Transduction — leading transformation — Issue #106

Benjamin P. Taylor

10 min readOct 27, 2023

This week:

Commissioning Academies
Systems Thinking
Cybernetics
Systems Community of Inquiry

Upcoming events:

Two new commissioning academies: coming this winter!

Exciting News! Introducing two Commissioning Academies.

We will be offering a new Virtual Commissioning Academy, launching in October, facilitated entirely online
and an In-Person Commissioning Academy launching in January, with in-person sessions held in Nottingham.

Both offer the same great content, accredited by the PSTA and Cabinet Office.

Join our flagship development program to transform outcomes for the communities we serve!

Be part of a national network of commissioning practitioners.
Learn to initiate and lead change across complex systems.
Develop capabilities to drive real transformation.
Access expert insights and collaborative learning.
Apply innovative ideas and approaches to your work.

Here’s what’s in store for you at the National Commissioning Academy:

Foundation concepts: Working as a system, outcomes thinking, collaborative working.
Commissioning for outcomes as a system: Systems thinking, asset-based commissioning, trauma-informed practice, prevention and early intervention.
Creating conditions for change: Systems leadership, coproduction, innovation, and promoting social value.

Expect a transformative experience with masterclass workshops, action learning, expert speakers, peer challenges, practical action planning, and membership in our nationwide alumni community.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now to secure your spot at the Academy! Contact David Mason at david.mason@publicservicetransformation.org

Systems Thinking Apprenticeship (2023)

We are delighted to share the news that there is now a Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship available in England.

Systems thinking practice was developed specifically to address highly complex, adaptive, and dynamic situations. It helps you to model each situation as a system incorporating many different parts, dependencies and relationships. Systems thinking practitioners are uniquely equipped for achieving large-scale transformational change.

If you live in England, you can benefit from the scheme. The Apprenticeship is a two-and-a-half year, day release, post-graduate qualification with government funding of up to £18,000 per person. It is fully supported by expert tutors, comprehensive learning materials, and ongoing action learning.

This is a practice-based, portfolio assessed programme which draws on core systems approaches and practice skills. You’ll be supported in your job to actually put the learning to work right away, and you will be evaluated on how you incorporate your continual learning into your practice.

It’s been designed by practitioners for practitioners — the people who have not just read the books, but have written them. More importantly, these are people who have been there, done it, know about all (or at least most) of the pitfalls, and can guide you away from them.

The professional body for systems practice, SCiO, is providing world-class systems practitioner-tutors, and is supporting the curriculum development and overall approach of the programme. They are acting in collaboration with Cherith Simmons Learning and Development, who provide the apprenticeship. Further details are available here.

If you’re not in England, you can still sign up to individual modules here.

And if you are interested in developing your transformation skills, take a look at the RedQuadrant tool shed. This is a small group action learning journey with Benjamin Taylor, founder of the consultancy RedQuadrant, supported by 24 online modules covering all aspects of organisational transformation. Get a 20% discount by mentioning Enlightened Enterprise Academy.

Link Collection:

My Weekly Blog post:

At the Public Service Transformation Academy, our mission is clear: to empower public service professionals like myself with the transformative power of the right courses. Our goal is to equip individuals with the skills and capabilities necessary for effecting change within their communities and organizations. The Virtual Commissioning Academy is an innovative solution, eliminating the inconvenience of travel. It utilises cutting-edge content and delivery methods such as video-conferencing, webinars, and a virtual learning environment. The program includes anchor days, action learning, and expert speaker webinars to nurture change leadership, system thinking, and inclusivity. By joining the National Commissioning Academies, I will gain the knowledge to drive change, enhance organizational capabilities, and become part of a nationwide network of commissioning professionals. This opportunity is perfect for professionals committed to making a difference, eager to implement the latest strategies, and enthusiastic about collaboration to improve commissioning outcomes. It’s a chance to learn from experts and peers, propelling my career towards success.

Have you ever been on a course that’s changed the trajectory of your career?

Flagging some exciting systems | cybernetics | complexity work in soccer coaching, and other sports

Soccer coaching has changed a lot since I was studing the Charles Taylor FA manual to qualify to coach kids back in the day. This isn’t a proper survey, but just to say there is some really exciting stuff happening in sports coaching — check out this main piece.
WHAT IS RELATIONISM?
Jamie Hamilton
Mar 27
Recognising Patterns in Football’s Alternative Paradigm
WHAT IS RELATIONISM?. Recognising Patterns in Football’s… | by Jamie Hamilton | Medium

See also

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Sports Act. Living, 20 May 2022
Sec. Elite Sports and Performance Enhancement
Volume 4–2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.832111

Systems Thinking in design is (sometimes) Systems-washing: A short critical analysis of “What’s the Point of AI without Design and Systems Thinking?” — Richard (2023) (Medium.com paywall)

Kevin Richard

Systems Thinking in design is (sometimes) Systems-washing | by Kevin Richard | Oct, 2023 | Medium

Sustainable Technology and the Entropy Argument | Mohammed Badrah, Kelly Okamura, David Hawk | Systems Thinking Ontario 2023–09–11

October 22, 2023 daviding

In a return to original Systems Thinking Ontario format, we reviewed an (old) systems thinking paper from 1998. Mohammed Badrah served as reviewer. Kelly Okamura was the discussant. The author, David Hawk, was available during the discussion period for extended knowledge.

Sustainable Technology and the Entropy Argument | Mohammed Badrah, Kelly Okamura, David Hawk | Systems Thinking Ontario 2023–09–11 October 22, 2023 daviding 0 CommentsIn a return to original Systems Thinking Ontario format, we reviewed an (old) systems thinking paper from 1998. Mohammed Badrah served as reviewer. Kelly Okamura was the discussant. The author, David Hawk, was available during the discussion period for extended knowledge.
Continues in source:
Sustainable Technology and the Entropy Argument | Mohammed Badrah, Kelly Okamura, David Hawk | Systems Thinking Ontario 2023–09–11 — Coevolving Innovations

Webinar from SYSTAC European Hub, ‘Applying intersectional systems thinking to strengthen the response to violence against women’ 14:00 CEST, 8 November 2023

‘Applying intersectional systems thinking to strengthen the response to violence against women’!

Seminar series: Systems for Health — SYSTAC European Hub

Are you working on climate change and health systems? call for papers

There is a call for papers for a special issue in the Public Health journal on Climate Resilient Health Systems. The call is open to papers that document the effects of climate change or specific climate hazards on health systems at any system level (from local to global), assess related health system vulnerabilities, and/or explore system changes and their consequences in response to climate hazards

Manuscripts should be submitted by 30th April 2024.