The Sixth Sense: Accelerating Organisational Learning with Scenarios [Hardcover]

Kees van der Heijden (Author), Ron Bradfield (Author), George Burt (Author), George Cairns (Author), George Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 2002

This book helps managers move beyond the idea that the future of business will resemble the past and allows them to use scenarios to imagine multiple perspectives. The concepts of organizational realities, experience, and beliefs are explored to encourage and embrace change in business organizations for a successful future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…the Sixth Sense helps managers to overcome "the future will resemble the past" thinking and to harness multiple perspectives through scenario thinking…" (Dunstable Gazette, 30 October 2002)

"…the book will provide a valuable guide to what is happening…" (The Business Economist, Vol.34, No.2, 2003)

From the Inside Flap

This book explains:
* Why scenario thinking is increasingly important: how it has developed as an approach that can help build successful strategies and organizations.
* How scenarios are valuable in overcoming an obstacle or problem - current or potential - by enabling innovation and creative thinking 'outside the box'.
* How scenario thinking can be used to resolve organizational flaws by enhancing the strategic conversation.
* How to understand the scenario approach in the context of effective organizational learning and development.
* How to ensure that scenario thinking is included in a wider strategic and organizational learning framework, essential for organizational survival.
Outlining the benefits and techniques of scenario thinking The Sixth Sense shows that scenario thinking is purposeful and effective in driving strategy and organizational development towards managerial and organizational success.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470844914
• ISBN-13: 978-0470844915
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,395,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scenario conversations as agents of change, August 5, 2003

By 

Bill Godfrey (Mt Stuart, TAS Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sixth Sense: Accelerating Organisational Learning with Scenarios (Hardcover)

The key theme of this book is that the appropriate use of scenario thinking is a highly effective way of catalyzing organizational change and, in particular, minimizing the risk that the organization will suffer due to learning disabilities such as 'group think' or a variety of other flaws in organizational thinking.
The focus is therefore on the process by which the management group can improve their ability to shape their future, through the way in which they engage with the creation of scenarios, and in strategic conversations about their implications in the context of the 'business idea' (competitive stance and advantages) of the organization.
This book represents a consolidation and further exploration of ideas first put forward in van der Heijden's Scenarios: The Art of Strategic Conversation. As a successor, it does not have the impact of the first book, and it goes into issues of learning disabilities to a level of detail that can be tedious to those who are familiar with these issues. None the less, it is very useful in reinforcing a sound appreciation of the value of scenarios and the importance of the process by which they are generated and used.
There are very useful summaries at the end of each chapter and at the end of the book. My main criticism is that the authors do not seem to have quite worked out whether they were writing a practical guide for business people or a text for students.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!, March 1, 2004

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sixth Sense: Accelerating Organisational Learning with Scenarios (Hardcover)

This book disserves itself by purporting to be merely about scenario planning, although it covers that subject thoroughly. In fact, it's one of the most lucid, interesting examinations of fortune and folly you will ever read. The recapitulation of disastrous episodes at a handful of once-great companies shows just how little inclined the gods are to spare the proud. Closed minds and entrenched habits of thought managed to afflict even such a venturesome New Economy firm as Yahoo! Originality and experimentation bless even companies in humdrum industries, such as packaging. Captivating anecdotes and illustrations are, in fact, the meat of the book. The scenario planning analysis, while solid, is less convincing than the cases themselves. At times, the book shows the weaknesses that are probably inevitable when so many authors share creation. It tends to meander and, now and then, loses its way in jargon-choked thickets. But, we assure you, the clarity of the cases redeems it and makes it valuable.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting Reading, August 20, 2009

By 

Tinkerbell4700 "Lisa" (Lufkin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sixth Sense: Accelerating Organisational Learning with Scenarios (Hardcover)

When I FINALLY received the product after re-ordering it from another vendor, I realized it was a perfect purchase for a Master's degree student. I had access to the book in e-form, but I am trying to build my own office Criminal Justice Library. Just flipping through the book (I haven't read it yet) I have discovered that it has valuable information throughout. It is an excellent addition to any library.