The Lego® Serious Play® Methodology as a powerful and more widespread tool in the Public Sector? By Thorbjørn Fangel, Senior Consultant, IntHRface, tf@inthrface.com
In a Danish context, the consulting firm IntHRface has in the resent years succeeded in helping an increasing number of progressive leaders in the public sector to creating significant results with developing their public-sector organizations by the use of Lego® Serious Play® (LSP). We think that the LSP could be a game changer in developing the public sector
Having “seen the light” regarding LSP and at the same time having experienced numerous ineffective strategy processes in the past, one tends to wonder in which areas or sectors LSP is likely to play an even more significant role in the future.
One possible game changer might be the public sector, historically often being a frightening example of wasted strategy processes that has mostly benefitted consultant earnings and to a much lesser extent the relevant organizations, employees and citizens. I claim this as a former longtime leader in the Danish public sector who still cares for the strategical and organizational development of this – in a Western European context – very significant part of our societies.
Many public organizations are characterized by having highly skilled and dedicated employees with knowledge that are quite essential to generate the innovative power necessary to solve the structural and financial challenges increasingly faced by many western European public sectors in the coming years.
At the same time, the public sector is often inhibited by very bureaucratic, hierarchic and inflexible processes, routines and cultures, that calls for very powerful leadership and change management to make real changes possible.
Even though I cannot support the claim by hard data, it is my firm believe that that the quality of the leaders in the Danish public sector has increased significantly in the past years and these leaders are increasingly recognizing the need for innovative participatory processes, that sets new standards for innovative impact. This recognition might also be connected to the increasing and persistent demands for higher efficiency is almost every part of the public sector.
Following this IntHRface has also seen several public organizations taking steps to increase their internal knowledge of this tool by having key leaders and HR employees to attend facilitator courses. In this regard, our attention is continuously being drawn to the significance of putting together courses that combines a solid theoretical knowledge with very practical hands on experience with the Serious Play® processes. In addition, we find a solid Lego® Serious Play® manual and an offer to get feedback, supervision and continued help for larger organizational, very much appreciated by new facilitators.
This approach is at the core of the facilitator training that has been offered by IntHRface during many years. Together with other dedicated Lego® Serious Play® “nerds” I am hopeful and confident that we will get the chance of pushing this tool to a more significant role in the strategy and team developing processes in the public sector in the years to come.
See the links below for more info about our training activities in LSP and please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.
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