Complexity, Management and the Dynamics of Change
Challenges for Practice
Price: $49.95
Add to Cart- ISBN: 978-0-415-41722-8
- Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
- Published by: Routledge
- Publication Date: 19th March 2008
- Pages: 256
About the Book
In this profoundly important text, Elizabeth McMillan shows how the insights of complexity science can allow today’s managers to embrace the challenges and uncertainty of the twenty-first century, and successfully oversee organizational change and development.
Complexity science refers to the study of complex adaptive systems. These can absorb information, learn and then intelligently adapt in response to environmental changes. This book brings these ideas into an important new arena by:
- outlining the historical relationship between science and organizations
- reviewing current perspectives on organizational change and best practice
- citing real-life examples of the use of complexity science ideas
- discussing issues which may arise when using ideas from complexity.
Written in an accessible style to bridge the gap from scientific theory to commercial applicability, this ground breaking text shows how organizations can become more effective, democratic and sustainable through complexity science. It is a key text for all students of business and management, and all practitioners working in the field.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 2. Stopping the Clockwork Manager 3. Complexity Science: the Basics 4. Change and the Dynamics of Change: Thinking Differently 5. Complexity in Practice: Doing Things Differently 6. Complexity in Action – a Case Study of the Open University 7. Self Organizing Change Dynamics 8. Essential Principles for Introducing a Complexity based Change Process 9. Environment, Ethos, Values and Behaviours 10. Innovating and Changing: Models for Experimentation and Adaption 11. New Perspectives, Future Possibilities.
About the Author(s)
Elizabeth McMillan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Open University, and an experienced consultant with extensive management experience. She is a Co-founder and Director of the UK Complexity Society, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.