Complexity and Management

Ralph D. Stacey

• 28 september 2000
• 9780415247610

Samenvatting:

Providing a critique of the ways that complexity theory has been applied to understanding organizations, and outlining a new direction, this book calls for a re-examination of management thinking.

Complexity theory is generating increasing interest amongst strategic thinkers. This fascinating book covers issues such as predictability, creativity and relationships as it considers how complexity, and its central principles of emergence and self-organization, are being used to understand organizations. The book:

• introduces the variety of views put forward by different writers on complexity and management
• outlines and critiques the way that complexity theory is frequently interpreted purely in the context of systems thinking
• draws a new perspective on using complexity sciences to understand organizational stability and change by focusing on the emergence of novelty and creativity in the course of everyday processes
• calls for a radical re-examination of management thinking.

Timely and controversial, Complexity and Management is essential reading for anyone interested in strategy, systems thinking, organization and management theory, and organizational change.