This gem of a book introduces the extraordinary world of Systems
Thinking and its "Dean", Russell Ackoff, to curious and enquiring
managers, teachers, business people - anyone, anywhere who works in an
organization.Finished just before Professor Ackoff's death, Systems
Thinking for Curious Managers opens the door to a joined up way of
thinking about things that has profoundly influenced thinkers and doers
in the fields of business, politics, economics, biology, psychology.
Although Systems Thinking was 'invented' early in the 20th century, even
Peter Senge's best-selling The Fifth Discipline (Systems Thinking is the
fifth discipline) failed to popularise the term. But now, in business
and academia, in the public sector and in the search for solutions to
the environmental problems we face, Systems Thinking is being talked
about everywhere. This timely book presents 40 more of Russ Ackoff's
famously witty and incisive f-Laws (or flaws) of business - following on
from his first collection 'Management f-Laws'. All those in this
collection are new and previously unpublished. Andrew Carey's extended
introduction ties these f-Laws into the rest of Ackoff's work and gives
the reader new to Systems Thinking a guide to the implications of
Systems Thinking for organisations and managers. The Foreword by Jamshid
Gharajedaghi is a moving tribute from Ackoff's friend and business
partner of many years.
