If you are interested in profound thinking on transformation, change and improvement then I recommend John Seddon's ‘Beyond Command and Control’ (2019). And for those of you who have read the precursor 'Freedom from Command and Control' (2003), prepare to be surprised. This book marks a genuine departure in both tone and style and I believe it to be Seddon's best work. For its … [Read more...] about Beyond Command and Control by John Seddon
Book reviews
Freedom from Command & Control
If you are interested in effective approaches to services improvement, transformation and change then this book is a must read. Originally published in 2003, it outlines the Vanguard Method, a structured normative method designed for services. The method has three main parts: Check (study), Redesign (plan) and Roll-in (do). It is a sophisticated blend of psychology, systems … [Read more...] about Freedom from Command & Control
Systems Thinking, Systems Practice by Peter Checkland
Peter Checkland's Systems Thinking, Systems Practice (1981) is one of those seminal works that helped to move systems thinking out of the classroom and into the boardroom. In a remarkably readable book, Checkland outlines the components of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and takes us through the stages with case studies in organisations. What Checkland demonstrated was that … [Read more...] about Systems Thinking, Systems Practice by Peter Checkland
Systems Practice by Ray Ison
Systems Practice by Professor Ray Ison is a radical departure from many management or systems practice books (e.g. teaching tools and techniques). Instead Ison's focus is upon building praxis capability within individuals. Helping us to learn what it is to be a systems practitioner. And what it means to do theory-informed practice and practice informed theory. I view this book … [Read more...] about Systems Practice by Ray Ison