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Freedom from Command and Control: A Better Way to Make the Work Work
 
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Freedom from Command and Control: A Better Way to Make the Work Work (Paperback)

by John Seddon (Author, Editor)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
RRP: £20.00
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Frequently Bought Together

Freedom from Command and Control: A Better Way to Make the Work Work + Systems Thinking in the Public Sector: The Failure of the Reform Regime.... and a Manifesto for a Better Way + I Want You to Cheat!: The Unreasonable Guide to Service and Quality in Organisations
Total RRP: £51.00
Price For All Three: £39.02

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Product details

  • Paperback: 300 pages
  • Publisher: Vanguard Consulting Ltd (1 Oct 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0954618300
  • ISBN-13: 978-0954618308
  • Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15.6 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,346 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #9 in  Books > Business, Finance & Law > Management > Management Science

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  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Product Description

This is a management book that challenges convention and aims to appeal to a wide target audience. Seddon argues that while many commentators acknowledge command and control is failing us, no one provides an alternative. His contention is the alternative can only be understood when you see the failings of command and control by taking the better - systems - view. There is little in the book that you would find in a normal management curriculum. Seddon is scathing and controversial about leadership theorists, maintaining that leadership is being able to talk about how the work works with the people who do it. The book provides practical advice and examples of how to put this into place. Packed with illustrations of the unintended consequences of command and control thinking, you will be amazed that management of our organizations should be so appalling. You will see how customer service is poor and carries high costs and that changing the way the work is designed and managed will result in lower costs and better service. But, as Seddon points out, these are things managers cannot "see" from their current position. Managers don't know what they don't know. Seddon's case is that taking this view teaches managers to change their thinking, and he shows how the very observations they make when understanding what he calls "the what and why of current performance as a system" become the building blocks of the systems solution. And also illustrates the solutions for the cases he uses.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Freedom from Command and Control: A Better Way to Make the Work Work
83% buy the item featured on this page:
Freedom from Command and Control: A Better Way to Make the Work Work 4.5 out of 5 stars (6)
£13.63
Systems Thinking in the Public Sector: The Failure of the Reform Regime.... and a Manifesto for a Better Way
10% buy
Systems Thinking in the Public Sector: The Failure of the Reform Regime.... and a Manifesto for a Better Way 4.3 out of 5 stars (11)
£15.49
I Want You to Cheat!: The Unreasonable Guide to Service and Quality in Organisations
3% buy
I Want You to Cheat!: The Unreasonable Guide to Service and Quality in Organisations
£9.90
Freedom from Command & Control: Rethinking Management for Lean Service
2% buy
Freedom from Command & Control: Rethinking Management for Lean Service 3.7 out of 5 stars (3)
£28.49
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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to improve performance - buy this now, 22 Oct 2003
By Nick Wood (Heckmondwike, Yorkshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
You have got to read this book.

I have always been cynical about any improvement method (BPR etc.) and management fads that espouse miracle cures and yet offer very little in practical terms, i.e. what do I do tomorrow and how ?

I got introduced to John and the work of Vanguard by a friend a few years back. Through studying the method all of a sudden my angst about the teachings I had at university and the management approach in industry that just didn't feel right connected- there is a better way. It connected into a method that actually does work and does not undermine the purpose of a business, to keep customers and make money.

The method exemplified in this book is down to earth, practical and grounded in a proven theory. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give it, is that it teaches you how to 'see' from a perspective that will shock you yet motivate you to improve your work design. By improving your work design you please your customers, your staff morale goes up because they feel that they are making a difference and guess what you will please yourself because your profits will go up as you eradicate waste out of your work design

The book sets out this method in a readable, accessible style and is littered with genuine examples that enable you to 'see' how it can work for you. You will not get all the answers from the book, this is not what is about - a good method does not give you the answers (how could it, without application to your system ?) it invites you to study your own system and make improvements on the back of your findings

If you want a book that will motivate you to get reconnected with your customers, create value for them and improve your staff morale and profits - BUY THIS NOW !

Another tip - find out more about John's inspiring work and if you feel you have a commitment from your organisation to go down this path they will deliver a three day course on the principles of lean service, with a money back guarantee if you feel you have got no value out of it....now you can't ask for more than that !

p.s. I have no formal connection with John and Vanguard - even if this does sound like an advertisement (!) I am just a fan of their work and confident that this can help industry and the public sector deliver real improvement in performance

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13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best, 23 Sep 2004
Chapter 6 -- Learning to see, learning to read is worth the price of the book by itself. This is one of the most clear and useful descriptions of how management must transform that I have ever read.

Nice work John Seddon!

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10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, 10 Sep 2005
By David McCabe (Glasgow, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Should be read by all those who believe the only way to manage is by using targets, targets and more targets. Eye opening - shows that there are better ways.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliance
I have read many management books, but this is by far the best. Easy to read and completley common sense, something that is often overlooked. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Nicholas Lund

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring - if a little heavy in places
In "Freedom from Command and Control" John Sneddon provides an excellent analysis of the error of target-driven business management. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Ross Maynard

4.0 out of 5 stars edward
The sort of book it would be useful for service industry mangers (bank or prehaps i dont know civil servants etc)

A good book to explain TMS for service industry... Read more
Published 10 months ago by edward

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