'Nature dictates that as individuals we are conceived, are born, and then at some point later die. The shape of the arc that we follow, involving growth and development with eventual decline, is something that we might all like to influence. It has been argued that the same basic curve, however, is followed by societies, civilisations and indeed organisations. How does an organisation influence its trajectory? How do organisations avoid the pull towards conservatism and protectionism associated with the developmental plateau found at the top of the curve?. I think that in this book Professor Alessandra Lemma has given us something of an insight into this process within one organisation, the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. The work of the Trust is now broad. Training and education makes up almost half of the activity, while Child and Adolescent mental Health Services over half of the clinical work. |