I spend a lot of time arguing that systems thinking shouldn’t be a niche specialism anymore; it should be basic managerial literacy. Especially in public services! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_slide-deck-activity-7468202558516465664-T_w3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
I spend a lot of time arguing that systems thinking shouldn’t be a niche specialism anymore; it should be basic managerial literacy. Especially in public services!
Because we’re entering a period where organisations are simultaneously:
• under severe financial pressure
• undergoing massive structural reorganisation
• trying to integrate fragmented systems
• and expected to deliver more relational, local, adaptive services
• with a severely bashed-about workforce
Linear management logic simply isn’t enough for that environment anymore. I discussed this on the Consulting Leaders podcast with John Degnan.
We covered everything from my slightly strange career into consulting — database programming, spinal injury care work, youth development charities and local government (non-political) politics — through to why systems and complexity approaches matter practically rather than academically.
One thing that came up repeatedly: transformation isn’t mainly blocked by lack of intelligence.
It’s blocked by conflicting incentives, institutional fear, fragmentation and operational overload. Which is less glamorous than most innovation conference keynotes.
The funny thing about podcasts is that they create this odd impression of deep intimacy and intellectual seriousness. Two consultants with microphones discussing complexity for 40 minutes can easily sound like civilisation itself is hanging in the balance. Mostly it’s just two middle-aged men trying to convert abstraction into pipeline 😉
Still, every now and then, the conversation becomes genuinely clarifying. This one did for me. Thanks to Guillaume Jouvencel for the opportunity
Podcast link in comments.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-transform-public-sector-organisations-through/id1714675768?i=1000766598157
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2yQFitiYY5R9B4O3LVFqit
chosen path 