Creating The Future Using Intelligent Systems

The U.K. government has extensively used target setting in its attempt to improve the performance of both central and local government. However, the results have been very mixed and mirror those problems experienced by many commercial organizations that also have attempted to use targets to improve performance. In this article, a practical method of overcoming these problems is outlined, using an approach that has evolved from complexity theory. This approach uses the concept of intelligent systems. It can be used to highlight the causes of poor performance, identify the changes required to improve that performance, and encourage the organizational behavior that will ensure that the organization has the practical means to create the desired future state.