledge Leadership and the Practice of Strategic Knowledge Management
Systemic thinking requires at least 2 types of thinking: open and closed. Open thinking is about the dynamic relationship of the organisation in terms of its environment, and closed thinking about those transactional acts that are worth improving or migrating to partners. Similarly, there are at least 2 kinds of knowledge management practice, one is about supporting the organization’s current...
Contact the Author
English
OMM a powerful organisational maturity tool
The Organisational Maturity Model (OMM) has been developed by SCiO. It is driven by a questionnaire and is designed to show the structural integrity of your organisation. The OMM allows managers to improve the capability of their organisation to operate more effectively and adapt to change. It does this by providing a framework to develop the structural integrity of the organisation. For an...
Read more
Use with Accreditation
English
OMM a powerful organisational maturity tool
The Organisational Maturity Model (OMM) has been developed by SCiO. It is driven by a questionnaire and is designed to show the structural integrity of your organisation. The OMM allows managers to improve the capability of their organisation to operate more effectively and adapt to change. It does this by providing a framework to develop the structural integrity of the organisation. For an...
Use with Accreditation
English
A Multi-organisational, Multi-methodology approach to a ‘wicked’ problem
This session will look at some of the practical implications of working on a “wicked problem” which involved multi-agency interventions using multiple methodologies. As well as a number of technical issues to do with handling each of these three aspects of a complex intervention, there were also inevitably several softer prac-tice issues: to do with the engagement of cli-ents, the thinking...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
A Multi-organisational, Multi-methodology approach to a ‘wicked’ problem
This session will look at some of the practical implications of working on a “wicked problem” which involved multi-agency interventions using multiple methodologies. As well as a number of technical issues to do with handling each of these three aspects of a complex intervention, there were also inevitably several softer prac-tice issues: to do with the engagement of cli-ents, the thinking...
Contact the Author
English
Recursive Structures and Logic - a craft skills workshop
SCiO has made the strategic decision to create a Professional Development Programme for the Systems Professional. The structure will be a portfolio of development modules built around three themes: Technical Skills, Craft Skills, and Theory. Patrick will lead a practical session on the craft skills of mapping levels of logic. This is a foundational skill with many areas of application, including...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Recursive Structures and Logic - a craft skills workshop
SCiO has made the strategic decision to create a Professional Development Programme for the Systems Professional. The structure will be a portfolio of development modules built around three themes: Technical Skills, Craft Skills, and Theory. Patrick will lead a practical session on the craft skills of mapping levels of logic. This is a foundational skill with many areas of application, including...
Contact the Author
English
Managing Complex Projects
While it is inarguable that many complex pro-jects have indeed over-run and under-delivered, it is profoundly untrue that this is an inevitable outcome. Rather, it is simply the case that the prevailing acquisition environment militates towards failure. It is unrealistic to depend on toolsets and skillsets that may be adequate for simple projects but cannot cope with complex-ity. They might work...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Managing Complex Projects
While it is inarguable that many complex pro-jects have indeed over-run and under-delivered, it is profoundly untrue that this is an inevitable outcome. Rather, it is simply the case that the prevailing acquisition environment militates towards failure. It is unrealistic to depend on toolsets and skillsets that may be adequate for simple projects but cannot cope with complex-ity. They might work...
Contact the Author
English
Circles of Need ® – A tool for introducing systems thinking into Local Area Partnerships
Jane has used an approach which attempts to map the various customer needs within complex public sector services for several client organisations. Jane will describe how the Circles of Need® approach has transformed the client understanding to such an extent that radical re-design has been feasible. In addition, she will reflect on the role and power of systems thinking and relate it to the roles...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Circles of Need ® – A tool for introducing systems thinking into Local Area Partnerships
Jane has used an approach which attempts to map the various customer needs within complex public sector services for several client organisations. Jane will describe how the Circles of Need® approach has transformed the client understanding to such an extent that radical re-design has been feasible. In addition, she will reflect on the role and power of systems thinking and relate it to the roles...
Contact the Author
English
The SCiO Organisational Maturity model
There will be a SCiO sub-group update, with an interactive element, this time instead of a workshop. Dave Mettam will be updating us on the Organisational Maturity Model produced for SCiO by the OMM sub-group.
Read more
Contact the Author
English
The SCiO Organisational Maturity model
There will be a SCiO sub-group update, with an interactive element, this time instead of a workshop. Dave Mettam will be updating us on the Organisational Maturity Model produced for SCiO by the OMM sub-group.
Contact the Author
English
Recursive Structures, Ethics, Leadership…. & Ethos
This session will look at the way that recursive structures create dilemmas for organisations, how these dilemmas translate into ethical problems for the organisations and individuals involved and the role of leadership in resolving these ethical dilemmas. The argument is that this is a normal process for complex organisations and that using a recursive model provides a framework for understanding...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Recursive Structures, Ethics, Leadership…. & Ethos
This session will look at the way that recursive structures create dilemmas for organisations, how these dilemmas translate into ethical problems for the organisations and individuals involved and the role of leadership in resolving these ethical dilemmas. The argument is that this is a normal process for complex organisations and that using a recursive model provides a framework for understanding...
Contact the Author
English
Modelling for Development (S4) Networks
In this talk Jane will explain how she sees modelling working within Stafford Beer’s Viable Systems Model – System 4 activity and how System 4 modellers can network across the recursions of a VSM based organisation to offer a service to the whole organisation. She will look at what has been achieved so far and what the next challenges are in building a fully functional S4 modelling service.
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Modelling for Development (S4) Networks
In this talk Jane will explain how she sees modelling working within Stafford Beer’s Viable Systems Model – System 4 activity and how System 4 modellers can network across the recursions of a VSM based organisation to offer a service to the whole organisation. She will look at what has been achieved so far and what the next challenges are in building a fully functional S4 modelling service.
Contact the Author
English
"Mind the Gap!" - Modelling for what isn't
Mostly we tend to think about what "is", or what we think we think should be. This carries over into both problem solving and to analysing and designing organisations. Many modelling approaches have this bias towards modelling what is and I'd argue that this is true of both SSM and most approaches to VSM. In some other traditions of looking at the world, there is a deep vein of thinking focusing...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
"Mind the Gap!" - Modelling for what isn't
Mostly we tend to think about what "is", or what we think we think should be. This carries over into both problem solving and to analysing and designing organisations. Many modelling approaches have this bias towards modelling what is and I'd argue that this is true of both SSM and most approaches to VSM. In some other traditions of looking at the world, there is a deep vein of thinking focusing...
Contact the Author
English
Empowerment - The value of ‘Soft Systems Methodology’ in action research – student dilemmas
Overview the research approach I adopted as part of a DBA programme Explore the value of ‘ Soft Systems Methodolog y’ in the context of this study Discuss the student dilemma Reinforce the importance of good supervision to academic rigour
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Empowerment - The value of ‘Soft Systems Methodology’ in action research – student dilemmas
Overview the research approach I adopted as part of a DBA programme Explore the value of ‘ Soft Systems Methodolog y’ in the context of this study Discuss the student dilemma Reinforce the importance of good supervision to academic rigour
Contact the Author
English
Practitioner stories around the Conant- Ashby Theorem “Modelling is not an option, its mandatory” - but how do you do that?
Denis Adams will tell practitioner stories which illustrate some under-utilised ideas which though simple, usually have profound impacts on models-in-use and consequential actions. The emerging principles will raise questions about using many of the common tools of cybernetics systems thinking in forensic systemic exploration, for example: Why the ‘activity monitoring information to control action...
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Practitioner stories around the Conant- Ashby Theorem “Modelling is not an option, its mandatory” - but how do you do that?
Denis Adams will tell practitioner stories which illustrate some under-utilised ideas which though simple, usually have profound impacts on models-in-use and consequential actions. The emerging principles will raise questions about using many of the common tools of cybernetics systems thinking in forensic systemic exploration, for example: Why the ‘activity monitoring information to control action...
Contact the Author
English
Development of the Ladder Governance model for IT Service Delivery
Patrick Hoverstadt and Jane Searles will describe the development of ladder governance in a service delivery case study.
Read more
Contact the Author
English
Development of the Ladder Governance model for IT Service Delivery
Patrick Hoverstadt and Jane Searles will describe the development of ladder governance in a service delivery case study.
Contact the Author