Organizational Survival in the New World: The Intelligent Complex Adaptive System (KMCI Press) [Hardcover]

Alex Bennet (Author), David Bennet (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0750677120 | ISBN-13: 978-0750677127 | Publication Date: January 2, 2004 | Edition: 1

In this book David and Alex Bennet propose a new model for organizations that enables them to react more quickly and fluidly to today's fast-changing, dynamic business environment: the Intelligent Complex Adaptive System (ICAS). ICAS is a new organic model of the firm based on recent research in complexity and neuroscience, and incorporating networking theory and knowledge management, and turns the living system metaphor into a reality for organizations. This book synthesizes new thinking about organizational structure from the fields listed above into ICAS, a new systems model for the successful organization of the future designed to help leaders and managers of knowledge organizations succeed in a non-linear, complex, fast-changing and turbulent environment. Technology enables connectivity, and the ICAS model takes advantage of that connectivity by fostering the development of dynamic, effective and trusting relationships in a new organizational structure.

This book outlines the model in chapter four, and then breaks down the model into its components in the next two chapters. This is a benefit to readers since different components of the model can be implemented at different times, so the book can guide implementation of one or all of the components as a manager sees fit. There are eight characteristics of the ICAS: organizational intelligence, unity and shared purpose, optimum complexity, selectivity, knowledge centricity, flow, permeable boundaries, and multi-dimensionality.

* Clear portrait of the successful organization of the future using latest research in knowledge management and complexity theory
* Shows concretely how to design an organization that can successfully respond to constant change and uncertainty.
* Practical examples woven throughout the discussion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Alex and David Bennet are ideally suited to bring forth such a wide-ranging and erudite synthesis of complexity and knowledge theories. A fascinating report from the front-lines of the new thinking about how organizations thrive (or fail to)."
--Larry Prusak, Distinguished Scholar in Residence, Babson College, USA

"If you want to know how the latest thinking about organizations all fits together to provide a roadmap of the future, you will want to read this book. It is provocative and original."
--Dorothy A. Leonard, Harvard Business School, USA, author of Wellsprings of Knowledge

"The job of today's manager is to invent the organization of the future. The Bennets have provided a launch pad.... They have synthesized the best of the past, current realities, and the challenging but as yet unclear environment of the future, which will require dealing with connectivity, knowledge management, speed, and uncertainty. Their approach, the Intelligent Complex Adaptive System (ICAS) is a blueprint for the manager of the future."
--Charles Seashore, Fielding Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

"This book makes a great contribution to the quest for a new theory of the firm by introducing a very interesting model- the Intelligent Complex Adaptive System. By reviewing and integrating new insights from complexity and chaos research and cognitive and brain research, the Bennets demonstrate how to improve organizational intelligence and effort to create sustainable intelligent organizations in an ecological context. By implementing the practical recommendations throughout the book managers can increase their organization's intelligence and capacity for future knowledge navigation and improve its intellectual capital to ensure organizational survival in the new world."
--Leif Edvinsson, The world´s first director of Intellectual Capital;
The world´s first holder of professorship on Intellectual Capital University of Lund, Sweden; Appointed Brain of the Year 1998 by Brain Trust UK; Creator of UNIC-Universal Networking of Intellectual Capital

"The Bennets have written a truly excellent book, a mix of theory and practice. Theory-wise it is one of most complete, comprehensive and thorough conceptual developments we have yet seen in the field of Knowledge Management. It also introduces plenty of original thinking along with its new concepts. And it intermixes enough practice with the theory that it is well-grounded in experience and real-world problems."
-- Joe Firestone, Vice President and CKO of Executive Informations Systems, Inc.; Executive Vice President, Education, Research and Membership, and Co-CEO, Knowledge Management Consortium (KMCI)

"What will the future look like? We only know that it'll be characterized by uncertainty, complexity and change. What will the enterprises of the future
need to be like in order to succeed in that environment? The Bennets present a compelling argument that the only way enterprises will be successful in that marketplace or battlefield is if they become intelligent, complex, adaptive systems (ICAS). This is an important book that must be read by anyone interested in the future."
--Dr. Ramon Barquin, President, Barquin International; Founder and First President of The Data Warehousing Institute; Chair, E-Gov Knowledge Management Conferences

Book Description

Presents a new theory of the firm, designed to adapt and respond to constant change for sustainable competitive advantage.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 391 pages
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1 edition (January 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750677120
• ISBN-13: 978-0750677127
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breakthough for Organizational Thinking, April 26, 2004

By 

Robert G. Turner (Springfield, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organizational Survival in the New World: The Intelligent Complex Adaptive System (KMCI Press) (Hardcover)

This is one of only a few books to attempt a fresh expansive view of new organizational infrastructure, principles, and tools in nearly a half-century of post-industrial society experience. One might say that until the last decade of knowledge management thinking, there has not been the perspective to do this. But, I don't buy it. Fritz Machlup's work in the 50's extensively described the impact of knowledge work on the economy. Drucker clearly saw it in the 50's. What have we been thinking about?

You can't read this book without disagreeing with the Bennets. They touch too many subjects too dear to too many of us. Still, give them credit for so many new ideas. They have laid the basis for a broad dialogue grounded in the credible view of complexity theory. The Bennets have sent out the invitations, they have set the table, who will join the feast? It is challenging for me to read this book. I constantly want to be able to discuss it with others. There is so much depth and breadth at the same time. Also, you may not be able to read it without being remorseful about your own organization, especially if you work in a complex enterprise. Recommend you scan the table of contents and then start reading. As the Bennets say, go to Chapter 19 if you need grounding in complexity theory. I found it useful to jump ahead and read chapters as my interest was peaked. Then go back and pick up from where you left off.

The Bennets' research alone has immense value. This book should become a college text for graduate work. They are well grounded in complexity theory, nevertheless, they pull from many fields, disciplines, and theorists to build this new body of knowledge. The book would rock an MBA program.

Drucker says that figuring this sort of thing out will determine how well we'll compete in this new century. The Bennets give us new frameworks for describing what we're working with and how we can organize for breakthroughs on multiple levels. In the meantime, hopefully a leader at Homeland Security is reading this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book for Executives in a Competitive Environment, February 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Organizational Survival in the New World: The Intelligent Complex Adaptive System (KMCI Press) (Hardcover)

The authors provide a valuable resource for executives striving to assure their companies excel in a competitive and complex environment. Dave and Alex Bennet use their practical management experience and excellent insight in knowledge theory to address the challenges facing organizations in a rapidly changing world. Their explanation of the Intelligent Complex Adaptive System ICAS provides a model for successfully handling the increasing demands of a swiftly changing business atmosphere. As background, the book provides a description of the differences between Bureaucratic and World Class organizations. It explores the emergent properties of the ICAS and how it works in practice. The Bennets present a variety of new and innovative techniques for improving organizational performance. The ICAS and the processes described in this book are a roadmap for organizations to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. I highly recommend this book for executives who strive to excel in a complex and ever changing competitive environment.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, August 26, 2011

By 

Lillard - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Organizational Survival in the New World: The Intelligent Complex Adaptive System (KMCI Press) (Hardcover)

Great book... easy to read chapters loaded with good content. I bought this book as a required text for school but it is one of only a handful that I will keep and reference often.