Transduction — leading transformation — Issue #181
My weekly posts
What the Institute for Government’s The Case for Total Place 2.0 gets right
I really value this report’s diagnosis — misaligned incentives, silos, and governance gaps — but structural fixes alone aren’t enough. Real change needs attention to identity, trust, and culture. Systems resist change emotionally, not just procedurally. Until we address how people learn, relate, and feel safe, clever reforms won’t stick. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_the-institure-for-government-the-case-for-activity-7335565622593937409-eIg2
The #ProblemsofAI — nAvIgate from RedQuadrant
RedQuadrant’s been working on our new AI for local government offer, nAvIgate, with JPW Digital Services. This week, we’ve released five posts on the #problemsofai. Join the conversation by searching for #problemsofai on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7333793205240442881?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACuq-oBecVFDW6PCf3lkoG-peMeuLBeoho
Courses and events
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
SysPrac25 — The Systems Thinking Practitioner Conference.
3–4 September, Milton Keynes. SCiO, The Open University, and the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR) are excited to invite you to SysPrac25 — the essential conference for systems thinking practitioners, learners, and leaders. Join us on 3rd and 4th September 2025 at the Open University campus in Milton Keynes for two dynamic days of insight, interaction, and innovation. Book your place now: www.sysprac25.org
iNetwork, Making Savings in the Public Sector.
Virtual, Tuesday 8th July, 10:00–11:30 AM. Join iNetwork for a fantastic opportunity to network with like-minded professionals and hear best practice on making savings in the public sector. Speakers include Benjamin Taylor, Zakki Ghauri (City of London), Digital Care Hub, Engage Process, David Willis (North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative). Register now! https://lnkd.in/eFSkuKAK
Things I shared on socials:
The SAVVI Series (2): What do we mean by vulnerability.
RedQuadrant is pleased to be supporting SAAVVI (Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability) https://vimeo.com/1065561052
Systems Thinking Toronto in-person 132nd monthly meeting, in person 12 June, 6:30pm then dinner
The topic is “A Taxonomy of Systems Changes”, a manuscript submitted to hashtag#RSD14, organized by Systemic Design Association. This manuscript not yet been accepted! Discussant for the session is Roberto Pires . Moderator is Zaid Khan https://wp.me/p8QJZw-6wr
The case for Total Place 2.0. Institute for Government.
A decade and a half on from the launch of Total Place in 2009, this paper makes the case for this government to use its first spending review to launch a revitalised ‘Total Place 2.0’ https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/total-place-2.0
Love & Philosophy Beyond Paradox Podcast — Complexity Coding, Residuality Theory & the Hyperliminal: being flexible and rigid at once with Barry O’Reilly
I think this is kind of a big deal — an inspiring, practical, grounded story of one person’s journey to something like metarationality from the (world-wide) frustrations of the conflict between the rigidity of code and the messiness and changingness of the world, and an artisan felt understanding of the pragmatism of software architecture. Via philosophy, tested in an evidence-based way. https://wp.me/p8QJZw-6vN
Neighbourhoods as engines of change. James Plunkett.
On the need for bridges from the edges to the centre. How do we combine the intelligence and innovation that exists in neighbourhoods with the capacities of the central state? https://medium.com/@jamestplunkett/neighbourhoods-as-engines-of-change-ce98e0c2a65d
Commissioning shapes local ecosystems, (corrective 1). E3M.
Professional Commissioning manages and shapes the local ecosystem, it does not simply purchase in a market. https://e3m.org.uk/commissioning-shapes-local-ecosystems-corrective-1/
Commissioning and Procurement Fact Sheet. Social Care Future.
“When commissioning and procuring we can’t….” Oh yes you can. Here’s how. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/martin-routledge-21a19a2a_commissioning-and-procurement-fact-sheet-activity-7326915839616585728-JUcN?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADUV_eUBZSxZvFpx70OV050F6K5HM2MhTMo
Evaluating systems convening work using Ripple Effect. Q Health Community.
To understand the pioneering cross-boundary relational work done by Systems Conveners, novel forms of evaluation are needed. The team from Hackney Council will share their experience. https://q.health.org.uk/get-involved/events/evaluating-systems-convening-work-using-ripple-effect-mapping-the-hackney-experience
