Whole systems? No time!

Occasionally when I raise the idea of using whole systems to broker strategic action plans or ways forward (especially in local government), I get a 'teeth sucking' the response "well, not sure if the chief executive / directors / council members could commit the time to be there - certainly not for all the 2 hours / half day / whole day". The implication being that their time is better spent elsewhere - probably in meetings with other chief executives / directors / council members. Underlying this is also the idea (although it may not be expressed quite so openly) that important decisions have to be taken behind closed doors where politics (both party and organisational) must be allowed to rule. 

Allow me to challenge these views of the world with a few ideas & questions:

• What better place is there to show political or organisational leadership than in the company of a wide range of diverse stakeholders?
• Whole system processes are not in conflict with usual ways of making decisions - such events inform and complement such decision making.
• If simply having a paper strategy is all that is required - then a whole system process is a waste of time. However, if what is required is a strategy that achieves lasting change and results (see stractegies below) - what could more important than being engaged such a process?
• How important is it for chief executives / directors / council members to be seen by local citizens, partner agencies and frontline staff to be actively engaging in debates & discussions about the future?
• Machiavelli (one of the first public service advisers on leadership) says that excellent leaders must actively seek out and listen to the truth (see below here and here) - whole system processes are driven by the power of truth.

What other reasons or questions would you suggest?

Original blog post: http://jonharveyassociates.blogspot.com/2010/03/whole-systems-no-time.html

Conference 2.0 - the beginning of the end to old style conferences?

I went to a conference on shared services last week. Some good speakers and the workshops (even though they were essentially advertorials) were useful also. But I left with the usual feeling of a huge loss of opportunity. There was so much expertise and insight in the room that was left untapped, more or less. Whilst I had a couple of interesting chats with some other delegates - these were mostly random. 

I blogged about this (http://jonharveyassociates.blogspot.com/2010/03/conferences-bah-humbug.html) and then a did a bit of research... and it seems that there is a growing movement to have what might be termed 'Conference 2.0' events.

From what I can glean and indeed what I would add - the hallmarks of such events are (and could be) this:

• You create a social networking site before the event and allow people to post questions and invitations on it before hand.
• During the event itself - people may tweet and comment on the speakers and organise a wave of ideas to be presented.
• The social networking happens further in real life at the event - so that people can connect with each other perhaps in an Open Space type way (see http://jonharveyassociates.blogspot.com/2009/06/open-space.html)  - I envisage a wall somewhere in the event where people can post suggestions for discussions at certain times and then meet up (a kind of organised transparent coffee break if you like - where people can design to meet someone - perhaps someone they connected with in the run up to the event...)
• And the social networking happens post the event also - with threads of discussions continuing to happen in virtual space.
• Suppliers and exhibitors could be involved in all of this too of course 

And what is great - is that we are seeing these kinds of events happen here in this space. All we have to do now is make all conferences as interactive as these.

(Just google 'conference 2.0' and you will see lots of thinking and practice like this.

Such events could be so much more efficient and effective.

Get the whole system in the room!

A short video which says a great deal in only a few minutes about Future Search and getting the whole system in the room.

Watch it here

More information about Future Search - see my other blog entry - which has further links on it too. Click here

Whole system working is:

 

• Easily done
• Efficient and VFM - 2 facilitators can handle a group of 60, 100, 300 and more
• Effective in building resilient, connected & strategic communities or practitioners and clients / taxpayers / citizens
• Able to produce 'stractegies' (centred on action & results) rather than 'strutegies' (that look pretty on the glossy page - but that is all)
• Able to cut out endless carousels of linear consultation...
• Enlivening and empowering

 

Just get everyone together in a room for 1/2 day or more to:

 

• Review a service / project
• Plan a way forward
• Redesign or rethink a process or a service
• Write a new manual
• Sort our the requirements on a new system
• Tackle a wicked problem
• Etc

 

Original blog post here: