Author: antlerboy - Benjamin P Taylor

www.antlerboy.com * curator at www.syscoi.com * The Public Service Transformation Academy - Chief Executive - www.publicservicetransformation.org * RedQuadrant - public service network consultancy - www.redquadrant.com * SCiO - non-exec director - www.systemspractice.org * Quadrant Resourcing - excellent interim change people - www.quadrantresourcing.com I tweet at www.twitter.com/antlerboy Please connect to me at www.linkedin.com/in/antlerboy benjamin.taylor@redquadrant.com +44 (0)7931317230

Transduction – leading transformation – Issue #55

(With posherer formatting at https://www.getrevue.co/profile/antlerboy)This week,need-to-demand and front/back office18 tips from 18 years in consultingevens coming up on systems change, the future of work and moresome exciting links from New LocalPurpose from 1943 and polycentric leadership from 2022Complex systems for the most vulnerable and a proposal for a viable Peruvian stateAnd - one of the … Continue reading Transduction – leading transformation – Issue #55 →

On the Spread of Ideas: Four Roles and Four Traps 

A positive take on the ‘four quadrants of systems threats’ from Steven Shorrock (who is an excellent communicator, well worth following).

Steven Shorrock's avatarHumanistic Systems

Much progress in the world depends on the spread of ideas. There is no shortage of good ideas, and no shortage of bad ones, but ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are relative to our positions, and success and failure are not dependent on either. The success of an idea depends on a multitude of factors, such as the the multiverse of contexts in which it is introduced, the dominant paradigm, the nature of the related problem situation or opportunity, the quality of the idea itself, the communication of the idea, possible unwanted consequences, and the characteristics of the proponents and detractors.

The introduction of new ideas is fraught with peril. As noted by Walter Bagehot (British journalist), “One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.” Similarly, Fredrik Baker (Danish writer and politician) observed that “whenever a new idea is developed … warfare immediately takes possession”.

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Demand management is a very bad idea — think about the need-to-demand curve

Simon grižon Super split on a slackline.jpg Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Most of the good ideas in #customerrelations, ‘customer relationship management’, ‘demand management’, #digital and #technology in general are VERY BAD ideas unless you continue to deeply learn what your customers actually need. It goes like this: 1- what customers ask for and actually need … Continue reading Demand management is a very bad idea — think about the need-to-demand curve →

18 tips from 18 years in consulting

What lessons would you pass on about your industry, given the chance? Here are 18 I put together…. >>Sales and growth1. Sales is a profession — but should never be separated from delivery, or you will sell what cannot be delivered 2. Most sales happen through relationships, especially with happy clients 3. Be opportunistic, strategically — growth usually comes … Continue reading 18 tips from 18 years in consulting →

Transduction – leading transformation – Issue #54

Available with preferable formatting at https://www.getrevue.co/profile/antlerboy What the hell is systems | complexity | cybernetics anyway?UPDATE — slides, video, notes now in edited post at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_systems-convening-systems-practice-systems-activity-6942014940794789888-c6He Today I’m doing a one-hour talk (see https://q.health.org.uk/event/systems-convening-systems-thinking-and-systems-practice-with-ben-taylor/ – you can still join if you see this when I publish – and you can see the board at bit.ly/systems3board at any time) on how systems … Continue reading Transduction – leading transformation – Issue #54 →

So. Today is a migraine day.

And it’s another one of those personal posts, I’m afraid. Tudor Barker, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tudedude/4072769769 (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Is the lesson ‘feel sorry for me, for I am afflicted (and possibly sorry for myself)?’ or ‘don’t feel sorry for me, for I am strong and self-reliant — but obviously *especially* strong and self-reliant because I have this extra special thing’ — or … Continue reading So. Today is a migraine day. →

What the hell is systems | complexity | cybernetics anyway?

UPDATE — slides, video, notes now in edited post at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_systems-convening-systems-practice-systems-activity-6942014940794789888-c6He Today I'm doing a one-hour talk (see https://q.health.org.uk/event/systems-convening-systems-thinking-and-systems-practice-with-ben-taylor/ - you can still join if you see this when I publish - and you can see the board at bit.ly/systems3board at any time) on how systems practices and systems thinking can link in to the wonderful social … Continue reading What the hell is systems | complexity | cybernetics anyway? →

Transduction – leading transformation – Issue #53

Beterrer looking version at https://www.getrevue.co/profile/antlerboy A heavy week, this week, so a shorter selection - lots of events coming up! Systems convening, systems thinking, and systems practice with Benjamin Taylor | Q CommunitySystems thinking and complexity expert Benjamin Taylor will shed light on the increasingly popular practice of Systems Convening.13 Jun 2022 12:30 – 13:30q.health.org.uk … Continue reading Transduction – leading transformation – Issue #53 →

What’s the problem with problem statements?

Is there room for problem statements in a ‘systems’ world of ‘complexity’ and ‘agility’? Nicholas Jones asked in Systems Innovation. https://www.systemsinnovation.network/posts/23442752 I think — not really — though as with all these things, the correct answer is ‘it depends’. ___ The classic problem statement in #lean or #sixsigma specifies a deviation from a ‘norm’ or ‘ideal state’, in terms … Continue reading What’s the problem with problem statements? →

Systems convening, systems thinking, systems practice – Monday 13 June 2022, 12:30pm UK time

As I'm sending reminders to the 80 people (!) who have signed up for this short session, I thought I would remind people here, too. So, this is the final reminder here that the session takes place next Monday, 13 June at 12:30pm UK time.  The signup link is at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEudeGprD0vH9JKdOCaj7utfGUoM5AGVu-r When you sign up you … Continue reading Systems convening, systems thinking, systems practice – Monday 13 June 2022, 12:30pm UK time →