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About our organisation

About our organisation

The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations is focused on the study of human behaviour within organisations, aiming to enable learning and change that will benefit people and the planet.

Professional development | Research and evaluation | Consulting services

For over 75 years, we have blended cutting-edge research with practical applications to help individuals and organisations navigate complexity, change, and human dynamics. 

We consider the whole system, applying social science methods to address research questions and creative, psychoanalytic and systems approaches to respond to organisational challenges.

We are a UK not-for-profit organisation, established in 1947, with sister organisations in Germany and China and a global programme of work.

We’ve been actively exploring the subject of Human Relations since 1947 in our radical, artistic, questioning institution

The roots of our work go even further back. After World War I, a group of medical professionals who called themselves the Tavistock group worked with the British Army to help soldiers who had been prisoners during the War to return to civilian life and – equally as importantly – to help their families and communities adjust to having them back.

From connecting with the lives of returning soldiers in the aftermath of war, our work has addressed rapid changes in business management, workplace demographics, and the adoption (or rejection) of new technologies throughout the 20th century … and now we are engaged in the questions facing our globalised societies in the 21st century.

We pour ourselves into systems needing or experiencing change, supporting through the gathering of evidence as well as working with not-knowing and uncertainty. We think about why we do what we do, and sometimes, we accept that change isn’t the answer.

What arises from the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations isn’t abstract, it’s applicable study making a difference in all of our lives. 

How we work: our values

We focus on how humans relate to each other and non-human systems, how we grow in character and how we embrace learning, creativity and change.

We work across and between boundaries

We work across disciplines and draw on a rich mix of expertise and thinking. We are collaborative and hopeful.

We create safe spaces for difficult conversations

We listen, observe and engage in dialogue. We work with and for people in everything we do.

We work with hidden and sometimes unconscious factors...

whilst staying grounded in the context and in what might be under the surface.

We put theory and knowledge into practice

Our practice is evidence-based and we depend on data - both that which is derived from rational research methods and that which is derived from explorations of the mind. We are able to play with ideas, myths and stories to deepen the meaning and application of our research outcomes.

We bring rigour, reflection and care to our work

We partner with our clients to achieve the best outcome, journeying with them to access and apply their own resources.

We work with the unexpected

We are ready for the unknown and we work with curiosity and also with confidence. We can take helpful risks for clients to reach the goals of our work together.

2024 work streams

Research, evaluation and consultancy

Advancing the understanding and application of Group Relations methods

Professional and personal development

Publishing, knowledge sharing, community building

Read our charitable objectives
Read about our governance
2024 work themes

Health, care

Arts and organisations

Life at work and wellbeing

Change, learning, development

Personal, interpersonal, organisational, socio-ecological

Environmental and social justice

Leadership

Read our latest Annual Report
The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations | 63 Gee Street, London, EC1V 3RS
hello@tavinstitute.org | +44 20 7417 0407
Charity No.209706 | Design & build by Modern Activity