Today the bright Russ Briggs and the innovative Mitch Ditkoff spoke of the importance of Dr. Ackoff contribution to our world of management. We are dreaming about integrating Risk Management, Innovation and Whole Systems Transformation to help industries such as health care to minimize Risk in their world.
My mentor, Kathie Dannenmiller used Ackoff as one of her 12 main theorists in the transformation work she initiated at Boeing and Ford in the late 70’s.
I share these 6 short Ackoff videos for all of you that wish to start or to reinforce bringing general systems theory into your life.
System Thinking by Dr. Russell Ackoff
Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJxWoZJAD8k
Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBiXbuD1h4
Part III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBrEJjT-dWU
Systems Based improvement by Ackoff
Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pcuzRq-rDU
Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8g6ZoobDV4
Part III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A25qNUxhpKQ
Note the word System in the final definition of OD by the Dick Beckhard and myself.
According to Sullivan and Beckhard; OD is “a wholistic systemic and systematic change effort, using behavioral science competencies to change or transform the organization to a new desired state” (Sullivan and Beckhard, 1999, personal interaction.
Systemic means all parts make up a whole.
Systematic means the intervention has a logical and synergistic interactions.
According to the above definition, very few are doing real OD. We anticipate that successful Change Consultants will more and more return to “Whole System” work.
