Dan Harley

The Anatomy of a Bad Idea Bad ideas can share several features: They take a complex problem and apply a one-shot solution: the silver bullet that ignores the root cause. They are easy to understand, and don’t require …

"You can’t stop bad ideas – nor should we attempt to. We need mad, bad and dangerous ideas if we are to innovate. But they should be tamed before being unleashed."

paulitaylor.com/2024/10/20/t...

The Anatomy of a Bad Idea Bad ideas can share several features: They take a complex problem and apply a one-shot solution: the silver bullet that ignores the root cause. They are easy to understand, and don’t require …

"To prevent bad ideas gaining traction, we need to foster a culture of thoughtful innovation. This involves clearly defining problems, encouraging diverse perspectives& collaboration,& implementing a structured ideation process with thorough research& prototyping."

paulitaylor.com/2024/10/20/t...

Mapping Relationships, Not Just Results As part of my commitment to share insights from my Professional Doctorate in Applied Social Research at the University of Stirling, I’ve been reflecting on what I am learning and how it connects to my...

I’ve written a new blog reflecting on how studying Social Network Analysis as part of my Professional Doctorate in Applied Social Research is shaping how I see improvement and collaboration. #sna #dasr

www.linkedin.com/pulse/mappin...

The limits of AI in social change More and more nonprofits are using AI. However, the excitement around scale and efficiency often overshadows a critical question: What does it mean to bring machine-generated abstraction into systems ...

"LLMs can play a role in social change, but must stay narrow, supportive& grounded in connection. They can amplify relationships, reveal patterns in systems, or automate tasks that don’t require human judgement. But they cannot replace the relational processes that make systems real."

The limits of AI in social change More and more nonprofits are using AI. However, the excitement around scale and efficiency often overshadows a critical question: What does it mean to bring machine-generated abstraction into systems ...

"Change doesn’t emerge from patterns or averages; it emerges from the slow, messy, human work of showing up, listening, and building together. This requires moral discernment, cultural fluency, and the ability to hold space for uncertainty."

idronline.org/article/tech...

The limits of AI in social change More and more nonprofits are using AI. However, the excitement around scale and efficiency often overshadows a critical question: What does it mean to bring machine-generated abstraction into systems ...

On the weaknesses of using LLMs in social change work: "Loss of relational insight: Wisdom doesn’t arise from patterns alone. It comes from the trust, tension, and emotional connection born of human interaction."

idronline.org/article/tech...

The limits of AI in social change More and more nonprofits are using AI. However, the excitement around scale and efficiency often overshadows a critical question: What does it mean to bring machine-generated abstraction into systems ...

On the weaknesses of using LLMs in social change work: "Hollow consensus: Outputs that bypass relational work may appear actionable, but they lack the trust and shared ownership that give decisions their power"

idronline.org/article/tech...

The limits of AI in social change More and more nonprofits are using AI. However, the excitement around scale and efficiency often overshadows a critical question: What does it mean to bring machine-generated abstraction into systems ...

On LLMs, "they can serve as tools that reframe, rephrase, and reorganise a person’s ideas in ways that feel expressive. This can enable creativity and reflection, but let’s be clear: It’s not agency. The tool reshapes inputs but does not make meaning."

idronline.org/article/tech...

In systems of social change, we grapple with an enduring tension: connection versus abstraction. Connection is slow, human, and relational. It thrives on trust, listening, and collaboration. Abstraction, on the other hand, simplifies complexity into patterns, insights, and models. It is fast, scalable, and efficient.

"In systems of social change, we grapple with an enduring tension: connection vs abstraction. Connection is slow, human& relational. It thrives on trust, listening& collaboration. Abstraction, on the other hand, simplifies complexity into patterns, insights& models. It is fast, scalable& efficient."

Wayfinding: Creating Without a Map On moving forward even when you don't know where you're headed

"Wayfinding is the art of figuring out where you’re going when you don’t know the exact destination. You don’t need a map, just a compass. And that compass is made up of clues: joy, curiosity, energy, alignment, resonance, aliveness."

annabellewrites.substack.com/p/wayfinding...

Improving performance From KPIs to group mindedness

"Performance measures can themselves create a performance — they become performative."

open.substack.com/pub/chrismow...

Digital Transformation and Our Failure To Learn From Past Mistakes The cyclical nature of public sector failure is a testament not to a lack of intelligence or goodwill, but to a deeply ingrained resistance to genuine learning. It’s a system designed for sta…

Good blog on how Digital transformation is not failing because of technology, it’s failing because orgs keep repeating past mistakes, ignoring human complexity, and refusing to learn. Real transformation means changing how we learn, not just digitising services

paulitaylor.com/2025/09/05/d...

The Problem with a Narrow Focus on Efficiency Being efficient is not half as effective as conventional management would like to think.

"Unlike private companies driven by profit maximisation (where efficiency directly impacts the bottom line), public services aim for broad social outcomes, welfare, and addressing societal needs. Efficacy should be the primary driver, with efficiency as a supporting factor."

lttr.ai/AhMyD

The Problem with a Narrow Focus on Efficiency Being efficient is not half as effective as conventional management would like to think.

"While understanding and responding to demand is fundamental, a pure focus on it can lead to public services becoming a perpetually overwhelmed and ultimately less effective demand-response machine."

lttr.ai/AhMyD

The Problem with a Narrow Focus on Efficiency Being efficient is not half as effective as conventional management would like to think.

"An effective service, even if it appears less efficient in immediate monetary terms, can lead to significant long-term savings and societal benefits by genuinely solving problems and preventing future issues."

lttr.ai/AhMyD

The Problem with a Narrow Focus on Efficiency Being efficient is not half as effective as conventional management would like to think.

"Efficiency is very often a response to demand-led thinking, particularly in the context of public services, where resources are finite. However, true success hinges on efficacy, meaning ‘doing the right things’."
lttr.ai/AhMyD

Thank you. Good luck for the thesis stage 😁

I’ve just published a short reflection on completing Year 1 of my Professional Doctorate in Applied Social Research at the University of Stirling. | Dan Harley I’ve just published a short reflection on completing Year 1 of my Professional Doctorate in Applied Social Research at the University of Stirling. I share what it’s been like returning to study at 53,...

Short reflection on completing year 1 of my Professional Doctorate in Applied Social Research

www.linkedin.com/posts/dan-ha...

Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) - learningforsustainability.net Resources and strategies to support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for systems change and sustainability work.

"Effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning approaches support teams to reflect, adapt, and make sense of change as it unfolds. This means grounding evaluation in context, values, and relationships – not just metrics and performance indicators."

learningforsustainability.net/evaluation/

Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) - learningforsustainability.net Resources and strategies to support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for systems change and sustainability work.

"In complex, real-world settings, evaluation is more than a reporting requirement – it’s part of a continuous learning process."

learningforsustainability.net/evaluation/

Stories that change us - Why narrative feedback matters in health and care Update from Care Opinion

2/ "hear it, respond to it and be changed by it. When stories are shared, and truly heard, they don’t just monitor the system, they help to change it."

www.careopinion.org.uk/blogposts/12...

Stories that change us - Why narrative feedback matters in health and care Update from Care Opinion

1/ "Narrative feedback can do what metrics alone cannot. It helps us connect, it helps us learn and it helps us lead. Let’s not just measure experience, let’s..."

www.careopinion.org.uk/blogposts/12...

Stories that change us - Why narrative feedback matters in health and care Update from Care Opinion

2/ "trust and fosters a learning culture. It’s not about blame, it’s about building relationships, deepening understanding, and making care more human."

www.careopinion.org.uk/blogposts/12...

Stories that change us - Why narrative feedback matters in health and care Update from Care Opinion

1/ "Every time someone shares a story, they open the door to a conversation, and as staff and services can read and respond publicly, feedback becomes dialogue. This transparency builds..."

www.careopinion.org.uk/blogposts/12...

Streeting sets out digital overhaul of NHS centred on ‘doctor in your pocket’ app Health secretary banks on resulting efficiencies to reduce number of frontline workers in 10-year health plan

“The NHS app will become a doctor in your pocket, bringing our health service into the 21st century,”

Interesting piece in @guardian

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

2/ “smooth out these differences or merge them into a single voice. Instead, it keeps them visible and works across them with care.”

Designing together: reflections on co-design in complex settings - learningforsustainability.net This post reflects on co-design practice in complex, multi-stakeholder settings, highlighting six interwoven elements that support inclusive, adaptive, and collaborative approaches.

1/ “Complex projects often bring together people with different starting points- worldviews, roles, accountabilities,& measures of success. Co-design doesn’t try to…”

learningforsustainability.net/post/co-desi...

Designing together: reflections on co-design in complex settings - learningforsustainability.net This post reflects on co-design practice in complex, multi-stakeholder settings, highlighting six interwoven elements that support inclusive, adaptive, and collaborative approaches.

“co-design invites us to reimagine not only systems and outcomes, but also ourselves. It reminds us that in complex settings, we move forward in steps—through reflection, adaptive management, and shared intent.”

learningforsustainability.net/post/co-desi...

Participatory action research: tackling today’s complex challenges - learningforsustainability.net Participatory action research (PAR) offers a practical and inclusive approach to tackling today’s complex challenges. By combining collaboration, critical reflection, and iterative cycles of inquiry a...

2/ “made harder by defensive behaviours in individuals and organisations—patterns that make certain topics “undiscussable” or create a gap between stated values and actions.”

learningforsustainability.net/post/par-for...

Participatory action research: tackling today’s complex challenges - learningforsustainability.net Participatory action research (PAR) offers a practical and inclusive approach to tackling today’s complex challenges. By combining collaboration, critical reflection, and iterative cycles of inquiry a...

1/ “Learning—especially when it means revisiting old beliefs or practices—can be uncomfortable. It often requires confronting uncertainties or admitting that previous approaches may no longer be effective. This discomfort is…”

learningforsustainability.net/post/par-for...