This week:
- Commissioning Academies
- Systems Thinking
- Systems and Complexity in Organisation
- Civil Service
Upcoming events:
Two new commissioning academies: coming this winter!
Exciting News! Introducing two Commissioning Academies.
- We will be offering a new Virtual Commissioning Academy, launching in October, facilitated entirely online
- and an In-Person Commissioning Academy launching in January, with in-person sessions held in Nottingham.
Both offer the same great content, accredited by the PSTA and Cabinet Office.
Join our flagship development program to transform outcomes for the communities we serve!
- Be part of a national network of commissioning practitioners.
- Learn to initiate and lead change across complex systems.
- Develop capabilities to drive real transformation.
- Access expert insights and collaborative learning.
- Apply innovative ideas and approaches to your work.
Here’s what’s in store for you at the National Commissioning Academy:
- Foundation concepts: Working as a system, outcomes thinking, collaborative working.
- Commissioning for outcomes as a system: Systems thinking, asset-based commissioning, trauma-informed practice, prevention and early intervention.
- Creating conditions for change: Systems leadership, coproduction, innovation, and promoting social value.
Expect a transformative experience with masterclass workshops, action learning, expert speakers, peer challenges, practical action planning, and membership in our nationwide alumni community.
Ready to make a difference? Apply now to secure your spot at the Academy! Contact David Mason at david.mason@publicservicetransformation.org
Systems Thinking Apprenticeship (2023)
We are delighted to share the news that there is now a Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship available in England.
Systems thinking practice was developed specifically to address highly complex, adaptive, and dynamic situations. It helps you to model each situation as a system incorporating many different parts, dependencies and relationships. Systems thinking practitioners are uniquely equipped for achieving large-scale transformational change.
If you live in England, you can benefit from the scheme. The Apprenticeship is a two-and-a-half year, day release, post-graduate qualification with government funding of up to £18,000 per person. It is fully supported by expert tutors, comprehensive learning materials, and ongoing action learning.
This is a practice-based, portfolio assessed programme which draws on core systems approaches and practice skills. You’ll be supported in your job to actually put the learning to work right away, and you will be evaluated on how you incorporate your continual learning into your practice.
It’s been designed by practitioners for practitioners — the people who have not just read the books, but have written them. More importantly, these are people who have been there, done it, know about all (or at least most) of the pitfalls, and can guide you away from them.
The professional body for systems practice, SCiO, is providing world-class systems practitioner-tutors, and is supporting the curriculum development and overall approach of the programme. They are acting in collaboration with Cherith Simmons Learning and Development, who provide the apprenticeship. Further details are available here.
If you’re not in England, you can still sign up to individual modules here.
And if you are interested in developing your transformation skills, take a look at the RedQuadrant tool shed. This is a small group action learning journey with Benjamin Taylor, founder of the consultancy RedQuadrant, supported by 24 online modules covering all aspects of organisational transformation. Get a 20% discount by mentioning Enlightened Enterprise Academy.
Link Collection:
My Weekly Blog post:
Addressing the leadership challenge of merging disparate groups, I advocate for six steps based on the Center for Creative Leadership’s insights. Initially, I emphasize maintaining comfort in individual identities by reinforcing boundaries and fostering understanding between groups. Gradually, I propose creating temporary collaborative spaces and forming new teams to implement shared goals. This process evolves into establishing permanent joint spaces, fostering cross-functional teams, and ultimately redefining collective identity. Drawing on systems thinking and models like the ‘four dynamics,’ these steps aim to open up, loosen, and transform identities in the context of innovation, change management, and digital transformation.
How do you bring partners together?
A Special Integration Groupof the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS)originally Society for General Systems Research (SGSR)PRESENTS ONE – WHOLE
An activity of the Primer Group
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC SEMINAR ON WHOLENESS 2000
THE PRIMER PROJECT
Transdisciplinary Theory of Information, Cognition, Meaning, Communication and Consciousness
Sad news Pam Sydelko has passed away (message from Gerald Midgley and two of her papers)
In the Systems Science group on Linkedin https://www.facebook.com/groups/2391509563/
Gerald Midgely says:
SAD NEWS
Many of you will know Pam Sydelko, who was a member of the ISSS and graduated with her PhD from our Centre for Systems Studies at the University of Hull in July 2023.
I’m sad to report that she passed away recently, surrounded by her family, following a three-month illness.
I am taking the liberty of sharing links to two open access (free to download) papers in the European Journal of Operational Research that Pam wrote out of her PhD, which are a legacy of her contribution. One of them has a 2024 date, so will be a posthumous publication, and I’m glad that Pam saw it accepted while she was still with us. Both papers are picking up citations at a healthy rate, so I am optimistic that Pam’s influence will continue with us for a good while.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S0377221720310043
https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S037722172300512X
You can respond to Gerald’s message here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2391509563/posts/10160689505294564
Keeping Our Meaning in “Meaning”- Paul Pangaro lecture Nov 1, 2023
- Paul Pangaro, PhD
- The Martin Centre Research Seminar
54th Lecture Series: FORMS OF DIALOGUE
University of Cambridge - November 1, 2023
International Conference-Biennale “System World of Alexander Bogdanov” December 7-9, 2023 (online)
Received by email:
I am very pleased to remember that our traditional International Research & Practice Conference-Biennale “System World of Alexander Bogdanov” will be held on December 7-9, 2023. This Conference is dedicated to Bogdanov’s 150th anniversary, and we hope that everyone who participated in the 2021 conferences in June in Kingstone-upon-Hull and in December in Moscow, as well as in the Bogdanov special issue of SRBS (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/10991743a/2023/40/2), will speak in plenary or roundtables.
We are also waiting for everyone who is interested in Bogdanov’s legacy and modern systems thinking.
The working languages of the Conference are Russian and English. The plenary session (December 7 in the morning and afternoon), round tables (December 7 and 8 in the evening) and post-discussion (December 9 in the morning) will be held with simultaneous translation. Sections (December 8 in the morning and afternoon) will be held only in Russian. But we will publish all abstracts in Russian and English.
The Conference programme is in the attached file (Moscow time is indicated everywhere). We invite you to participate in the plenary session by asking questions. We also invite you to participate in roundtables and post-discussion with short talks.
The first roundtable (December 7, 16.30-18.00) will be devoted to general issues of the cultural and historical background and modern significance of Bogdanov’s heritage. In particular, we will discuss why the modern systems approach appeals to Bogdanov?
The second roundtable (December 8, 15.40-17.40) will focus on the use of Bogdanov’s ideas and systematic methodology in modern management.
The post-discussion (December 9, 11.00-13.00) will be devoted to a broad reflection of the entire problematic and thematic field of the Conference (and not just the TRIZ systems methodology, as we initially planned).
To receive a link to connect online, register on the Conference website: https://bogdanov.systemeconomics.ru/en/
Also, please inform me by return letter at which of the Conference events (round table, post-discussion) you plan to speak.
We have also created an English-language chat for Conference participants and anyone interested in Bogdanov’s legacy. Join us via this link: https://t.me/+hK1zyrCb8ywyYjdi
Participation in the Conference is free. If you would like to publish abstracts in the Conference Proceedings, please send your abstracts by January 31, 2024. The template is in the attached file (fill out only the English part on the left, we will follow the translation into Russian ourselves. You can also add a list of references.
We are waiting for you in connection!
Best wishes,
Dr. Viacheslav (Slava) Maracha,
Financial University (Moscow, Russia)
2023.12.07-09_swb-conference-programme_generalDownload
Systems thinking ‘collaborative articles’ on LinkedIn
[LinkedIn collaborative articles are an unholy mess of assumptions, gaslighting for internet points, low-effort received wisdom and all you’d expect from a long list of categories, within which AI has generated hundreds of bizarre titles and in each article, a numbered structure of key points, to which people on LinkedIn are randomly invited to add.
But it might be worth those who do know a thing or two about systems thinking chipping in from time to time…]
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/topics/systems-thinking-s6673/
Full Professor at University of Valladolid
(VI) How to apply the Viable System Model to get a fast design or diagnosis of an organization (Introduction-Part VI).Jose Perez RiosFull Professor at University of Valladolid
PNI Practicum – Project-based courses in Participatory Narrative Inquiry – free from Cynthia Kurtz
Project-based courses in
Participatory Narrative Inquiry
Wednesday, November 29, 2023The open source PNI Practicum courses are ready to goHello everybody. My free and open-source PNI Practicum courses are finally ready for you to use. As of today, any interested group can download the materials, form a cohort, schedule some meetings, and get started.
Story colored glasses: The open source PNI Practicum courses are ready to go
http://www.storycoloredglasses.com/2023/11/the-open-source-pni-practicum-courses.html
https://cfkurtz.com/pnipracticum/
Professor Ray Ison announces retirement (LinkedIn)
[And includes a bunch of useful links]
Professor of SystemsProfessor of Systems
I am pleased to report that today I retire from the Open University (OU) where I was appointed as Professor of Systems in 1994 (https://lnkd.in/g_G56AqM). Tomorrow I begin as Professor Emeritus within the ASTiP (Applied Systems Thinking in Practice) Group at the OU thus continuing my long association with one of the most substantial Systems education programs in the UK, perhaps the world (https://lnkd.in/g2mz5jcR ). Current program highlights include a taught Post-Graduate Program in STiP (https://lnkd.in/g_7_Xx2S), a new PG level Apprenticeship for the Systems Thinking Practitioner (https://lnkd.in/grYj9xyC) and an extensive array of research and scholarship (https://lnkd.in/gzhfR775 ).
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7136176797989158913/
The ninth ‘essential skill’ – systems thinking – Sherwood (2023)
https://www.edge.co.uk/news-and-events/blogs/the-ninth-essential-skill-systems-thinking/
23 August 2022 – Dr Theo Hacking, CISL’s Director for Postgraduate Programmes and Research Strategy, reflects on the need for clarity in the use of systems thinking by sharing some of the common misconceptions that can lead to systems-related terms and concepts being misconstrued or devalued by false expectations.
Systems Thinking – from rhetoric to action23 August 2022 – Dr Theo Hacking, CISL’s Director for Postgraduate Programmes and Research Strategy, reflects on the need for clarity in the use of systems thinking by sharing some of the common misconceptions that can lead to systems-related terms and concepts being misconstrued or devalued by false expectations.
Perhaps a fitting tribute to Lucy Loh, who tragically passed away in October, as per Patrick Hoverstadt’s obituary post just shared.
The paper is not yet available outside the paywall, but looks to be another seminal bit of work she was instrumental in creating.
https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2949
[I was lucky enough to know Lucy, and marginally work with her through her partnership with Patrick Hoverstadt and involvement with SCiO. My comments, though, probably belong in their existing place as responses to this LinkedIn post from her long-time business partner (and great friend) Patrick Hoverstadt. I think this serves as an excellent obituary, including all the comments, responses, and reshares. If you wish to add your comments, I suggest you respond there].
Patrick Hoverstadt:
Sad to have to share that my long term business partner Lucy Loh died last week. I worked with Lucy for around 11 years, she wasn’t just very, very smart, creative – making substantial advances in several fields she worked in, she was kind, thoughtful, immensely hard working and professional, but she was also great fun to work with as several clients and colleagues have attested. Sadly, Lucy also had appalling luck health-wise with a series of accidents and spinal problems that left her in permanent pain and in a wheelchair for the last 5 years. Her overriding characteristic was I think the courage with which she faced her challenges and still managed to work both harder and smarter than pretty much anyone else I know. She will be greatly missed by family, friends, colleagues and clients. It was a privilege to know her for as long as I did.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7119593795985264640/
The Internet Enabled Mass Surveillance. A.I. Will Enable Mass Spying. https://slate.com/technology/2023/12/ai-mass-spying-internet-surveillance.html
Slate · 3d The Internet Enabled Mass Surveillance. A.I. Will Enable Mass Spying. By Bruce Schneier
Infrahauntologies – Announcements – e-flux
An Ecological Technology – with James Bridle
13 years of failure https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/64162/13-years-government-failure-sam-freedman-data
Councils across the country find themselves in a turbulent financial position. Since 2021 five local authorities have declared themselves effectively bankrupt, with a raft of councils warning they may have to do the same. Exclusive polling of English councillors by New Statesman Spotlight revealed that a quarter of councillors believe their council will soon go bankrupt.
What Can We Do Instead of Appraising People?
What Can We Do Instead of Appraising People?
The Digestible Deming · Oct 23 What Can We Do Instead of Appraising People?By Christopher R Chapman
The Most Senseless Environmental Crime of the 20th Century
‘How do you reduce a national dish to a powder?’: the weird, secretive world of crisp flavours | Snacks | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/dec/02/the-weird-secretive-world-of-crisp-flavours
Planning validation requirements: Moving to a planning statement approach instead of checklists : The Housing Forum https://housingforum.org.uk/reports/key-publications/planning-validation-requirements/
Never buy an HP printer, or anything from Salesforce.
Vendor lock-in is a good thing? HP’s CFO thinks so https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/04/hp_printer_lockin/?utm_content=buffer40087&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Andrew Lumsden obituary | LGBTQ+ rights | The Guardian
The Guardian · Nov 12 Andrew Lumsden obituaryBy Graham McKerrow
52 things I learned in 2023 https://medium.com/magnetic/52-things-i-learned-in-2023-a3bbb9f9323d
Prem Sikka: How the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill is the government’s latest erosion of hard-won rights
Encouraging vital voices to speak up in the boardroom https://www.ft.com/content/99e17420-2628-43ba-b6f4-e9cc25d48e9b
Financial Times · Nov 30 Encouraging vital voices to speak up in the boardroomBy An and Narasimhan
Belgrade: The under-the-radar city break with cheap meals and affordable hotels
The Even Lighter Touch Regime | Procurement Act | Government law
By any memes necessary: Belief- and chaos-driven motives for sharing conspiracy theories on social media – Christina E. Farhart, Erin B. Fitz, Joanne M. Miller, Kyle L. Saunders, 2023 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20531680231193514
Nottingham city council wasn’t reckless. It was hollowed out by austerity
Army unit DID spy on British critics of Covid lockdown policies
Whitehall has a people problem
Civil service reform is back on the agenda; and there’s plenty to be done
chosen path 