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Celebrating a second book of public sector case studies.
Evidence of what doesn’t work
Why popular but dumb ideas from Whitehall such as shared services, commissioning, economies of scale, big IT systems, ‘choice’, targets and outsourcing push costs up and make public services worse.
Evidence of what does work
Evidence of extraordinary benchmarks in public sector reform in a new book of case studies.
Meet the public sector managers who have written about jaw-dropping improvements in service, efficiency and morale through application of the Vanguard Method.
Read a review of the new book http://www.simoncaulkin.com/article/358/
John Seddon has received numerous academic awards for his innovative contribution to management science. Hear it from the horse’s mouth.
5th September, 10am, Crawley
5th September, 3pm, Kingston Upon Thames
6th September, 2.30pm, Stone, Staffordshire
11th September, 1.30pm, Bideford, Devon
18th September, 3.30pm, London
20th September, 10.30am, Carmarthen, Dyfed Powys
24th September, 4pm, Doncaster
25th September, 2pm, York
26th September, 2pm, Manchester
27th September, 10am, Carlisle
28th September, 9.30am, Durham
Reserve a FREE seat, email
Buy the book www.triarchypress.com/pages/bookshop.htm
If you work in public services and especially if you make policy about them, read this book. In his foreword, John Seddon, once again and with characteristic rhetorical flourish, thumbs his nose at the sclerotic paradigm still suffocating public services. The book gives a series of detailed case studies showing … changes that have been made in spite of the 'targets and terror' regime which is showing few signs of abating. The case studies show that change has to come from local services. The sclerosis is at its most morbid in Whitehall. It might in time cure itself, but we can't wait.
Sue White, Professor of Social Work, University of Birmingham
Management books don’t usually set the pulse racing. From the title, you might predict that 'Delivering Public Services That Work Volume 2' would do little to disprove that rule. But reading these case histories I confess I was moved to laughter, tears (well, almost), anger and deep reflection, sometimes all in the space of one chapter.
Simon Caulkin, Management Writer
John Seddon is one of the most important thinkers about management, particularly managing the public sector....no one has analysed British Public Services with such dispassionate rigour and trenchant prose as John Seddon. Vanguard Consulting deserves to make a big impact, whether they will or not probably [depends on] a culture change in the public services and in the minds of many politicians, but we can learn the culture and methods and how to adopt them by reading this stimulating book.
Professor Sir Muir Gray, Chief Knowledge Officer of the NHS
In the delivery of public services there is the ‘system’, with its call centres and mass production approach, and there is common sense. This book is about common sense. Eight case studies show the benefits that flow when local management is able to put customers first rather than efficiency targets set by remote bosses. Various ways in which this can be done are described. Common sense strikes back against the ‘system’! Let the battle commence.
Andreas Whittam Smith, Co-founder of the Independent
This is a breathtaking glimpse of a new kind of ‘efficiency’ in public services. It is also a celebration of a new way of doing things that challenges prevailing orthodoxy so fundamentally that orthodoxy may not survive it."
David Boyle, New Economics Foundation
We are spending more and more time behaving more like a retail sector business, writing reports and chasing targets – failing in our duty by doing our job. Some managers have realised that, as illustrated by the case studies in this book, trusting in the team and its supervisors to do their job, as well as removing prescriptive target-driven working and the associated unnecessary bureaucracy, can actually reap significant rewards for the organisation and public alike. Much could be gained from allowing the responsible adults that make up the Police Forces of England and Wales to be treated with the degree of trust and freedom they deserve.
, Author of Minimum Cover - The Police Officer Blog
...read how to save time and money, deliver better services and make people happier (public and staff). Bin the management mantras about front/back offices, shared services and economies of scale. Watch people grow in confidence and be more productive.
David Hagg, Chief Executive, Stroud District Council
This approach to organisational change fits with my vision of a child protection system where the design of services is shaped by the needs of children and their families, not by the need to comply with government prescription and targets.
Eileen Munro, Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics
I heartily commend the Vanguard Method to leaders at all levels across public service. Be prepared for a challenging but rewarding and highly motivating journey and the understanding that improvement is the way things should be done, not a project.
Michael J Greenwood CBE, Chairman, NHS Stockport
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