National School of Government
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NATIONAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME TARGETS ‘WICKED PROBLEMS’

A new and highly practical leadership development programme from the National School of Government will see participants tackle their own ‘real life’ work issues, whilst learning how to reframe their approaches to the problems that conventional techniques fail to resolve.

‘Leadership: problems, strategies and systems: making space to think’ – the first module of which takes place at Sunningdale Park between 3-5 June 2009 – takes as its starting point the kinds of complex environment in which leaders typically find it difficult to effect meaningful change. It then encourages participants to explore their work challenges as consultants in pragmatic, problem-oriented ways.

Designed for Senior Civil Service (SCS) members at pay band 1, the programme benefits from significant design and workshop input from Keith Grint - Warwick University Professor and a Fellow of the Sunningdale Institute. He explained: “Fundamental to the course is that the nature of the problem should determine the leadership approach. ‘Tame’ problems that have a precedent can be solved through standard procedures, whilst pressing ‘critical’ problems require decisive action. However, ‘wicked’ problems for which there are no precedents require solutions rooted in pragmatic collaboration and collective intelligence, which is why we stress ‘systems thinking’.”

The programme is pursued as two residential modules of two-and-a-half days and one-and-a-half days respectively, with participants concentrating on their own work issues throughout. The first module, which looks at problems and methodologies, is followed by consultancy work, with participants researching the workplaces of other participants and giving feedback, and then undertaking similar activities in their own workplace before receiving feedback from their own frontline staff. Finally, the second module sees participants prepare and present case studies to their peers and managers.

For more information on ‘Leadership: problems, strategies and systems: making space to think’ contact Julia Hockey at the National School on 01344 634199 (julia.hockey@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk) or visit the National School website (www.nationalschool.gov.uk).




Notes to editors

1. The National School of Government is the centre of excellence for innovation in learning and development in support of public service transformation and was made a government department in 2007. It strives to ensure the highest professional and academic standards in organisational and people development. Visit www.nationalschool.gov.uk for more information.
2. Attached to the National School and chaired by Professor Cary Cooper, the Sunningdale Institute is dedicated to helping ministers and public service leaders with organisational development and delivery issues, and works with organisations in a variety of ways – research and evaluation, building capacity through knowledge exchange in areas such as public leadership and governance, consulting on organisation and system design, connecting strategy and operation, and fostering innovation.


For media enquiries, please contact Alfred Bacchus, National School of Government; email: alfred.bacchus@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk; tel 01344 634253, or Chris Blunkell, Corporate Communications Advisor; email: chris.blunkell@btinternet.com; tel: 01227 772747; m 07941 831341.

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