About Vanguard
Vanguard management consulting was founded in 1985 in the UK by Professor John Seddon, occupational psychologist, researcher, author, management thinker and leading authority on change in organisations.
He is known for adapting the Toyota Production System and the work of W. Edwards Deming and Taiichi Ohno into a methodology for improving performance in service industries. This methodology was called 'Vanguard Systems Thinking' and has been making significant contributions to the role of human factors in quality ever since.
John's outspoken criticism of some traditional methods of management has drawn media attention but even they could not dispute the effect Systems Thinking has on organisations that adopt it.
The Times wrote:
"It would be tempting to dismiss Mr Seddon as merely another consultant with a product to sell — if his standing in the sector were not so high. A former psychologist who has worked with a number of councils, a petition calling for him to become a public services tsar has collected 1,200 signatures. Scores of online comments pay tribute to him in almost evangelical terms. Several are from local government officials"
The continued success of Systems Thinking in both public and private sector service organisations has led to the expansion of Vanguard Consulting and there are now several offices throughout northern Europe.
Stuart Corrigan, Managing Director of Vanguard Scotland, and Denise Toscani, Director of Vanguard Scotland, worked with Professor Seddon and were so successful that John licensed them to set up the independent company Vanguard Scotland. Vanguard Scotland consultants have worked across the globe and a number of their UK projects have been cited as case studies in John Seddon's publications.
