Transduction – leading transformation – Issue #167

My weekly posts

Can we land the plane of local government devolution? Or will it be a Heath Robinson bodge-up job?

I discuss the complexities of devolution and local government reorganisation in the UK, comparing it to rebuilding a plane mid-flight. It promotes a free webinar on February 24 to help navigate this transition and highlights the importance of transforming public services and governance relationships. Join the discussion on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_leadership-governance-publicsector-activity-7294981007198334976-_bcE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Courses and events

The Next National Commissioning Academy — coming early 2025

We are currently working on the next iteration of the National Commissioning Academy, which we expect to launch early in 2025. Dates and locations will be forthcoming!

Read more here: https://www.publicservicetransformation.org/2024/09/the-next-national-commissioning-academy-coming-early-2025/

Towards Relational Public Services Conference 2025

3rd to 5th June 2025 Manchester Metropolitan University. Call for papers closes 10th March 2025. This conference seeks to continue to explore the challenges of making Relational Public Services a reality for service users, professionals and academics alike: in an increasingly complex world, how can public services and social interventions create and sustain positive lives for the people and populations they serve?

Find out more here:

Towards Relational Public Services

Complexity & Management Conference 6–8th June 2025

The conference begins on Friday 6th June 2025 and finishes at lunchtime on Sunday 8th. The currency of the conference is conversation and exploration in large groups and small.

Read more here: https://complexityandmanagement.com/2024/11/04/complexity-management-conference-6-8th-june-2025/

Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship

Work in England or Wales? Want to develop your systems thinking skills? Sign up now for the next cohort of the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship — Cherith Simmons, with experts from SCiO (including me) — likely start in January 2025!

Register here: https://cherithsimmons.co.uk/corporate/level-7-systems-thinking-practitioner-apprenticeship/?utm_content=buffer2fd3b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Notwestminster 2025

Saturday 15th February, Huddersfield. Notwestminster is a free event for everyone who has something positive to say about local democracy and anyone who is up for the challenge of making it better. You can book your free ticket now to join us for a day of local democracy workshops, quick-fire talks, conversations and inspiration.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/3Zx9h6m

Procurement Act Live. Thursday 27 February. Birmingham.

The Procurement Act is about much more than new legislation – it’s an opportunity to re-imagine how buyers and suppliers can work together to deliver outstanding public services. The biggest set of regulatory changes in a generation will create new opportunities – but also challenges as the entire supply chain adjusts to this new landscape. Find out more by coming to the Procurement Act Live.

Procurement Act Live 2025

Things I shared on socials:

Predicting System Dynamics of Universal Growth Patterns in Complex Systems – Hedayatifar et al (2025)

The paper, though, is very interesting albeit it raises more questions in my mind than answers. https://stream.syscoi.com/2025/02/13/predicting-system-dynamics-of-universal-growth-patterns-in-complex-systems-hedayatifar-et-al-2025/

New Process Podcast – Transforming organizations with the Viable System Model — with Martin Pfiffner

Learn more about how the Viable System Model can be used to transform an organization. – And how this can be implemented into BPM. https://newprocesslab.com/episode61-transforming-organizations-with-the-viable-system-model-with-martin-pfiffner/

Freakonomics Radio episode 546 – Are E.S.G. Investors Actually Helping the Environment?

Probably not. The economist Kelly Shue argues that E.S.G. investing just gives more money to firms that are already green while depriving polluting firms of the financing they need to get greener. But she has a solution. https://freakonomics.com/podcast/are-e-s-g-investors-actually-helping-the-environment/

Emerging Themes and Issues in English Devolution – University of Birmingham

This paper delves into central government messaging in greater depth, focusing on the period since the General Election of July 2024 and concluding with the Devolution White Paper of December 2024. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/city-region-economic-development-institute/publications/2025/emerging-themes-and-issues-in-english-devolution?utm_content=buffer38965&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer