Complexity Management
Business Club

In an exciting new venture Dr Elizabeth McMillan, of the Centre for Complexity and Change and Dr Ysanne Carlisle of the Open Business School are working together to set up a business club that is open to all organisation whether in the public, private or not for profit sectors.

Club members would benefit by having access to the latest management research and by sharing good practice, and the University would benefit by improving its industry links and its access to research data.

‘Taster’ Sessions

To launch the project a number of free half day ‘Taster’ events are to be held. They will include a presentation on complexity, innovation and change, detailed information for prospective members and open discussions. Events will be held in Milton Keynes on 1^st April, 8^th May and 12^th June and in London on February 20^th.

Initially the Club will focus on the following topics: Innovation; Complexity; Managing Change; Leadership; Organisation Structures and Processes.

Membership Packages

1. Full Membership

On an annual basis members would be entitled to:

• 5 days free action research / consultancy - from a highly qualified academic with practical management experience. This could include a review of internal organisation processes.
• Networking events and Management Clinics on key issues.
• A one day workshop introducing and exploring the latest management thinking based on complexity concepts. This will include a free copy of ‘Complexity, Management and the Dynamics of Change: Challenges for Practice’ published by Routledge.
• An E-Digest and updates on networking activities and the latest relevant management research.
• The training and development of an in-house co-facilitator in basic action research. A selected employee may act as a co-facilitator in the consultancy / action research project with the academic researcher / consultant acting as mentor and coach. He / she will develop their intellectual capacity which will be earthed in practical management issues. They will learn how to operationalise complexity concepts and develop basic research skills.

Full Membership costs £10,000 per annum.

2. Networking Membership

On an annual basis members would be entitled to:

• Networking events and Management Clinics on key issues.
• Reduced rate fee for up to 3 delegates to attend a one day workshop introducing and exploring the latest management thinking based on complexity concepts. This will include a free copy of ‘Complexity, Management and the Dynamics of Change: Challenges for Practice’.
• An E-Digest and updates on networking activities and the latest relevant management research.

Networking Membership costs £3,000 per annum per organisation.

Other membership options may be possible. Please contact Dr McMillan or Dr Carlisle.

Advisory Group

An Advisory Group consisting of one representative per organisation will meet once a year to foster collaboration and to agree the main focus of the year end networking event.

Benefits of membership

• Access to a progressive network of organisations
• Expert and unbiased advice on key management issues
• Participation in a rich interchange of knowledge
• Direct access to the latest research from members of a world class university
• An employee able to bring new expertise and experience to the organisation – full members only
• Improved organisational performance

For further information and to reserve places on a ‘Taster’ session contact: Dr Elizabeth McMillan via email m.e.mcmillan@open.ac.uk or Dr Y. Carlisle at y.m.carlisle@open.ac.uk.

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