Tackling Complexity: A Systemic Approach for Decision Makers - Hardcover

Probst, Gilbert; Bassi, Andrea

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1783530812 ISBN 13: 9781783530816

Publisher: Routledge, 2014

Synopsis

Our socio-economic systems continue to grow and evolve. We need to acknowledge that, consequently, our decisions often fail – they are ineffective and create unexpected side effects. The speed of execution is increasing constantly and markets and systems respond almost immediately, making decision-making challenging. There is little or no room for failure.This important new book analyses real world strategy and policy challenges, addressing the interconnectedness of the markets/systems we live in. It provides a step-by-step approach using systems thinking to solve complex problems in socio-political as well as business environment. It proposes a technique with which to better understand the problems and the context in which they arise, and tools to directly inform each step of the decision-making process. The book explores the main innovation that systemic thinking introduces – the emphasis on defining the problem creating system, which is made up of interacting parts, rather than prioritizing events that need immediate fixing.The case studies, examples and the approach proposed can be used to better understand reality and its complexity, and to integrate stakeholders for a better solution. Practically, it can be used to identify problems, analyse their boundaries, design interventions, forecast and measure their expected impacts, implement them and monitor and evaluate their success/failure. The book touches upon global issues related to policy making and strategic management, as well as issues related to sustainable development for both the public and private sector.

About this title

Review:

Tackling Complexity serves as a valuable resource in using systems thinking for strategy and policy development using the multi-stakeholder approach. The book focuses on the main challenges at the heart of global and local development, highlighting key consequences, and proposes methods and tools to better understand and address complexity in order to improve effectiveness and increase sustainability. The greater the complexity of the system, the greater the risk of systemic breakdown yet also the greater the opportunities for transformation. Tackling Complexity demonstrates the foresight and spirit of solidarity needed to strengthen the opportunities related to organisational learning, and the transformation towards a more resilient system. --Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

Tackling Complexity provides an invaluable route map of what it takes to drive change and succeed in the VUCA world - Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous - that is undoubtedly here to stay. --Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever

Increased pressure for fast and decisive responses to complex problems is a challenge for all decision-makers and analysts. This book from Gilbert Probst and Andrea Bassi provides excellent tools for public policy makers as well as business leaders and academics, on how to deal with complex problems. The step-by-step approach followed by examples and case studies, gives the reader excellent guidance into the author's method. --Borge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway

About the Author:

Gilbert Probst is Managing Director, Leadership Office and Academic Affairs, and Dean of the Global Leadership Fellows Program at the World Economic Forum. He is also a full professor for organizational behavior and management and Co-director of the Executive-MBA program at HEC, University of Geneva, Switzerland. PhD as well as habilitation in business administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He served as the president of the board of Swiss Top Executive Training (SKU), the Swiss Board Institute and as a member of the board of the Swiss Management Society. He was the Founder of the Geneva Knowledge Forum as well as CORE, Center for Organizational Excellence at the Universities of St Gallen and Geneva, and the Strategic Knowledge Group, Zurich. He is an award winning author of several books, papers and cases.
Dr Andrea M. Bassi is the founder and CEO of KnowlEdge Srl, a consulting company exploring socio-economic and environmental complexity to inform decision making for sustainability. He is also an Extraordinary Professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. In his work Dr Bassi is a project leader and researcher with over 10 years of experience supporting more than 20 governments, several international organisations and business leaders primarily on (1) green economy and green growth strategies, (2) action plans for resilience and risk mitigation, and (3) sustainable development planning. Dr Bassi's strengths lie primarily in the use of modeling and research techniques that focus on systemic analysis. He was a Director at Millennium Institute, and has worked across disciplines with the Danish National Environmental Research Institute and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dr Bassi holds a PhD and M.Phil in System Dynamics from the University of Bergen, Norway, and a MSc in Business and Economics from LIUC, Italy.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1783530812
• ISBN 13: 9781783530816
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 206