tech·nic·al·ly agile class·i·fic·at·ion

Organisational Physics: Leveraging Systems Thinking for Agile Adaptability

Exploring systems thinking, organisational dynamics, complexity theory, and decision-making to enhance adaptability, resilience, and continuous improvement.

Organisational Physics is a conceptual model that uses systems thinking to analyse and influence the dynamics within organisations, focusing on the interplay between people, processes, and technology.

Image
https://nkdagility.com/resources/organisational-physics/

Overview

Organisational Physics is the application of systems thinking to comprehend and influence the dynamics within an organisation. It offers a conceptual model that helps teams understand how elements such as people, processes, and technology interact, influencing overall organisational behaviour and performance.

By recognising patterns and feedback loops, Organisational Physics enables organisations to identify systemic issues and areas for improvement. It provides a framework to help teams and leaders understand the forces at play within their organisation, facilitating more effective decision-making, change management, and innovation.

This model empowers organisations to be more adaptable, resilient, and capable of responding to challenges while maintaining focus on value delivery. It’s not just about managing specific methodologies; rather, Organisational Physics offers a comprehensive perspective on the underlying dynamics that drive performance, creating a culture of continuous improvement.

In rapidly changing environments, this conceptual model provides a foundation for leaders to align strategies with the reality of their operational environment. By embracing Organisational Physics, organisations can navigate complexity more effectively, improving their decision-making processes and driving long-term success.

Learn More about Organisational Physics

Tags

Cell Structure Design

Cell Structure Design is an organisational design model developed by Niels Pfläging, rooted in the principles of the Beta Codex. It replaces traditional hierarchies with a decentralised, network-based structure composed of autonomous, value-creating units called cells. Each cell operates with end-to-end responsibility, enabling responsiveness, accountability, and continuous adaptation. Informed by complexity theory, Cell Structure Design rejects command-and-control in favour of dynamic coordination and transparency, empowering people to self-organise around customer value rather than roles or silos.
    Tags

    Complexity Thinking

    An approach to understanding and managing organisations, systems, and uncertainty using complexity science, emergence, and nonlinear dynamics. Incudes but not limited to Cynefin and Stacy.
    Blog

    Why Measuring Individual Cycle Time is Killing Your Flow (And What to Do Instead)

    Measuring individual cycle time in Kanban misleads teams, hides real bottlenecks, and harms flow. Focus on system-wide metrics like PCE, WIP, and throughput instead.
    Videos

    Addressing Systemic Issues in Agile Organizations

    Explores why Agile fails without addressing systemic issues, highlighting the need for organisational change, meaningful metrics, and the courage to make bold improvements.
    Videos

    Transforming Agile: How to Shift from Blame to Systemic Solutions for Better Team Dynamics

    Explores how shifting from blame to addressing systemic issues and measurement systems can improve team dynamics, collaboration, and agility in software development.
    Videos

    Navigating Complexity: How to Foster Agility and Innovation in Business Decision-Making

    Explores how businesses can boost agility and innovation by adapting decision-making, avoiding bureaucracy, and fostering continuous learning in complex environments.
    Videos

    There’s No Such Thing as an Agile Transformation: Why You Should Focus on the System, Not the Culture

    Explains why lasting organisational change comes from adjusting systems—rules, processes, and structures—rather than trying to directly transform culture.
    Blog

    The Urgent Call for Agile Organisational Transformation

    Explores why traditional hierarchical organisations struggle in fast-changing markets and argues for agile, decentralised structures to boost adaptability and innovation.
    Blog

    What is Taylorism, and why Waterfall is just the tip of the iceberg!

    Explores how Taylorism shaped modern management, leading to rigid hierarchies, bureaucracy, and dehumanising work practices that persist beyond Waterfall methodologies.
    Signals

    Why Measuring Individual Cycle Time Fails to Help Teams

    Measuring individual cycle time overlooks team performance and system bottlenecks. Focus on lead time, throughput, and process efficiency to improve workflow.
    Tags

    Scaling

    Coordinate multiple teams to deliver complex products while preserving agility. Focus on alignment, flow, and value delivery across the enterprise using lean principles and adaptive product structures.
    Blog

    Professional Organisational Change at the Ghana Police Service

    Explores the Ghana Police Service’s shift to a modern, professional model using servant leadership, agile frameworks, and strategic change to restore public trust and effectiveness.
    Tags

    Social Technologies

    Social technologies are systems of thought that shape collaboration, decision-making, and adaptability. Rooted in self-organisation and continuous learning, they enable organisations to evolve, innovate, and create sustainable value.
    Videos

    How to Achieve Predictability in Business through Agile Principles

    Learn how Agile principles help businesses improve predictability by addressing challenges, optimising systems, aligning goals, and adapting to change for consistent results.

    Connect with Martin Hinshelwood

    If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.

    Concepts


    Categories


    Tags

    GitHub (4)
    Scaling (15)
    Windows (97)

    Our Happy Clients​

    We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.​

    Milliman Logo

    Milliman

    ProgramUtvikling Logo

    ProgramUtvikling

    Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo

    Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd

    CR2

    Deliotte Logo

    Deliotte

    Schlumberger Logo

    Schlumberger

    Workday Logo

    Workday

    Teleplan Logo

    Teleplan

    Slicedbread Logo

    Slicedbread

    Illumina Logo

    Illumina

    ALS Life Sciences Logo

    ALS Life Sciences

    Kongsberg Maritime Logo

    Kongsberg Maritime

    Jack Links Logo

    Jack Links

    SuperControl Logo

    SuperControl

    Philips Logo

    Philips

    Lockheed Martin Logo

    Lockheed Martin

    MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd. Logo

    MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.

    Bistech Logo

    Bistech

    Washington Department of Enterprise Services Logo

    Washington Department of Enterprise Services

    Washington Department of Transport Logo

    Washington Department of Transport

    Royal Air Force Logo

    Royal Air Force

    New Hampshire Supreme Court Logo

    New Hampshire Supreme Court

    Department of Work and Pensions (UK) Logo

    Department of Work and Pensions (UK)

    Nottingham County Council Logo

    Nottingham County Council

    Teleplan Logo

    Teleplan

    Boeing Logo

    Boeing

    Microsoft Logo

    Microsoft

    Ericson Logo

    Ericson

    Xceptor - Process and Data Automation Logo

    Xceptor - Process and Data Automation

    Kongsberg Maritime Logo

    Kongsberg Maritime