In this book, each contributor describes the way they use the systemic model in their consultancy practice. Their key ideas are illustrated via a case example or examples, where possible including detailed accounts of the exercises and techniques they use inspired by systemic thinking. They conclude with an evaluation of the work, pinpointing its strengths and weaknesses and what the contributor learned from it as well as how it might be developed or applied in other situations.

The chapters contributed to this book have been written by the staff and associates of The Tavistock Consultancy Service, whose distinctive competence is in the human dimension of enterprise and the dynamics of the workplace. From their own perspectives, they tell a story of the experience of working as consultants over the decade with individuals, teams and whole organizations. The intention is to identify and explore some of the key themes that have emerged and how these affect and influence the understanding of leadership and management in contemporary organizations. No attempt is made to reach a consensus, but rather to raise and map out a territory of continuing question and debate. The themes covered in the book are: the emotional world of the organisation and its significance for understanding, decision and action; different perspectives on the nature and exercise of leadership; the dynamics of resistance to change and of creativity; the impact of contextual change on re-shaping the concept of the organization; different ways organizations are responding to issues of personal challenge or vulnerability.Contributors: David Armstrong, Andrew Cooper, Tim Dartington, William Halton, Sharon Horowitz, Linda Hoyle, Clare Huffington, Kim James, Anton Obholzer, Jane Pooley

A practical guide to the essentials of organisational change which makes complex concepts accessible to managers, consultants, human resources professionals and others. Includes a directory of further sources of information and assistance.

The chapters contributed to this book have been written by the staff and associates of The Tavistock Consultancy Service, whose distinctive competence is in the human dimension of enterprise and the dynamics of the workplace. The intention is to identify and explore some of the key themes that have emerged, such as the emotional world of the org

This book shows the underlying thinking of experienced consultants deciding how to position themselves in organizations, seeking to enable organizational change to occur and redefining their relationships with their clients over time and according to organizational need using a systemic lens.

Second Thoughts on the Theory and Practice of the Milan Approach to Family Therapy is a full discussion of the way the original techniques of the Milan Approach have been affected by current thinking in the family therapy field. Hypothesizing, neutrality and circularity, for example, are all redefined in response to the challenge of new clinical problems, such as child abuse, and new thinking from areas such as linguistics and feminine. The authors refer back to their original article Working With the Milan Method: 20 Questionsin order to chart the changes which have taken place over the last ten years and, similarly, richly illustrate the present work with clinical examples.

A Systemic Approach to Consultation discusses the application of systemic thinking to work within organizations. The authors draw on their experiences of consulting with teams, departments and whole organizations in both the public and private sectors. They describe their work as an integrated approach called Development Consultation, which focuses on the beliefs and behaviors in the wider system which makes it difficult for organizations to manage their own processes of change. The authors then discuss the way they formulate systemic problems and the interventions, particularly the interviewing technique, which they have used in numerous case examples. The book is intended as a handbook for professionals from any discipline who are engaged in consultation work.

The teaching of family therapy has been the subject of serious scrutiny since the onset of training and accreditation many years ago, yet there are relatively few attempts to apply what we know about systems and the ways they change family therapy teaching as a two-way process. It is as though family therapy teachers were preoccupied with the content of what should be taught, and were not able to direct their attention to the process by which people learned. The authors began by describing the way they conceptualize the "learning context" which sets the frame for all the teaching they do. Then they discuss the process of setting up a family therapy course, e.g. "What is the best way to negotiate with a training officer to set up a course in a local area?". The book then moves to creating the course syllabus, and some of the practical problems-from lateness to mechanical failures-of getting the course off the ground.