Category: Systems Thinking
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How can I push the software development team to go faster?
A common challenge I’ve heard from Development Managers or Product Owners is “how do I push my software development team to go faster?” Here are ideas on how to approach this topic and have more productive conversations. Understand your own mind Start by clarifying your own mind, particularly your intention and motive for trying to get…
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Removing the bubbles: solving bottlenecks in software product development
A challenge with software product development is visualising the work so that you can spot where there are delays in the process of converting ideas from “concept to cash”. This post shows how a cumulative flow diagram helped identify a pattern of queues over time. Removing these queues had many benefits such as fewer errors,…
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Steve Allder: Systems Thinking in Health Services
Seddon introduces Steve by saying he’s done Systems Thinking without Vanguard. The only difference between having Vanguard consultants, versus doing itself, is that it may take longer and you may make more mistakes, but Vanguard’s purpose is to change management thinking, so they are happy for others to use their method. Steve Allder is a…
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Systems Thinking in Local Authorities
[Post-lunch dip was strong, so this session’s notes are not as comprehensive] Phil Badley, Stockport Interesting to hear Phil talk about his own realisation that his area, HR, was full of the same errors that he’d seen in other areas of the business. I’d like to find out more about what it was that helped…
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Rob Brown: Systems Thinking in a Complex Organisation
Rob Brown from Aviva is up next. They started in 2008 with Barry Wrighton from Vanguard (also involved with BNP Paribas Fortis). He’s currently the Lead for Systems Thinking but looks forward to the day when his role is obsolete. Some of Rob’s learning are that Senior Management engagement is crucial. They have gone at…
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Owen Buckwell: Systems Thinking in Housing Services
Owen Buckwell is describing the award-winning work as Head of Housing at Portsmouth Council. Here are a selection of key points Things they used to pay attention to now take care of themselves. For example there is no more training events for morale. We don’t manage sickness, but sickness leave has gone down. 65% of…
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John Seddon: Starting ‘change’ by ‘studying’ isn’t sexy but it’s right!
John Seddon starts the Vanguard “Systems Thinking: The Leaders’ Summit”: “It’s not very sexy to say we’ll start change by studying. Managers like to do something, let’s start and do our ‘programs of change’. ‘Let’s study’ is also rude because it implies we don’t know what’s going on. Deming used to say managers knew everything…