'Fifth Discipline' is one of the very few approaches to management that has attained position on the International Hall of Fame. Professor Flood's book explains and critiques the ideas in straight forward terms. This book makes significant and fundamental improvements to the core discipline - systemic thinking. It establishes crucial developments in systemic thinking in the context of the learning organisation, including creativity and organisational transformation. It is therefore a very important text for strategic planners, organisational change agents and consultants.The main features of the book include:* a review and critique of 'Fifth Discipline' and systemic thinking* an introduction to the gurus of systemic thinking - Senge, Bertalanffy, Beer, Ackoff, Checkland, and Churchman*a redefinition of management through systemic thinking*a guide to choosing, implementing and evaluating improvement strategies*Practical illustrations.Robert Flood is a renowned and authoritative expert in the field of management. He has implemented systemic management in a wide range of organisations in many continents and lectured by invitation in 25 countries, including Japan and the USA. Professor Flood has featured on many radio and TV programs. His book Beyond TQM was nominated for the 'IMC Management Book of the Year 1993'.
Author(s): Robert Lo Flood
Edition: 1
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 232
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
List of illustrations......Page 13
Biography......Page 15
Acknowledgements......Page 16
Introduction......Page 18
Senge's The Fifth Discipline......Page 30
Bertalanffy's open systems theory......Page 46
Beer's organisational cybernetics......Page 52
Ackoff's interactive planning......Page 62
Checkland's soft systems approach......Page 70
Churchman's critical systemic thinking......Page 78
Senge's The Fifth Discipline revisited......Page 84
Concepts......Page 94
Towards systemic thinking......Page 96
The demise of problems, solutions and normal organisational life......Page 101
Getting to grips with complexity......Page 107
Deepening systemic appreciation......Page 111
Window 1: Systems of processes......Page 115
Window 2: Systems of structure......Page 121
Window 3: Systems of meaning......Page 127
Window 4: Systems of knowledge-power......Page 133
Prismatic thought......Page 140
Approach......Page 144
Organisational learning and transformation......Page 146
Systemic evaluation......Page 159
Instrumental and experiential action......Page 171
Practical animation......Page 174
Local Area Policing (LAP) in York, UK......Page 176
Reflections and key insights of systemic thinking......Page 209
Further reading......Page 212
Index......Page 225
