When Three Teams Became One (And Actually Meant It)
by Tony Quinlan on Aug 20, 2025 10:30:00 AM
Most team mergers try to eliminate differences and create alignment. We discovered the opposite approach worked better - embracing those differences and letting them become strategic advantages. Here's how that played out with a Unilever R&D team.
Understanding Company Culture As A Living System
by Tony Quinlan on Jul 31, 2025 12:30:00 PM
You know that moment when you realise that your carefully planned culture initiative is being quietly undermined by the very people it's meant to help? Or when you see teams somehow pulling together brilliantly during a crisis, despite all your formal processes saying they shouldn't b …
Navigating Organisational Complexity: When Small Changes Create Profound Shifts
by Tony Quinlan on Jul 30, 2025 12:30:00 PM
You know those moments when everything at work feels impossibly tangled? When a straightforward project somehow spirals into a complex web of unexpected challenges, interdependencies, and unintended consequences? If you've experienced the frustration of watching a simple change ripple …
When Departments Don't Talk: Making Sense of Organisational Complexity
by Tony Quinlan on Feb 28, 2025 12:30:00 PM
Complex organisational issues rarely have.... no wait, let’s try that one again.
Emergent Behaviours (And Culture) Are Patterned But Not Predictable
by Tony Quinlan on Feb 25, 2025 12:30:00 PM
Most people crave predictability in their organisations. It’s a natural human instinct to want control and structure, and many believe that achieving this would simplify the challenges of leadership. We plan strategies, set goals, and create processes, all based on the assumption that …
Using Stories To Increase Sales At Pfizer
by Tony Quinlan on Feb 21, 2025 11:49:27 AM
In late 2009, Pfizer's UK Primary Care regional office sought to enhance the performance of a mature medicine that, despite its own safety record, was affected by issues within its broader drug class. Recognising that sales representatives' confidence significantly influenced customer …
Why Is The Narrative Of Your Organisation Important?
by Tony Quinlan on Jan 27, 2025 12:30:00 PM
I suspect most of us have sat through those earnest presentations about organisational culture and storytelling. You know the ones - they tend to feature stock photos of diverse teams gathered around whiteboards, all pointing enthusiastically at something just out of frame. (I've alwa …
Building Teams That Can Effectively Manage Conflict
by Tony Quinlan on Nov 11, 2024 3:00:00 PM
Conflict is just a part of working in any team. Whether it's a disagreement on strategy, a clash of personalities, or different ideas about tackling a project, conflicts are going to happen. But here's the thing—not all conflicts are bad. When handled right, they can actually help wit …
How Narrative Analysis Can Help To Improve Service Delivery In Healthcare
by Tony Quinlan on Oct 11, 2024 10:00:00 AM
The healthcare sector is on a continuous journey of improvement. For senior managers to understand how to enhance patient care and treatment outcomes, they need access and the ability to make sense of up-to-date and comprehensive information. However, traditional data collection metho …
Promoting Organisational Development: The Impact Of Narrative Research
by Tony Quinlan on Sep 29, 2024 10:00:00 AM
Faced with a challenging economic landscape, many businesses seek ways to adapt, grow, and thrive. However, it’s difficult to do so without good, actionable information from key stakeholders. Narrative research has emerged as a powerful way to obtain and explore the stories and experi …