A Systemic Approach to Consultation

by Campbell, David

• ISBN13: 9781855750135
• ISBN10: 1855750139
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1991-12-31
• Publisher: Karnac Books

Summary

This book discusses the application of systemic thinking to work within organizations. The authors draw on their experience of working with teams, departments, and whole organisations in both the private and public sectors. It is intended as a handbook for professionals from any discipline who are involved in consultation work.

Table of Contents

Contributors
Introduction	p. 1
Basic Concepts Underlying the Systemic Approach to Organisations	p. 5
How organisations change
The great problem of difference
The meaning of people in organisations
Why organisations have trouble negotiating change
Connecting different beliefs within the organisation
Feedback
The observer position
Basic Concepts Underlying Development Consultation	p. 15
Co-evolving systems
Hypothesising
Circularity
Neutrality
Interventions
Useful Ideas and Hypotheses About Organisations	p. 19
The organisational life cycle
Beginning to understand organisations as systems--moving from two-person to three-person systems
The two-person system
Three-person systems
The 'meat in the sandwich'
Breaking competitive deadlocks
The problem of the multi-disciplinary team
The language of organisations: or, making nouns into part of a systemic process
Acknowledgements	p. 29
The Practice of Development Consultation	p. 33
Referral procedures
Hypothesising about the referral
Designing a consultation
Interviewing using circular questioning
Reflective discussion
Exercises
Strategic planning
Giving structured feedback
Hypothesising about the client's feedback
Some Useful Ideas About The Context of The Organisation	p. 67
Case Study	p. 73
Conclusion: A Final Conversation, or: A Consultation To The Reader	p. 85
References	p. 89
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.