We have looked in our previous posts at the shape and nature of an organization where we can drive out fear. But how do we prepare people to work within an organization that is different from a traditional hierarchy? What are the skills they need practically, intellectually and emotionally? One thing is for sure: it will be very different from the training that managers currently receive in most MBAs. In this post we outline a path to educating and training managers who can think and act systemically to continuously improve the performance of their organizations.
Getting the basics
In order to grasp the mindset for an organization that is managed systemically and that focuses people’s talent and abilities on achieving the goal of the organization, a basic set of concepts need to be covered:
- Introduction to systems thinking for business
- Measuring & Managing in an interconnected world
- Making decisions seeing the whole picture
- Creating a platform for change: Intelligent Management, Intelligent Emotions
Once this introduction to the basic concepts of managing systemically has been made, people are ready to learn the basic systemic management skills drawn from the Theory of Constraints. This entails an introduction to the Thinking Process Tools:
- Conflict resolution (Conflict Cloud)
- Handling negative implications stemming from proposed solutions – Negative Branch Reservation (NBR)
- Project planning – Prerequisite Tree (PRT)
- How to give detailed comprehensive and clear instructions – Transition Tree (TRT)
The Next Level
Once managers have a grasp of how they can manage systemically on a day-to-day basis, they are ready to become familiar with the Thinking Process Tools on a deeper level. In this way they equip themselves with skills and tools to build and support the organization systemically in the short, medium and long-term.
- How to build a strategic plan: Future Reality Tree (FRT)
- Identifying the business opportunity (Core Conflict)
- Win-win negotiations the systems-thinking way
- Defining a proficient solution and its long-term implication (FRT)
- Developing a marketing & sales plan
- Putting it all together: Scheduling the execution of the project
Support and results
Managers can be supported throughout their development, from learning the basics and mastering the tools, to implementing a complete strategy with the support of Intelligent Management through consulting and coaching. Our ongoing support can be leveraged for:
- Surfacing, nurturing and executing the right strategy for a systemic organization
- Scheduling & managing a complex project
- Creating and executing a Marketing plan
- Building a systemic organization in terms of algorithm, content knowledge, behavior
In order to help people learn this method and achieve results with it faster, Intelligent Management Inc. provides participants with exclusive software tools, developed and designed by us to give maximum support to the method. Measurable benefits of the methodology include:
- Increased clarity on what is blocking an enterprise
- Improved teamwork
- Clarity on the implications of actions and decisions
- Better understanding of the systemic nature of work
- Increased ability to focus
In our experience with a wide range of organizations, within 6-12 months, these benefits will lead to significant economic gains in terms
- Increased sales
- Increased cash
In our following posts we will start looking at the powerful Thinking Process Tools from the Theory of Constraints that craft systemic thinking into thought-through strategy and action.
See also in this series:
No Fear in the Workplace – Making It Happen
Drive Out Fear by Learning to Think Systemically
Don’t Climb, Grow! Success in the Systemic Organization
Can We Do Away with Hierarchy?
The Network of Projects: Driving Out Fear in the Post-Digital Age
Fear-free Career Paths in the Network of Projects
Learning, Joy, and the Interconnected Future
Structuring the Network of Projects: Algorithms and Emotions
Start Making Sense: Introduction To Statistical Process Control
Sechel: Logic, Language and Tools to Manage Any Organization as a Network of Projects
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