My weekly posts
Many ‘agility’ initiatives fail for a mundane reason: they try to change delivery without changing the organisation’s sense-making.
I argue that many agility initiatives fail because they change delivery methods without improving organisational sense-making. When organisations cannot interpret signals reliably, they over-react to noise, miss real change, and chase fashionable solutions. My working hypothesis is that requisite agility is less about speed and more about accuracy: of perception, explanation and decision-making. I’m exploring a lightweight way to surface this across organisations, more as a mirror than a model. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_many-agility-initiatives-fail-for-a-mundane-activity-7455209343970521089-UWUy?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Company wants to sell me automation
I reflect on the gap between what business automation vendors promise and what they often deliver. I want automation that helps my business work better as a whole, not just a system that automates one fixed interpretation of existing processes. The punchline is that, despite the sales pitch, the system ends up automating only one particular view of the business, rather than enabling genuine organisational adaptability. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_company-wants-to-sell-me-automation-oh-activity-7454792536381874176-k7KA?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Courses and events
Introducing the RedQuadrant Local Government Reorganisation hub
Local Government Reorganisation is coming fast. By April 2028, every new authority must be safe, legal, and fully operational. That means statutory officers secured, ICT cutovers rehearsed, services live, and residents experiencing seamless continuity. The RedQuadrant LGR Hub is the only model that guarantees readiness while embedding lasting capability. With a single accountable structure, governance at its core, and capability pillars across adults, children’s, SEND, ICT, finance, housing, and place, the Hub ensures no gaps, no surprises. Three outcomes, every time: Safe and legal on day one; Visible assurance and confidence in delivery; Future-ready capacity with transformation built in. Find out more now: https://www.redquadrant.com/lgrhub
Commissioning Compass: systems assessment for change
Our newly launched tool, the Commissioning Compass, helps you to assess your commissioning system and form an action plan for improvement. It’s available for free via our Teachable site – try it now! link.redquadrant.com/commissioningcompass
Next National Commissioning Academy
We’re building our cohort for the next national commissioning academy – our flagship commissioning programme from the PSTA. Register your interest now: https://link.redquadrant.com/nextacademy25
What I’ve been reading:
Congratulations to Andrew Humphreys. who has stepped into a new role as SAVVI Delivery Manager.
The SAVVI project, (short for Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability) is about helping public services identify, assess, and support people at risk of poor outcomes, whether that’s homelessness, child poverty, or even being unable to evacuate during a flood. By developing open data standards, practical guidance, and innovative tools, SAVVI enables a truly coordinated, multi-agency response. You can read more on Andrew’s role, and on the project, here: https://coda.io/@savvi/welcome/exciting-news-from-the-savvi-team-313
Things I shared on socials:
Harish’s Notebook – the arbitrariness of objectivism
Harish’s Notebook – the arbitrariness of objectivism – Jose (2025) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_harishs-notebook-the-arbitrariness-of-activity-7455724755371905024-rNbP?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
What Gets Measured Gets Gamed
What Gets Measured Gets Gamed – Paul Tayloy (2024) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_what-gets-measured-gets-gamed-activity-7455723030149890048-HS1d?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Reading List – Innovation in the Public Sector: A Systems Lens
Reading List – Innovation in the Public Sector: A Systems Lens – Thea Snow (2025) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_reading-list-innovation-in-the-public-sector-activity-7455633410129080321-Ub8-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
How scientists confirmed the existence of 200-million-year-old species thought to be extinct
The long-beaked echidna had not been documented since the 1960s. – Julia Jacobo (2025) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_how-scientists-confirmed-the-existence-of-activity-7455603963967619073-jACu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
chosen path 