If there are systemic problems, there must be systemic solutions.
[ me ][ change ][ governance ][ let´s talk ][ let´s talk ][ me ][ change ][ governance ]
Louis KleinHome
Vier Richtungen und zwei große Themen. Mein Ergebnis: Gedeihliche Emergenz. [ perspectives ][ change ][ governance ][ let´s talk ][ let´s talk ][ perspectives ][ change ][ governance ]They call me a systems native, a systemic one. read on “There is noright life inthe wrong one”
Theodor W. Adorno
read on They call me a systems native,a systemic one. Growing up on a winery , with vines and seasons, blossom and harvest, hard work and joyful products, shaped my view of the world. It is not far from a profound insight into ecology to systems thinking and cybernetics, but it was not a straight route. It was a learning journey through countries and professions. I worked in newspapers, in advertising and as a bank director. I lived through the Aufbau Ost, and was engaged in organisational development and change management as coach, trainer and consultant for almost 20 years. And I worked along the global supply chain from China via Europe to North America and along the capacity building axis from Kathmandu to Cape Town. Exploring the world was pure action research to me, using systemic inquiry as my means of exploration and explanation. I published a lot, papers and books about my experiences and was invited to serve in various academic contexts concerned with systems sciences and cybernetics. I became vice president in the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) and in the International Federation of Systems Research (IFSR) as well as a board member of the World Organisation for Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC). Complex project management became another field of my interest and expertise. After winning their inaugural research prize I was appointed research director at the International Center for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) and now I am a member of the editorial board of the Project Management Journal (PMJ). At the ICCPM and the European School of Governance (EUSG) I run a research project on cross-cultural complex project management exploring alternative perspectives on project management which resulted in a book series with Routledge. Publishing, next to action research and systemic inquiry, has always been my passion. Writing allows me to express myself, to rearrange my thoughts and to balance my excitement. Becoming co-publisher at The German Philosophical Business Magazine – agora42 was an extraordinary award, and then together with the former Pulitzer Price winner, Kendra Rosencrans, I had the entrepreneurial pleasure to bring the Systemic Change Journal (SCJ) to life. Getting my hands dirty, like the work in the vineyards, feeling the pulse of Gaia, is what I enjoy, yet, the next adventure is Anthropocene Thinking immersing into the epistemological turn that ends the age of modernity and lives up to the challenges of the 21st century. We need to reinvent governance and change. Well, let’s roll up our sleeves and start with a bit of systemic courage! go back [ let´s talk ][ me ][ change ][ governance ]Change comes easy Change is the only constant, we learnt from the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. It just happens to us, yet, if we want to evoke change, it is a different story, it seems impossible, but if we look closely it is not half as difficult as we think.
The challenge of navigating change is social complexity. It is a little bit like oversea trade. Exploration comes first, then you can draw better maps and finally you navigate your endeavour safely. Systemic inquiry is the key to exploring social systems, be it organisations or entire societies. And better maps of social systems depend on richer perspectives, not only headcount and financial statements. Social systems are determined by technology, politics and culture. We are quite good at dealing with technology, hence, mastering politics and reading culture makes the difference. Mitigating diverse interests as well as understanding the stories and narratives that make a culture lies at the very heart of the art of true change. Mind the nature of change! The current perspective on professional change management is a project management perspective. And compared with a lot of muddling through it is already a great improvement. Engaging in complex project management allows to manage the entailed social complexity successfully. However, it needs a lot of projects to change an organisation. Systemic change suggests two additional perspectives on the nature of change. First order systemic change works like acupuncture. Understanding the dynamics and complexity of social systems reveals the trigger and leverage points where minimal intervention result in large effects. Remember the butterfly effect. Second order systemic change goes even further. It works like a picture puzzle where no line on the paper changes, yet suddenly you see a different image, the duck or the rabbit, the old woman or the young one. New perspectives disclose new possibilities. And there is always a smarter way of change. Systemic Change Institute Systemic Change Journalgo back [ let´s talk ][ me ][ change ][ governance ]go back Governance is more than management and leadership. There is no right life in the wrong one, said the German sociologist and philosopher Theodor W. Adorno. It is the power of context that seems to govern the unfolding of events, and it is futile to rebel if the context is not addressed. Good governance is context control and care. This is what you learn when cultivating vines. A good framework facilitates desirable developments and reduces the need for intervention to a minimum of careful attention. You cannot predict the growth of a single vine, yet, you can still set up a vineyard with poles to guide the growth and still need to visit the vine, as the old saying goes, 17 times a year. You need to care for the context and the rules of the game and you need to care for the people, every single one of them. Good governance is profoundly more than management and leadership in organisations or societies. Good governance is representing an order, a framework, the rules of the game. It is about designing serious games that promote an enjoyable unfolding and outcome of the course of action for all players inside and outside the game, pursuing the common good rather than playing Monopoly. Complex adaptive systems evolve from crisis to crisis. Governance is the art of safely guiding those developments with context control and care and mitigate social complexity based on two reflective intervention opportunities: purpose and organisation. Purpose integrates and provides orientation, and organisation is the most powerful tool of civilisation. Together they balance our desire of getting things done and the need of letting things grow. It is purposeful organisation and organising purposefully. European School of Governancego back [ let´s talk ][ me ][ change ][ governance ]May I invite you? You want to change the world or at least a little bit of it. You want to govern complex systems, or lead a company, manage a team or master yourself. You want a piece of advice or philosophise with expertise. We can talk about governance and change. We can explore the world with systemic courage pursuing true change. We can call it coaching, training or consulting. We can engage in discussion, conversation or dialogue. And sometimes it is a presentation, a key note or a speech. Let’s talk business excellence, systemic consulting, change navigation and captainship. Let’s revisit the classics like change management, organisational development, inhouse consulting, learning organisation and complex project management. Let’s explore action research, systemic inquiry and Anthropocene Thinking. I am interested in your perspectives, your learning journey, your challenges. I believe in dialogue and co-creation. I like to share. emaillinked inxingtwitterresearch gatemediumzoterogo back [ let´s talk ][ me ][ change ][ governance ]Credits It had been a pleasure to work with Andrea and Tim from Steinküller und Steinküller who guided me through the impossible task to compose a meaningful website about me, myself and mine. They challenged me to be daring and professional. Anka Bardeleben from Anka Bardeleben Photography deserves all the credits for the photos. The perfectly arranged shooting session was fun. Choosing the right settings and photos out of the pile of good shots is where she made all the difference. Thank you! go back [ let´s talk ][ me ][ change ][ governance ]"Change is the only constant."
Heraclitus
read on May I invite you? read on They call me a systems native, a systemic one. read on [ let´s talk ][ me ][ change ][ governance ]creditsimpressum / datenschutz
