Transduction — leading transformation — Issue #176
My weekly posts
We only deal with dead foxes
Yesterday, while walking my dog, I saw an injured fox that could be a danger to pets or humans. I tried contacting Wandsworth council but faced a frustrating series of IVR menus and dead ends. Eventually, I reached a person who said they only deal with dead foxes and referred me to the RSPCA. The RSPCA’s chatbot was unhelpful, and I gave up after being asked to perform a “broom test” on the fox. The whole experience was disappointing. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_ux-serviceimprovement-digitalexperience-activity-7321081884778680320-RTyV?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Crisis to capability — earlier, easier, with you: seven approaches to ‘manage demand’
Most attempts to manage demand end up shifting it around the system or even making it worse. Rising costs aren’t driven by the population but by the way our systems work. Until we address that, every new tweak or pilot will just add another layer of complexity. After nearly thirty years in public services, we’ve identified seven demand management approaches that take the whole system seriously, joining up behaviour, data, strategy, and culture. The question is: if the system is driving demand, what are we doing that unintentionally feeds it? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_complexity-publicservices-withyou-activity-7320341918352039938-hFre
Courses and events
Last chance — launching 16 May. Introduction to outcomes-based commissioning: a 10 step introduction, cohort 9
Back by popular demand — our introductory course for commissioning. Running online with anticipated dates in May https://link.redquadrant.com/introtooutcomes9
New dates announced — Next National Commissioning Academy launching June 2025
Out next national commissioning academy will launch in June 2025 with in person days hosted by Browne Jacobson in Birmingham and London. Read more here: https://link.redquadrant.com/2025NCA
Our sensemaking community, sharing learning on devolution and local government organisation
Join our sensemaking community for the days after — a space for public service leaders to share urgent learning on devolution and local government reorganisation. We meet twice a month to make sense of today’s complexities or follow along by email. Join the group at https://sensemaking.groups.io
Towards Relational Public Services Conference 2025
3rd to 5th June 2025 Manchester Metropolitan University. This conference seeks to continue to explore the challenges of making Relational Public Services a reality for service users, professionals and academics alike: in an increasingly complex world, how can public services and social interventions create and sustain positive lives for the people and populations they serve? Find out more here: https://www.complexityoutcomes.org/
Complexity & Management Conference 6–8th June 2025
The conference begins on Friday 6th June 2025 and finishes at lunchtime on Sunday 8th. The currency of the conference is conversation and exploration in large groups and small. Read more here: https://complexityandmanagement.com/2024/11/04/complexity-management-conference-6-8th-june-2025/
Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship
Work in England or Wales? Want to develop your systems thinking skills? Sign up now for the next cohort of the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship — Cherith Simmons, with experts from SCiO (including me) — likely start in January 2025! Register here: https://cherithsimmons.co.uk/corporate/level-7-systems-thinking-practitioner-apprenticeship/?utm_content=buffer2fd3b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Things I shared on socials:
Call for Contributions: SysPrac2025 conference from SCiO and the Open University. September 3 and 4.
SCiO, together with the Open University’s Systems Thinking in Practice group, SCiO is running a two day systems conference at the OU in Milton Keynes in September. If you’d like to contribute a talk or workshop, please get in touch. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7321185072835948547?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
What opportunities or problems do you have delivering prevention in our health systems? Jessica Lubin.
Jessica Lubin is looking for your ideas about what questions, problems, ideas, themes would be useful to discuss. From any perspective. System leader, NHS, Community, LA, Council, VCS, Public health, service user, frontline worker, nurse, doctor, plus. How do we deliver prevention in our health system. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-lubin-574a2657_integrated-care-systems-activity-7320736015999004673-03zw?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Research Associate — using systems thinking to address inequalities in diet x2 (Fixed Term)
MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, £37–45k, deadline 4 May 2025 https://stream.syscoi.com/2025/04/23/research-associate-using-systems-thinking-to-address-inequalities-in-diet-x2-fixed-term-mrc-epidemiology-unit-university-of-cambridge-37-45k-deadline-4-may-2025/
Achieving Real Reform. Social Care Future.
The initial ideas and suggestions from Social Care Future which you can read here are based on work we and others have been doing that can point the way to early action that can light the blue touch paper for long term change — crucially things that can start in this Parliament. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/martin-routledge-21a19a2a_achieving-real-reform-activity-7318904111418990593-BCEZ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Designing a Viable Pension System for Chile: A Socio-Economic Proposal — Laengle and Masías H (2025, preprint)
Chile’s pension system, criticised for low replacement rates, needs a new model using viability theory to ensure acceptable incomes. https://stream.syscoi.com/2025/04/22/designing-a-viable-pension-system-for-chile-a-socio-economic-proposal-laengle-and-masias-h-2025-preprint/
Building a public sector infrastructure for ‘innovation by design’. The Mandarin.
A look at how public sector agencies and their leaders can move beyond innovating out of necessity to innovating by design. https://www.themandarin.com.au/290906-building-a-public-sector-infrastructure-for-innovation-by-design/
