a triarchy press publication
Systems Thinking in the Public Sector:
the failure of the reform regime...
and a manifesto for a better way by John Seddon
Publication Date: 11 April 2008
No. of Pages: 224
Book type: Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-9550081-8-4
List Price: £20.00
Special Offer Price: £18.00
Inspection Copy for lecturers
Read PDF extracts from the book: Introduction | Addendum
Read what people are saying about this
book
The free market has become the accepted model for the public sector. Politicians on all sides compete to spread the gospel. And so, in the UK and elsewhere, there's been massive investment in public sector 'improvement', 'customer choice' has been increased and new targets have been set and refined.
But our experience is that things haven't changed much. This is because governments have invested in the wrong things. Belief in targets, incentives and inspection; belief in economies of scale and shared back-office services; belief in 'deliverology... these are all wrong-headed ideas and yet they have underpinned this government's attempts to reform the public sector.
John Seddon here dissects the changes that have been made in a range of services, including housing benefits, social care and policing. His descriptions beggar belief, though they would be funnier if it wasn't our money that was being wasted.
In place of the current mess, he advocates a Systems Thinking approach where individuals come first, waste is reduced and responsibility replaces blame. It's an approach that is proven, successful and relatively cheap - and one that governments around the world, and their advisers, need to adopt urgently.
John Seddon trained originally as an occupational psychologist. He is known around the world for his pioneering work on change in organisations and for translating and adapting the Toyota Production System (TPS) for use by service organisations.
John is also known for his consistently informed and controversial criticism of management fads and of much of the theory that has underpinned public sector reform. He is the leading advocate of systems thinking in business and in the public sector.
John is a widely published author and lectures at seminars conferences, universities and management schools around the world. He is Managing Director of Vanguard Ltd, a consultancy specialising in organisational change, and is a visiting professor at the Lean Enterprise Research Centre, University of Cardiff.
Reviews from Public Sector Employees
"This book provides the public sector with
the means to not only deliver higher levels of public value but also
the opportunity to be seen to be doing so and in a robust way, with measurable
results, high customer satisfaction and high morale."
Jim Mather MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Enterprise,
Energy & Tourism
"Few books... come to define a new era. I can
only hope that this passionate, yet informed, critique on the limitations
of public sector management becomes one of them."
Duncan Kerr, Chief Executive, South Kesteven District Council.
"If ministers,
local authority leaders and chief executives only read one book this year
this is it. A true beacon of sanity in an increasingly insane regime; ministers
should read this and recognise the error of their ways."
Mark Radford, Director of Corporate Services, Swale District Council.
"This book should be compulsory reading for
all leading politicians and senior executives in public service. John
Seddon's extensive knowledge and practical experience of waste in the
public sector is expressed in powerful terms. Not only do members of
the public receive rotten service but millions of pounds of tax payers'
money are being misused. This book presents a massive challenge. It is
one that must be faced if ever there is to be genuine reform and improvement
in the standard of public services."
Tony Owen, Councillor, London Borough of Bromley
