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Listing all articles in Systems-Thinking Resources under the category 'Business' :

 

Book : Bionomics: Economy as Ecosystem (1995)

Bionomics: Economy as Ecosystem

Categories: BusinessModellingSystems Thinking

Tags: bionomicsbookdarwinevolutionholtorganisationrothschild

Publisher:Henry Holt & Company

Author(s): Rothschild, Michael

Published: 1995 ISBN: 0805019790 • 423 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Paperback

Summary

Capitalism, or the market economy, or the free enterprise system—whatever you choose to label it—was not planned. Like life on earth, it did not need to be. Capitalism just happened, and it will keep on happening. Quite spontaneously. Capitalism flourishes whenever it is not suppressed, because it is a naturally occurring phenomenon. It is the way human society organizes itself for survival in a world of limited resources.

A capitalist economy can best be comprehended as a living ecosystem. Key phenomena observed in nature: competition, specialization, cooperation, exploitation, learning, growth, and several others—are also central to business life. Moreover, the evolution of the global ecosystem and the emergence of modern industrial society are studded with striking parallels.

Briefly stated, information is the essence of both systems. In the biologic environment, genetic information, recorded in the DNA molecule, is the basis of all life. In the economic environment, technological information, captured in books, blueprints, scientific journals, databases, and the know-how of millions of individuals, is the ultimate source of all economic life.

Bionomics is not a new "theory"—some new doctrine or ideology.There’s already been entirely too much of that. Instead, this book offers a fresh new perspective, a new way of observing the facts before us. When you adjust the focus on a microscope, blurry images pop into vivid detail. In all its marvelous complexity and beauty, a world invisible to the naked eye suddenly becomes intelligible.

In a way, the bionomic perspective is an infinitely adjustable macroscope—an instrument for the mind’s eye—able to scan the panorama of the global economy or zoom in on its finest details. It is an observational technique that, once learned, comes easily. Complexities that confound traditional approaches yield to its insights. At a time of stunning change in the world, when the inadequacies of long-accepted points of view have become obvious, a new way of looking at old problems may be just what is needed.



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Book : Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modelling for a Complex World (2000)

Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modelling for a Complex World

Publisher:Irwin Professional Publishers

Author(s): Sterman, John D.

Published: 2000 ISBN: 0071179895 • 1008 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Hardback

Summary

From the publisher:

Accelerating economic, technological, social, and environmental change challenge managers and policy makers to learn at increasing rates, while at the same time the complexity of the systems in which we live is growing.  Many of the problems we now face arise as unanticipated side effects of our own past actions.  All too often the policies we implement to solve important problems fail, make the problem worse, or create new problems.

Effective decision making and learning in a world of growing dynamic complexity requires us to become systems thinkers to expand the boundaries of our mental models and develop tools to understand how the structure of complex systems creates their behavior.

This book introduces you to system dynamics modeling for the analysis of policy and strategy, with a focus on business and public policy applications.  System dynamics is a perspective and set of conceptual tools that enable us to understand the structure and dynamics of complex systems.  System dynamics is also a rigorous modeling method that enables us to build formal computer simulations of complex systems and use them to design more effective policies and organizations.  Together, these tools allow us to create management flight simulators–microworlds where space and time can be compressed and slowed so we can experience the long-term side effects of decisions, speed learning, develop our understanding of complex systems, and design structures and strategies for greater success.



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Book : Industrial Dynamics (1992)

Industrial Dynamics

Categories: BusinessModellingSystem Dynamics

Tags: bookbusinessforresterithinkmodellingsystem dynamics

Publisher:Productivity Press Inc

Author(s): Forrester, Jay W.

Published: 1992 ISBN: 0915299887 • 464 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Paperback

Summary

How do you design corporate structures and policies that are compatible with the growth objectives of your organization? This text addresses this crucial question and explains how managers’ actions shape the dynamic characteristics of a broad range of organizations. A reprint of the original text, Industrial Dynamics also contains numerous two-color graphs to help illustrate the concepts.

Here is the book that started the study of system dynamics! This classic work is for anyone in management, whether a student or seasoned professional. Forrester looks at a company as a dynamic system of interacting elements, gives a methodology on how to model them, and shows through simulation how the company will be affected by changes. The book covers industrial systems, managerial uses of industrial dynamics, models, systems of equations, flow diagrams, policies and decisions, production-distribution systems, and much more! If you’re interested in ithink, this book is an essential for your library. If you use Optima !iThink, this book will give you good advice on modeling your corporation.



Book : Introduction to Systems Engineering (2000)

Introduction to Systems Engineering

Publisher:John Wiley & Sons

Author(s): Sage, Andrew P. • Armstrong, James E.

Published: 2000 ISBN: 0471027669 • 547 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Hardback

Summary

From the publisher:

Systems engineering (SE), or the engineering of large-scale systems, is key to achieving reliable, efficient, cost-effective products and services in diverse fields, including communication and network systems, software engineering, information systems, manufacturing, command and control, and defense systems acquisition and procurement.

This book offers a unique introduction to the world of systems engineering, focusing on analysis and problem-solving techniques that can be applied throughout the life cycle of product systems and service systems. While the authors provide a framework for the functional levels involved in systems engineering processes and system management, the bulk of the discussion is devoted to the practical application of formulation, analysis, and interpretation methods.

Through the use of real-world examples and useful graphs, readers will learn to:

  • Choose the most appropriate methods and tools for a given project
  • Apply issue formulation methods to assure that the right problem has been identified
  • Work with formal analysis methods to assure that the problem is solved correctly
  • Apply issue interpretation methods to insure that decisions reflect human values and technological realities, and thereby make interpretation work for them in the decision-making process
  • Develop an appreciation for the engineering and troubleshooting of large systems


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Book : Management Systems: A Viable Approach (1999)

Management Systems: A Viable Approach

Categories: Business

Tags: bookmanagement

Publisher:Pitman Publishing

Author(s): Yolles, Maurice

Published: 1999 ISBN: 0273620185 • 352 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Paperback

Summary

From the publisher:

This book creates a foundation for systems theory and method, in particular, viable systems theory, that explicitly addresses complexity.

Various approaches to management systems thinking are also presented via case studies in the final part of the book. The book shows how management systems can be used to deal satisfactorily with complex situations, and provides guidelines that enable such situations to be explained.

The book is aimed at advanced students of information systems, public administration and business management.



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Book : Managerial Applications of System Dynamics (1992)

Managerial Applications of System Dynamics

Categories: BusinessSystem Dynamics

Tags: booksystem dynamics

Publisher:Productivity Press Inc

Author(s): Roberts, Edward B.

Published: 1992 ISBN: 0915299593 • 562 pages Delivery Format: Unknown

Summary

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Book : Managing with Systems Thinking: Making Dynamics Work for You in Business Decision Making (1994)

Managing with Systems Thinking: Making Dynamics Work for You in Business Decision Making

Categories: BusinessSystems Thinking

Tags: bookbusinesssystems thinking

Publisher:McGraw Hill

Author(s): Balle, Michael

Published: 1994 ISBN: 0077079515 • 184 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Hardback

Summary

From the Publisher:

The common scenario when a problem arises in an organization is that management find a solution that is localized and focused on solving that specific problem - if your warehouse is failing to deliver on time, you need to address the failure and put it right. However, the problem may re-occur if the management decisions that allowed the difficulty to arise in the first place are not retraced and examined.

Systems thinking is a framework that enables managers to exploit the commonsense, intuitive responses they may already follow when getting to the root of problems or inefficiencies in their organizations. By unravelling decision-making processes in a logical, systematic way, managers can address issues central to their organization, creating far-reaching benefits.

This text is a practical guide to this method, popularized by Peter Senge’s "The Fifth Discipline". It has a readable style, diagrams and anecdotal case studies that provide and explanation of the benefit and “how to” of systems thinking is a business environment. The text identifies areas of action and a seven-step approaaoch to systematic analysis.



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Book : Mastering Project Management: Applying Advanced Concepts of Systems Thinking, Control and Evaluation (2000)

Mastering Project Management: Applying Advanced Concepts of Systems Thinking, Control and Evaluation

Publisher:John Wiley & Sons

Author(s): Kerzner, H.

Published: 2000 ISBN: 0471393428 • 1232 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Hardback

Summary

The Design-Build Institute of America

"This classic guide enables you to learn from the successes and failures of leading companies, explore new cost control and risk management techniques . . . and obtain the information needed to study for the PMI Certification exam."

Dr. Don Shanfelt, PMP "This book is more like an encyclopedia of project management than simply a textbook . . . Once you've been through this text, it will become a well-used reference on your bookshelf. Somewhere inside, Dr. Kerzner has addressed at least a portion of whatever you're looking for." E-Commerce PM for WorldCom, and adjunct IT professor in Colorado Springs Project management at its best a banner edition of the landmark reference This latest edition of the bestselling "bible" of project management brings outstanding coverage of the basic principles and concepts of project management right up to date with the latest developments in the field. Written by one of the best-known and respected authorities on the subject, it is essential reading for today s and tomorrow’s professionals involved in project management. It covers every key aspect of the subject, from the intricate framework of organizational behavior and structure that can determine project success to the planning, scheduling, and controlling processes vital to effective project management. New features include:

  • Up-to-date coverage of global project management, the project management maturity model, "six sigma", and conflict resolution modes
  • Dozens of real-world case studies and hundreds of sample problems across a wide range of industries


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Book : Modelling for Learning Organisations (2000)

Modelling for Learning Organisations

Categories: BusinessModelling

Tags: bookmodellingsimulationsoft system

Publisher:Productivity Press Inc

Author(s): Morecroft, John • Sterman, John D.

Published: 2000 ISBN: 1563272504 • 426 pages

Summary

Test policies, discover flaws, and find hidden leverage points. System simulation allows you to predict the outcome of current and future situations on the whole system by testing different scenarios.

Conventional wisdom says that we can learn from our errors, but errors in the business world can be prohibitively costly. To truly understand how complex business organizations function requires different tools than most managers have been given. Yet managers need methods to understand how their organization works in order to test policies, discover flaws in thinking, and find the hidden leverage points within the complex systems they manage. Through a system simulation, the dynamics of the whole system, not just the individual parts, becomes apparent. The outcome of current and future situations becomes possible to predict and with this information, managers can focus on the changes that need to be made.

The distinguished contributors to Modeling for Learning Organizations include Jay W. Forrester, Peter Senge, and Arie De Geus. You will learn about leading applications such as:<

  • Shell’s work on modeling the oil producers.
  • The Management Flight Simulator, a computer-based case learning environment pioneered by John Sterman and others at MIT
  • The landmark Claims Learning Laboratory at Hanover Insurance companies.

For managers, professionals, academicians, and everyone who recognizes the profound implications of modeling, this book is an excellent resource. It offers a broad understanding of the modeling process, discusses a multitude of case studies, and provides a review of the most recent simulation software.



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Book : Rethinking the Fifth Discipline (1999)

Rethinking the Fifth Discipline

Categories: BusinessSystems Thinking

Tags: bookbusinessfloodlearningorganisation

Publisher:Taylor and Francis Group

Author(s): Flood, Robert L.

Published: 1999 ISBN: 0415185300 • 213 pages Delivery Format: Hard Copy - Paperback

Summary

From the publisher:

A purely financial and economic view of companies had its place when capital was a scarce resource and it was management's duty to optimize its use. But today's scarce resource is knowledge and knowledge is created by a company's human assets, not its capital assets.

This, now more than ever before, makes a company into a living work community, instead of a collection of assets on a balance sheet. It demands completely different management approaches and requires the language of biology, anthropology and psychology for further insights. And in leading today's modern corporation, management must think in terms of "learning" as the main process through which the company can flourish and hold its own in a competitive market.

This readable, thought-provoking and highly original book explores these themes and develops in depth what organizational learning means. It investigates the consequences of building a sustainable work community for human resource management, strategic planning and organizational structure. It makes a case for a thorough public debate on corporate governance and on the reallocation of power, both inside and around the company.



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