Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 12hAlignment. That's a pattern from the realm of command-and-control. People who use it (and words like "leaders" and "leading") are promoters of command-and-control thinking. And who wants that? 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Software implementation projects (ERP transformations etc.) should NEVER take 18 or 24 months or more. They should always take 90 days, regardless of size, and be strictly time-oriented. Want to go TOSI and get your software transformation done in weeks, not years? Get in touch! 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 30/09/2026One of the things we figured out last year is that software implementation projects (ERPs etc.) should never take 18 or 24 months or more. They should take 90 days and be strictly time-oriented. The "iron triangle" is a hoax: Old thinking has been misled by flawed ideas on time, cost & quality. 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Time-Oriented Software Development (TOSD) is going on tour. Meet me there! For more details: www.timeoriented.dev Further dates coming soon. 020
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/09/2026This is what it looks like when an organization doesn't just transform to Beta , but keeps sustaining & deepening its Beta model using OpenSpace Beta and revising its decentralized Cell Structure Design. Check out the full post from AWO Mönchengladbach on Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DdwNOwkjMo... 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Check out today's new post on the BetaCodex Network web mag, in which I review a brand new book by critical management legend Henry Mintzberg! betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/scholar-an...betacodexnetwork.substack.comScholar and critical management icon Henry Mintzberg wrote a new book on management myths. Should you read it?53 years after his 1st book, in which he examined the true nature of managerial work, the 87-year-old Canadian keeps trying to free us from stifling management myths 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Diese Woche ist eine neue Veröffentlichung von Silke Hermann und mir erschienen! In diesem kurzen Video erfährst du mehr dazu: nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/frisch-ein...nielspflaeging.substack.comFrisch eingetroffen: Essays zu Beta, Vol. 2Eine Sammlung von 19 Texten aus den Jahren 2018 bis 2026 zeigt die ganze Bandbreite von BetaCodex-Themen, Ansätzen und Durchbrüchen 100
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Why republish a 100 year old book by a US tycoon? The answer is: It's brilliant, timeless, and filled with contemporary advice on leadership, entrepreneurship, social responsibility, environmentalism, innovation, Lean, time orientation, Kaizen, Kanban, Just-in-time - you name it. 001
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Today marks the release of my new book, Henry Ford's 1926 classic "Today and Tomorrow" - freshly and carefully edited, with a 20-page Henry Ford bio. If you are into Lean, flow and time orientation, this is a must-read. But watch the conversation first: betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/henry-ford...betacodexnetwork.substack.comHenry Ford’s timeless book ‘Today and Tomorrow‘ from 1926 gains a new editionIn our podcast’s 90th episode, Rijon Erickson and Niels Pflaeging talk about a 100-year-old book that Niels edited and re-published. Learn about Mr. Ford, and why Niels had to make this book happen 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Heute erschienen: Ein Podcast-Interview über Zeitorientierte Softwareentwicklung (Time-Oriented Software Development TOSD), das der wunderbare Mr. Agilophil, Frank Hampe, mit mir geführt hat! Wir sprechen über TOSD-Fallbeispiele und die Realisierung in der Praxis. Überall, wo es Podcasts gibt! 100
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Tomorrow. Join episode No. 90 of "News from the Beta World", which marks the launch of a brand new book: My new edition of Henry Ford's 1926 classic book "Today and Tomorrow". Tune in! www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mGe...youtube.comBook Talk: “Today and Tomorrow” by Henry Ford 🔴News from the Beta World #90YouTube video by BetaCodex Network 100
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Most organizations today are intoxicated with "Fixation on Acceptance." But they can change, today, profoundly, democratically., if they opt out of that mode and embrace "Chosen Agency." Read my article: nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/to-get-uns... Subscribe to the Red42 web magazine free of charge!nielspflaeging.substack.comTo get unstuck, first renounce that obsession with acceptanceThe overwhelming share of change efforts in organizations is doomed right from the start. The problem is not people 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Ein neues Video in deutscher Sprache: @Jan Krims hat mich eingeladen, mit ihm über BetaCodex und KI zu sprechen - und darüber, wie KI Organisationsgestaltung beeinflusst und verändert. Ich denke, wir hatten eine erfrischende Unterhaltung über das Thema! www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwVb...youtube.comKI & Organisation mit Niels PflaegingYouTube video by Jan Krims 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Read the current Top 5 articles on the Red42 web magazine! nielspflaeging.substack.com Topics among these articles are as varied as software development and Agile, management history, time orientation, change management and org development, leadership and organizational design! 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 06/09/2026This is a piece from January about concepts of time-oriented organizing that I am quite proud of, due to its originality and style. I hope you like it, too: nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/concepts-o... Subscribe to our web mag, if you like. It's free of charge!nielspflaeging.substack.comConcepts of time-oriented organizing: Rhythmicity, Entrainment, PunctualityTo make good use of the structure of time, and to apply the science of flow to work systems, three concepts appear to matter most 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Hello Beta people around the world! I am currently writing a book about Time-Oriented Software Development (www.timeoriented.dev). Further down the road, I will need a few people to do proof-reading and corrections. If you are interested in helping out with this, please let me know! 220
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Im November gibt's die 29. Auflage meines Erfolgsformats "Fast-Umsonst-BetaCodex-Arbeitstag" in Wiesbaden! Dieser Workshop für maximal 12 Teilnehmende ist immer auch ein kleines Gipfeltreffen der BetaCodex Network-Bewegung. Ein Tag für echten Diskurs. Link im Kommentar unten. 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Decision-making is frequently misunderstood: As something to be proud of and as something that "managers do". Look closer and you'll find that constant decision-making is the symptom of a problem. Read this week's article of mine on the Red42 web magazine: nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/having-to-...nielspflaeging.substack.comHaving to decide is a sign of weaknessIt usually means those "decision-makers" do not know what they want 110
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Here’s a new article about human learning I just published on the BetaCodex Network web magazine! I think It will also give you plenty to reflect upon with regards to the potential and the limits of AI. Enjoy! betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/to-judge-t...betacodexnetwork.substack.comTo judge the potential of humans and AI, look closer at the nature of learningThere are two types of human learning. Both matter 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Remember: There is no such thing as "black swans" and nobody needs that term - because those things are called "surprises." There is no such thing as "anti-fragility" and nobody needs that term - because that phenomenon is called "robustness". And no, stones are not "robust", they are just solid. 120
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Sign up free of charge to the Red42 web magazine, free of charge. You will get new articles and posts delivered to your mailbox and will stay always updated around all things Beta! nielspflaeging.substack.com 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 25/08/2026A new article! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/having-to-...nielspflaeging.substack.comHaving to decide is a sign of weaknessIt usually means those "decision-makers" do not know what they want 121
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/08/2026New article coming tomorrow on the Red42 web magazine. Subscribe today to get it delivered to your mailbox tomorrow! nielspflaeging.substack.com 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Remember: When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/stop-annua...nielspflaeging.substack.comStop annual planning, scrap budgeting, put an end to all target-settingThere is an alternative that works for all kinds of companies. Its name is Relative Targets 110
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Are your people slow — or are they under-authorized? nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/to-get-uns...nielspflaeging.substack.comTo get unstuck, first renounce that obsession with acceptanceThe overwhelming share of change efforts in organizations is doomed right from the start. The problem is not people 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Scrum ate up Agile, just as Six Sigma ate up Lean, and just as ISO ate up Total Quality. History is full of mediocre, or even terrible management approaches supplanting reasonable, and well-intended management movements. betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/what-went-...betacodexnetwork.substack.comFads & failure: What went wrong with TQM, Lean and Agile?None of the big management movements of the last decades delivered on its promises. Losing faith in transformation would still be a mistake 110
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Check out my most popular articles published on the Red42 web magazine! nielspflaeging.substack.com You can subscribe to the web mag free of charge. 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026The most popular article on the BetaCodex Network Substack so far – about why most approaches to organizational design are fundamentally flawed, and why organizations in a complex world are better off being decentralized. betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/if-it-does...betacodexnetwork.substack.comIf it doesn't distinguish Periphery and Center, it's not modern org design at allThe overwhelming amount of organization design concepts fails to acknowledge the fundamental distinction that matters most in complexity 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026A recent article of mine that may change your mind about what we go about organizing work! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/time-is-va...nielspflaeging.substack.comTime is vastly underrated as a force of organizingTime has gotten a bad reputation in management circles — and undeservedly so 001
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Stop obsessing about acceptance! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/to-get-uns...nielspflaeging.substack.comTo get unstuck, first renounce that obsession with acceptanceThe overwhelming share of change efforts in organizations is doomed right from the start. The problem is not people 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Watch now! betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/rijon-eric...betacodexnetwork.substack.comRijon Erickson and Niels Pflaeging go to the sources of Beta thinkingEpisode #89 of the News from the Beta World podcast is a journey back in time 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/08/2026In case you missed my recent article about my visit to Frederick W. Taylor: It's a very personal piece about a trip I made some years ago, It should be of interest to anyone dealing with management, corporations, leadership and organizing! Enjoy: nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/frederick-...nielspflaeging.substack.comFrederick W. Taylor: A visitFor a while, he and I had a complicated relationship. Then I made it up to him 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Coming up tomorrow: A deep-dive into the origins of Beta. In all its facets. Because to understand the present, we must understand the past. It's simple as that. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoAk...youtube.comA genealogy of Beta: Going to the sources of Beta thinking 🔴 News from the Beta World #89YouTube video by BetaCodex Network 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Tune in this Thursday for a new episode of “News from the Beta World”! Rijon Erickson and I will dig deep into the roots of self-organization, decentralization, time orientation and Beta. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoAk...youtube.comA genealogy of Beta: Going to the sources of Beta thinking 🔴 News from the Beta World #89YouTube video by BetaCodex Network 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Neue Podcasteipisode! www.linkedin.com/posts/frank-...linkedin.com#agilophil #agilophil #podcast #tosd #softwareentwicklung #agilität #scrum #kanban #produktentwicklung #organisation | Frank HampeWas wäre, wenn wir Softwareentwicklung nicht länger über Auslastung und Kapazitäten organisieren – sondern konsequent über Zeit? In der neuen Folge des #agilophil Podcasts spreche ich mit Niels Pflae... 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 09/08/2026Amazing footage from the 1910s and 1920s produced by Ford's film production company. It's likely one of the best ways to see the Industrial Age in America, as Henry Ford saw it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmXH...youtube.comHenry Ford's Mirror of AmericaYouTube video by US National Archives 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Cutting-edge research requires imagination and creativity. Unfortunately, this is all too often forgotten. 010
Reposted by Niels PflaegingBob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 08/08/2026A compelling, informative, thought-provoking read. “…the core philosophical idea of elevating well-being and societies is almost always forgotten and gets lost in the discussion when those ‘brave new methods’ of process management are applied.“ 111
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Check out my new essay about The Great Mr. Taylor, creator of management the social technology, and how I paid the man a visit, in Philadelphia, a couple of years ago. nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/frederick-... 020
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Join me in Podgorica! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/it-spot-20...nielspflaeging.substack.comIT Spot 2026, Podgorica: Keynote and MasterclassVisit Montenegro to listen to and discuss with Niels Pflaeging., in October 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 07/08/2026This new essay of mine is different than anything that I have written before. I think it will provoke you to rethink certain ideas that you might have about the history of the corporation and the history of management. Enjoy! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/frederick-...nielspflaeging.substack.comFrederick W. Taylor: A visitFor a while, he and I had a complicated relationship. Then I made it up to him 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Read my new essay on Substack: "Frederick W. Taylor: A visit", in which I re-evaluate the roots of organizing and management, while on a personal trip to Philadelphia. nielspflaeging.substack.com 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 05/08/2026Ein neues Podcastinterview! www.linkedin.com/posts/frankl...linkedin.com#franklyspeaking #scaleuppodcast #podcastfürunternehmer #künstlicheintelligenz | scale upDie meisten Unternehmer fragen sich gerade, ob KI ihre Mitarbeitenden ersetzt. Falsche Frage, sagt Niels Pflaeging in dieser Folge von Frankly Speaking. Die eigentliche Verschiebung passiert woanders:... 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 01/08/2026Watch the new episode of the News from the Beta World podcast! Rijon Erickson and I discuss organizational learning – beyond teaching, cramming and cheap elearning. betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/learning-w...betacodexnetwork.substack.comLearning without teaching: A conversation about the qomenius approachWhen time-boxed Beta transformations became possible, in 2018, a new question arose: How can we enable hundreds or thousands of people to learn pretty much the same stuff at pretty much the same time? 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Join me in Podgorica, Montenegro, in October, at "IT Spot 2026". I will deliver the opening keynote and a short "Masterclass" on the first day of this conference! itspot.me 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Check out the latest episode of the News from the Beta World podcast, in which Rijon and I discussed "Learning without teaching". Enjoy! betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/learning-w...betacodexnetwork.substack.comLearning without teaching: A conversation about the qomenius approachWhen time-boxed Beta transformations became possible, in 2018, a new question arose: How can we enable hundreds or thousands of people to learn pretty much the same stuff at pretty much the same time? 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Why not overcome the obvious conceptual flaws of Scrum, for good? betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/what-if-so...betacodexnetwork.substack.comWhat if software development had a heartbeat?In the first article of our series about "Patterns of Time-Oriented Software Development (TOSD)", we discuss how to bring flow and rhythm to product development 010
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/07/2026You can always do the wrong thing HARDER. Like working in Sprints! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/sprints-we...nielspflaeging.substack.comSprints were never a path to agility & flow: They were just another wrong turnIn software development, adopting Sprints was never a path to agility and flow: It was yet another wrong turn 000
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 27/07/2026What if the alternative to Agile is here already? But this time it's not a framework, but a truly different way of thinking … about time, of all things. nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/from-toyot...nielspflaeging.substack.comFrom Toyota to TOSD: For high performance, make time the bossMost businesses remain stuck in the industrial-age logic of capacity orientation. In complex markets, however, rhythmicity of work, flow and self-organization are vastly superior 020
Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/07/2026I will speak at this event in Montenegro in October. Join me! itspot.meitspot.meIT SPOT 2026 | Montenegro's Technology SummitIT SPOT 2026 — Montenegro's premier technology summit. 15–16 October 2026, Montenegrin Music Centre, Podgorica. Join 500+ innovators, leaders and decision-makers. 010