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.
The strongest work on Organisational Physics — ranked by substance, not recency. How this is ranked
Don’t Manage Dependencies, Remove Them
Explains why dependencies are a sign of poor system design and outlines steps to eliminate them by aligning teams, clarifying ownership, and …
Rethinking Capacity Planning
Explores how effective capacity planning shifts focus from individual hours to system-level flow, using Lean and Agile principles to improve …
Are We Still Pretending Coding Was the Bottleneck?
AI exposes that coding was never the main bottleneck in software delivery; real constraints are in system flow, team practices, and …
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, …
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 …
Estimating Better in an Overloaded System Is a Poor Man’s Strategy
High work in progress (WIP) causes delays and unpredictability; improving estimates won’t help. Limiting WIP and focusing on flow is key to …
Why Most Companies Operating Models Fail in Dynamic Markets
A concise comparison of Predictive and Adaptive Operating Models, explaining why traditional structures fail in dynamic markets and how …
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 …
Kendall Guide - A System of Work for AI Adoption
Don’t Manage Dependencies, Remove Them
Explains why dependencies are a sign of poor system design and outlines steps to eliminate them by aligning teams, clarifying ownership, and …
Rethinking Capacity Planning
Explores how effective capacity planning shifts focus from individual hours to system-level flow, using Lean and Agile principles to improve …
Are We Still Pretending Coding Was the Bottleneck?
AI exposes that coding was never the main bottleneck in software delivery; real constraints are in system flow, team practices, and …
Why Most Companies Operating Models Fail in Dynamic Markets
A concise comparison of Predictive and Adaptive Operating Models, explaining why traditional structures fail in dynamic markets and how …
Estimating Better in an Overloaded System Is a Poor Man’s Strategy
High work in progress (WIP) causes delays and unpredictability; improving estimates won’t help. Limiting WIP and focusing on flow is key to …
Human and AI Agency in Adaptive Systems: Strategy Before Optimisation
Explores the distinct roles of human and AI agency in adaptive systems, emphasising human-led strategy and accountability versus AI-driven …
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, …
The Urgent Call for Agile Organisational Transformation
Explores why traditional hierarchical organisations struggle in fast-changing markets and argues for agile, decentralised structures to …
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 …
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 …
Addressing Systemic Issues in Agile Organizations
Explores why Agile fails without addressing systemic issues, highlighting the need for organisational change, meaningful metrics, and the …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Kendall Guide - A System of Work for AI Adoption
18 resources, newest first
Why Most Companies Operating Models Fail in Dynamic Markets
A concise comparison of Predictive and Adaptive Operating Models, explaining why traditional structures fail in dynamic markets and how …
Don’t Manage Dependencies, Remove Them
Explains why dependencies are a sign of poor system design and outlines steps to eliminate them by aligning teams, clarifying ownership, and …
Kendall Guide - A System of Work for AI Adoption
Estimating Better in an Overloaded System Is a Poor Man’s Strategy
High work in progress (WIP) causes delays and unpredictability; improving estimates won’t help. Limiting WIP and focusing on flow is key to …
Are We Still Pretending Coding Was the Bottleneck?
AI exposes that coding was never the main bottleneck in software delivery; real constraints are in system flow, team practices, and …
Rethinking Capacity Planning
Explores how effective capacity planning shifts focus from individual hours to system-level flow, using Lean and Agile principles to improve …
Human and AI Agency in Adaptive Systems: Strategy Before Optimisation
Explores the distinct roles of human and AI agency in adaptive systems, emphasising human-led strategy and accountability versus AI-driven …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
Addressing Systemic Issues in Agile Organizations
Explores why Agile fails without addressing systemic issues, highlighting the need for organisational change, meaningful metrics, and the …
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 …
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 …
The Urgent Call for Agile Organisational Transformation
Explores why traditional hierarchical organisations struggle in fast-changing markets and argues for agile, decentralised structures to …
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 …
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 …