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Reinvention

The Fall of Agile Consulting and the Rise of Systems Thinking

June 22, 2023
Agile, Alien tech, Article, Careers, Coaching, Culture change, Improvement, Organisational effectiveness, Quintessence, Reinvention, Rightshifting, Software development, Systems thinking
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The Fall of Agile Consulting and the Rise of Systems Thinking

In the shifting tides of the business landscape, staying afloat requires more than just clinging to the past. Twenty years ago, Agile consulting was the golden ticket, but now, that ship has sailed. Welcome to the era of Systems Thinking, where a holistic approach to business reigns supreme. Brace yourself for a journey into the next business revolution that’s taking the world by storm.

A Golden Era Passes

Two decades ago, in the early 2000s, the business world was going through a significant transformation of their approach to software development. Organisations were moving away from traditional waterfall (and ad-hoc) approaches and adopting Agile, shifting from a linear, sequential approach to a more iterative, collaborative one. Agile coaches, project managers, and consultants found themselves in high demand, guiding teams and organisations through the transition and reaping significant rewards. For these individuals, it was a golden era, as companies in all sectors scrambled to understand these new ways of working and better respond to change.

Terminus

However, as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever, and so it was for the Agile consulting boom. Fast forward to the present, twenty years later, and the Agile market has senesced. Most organisations are now familiar with at least the term. The consulting gold rush has tapered off; that particular gravy train has reached its terminus.

Paradigm Shifts

Today, the buzz is all about whole systems approaches and systems thinking. In this approach, businesses are considered as complex systems, an interconnected network of components rather than isolated departments or teams. This perspective encourages organisations to break down silos and consider the wider impact of decisions and changes, leading to more sustainable and holistic solutions.

With the rise of this new perspective, the focus has shifted from software and individual project management methods to an overarching, systemic focus. The challenge is now about understanding and managing complexity, facilitating interconnections, identifying feedback loops, and shifting paradigms.

Reinvention

Can the Agile consultants, coaches, Scrum masters, etc., of yesteryear evolve and learn to navigate this new landscape so as to remain relevant?

Inspect and Adapt?

In conclusion, trends come and go, and those who can adapt thrive. “Inspect and adapt”, anyone? Twenty years ago, Agile was the buzzword; today, it’s systems thinking. Who knows what the next twenty years will bring? It’s a constant reminder that the only thing consistent in business (and life) is change.

Note: If this post has given you cause for concern, I’m always happy to talk things through, one-to-one.

The Power of AI and Organisational Psychotherapy: Surfacing Shared Assumptions, Facilitating Dialogue, and Resolving Conflict for a Thriving Business

April 2, 2023
AI, Article, Business, Buzz, Culture change, Organisational effectiveness, Organisational Therapy, Reinvention
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The Power of AI and Organisational Psychotherapy: Surfacing Shared Assumptions, Facilitating Dialogue, and Resolving Conflict for a Thriving Business

💡 Discover the possibilities for transforming your business and culture with AI-powered organisational psychotherapy.

➡ Organisational psychotherapy is a practice that can enhance the well-being and performance of organisations by surfacing and facilitating reflection on shared assumptions and beliefs. AI (Artificial Intelligence) can play a valuable role in this process. Here are some of the ways AI can assist in organisational psychotherapy:

1. AI can surface shared assumptions and beliefs by analysing patterns of interactions that occur within organisations. By examining data from employee surveys, feedback, emails, internal documents, and other sources, AI can identify underlying assumptions and beliefs that influence how people work together.

2. AI can facilitate dialogue around shared assumptions and beliefs by suggesting topics and questions for discussion. Such discussions can break down barriers to communication and promote a more open and collaborative work environment.

3. AI can identify potential areas of interpersonal conflict related to business culture and culture change. By analysing patterns of communication and behaviour, AI can help organisations anticipate and address potential sources of conflict before they escalate. AI can also assist in conflict resolution by suggesting strategies and interventions that can help parties narrow the gaps in their perspectives.

4. AI can help organisations create a more inclusive work environment. By analysing data on diversity and inclusion, AI can help identify areas where the organisation needs to improve and suggest strategies for addressing these issues. This can include things like unconscious bias training, mentoring programs, or changes to HR policies and procedures.

Overall, the integration of AI and organisational psychotherapy has the potential to transform the way organisations function by surfacing and addressing shared assumptions and beliefs, facilitating valuable dialogues, identifying potential sources of conflict, and creating a more inclusive and collaborative work environment.

#AI #OP #OrganisationalPsychotherapy #ShamelessBandwagoning #YetItsAllTrue

Culture Shock: The Surprising Key to Reinventing Your Business

March 10, 2023
Article, Culture change, Innovation, Reinvention
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Culture Shock: The Surprising Key to Reinventing Your Business

Is your business facing disruption or challenges? Before you pivot your strategies, products, or services, consider this: the success of your reinvention efforts depend on your organisation’s culture. Culture is the collection of shared assumptions and beliefs that define an organisation, and it can make or break your ability to adapt and thrive in times of change. If you want to reinvent your business, start by examining your culture. Transforming your culture can enable your organisation to be more adaptable, creative, and resilient. So, are you ready to start your cultural transformation?

When businesses face challenges or disruptions, they often look to pivot their strategies, products, or services. However, a crucial factor is the organisation’s culture. The culture of a business can make or break the success of any reinvention effort.

Culture can affect everything from how employees interact with one another to how they approach problem-solving. In times of change, a healthy culture can enable an organisation to be more adaptable, creative, and resilient.

If a business needs to reinvent itself, it might choose to start by examining its culture. Leaders must assess whether the current culture is hindering or enabling the necessary changes. They may choose to identify areas that need improvement, such as communication, collaboration, or innovation.

To create a culture that supports reinvention, leaders must also be intentional about communicating the vision and values of the organisation. They may choose to lead by example, modeling desired behaviors, and recognising those who embrace the new culture.

In short, reinventing a business requires more than just a change in strategy. It requires a cultural transformation that empowers employees to adapt and thrive in the face of change.