Synopses & Reviews
Today's managers are increasingly busy and less inclined than ever to cope with difficult theoretical propositions. For this very reason, the managers to whom this book will appear daunting are the ones who have most to gain. This book aims to make their own jobs, and the organizations they work for, more satisfying and humane. There are no apologies for this circular argument. The theory upon which this book is based is a theory on managing complexity - those who make the effort to study it are likely to have a useful and valuable learning experience. Organizational Transformation and Learning is more than theory in isolation. The ideas have been worked out in practice to approach five fundamental issues:
* How can organizations cope with increasing environmental complexity?
* How can they maintain viability and develop further at the same time?
* How can organizational action become more effective?
* How can managers cope with increasing organizational complexity?
* How can their action become more effective?
Given that complexity is the core issue for organizations to deal with in the future, Organizational Transformation and Learning shows in theory and practice how organizational and managerial cybernetics can contribute to dealing with this core issue. It provides a framework to relate and organize the myriad activities common to contemporary business. The book will change the reader's appreciation of their role in the organization and make each action more effective. In plain terms, the authors believe that organizational transformation begins with individual transformation, and intend that this book will encourage that individual transformation.
Synopsis
Complexity is the core issue of organizational concern for the age we have entered, not just for the year 2000 but for the new century we are about to enter. The purpose of this book is showing, both theoretically and practically, how organizational and managerial cybernetics can contribute to this core issue. The authors offer a holistic view of both organizations and individual actions. They provide a framework to relate and organize the myriad activities natural to today's business. It offers a framework to account for organizational complexity, align strategic processes and organization structure and information systems. It also develops further the Viable System Model as a framework for organizational diagnosis and design.
Table of Contents
ISSUES FOR TODAY'S ORGANIZATIONS.
Organization Structure.
Transformation.
A LANGUAGE FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION IN ORGANIZATIONS.
Basic Notions.
Effective Action in an Organizational Context.
Giving Requisite Variety to Management: A Discussion Based on the Viable System Model.
Organizational Learning.
The Cybernetics of Individual and Organizational Learning.
RECURSIVE MANAGEMENT.
Enabling Systemic Management.
Primary Processes and Information Management.
Management and Meta-Management.
Conclusion.
Bibliography.
Index.