Systems Thinking — On Complexities, Constraints, and Soul in Organising Work
Why does work often feel harder than it should be? What gets in the way of meaningful progress, and how can we begin to see — and shift — the systems beneath the surface?
Join us for a thought-provoking session that revisits the fundamentals of Systems Thinking, drawing from recent high-impact research and expanding into new territory. Together, we’ll explore:
Complexities – What makes the modern workplace so complicated? And how much of that is of our own making?
Constraints – From invisible rules to legacy structures, what’s really holding us back — and how can Systems Thinking help us see (and shift) these blocks?
Soulful Systems – Can organisations have soul? Why do some feel alive, purposeful, even human — while others feel hollow? We’ll explore how this might be understood as a systemic property, not just culture or leadership.
This session is both a re-introduction to key Systems Thinking principles and a space to engage with fresh insights that are shaping how we understand and organise work today.
About the Speaker We are honoured to be joined by Dr. Harvey Maylor, Associate Professor and Senior Fellow in Management Practice at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxfod.Dr. Maylor has been with the School since 2013, serving as a programme director in the Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA), which trains leaders of the UK government’s most significant projecs.He also leads the MSc in Major Programme Management and the Leading Strategic Projects and SRO Fundamentals programms.Prior to his tenure at Oxford, he was the Founding Director of the International Centre for Programme Management at Cranfield University, delivering a US$4M portfolio of research and development activities over five yeas.His academic journey includes positions at Cardiff Business School and the University of Bah.Dr. Maylor's research focuses on systems performance and complexity, particularly in the context of major projects, and he is committed to bridging the gap between theory and practie.
His widely acclaimed textbook, Project Management (5th edition, Pearson, 2022), co-authored with Neil Turner, is Europe's best-selling project management text and has been translated into five languags.
Whether you’re new to Systems Thinking or steeped in its practice, expect a dynamic mix of theory, practical reflection, and open inquiry. Come curious.
Program will include presentation by Dr Harvey and workshop with participants. Event will be followed by a networking reception for the participants.
We are organising this event together with DTU and CBS, so come prepared for a engaging dialogue with industry professionals and academic experts.
Speakers
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