The Fractal Organization: Creating sustainable organizations with the Viable System Model - Softcover

Hoverstadt, Patrick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470060565 ISBN 13: 9780470060568

Publisher: Wiley, 2009

Synopsis

The world of management is in crisis - the old remedies no longer work and organizations are failing at an increasing rate. Although many talk of 'joined up thinking', few offer practical guidance on how to achieve this in organizations. The Fractal Organization sets down the practical implications of a well tested systemic approach to building organizations that are capable of surviving and flourishing in these turbulent times. "An excellent read...Many organizations fail at the mercy of their own ignorance. The author has done an excellent job in making 'the science of effective organization' accessible to management, providing them with a new knowledge to deal with the uncertainties that the markets place upon them." Stephen J. Brewis, Business Architect, British Telecom. ".. one of the most interesting, thorough and rigorous guides to management that I have ever read, ...introduces new insights in every chapter...carries a credibility which acts as a counterbalance to the sometimes difficult message which he conveys which is that a lot of mainstream management practice is at best ineffective and at worst downright destructive. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in management or systems thinking." Penny Marrington , Course Chair, Systems Group, Open University "In my opinion this book manages to present sound academic theory that is relevant and helpful to the practitioner in the business. I experienced several A-HA moments." Pauline Marsh, Strategy Director, CS&S International, BAE SYSTEMS. "The insights of the Viable System Model have been open only to a select few for much too long. Hoverstadt has gone furthest in bringing these ideas to a wider audience...Management books have too often been serious but not practical, or practical but not serious. This book is both brilliantly serious and practical, and often entertaining too." Prof. Peter Kawalak, Manchester Business School. "Integrates mainstream management ideas with the systems ideas underpinning the VSM, and flows and reads well. As a starting point for developing understanding of the VSM in today's world this book improves greatly on all books that have gone before, I would certainly recommend it to colleagues, clients, and students". Dr. Robin Asby, Course Chair, Communication and Systems, Open University

About this title

Review:

'This is a well-written book on a complex subject that uses helpful examples taken for actual organizations.' (Quality World, January 2010).

Synopsis:

Stafford Beer was 'one of the most remarkable figures which British operational research has produced...he founded two major and pioneering OR groups; wrote some of the best books about the subject; and was a world leader in the development of systems ideas' (extract from obituary - OR newsletter). His ideas on complexity are even more relevant in today's fast moving business environment but the dissemination of his work has been hindered by the challenge of his writing style. The aim of this book is to produce a more popular and accessible introduction to the practical use of Stafford Beer's Viable Systems Model and the concepts, tools and methods associated with it. This will increase the use of these ideas in both academic teaching and the wider business world.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0470060565
• ISBN 13: 9780470060568
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 338