Prof Mike Yearworth
@mikeyearworth.bsky.social
Emeritus Professor · Problem Structuring · Problem Formulation · Soft Systems Methodology · Practice of Operational Research · Process Thinking · Facilitation · Group Support Systems · Co-Editor-in-Chief European Journal of Operational Research · CEng
Pinned
My book 'Problem Structuring: Methodology in Practice' has just been published by Wiley! www.grounded.systems/2024/03/prob...
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
"McGee lays out the most comprehensive account...of the moral quagmires that entrap American businesses who fail to fully understand the nature of the regime in East Asia that offers them the globe’s largest marketplace and some of its cheapest factories," reviews @michael-feinberg.bsky.social.
Commerce and Moral Compromise in Contemporary China
A review of Patrick McGee, “Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company” (Scribner, 2025).
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
"McGee lays out the most comprehensive account...of the moral quagmires that entrap American businesses who fail to fully understand the nature of the regime in East Asia that offers them the globe’s largest marketplace and some of its cheapest factories," reviews @michael-feinberg.bsky.social.
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
This is very true and it affects authors too, because you know that every sentence you write could be taken apart aggressively and in bad faith.
Our information space is dominated by a system that demands and rewards continous and immediate emotional gratification, so you can't even begin to have a discussion about complex issues. It's a bright cancer that spreads and multiplies with every interaction.
It's part of the electionification of everything, which is why we as a country are failing to have a proper conversation about our actual problems. It's bad for the left *and* the right.
November 28, 2025 at 7:13 AM
This is very true and it affects authors too, because you know that every sentence you write could be taken apart aggressively and in bad faith.
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
“This isn’t about choosing between the economy and the environment. It’s about recognising that the economy is embedded within the environment, and that the health of the nation depends on the living systems that sustain us.”
https://bit.ly/4ajrZW5
https://bit.ly/4ajrZW5
Scientists warn of severe climate-related risks to UK economy and security
Experts lay out scale of changes needed in ‘first-of-its-kind national emergency briefing’ in Westminster
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:27 PM
“This isn’t about choosing between the economy and the environment. It’s about recognising that the economy is embedded within the environment, and that the health of the nation depends on the living systems that sustain us.”
https://bit.ly/4ajrZW5
https://bit.ly/4ajrZW5
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
This is a worthwhile read on the subject of LLMs/GPTs and intentionality (Open Access)
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
November 27, 2025 at 9:59 AM
This is a worthwhile read on the subject of LLMs/GPTs and intentionality (Open Access)
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
Without changing the intent of the model I would prefer to see it presented like this. Two reinforcing loops and two stocks, so we can start to grasp the dynamics at play.
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Without changing the intent of the model I would prefer to see it presented like this. Two reinforcing loops and two stocks, so we can start to grasp the dynamics at play.
Without changing the intent of the model I would prefer to see it presented like this. Two reinforcing loops and two stocks, so we can start to grasp the dynamics at play.
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Without changing the intent of the model I would prefer to see it presented like this. Two reinforcing loops and two stocks, so we can start to grasp the dynamics at play.
This is a worthwhile read on the subject of LLMs/GPTs and intentionality (Open Access)
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
November 27, 2025 at 9:59 AM
This is a worthwhile read on the subject of LLMs/GPTs and intentionality (Open Access)
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
Gubelmann, R. (2024). Large Language Models, Agency, and Why Speech Acts are Beyond Them (For Now) – A Kantian-Cum-Pragmatist Case. Philosophy & Technology, 37(1), 32. doi.org/10.1007/s133...
OpenAI in 3rd party security breach on 9th November. Mixpanel became aware of an attacker that gained unauthorized access to part of their systems and exported a dataset containing limited customer identifiable information and analytics information.
Users of API product at platform.openai.com
Users of API product at platform.openai.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:46 AM
OpenAI in 3rd party security breach on 9th November. Mixpanel became aware of an attacker that gained unauthorized access to part of their systems and exported a dataset containing limited customer identifiable information and analytics information.
Users of API product at platform.openai.com
Users of API product at platform.openai.com
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
Corruption is … unseemly?
Courts might put some brakes on “insider capitalism”—on those with status, access to power or privileged information. But until they do, it pays to be on the inside
Donald Trump and the unseemly rise of “insider capitalism”
The returns to access in America are soaring
econ.st
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Corruption is … unseemly?
Corruption is … unseemly?
Courts might put some brakes on “insider capitalism”—on those with status, access to power or privileged information. But until they do, it pays to be on the inside
Donald Trump and the unseemly rise of “insider capitalism”
The returns to access in America are soaring
econ.st
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Corruption is … unseemly?
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
London councils probe cyber incident as shared IT systems knocked offline
London councils probe cyber incident as shared IT systems knocked offline
Three boroughs confirm investigation amid service outages, disrupted phone lines, and limited online access
Two London councils are scrambling for answers after declaring a cybersecurity issue that began on Monday.…
dlvr.it
November 26, 2025 at 11:09 AM
London councils probe cyber incident as shared IT systems knocked offline
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
Scam ads on Meta in UK likely worth more than all online news advertising. Meta probably made more than £600m from fraudulent UK advertising in 2024 pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/sc...
Scam ads on Meta in UK likely worth more than all online news advertising
Meta likely made more than £600m from fraudulent UK advertising in 2024.
pressgazette.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Scam ads on Meta in UK likely worth more than all online news advertising. Meta probably made more than £600m from fraudulent UK advertising in 2024 pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/sc...
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
The Public Services Performance Tracker is regularly described as ‘sobering’ but this is definitely the first time we’ve had ‘almost lyrical’
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 26, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The Public Services Performance Tracker is regularly described as ‘sobering’ but this is definitely the first time we’ve had ‘almost lyrical’
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
New analysis by the politically neutral House of Commons library says that Brexit:
- cost the average Briton between £2,700 and £3,700
- lost the Treasury up to £90bn a year tax revenue.
Rachel Reeves budget options could have been very different!
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
- cost the average Briton between £2,700 and £3,700
- lost the Treasury up to £90bn a year tax revenue.
Rachel Reeves budget options could have been very different!
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Brexit costing UK up to £90bn in lost tax revenue , new analysis shows
Exclusive: Britons also up to £3,700 worse off, leading to calls for the Labour government to improve relations with the EU
www.independent.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 7:08 AM
New analysis by the politically neutral House of Commons library says that Brexit:
- cost the average Briton between £2,700 and £3,700
- lost the Treasury up to £90bn a year tax revenue.
Rachel Reeves budget options could have been very different!
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
- cost the average Briton between £2,700 and £3,700
- lost the Treasury up to £90bn a year tax revenue.
Rachel Reeves budget options could have been very different!
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
“A firm considered one of the leading global voices in encryption has cancelled the announcement of its leadership election results after an official lost the encrypted key needed to unlock them.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Cryptology firm cancels elections after losing encryption key
The International Association for Cryptologic Research - created to study secure communication - said it was an "honest human mistake."
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
“A firm considered one of the leading global voices in encryption has cancelled the announcement of its leadership election results after an official lost the encrypted key needed to unlock them.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates
A burning platform
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
OpenAI needs to raise at least $207bn by 2030 so it can continue to lose money, HSBC estimates on.ft.com/4ij0yh8
The Radio 4 Reith Lecture by @rutgerbregman.com off to a cracking start
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/a...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/a...
BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures - BBC Reith Lectures 2025 – Moral Revolution
Historian and author Rutger Bregman announced as BBC Radio 4's Reith lecturer for 2025.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The Radio 4 Reith Lecture by @rutgerbregman.com off to a cracking start
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/a...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/a...
Quite a story…
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair
Thirty years ago, an entire section of the Northern line had to be replaced because it was under attack from acid, and hardly anyone noticed that it was happening.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Quite a story…
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
The introduction to our special issue on the (re)production of asymmetries-in-action. It’s been a pleasure working with @cathtam.bsky.social and our contributors in demonstrating EM/CA approaches to various “isms” and some of sociology’s “Big” concerns.
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The (Re)Production, Negotiation, and Navigation of Social Asymmetries‐in‐Action: An Introduction to the Special Issue
This article reconsiders, and argues for, the contribution of ethnomethodological and conversation analytic research (EM/CA) to the understanding of social asymmetries in action. As well as highlight....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
The introduction to our special issue on the (re)production of asymmetries-in-action. It’s been a pleasure working with @cathtam.bsky.social and our contributors in demonstrating EM/CA approaches to various “isms” and some of sociology’s “Big” concerns.
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#emca
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
Opinion: “More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.”
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Opinion: “More than ever before, we need British diplomats, spies and soldiers to speak the language of our adversaries. We need universities like Nottingham to be pumping out Russian and Mandarin graduates each year, to work across Whitehall.”
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
🖊️ Ian Proud
https://ow.ly/N6yw50XwM3X
Reposted by Prof Mike Yearworth
'The jobs most at risk are those in occupations such as trades, machine operations and administrative roles, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) said.'
Excellent time then to degrade university provision and discourage university attendance. 1/3
Excellent time then to degrade university provision and discourage university attendance. 1/3
AI could replace 3m low-skilled jobs in the UK by 2035, research finds
Trades, machine operations and administrative roles are most at-risk, says leading educational research charity
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 AM
'The jobs most at risk are those in occupations such as trades, machine operations and administrative roles, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) said.'
Excellent time then to degrade university provision and discourage university attendance. 1/3
Excellent time then to degrade university provision and discourage university attendance. 1/3