This aeroplane book is for one of those short hops - perhaps Heathrow to Belfast. I had met Simon Dodds and discussed the role of simulation and modeling with him, so when I heard he had written a book I got a copy and sat straight down to read it.

What sets this book apart from others on improvement methods is the way in which the author has sat down and worked out what has happened and then put it all back together. While he draws on many theories, he relates them back to things in his life. Since his life is surgery, this brings both credibility and accessibility to the narrative. Having said that, Simon is not your average surgeon. As he points out himself, he has no golfing skills or interest in the course. Moreover, few consultants could knock up a programme to solve a Sudoku or write their own simulation software, since few will have a computing degree.

The three wins are to improve staff motivation, to improve quality and to improve the performance the service for vascular surgery patients. The open-minded way in which he approaches the problems and then fills in the gaps in his knowledge is one of the more endearing aspects of this book, which contains a useful reading list as a result.

The juxtaposition of stories about learning to juggle and learning to organise clinics sheds a fascinating light on a curious and empirical mind at work. The text is well laid and manages to connect the history of change with the theory of change. What more can I say? A good read.

(ISBN 978-1-84753-631-0)

Five Aeroplane Books