Our Work
Advanced Organisational Change & Consulting (AOC)
Nothing So Practical
Someone whose working identity resonates with The Tavistock Institute's AOC approach applies an integration of the social sciences for the purpose of effective development and change within and between groups, organisations and related social systems. Our orientation echoes the often quoted words of Kurt Lewin, ‘there is nothing so practical as a good theory’. Thus, we intentionally put theory and knowledge into practice. When it comes to developing and changing organisations, a guiding principle of AOC highlights the significance of drawing on three strands of social science: depth psychology and social anthropology; sociology and political science; action research and practice-based learning. It is possible to provide ‘good enough’ change management and organisational consulting working from two or occasionally one strand. Contemporary pressures on real life organisations, however, challenge us to bring all three to bear. This is what we mean when we risk using the label, ‘advanced’.
Customised Development & Education
Regardless of our job titles, so many of us find ourselves in positions that require competence in organisational change and consulting. There the similarity often ends. Our positions, our organisational situations, the particular challenges facing the organisations in question - all these and many other factors make our learning and development needs idiosyncratic. Instead of teaching one limited method, the Institute offers customised development and educational events that balance the unique, practical issues of a particular sector and organisation with an AOC approach. That means we emphasise principles that can guide action as the specifics evolve and the actors change.
The best development for change managers and organisational consultants helps them to discover their own idiosyncratic integration of the three strands of social science. Simultaneously, they need to develop competence in applying theory to practice that is grounded in a particular sector, change initiative or issue. As experienced scholarly practitioners, we offer such customised development and education to anyone interested in discovering their own AOC approach: internal change teams, change leadership groups, individual managers and consultants, departments having to learn how to sell their services, those with no ‘consulting’ identity having such work thrust upon them. In addition, we cooperate with others to offer bespoke programmes and courses for targeted sectors or occupational roles.
For those who would like to discuss a possible customised development, please contact our Professional Development Coordinator. Currently, we are pleased to participate with the following organisations on their scholarly practitioner education and development:
MSc in Leading Public Service Change and Organisational Development
The Tavistock Institute's AOC approach is woven throughout this Masters of Science programme offered by the Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) at the University of Birmingham. Participants work in local authorities, the NHS, public agencies, central government as well as community and voluntary service providers. AOC Society member, Deborah Davidson, directs this programme from her position within HSMC.
Organisation Change Management
The Tavistock Institute's AOC approach is being translated by CNCA (National Co-ordination of Therapeutic Communities) into a Qualification Certificate for those working within the Italian Third Sector. We are working with an AOC Society member, Antonio Sama, to integrate Lewinian principles of action research with organisational development and change methods. These then need to be customised for the Italian environment and the particularities of Third Sector organisations.
Two Decades of Advanced Organisational Change & Consulting
Early in the 1990s, social scientists at The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations began to develop an educational programme that would build on three streams of specialties already well established within the Institute: group relations, socio-technical systems and participative decision-making. Those founding members of faculty also thought contemporary approaches to organisational theory, consultancy competence and systems psychodynamics needed to be brought to bear into the programme. At the time there was only one consultancy course in the UK and one other on the European continent.
From 1993-2001, nearly 50 participants undertook the 24 month programme that led to The Tavistock Institute's Qualification in Advanced Organisational Consultation (AOC). Residential modules covered seven areas of scholarly practice:
- Crossing the boundary & building relationships
- Diagnosing & intervening in small systems
- Diagnosing & intervening in large systems
- Evaluating organisational change
- Diagnosing & intervening in multiple, simultaneous & inter-organisational projects
- Consulting to messes & impossible tasks
- Ending consulting & change management projects
In 2001, City University London validated the AOC for a Master's Degree in Advanced Organisational Change & Consulting offered only through the Institute. Another 30 people studied on AOC during the subsequent 8 years, most achieving MA degrees. By then, there were over 40 consulting or change management courses across Europe - not counting modules or sessions on other management or practice-based courses! From 2009 the Institute has offered AOC as customised development and education.
AOC Society
Graduates and faculty from the AOC programme joined together in 1995 to create a professional society committed to continuing development of theory and practice of advanced organisational change and consulting. They meet annually in locations near where members live (e.g. Paris, Dublin, Vienna, London, Oslo, etc.) in order to review and to explore what is going well and what is difficult in their scholarly practice. AOCS members work as change leaders and managers, consultants, academics and researchers. So far the Society itself has sponsored the publication of a book of collective papers from AOCS members.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss a possible customised development, please contact Rachel Kelly, Professional Development Coordinator.e: r.kelly@tavinstitute.org
t: +44 (0)20 7457 3927
