Complexity and Collaboration: Applying Complexity Theory to Organisational Transformation

Complexity and Collaboration: Applying Complexity Theory to Organisational Transformation

Starts Monday, June 11-15, 2012

Eve Mitleton-Kelly

This course is open for bookings.

Visit the course page here: http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/complexity-and-collaboration-applying-complexity-theory-to-organisational-transformation

The most successful organisations no longer operate in a “top-down” fashion, and benefit from empowering their employees to work collaboratively. Yet many organisations are stuck in hierarchical ways of operating and lack the tools to develop alternatives. This course provides a sound theoretical and practical grounding for all those in generating a more collaborative workplace.

During this dynamic course you will be introduced to key principles of complexity theory and learn how they can be applied collaboratively with the aim of co-creating a new culture, structure and way of working within an organisation which is based on these complexity principles.

Using theoretical discussions and practical exercises, the course will look at the ten principles of complexity theory and consider examples that illustrate these principles in real life. With your fellow participants you will discuss the process of organisational transformation as a dynamic process, involving a continuous co-evolution which involves not only management but all employees.

How can leaders work with complexity to distribute leadership effectively throughout their organisations?

The course will introduce you to and evaluate a variety of qualitative and quantitative tools and methods which can be used to apply complexity theory in different environments. The course ends with a discussion of how insights from complexity can help to tackle apparently intractable problems.

Through the use of practical small groups you will be engaged throughout the course to explore examples of, or problems with, organisational transformation, and apply your emerging new understanding to these case studies.

The course is suitable both for practitioners who are dissatisfied with traditional approaches to organisational transformation and academics who would like to study the application of complexity theory in practice. No previous knowledge of complexity theory is required and the course does not include any mathematics.

Prof. Eve Mitleton-Kelly is Director of the Complexity Research Programme at the London School of Economics and visiting Professor at the Open University. She was Executive Coodinator of the Society for Organisational Learning-London from 1977-2008, and has been Policy Advisor to European and USA organisations, the European Commission, and several UK Government Departments.

Her research has concentrated on addressing apparently intractable problems in business and the public sector and the creation of enabling environments based on complexity science. She has developed a theory of complex social systems and a methodology to address complex social problems which is being used for teaching at universities around the world. Publications and the work of the LSE Complexity Group is at http://www.lse.ac.uk/complexity

Visit the course page here: http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/complexity-and-collaboration-applying-complexity-theory-to-organisational-transformation

Course Fees

£750
All course fees include accommodation, food, field trips and all teaching sessions.

For further information about Schumacher College please see About the College

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