Leadership for change in complex systems

Abstract

It is concluded that there is value in conceiving of Australia's mental health system as a complex adaptive system and that such a conception provides useful guidance for leadership for change and for management.

Taxonomy for complexity theory in the context of maternity care

“…Interconnection (Sturmberg et al, 2014;Trenholm and Ferlie, 2013;Jayasinghe, 2011;Kannampallil et al, 2011;Albanese et al, 2009;Sturmberg and Martin, 2009;Edgren, 2008;Martin and Sturmberg, 2008;Patel et al, 2008;Boustani et al, 2007;Chaffee and McNeill, 2007;Lessard, 2007;Gatrell, 2005;Holden, 2005;Minas, 2005;Plsek, 2003;Sweeney and Kernick, 2002;Sweeney and Mannion, 2002;Miller et al, 2001;Anderson and McDaniel, 2000;Bujak, 1999) Complex systems have a dynamic range of agents (e.g. people) that cannot be understood as the simple sum of the individual characteristics.…”

“…This reinforced various conversations on important values going on in different countries. Self-organisation (Sturmberg et al, 2014;Trenholm and Ferlie, 2013;Crabtree et al, 2011;Kannampallil et al, 2011;Paley, 2010;Brannon et al, 2009;Sturmberg and Martin, 2009;Edgren, 2008;Martin and Sturmberg, 2008;Boustani et al, 2007;Chaffee and McNeill, 2007;Paley, 2007;Rickles et al, 2007;Gatrell, 2005;Minas, 2005;McDaniel et al, 2003;Sweeney and Kernick, 2002;Miller et al, 2001;Plsek and Greenhalgh, 2001;Albrecht et al, 1998) Interconnectivity also stimulates self-organisation as a spontaneous process in which people mutually adjust their behaviour to cope with changing internal and external demands. Over time, new structures and patterns emerge without hierarchical direction.…”

“…The eventual 'norms' for the use of waterbirth were not pre-planned. Simple rules (Albanese et al, 2009;Patel et al, 2008;Chaffee and McNeill, 2007;Minas, 2005;Plsek, 2003;Plsek and Greenhalgh, 2001) Internalised principles or values that drive a common direction of travel among the people in a complex system, but that are general enough to provide space for shared action and innovative change.…”

“…The use of waterbirth evolved within and between different interconnected systems such as the humanising childbirth movement, the normal birth movement, healthy start to life movement and Minas, 2005;Plsek and Greenhalgh, 2001;Anderson and McDaniel, 2000) change and individual agents are part of several systems at the same time.…”

Teamwork Within Mental Health Services in Ireland: Resource Paper

“…Likewise, an overly-prescriptive operational policy document may impose a stifling uniformity and result in poor teamwork. 136 There is a middle ground where policy provides clear but minimum specification of how such a team needs to work. This balance ideally affords team members every opportunity to exercise their profession-specific skills.…”