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Niels Pflaeging

@nielspflaeging.bsky.social
267 followers 272 following 1.1K posts

Citizen, leadership philosopher, management exorcist, author of 12 books, entrepreneur, inventor. BetaCodex founder www.betacodex.org. Founder at Red42 www.redforty2.com and qomenius www.qomenius.com. Co-creator of TOSD www.timeoriented.dev

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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 12h
Alignment. 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?
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Software 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!
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
One 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.
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Time-Oriented Software Development (TOSD) is going on tour. Meet me there! For more details: www.timeoriented.dev Further dates coming soon.
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
This 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...
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Check 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.com
Scholar 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Diese 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.com
Frisch eingetroffen: Essays zu Beta, Vol. 2
Eine Sammlung von 19 Texten aus den Jahren 2018 bis 2026 zeigt die ganze Bandbreite von BetaCodex-Themen, Ansätzen und Durchbrüchen
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Why 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.
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Today 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.com
Henry Ford’s timeless book ‘Today and Tomorrow‘ from 1926 gains a new edition
In 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Heute 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!
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Tomorrow. 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.com
Book Talk: “Today and Tomorrow” by Henry Ford 🔴News from the Beta World #90
YouTube video by BetaCodex Network
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Most 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.com
To get unstuck, first renounce that obsession with acceptance
The overwhelming share of change efforts in organizations is doomed right from the start. The problem is not people
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Ein 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.com
KI & Organisation mit Niels Pflaeging
YouTube video by Jan Krims
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Read 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!
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
This 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.com
Concepts of time-oriented organizing: Rhythmicity, Entrainment, Punctuality
To make good use of the structure of time, and to apply the science of flow to work systems, three concepts appear to matter most
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Hello 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!
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Im 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.
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Decision-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.com
Having to decide is a sign of weakness
It usually means those "decision-makers" do not know what they want
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Here’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.com
To judge the potential of humans and AI, look closer at the nature of learning
There are two types of human learning. Both matter
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Remember: 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.
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Sign 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A new article! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/having-to-...
nielspflaeging.substack.com
Having to decide is a sign of weakness
It usually means those "decision-makers" do not know what they want
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
New article coming tomorrow on the Red42 web magazine. Subscribe today to get it delivered to your mailbox tomorrow! nielspflaeging.substack.com
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Remember: When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/stop-annua...
nielspflaeging.substack.com
Stop annual planning, scrap budgeting, put an end to all target-setting
There is an alternative that works for all kinds of companies. Its name is Relative Targets
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Are your people slow — or are they under-authorized? nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/to-get-uns...
nielspflaeging.substack.com
To get unstuck, first renounce that obsession with acceptance
The overwhelming share of change efforts in organizations is doomed right from the start. The problem is not people
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Scrum 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.com
Fads & 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Check out my most popular articles published on the Red42 web magazine! nielspflaeging.substack.com You can subscribe to the web mag free of charge.
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
The 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.com
If it doesn't distinguish Periphery and Center, it's not modern org design at all
The overwhelming amount of organization design concepts fails to acknowledge the fundamental distinction that matters most in complexity
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
A 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.com
Time is vastly underrated as a force of organizing
Time has gotten a bad reputation in management circles — and undeservedly so
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Stop obsessing about acceptance! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/to-get-uns...
nielspflaeging.substack.com
To get unstuck, first renounce that obsession with acceptance
The overwhelming share of change efforts in organizations is doomed right from the start. The problem is not people
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Watch now! betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/rijon-eric...
betacodexnetwork.substack.com
Rijon Erickson and Niels Pflaeging go to the sources of Beta thinking
Episode #89 of the News from the Beta World podcast is a journey back in time
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
In 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.com
Frederick W. Taylor: A visit
For a while, he and I had a complicated relationship. Then I made it up to him
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Coming 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.com
A genealogy of Beta: Going to the sources of Beta thinking 🔴 News from the Beta World #89
YouTube video by BetaCodex Network
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Tune 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.com
A genealogy of Beta: Going to the sources of Beta thinking 🔴 News from the Beta World #89
YouTube video by BetaCodex Network
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Neue Podcasteipisode! www.linkedin.com/posts/frank-...
linkedin.com
#agilophil #agilophil #podcast #tosd #softwareentwicklung #agilität #scrum #kanban #produktentwicklung #organisation | Frank Hampe
Was 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...
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Amazing 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.com
Henry Ford's Mirror of America
YouTube video by US National Archives
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Cutting-edge research requires imagination and creativity. Unfortunately, this is all too often forgotten.
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Reposted by Niels Pflaeging
Bob Merberg @heighho.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
A 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.“
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Check 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-...
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Join me in Podgorica! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/it-spot-20...
nielspflaeging.substack.com
IT Spot 2026, Podgorica: Keynote and Masterclass
Visit Montenegro to listen to and discuss with Niels Pflaeging., in October
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This 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.com
Frederick W. Taylor: A visit
For a while, he and I had a complicated relationship. Then I made it up to him
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Read 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Ein neues Podcastinterview! www.linkedin.com/posts/frankl...
linkedin.com
#franklyspeaking #scaleuppodcast #podcastfürunternehmer #künstlicheintelligenz | scale up
Die 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:...
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Watch 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.com
Learning without teaching: A conversation about the qomenius approach
When 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?
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Join 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Check 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.com
Learning without teaching: A conversation about the qomenius approach
When 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?
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Why not overcome the obvious conceptual flaws of Scrum, for good? betacodexnetwork.substack.com/p/what-if-so...
betacodexnetwork.substack.com
What 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
You can always do the wrong thing HARDER. Like working in Sprints! nielspflaeging.substack.com/p/sprints-we...
nielspflaeging.substack.com
Sprints were never a path to agility & flow: They were just another wrong turn
In software development, adopting Sprints was never a path to agility and flow: It was yet another wrong turn
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
What 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.com
From Toyota to TOSD: For high performance, make time the boss
Most 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
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Niels Pflaeging @nielspflaeging.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
I will speak at this event in Montenegro in October. Join me! itspot.me
itspot.me
IT SPOT 2026 | Montenegro's Technology Summit
IT SPOT 2026 — Montenegro's premier technology summit. 15–16 October 2026, Montenegrin Music Centre, Podgorica. Join 500+ innovators, leaders and decision-makers.
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