Systems Thinking
Managing Chaos and Complexity: A Platform for Designing Business Architecture
By- Jamshid Gharajedaghi, President and CEO of Interact, former director of The Busch Center, the research arm of the Systems Sciences Department, and Adjunct Professor of Systems Sciences at The Wharton School, University of Pennyslvania, President and CEO, InteractDesign, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
In a global market economy, a viable business cannot be locked into a single form or function anymore. Rather, success is contingent upon a self-renewing capacity to spontaneously create structures, functions, and processes responsive to a fluctuating business landscape. Now in its third edition, Systems Thinking synthesizes systems theory and interactive design, providing an operational methodology for defining problems and designing solutions in an environment increasingly characterized by chaos and complexity.
The current edition has been updated to include all new chapters on self-organizing systems, Holistic, Operational, and Design thinking. Gharajedaghi covers recent crises in financial systems and job markets, the housing bubble, and environment, assessing their impact on systems thinking. A companion website to accompany the book is available at www.interactdesign.com.
Audience
Senior executives; Chief Information/Operating Officers and other executives charged with systems management and process improvement. Secondary market: IT/MBA students and academics.
Paperback, 376 Pages
Published: June 2011
Imprint: Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN: 978-0-12-385915-0
Reviews
-
Einstein once wrote, "Without changing our pattern of thought, we will not be able to solve the problems we created with our current patterns of thought." Jamshid develops a pattern of thought that will yield solutions to those problems. -Russell Ackoff, Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Gharajedaghi challenged us to think backwards from an ideal competitive position instead of forwards from our existing position with all its constraints. The result was bolder thinking about change. Jamshid forces a realistic assessment of a companys strengths and weaknesses, an idealistic view of what it could be, and creates the path from point A to point B. -Bill Tiefel, President, Marriott Lodging Gharajedaghi was perfect! He had passion and brilliance. He could challenge our traditional thinking and make us see our actions and opportunities from a different perspective.-William G. Poist, President and CEO, Commonwealth Energy System "This volume on business management explores the development of complex systems and advocates for iterative design principles as a foundational philosophy for dealing with complex, chaotic systems. The volume discusses system theory and changes to traditional paradigms in light of emerging technologies and business methodologies and explores case studies from industry leaders that showcase these systems philosophies." --SciTech Book News
Contents
Part I: Systems Philosophy: The Name of the Devil
Chapter 1: How the Game Is Evolving
Part II Systems Theory: The Nature of the Beast
Chapter 2: Systems PrinciplesChapter 3: Socio-cultural Systems
Chapter 4: Socio-cultural System 2Part III: Systems Methodology: Logic of the Madness
Chapter 5: Holistic ThinkingChapter 6: Operational Thinking
Chapter 7: Design ThinkingChapter 8: Design Thinking (2), Formulation of mess
Chapter 9: Designing thinking (3), Business ArchitecturePart IV: Systems Practice: The Gutsy Few
Chapter 10: Oneida NationChapter 11: Butterworth Health System
Chapter 12: Marriott CorporationChapter 13; Commonwealth Energy
Chapter 14: Carrier CorporationConclusion
