Ralph Stacey continues to question the view that organisations operate and succeed in relatively stable environments. He argues that in order to succeed in uncertainty and continual change, organisations need to create new perspectives and learn from the chaos within which they operate. This new edition of Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics continues to focus on this radically different approach to strategic management. The central tenets of this approach have to do with unpredictability and the limitations of control, and therefore it argues against the rational models of planning and control covered in other strategy textbooks. This is done by emphasising the importance of narrative, conversation and learning from one's own experience as the central means by which we can gain understanding and knowledge of strategy in organisations.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
'Explores a radically different approach to strategic management. Argues against the rational models in favour of narrative, conversation and learning from one's own experiences the central means by which we gain understanding and knowledge of strategy in organizations. Fascinating and thought provoking. Essential reading for anyone concerned with keeping up with the latest thinking in strategy.' Dr Bruce Lloyd, Review Editor for LRP
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Back Cover
In the fourth edition of this successful text, Ralph Stacey continues to focus on a radically different approach to strategic management. The central tenets of this approach are concerned with unpredictability and the limitations of control, and argue against the rational models of planning and control covered in other strategy textbooks. This is done by emphasising the importance of narrative, conversation and learning from one's own experience as the central means by which we can gain understanding and knowledge of strategy in organisations.
New to this edition:
- Sharper distinction between systemic and process thinking with new chapters on the philosophical origins of systems and process thinking, second order and critical systems thinking.
- New material on theory of complex responsive processes, particularly to do with control, leadership and ethics.
- Online support materials for students and lecturers including additional references and useful web links, and a commentary on the text for lecturers are available at www.booksites.net/stacey.
Features:
- Radically different approach to strategy only touched upon in other texts.
- Students encouraged to reflect upon their own experience.
- Emphasis on the importance of narrative as a means of learning-demonstrated by the inclusion of management narratives.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Provoking Us Again,
By Arinne Edleman & Curt Lindberg (VHA Inc., Cranbury, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics: The Challenge of Complexity (Paperback)
There is much new in the latest edition of Ralph Stacey's management text. Of special merit is his challenge to those interested in understanding human organizations as complex adaptive systems to remember that these organizations are comprised of humans, not computer agents or ants. He asks us to be wary of simplistic transfers of complexity principles into the management domain. He then offers the theory of "relationship psychology" as an alternative and explores its implications for understanding the mind and healthy, creative organizational dynamics, putting the human back in the complex adaptive, or as he suggests, responsive, system. Ralph Stacey has done more than any other management theorist to examine the intersection of complexity science and organizational thinking. He has been intelligently, provocative and challenging all along and has helped this intersection advance. You'll always want to stay in touch with what he is saying.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-read for MBAs and business practitioners,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics: The Challenge of Complexity (to Ways of Thinking about Organisations) (Paperback)
I came to b-school from an academic background (I was pursuing a Ph.D. in another field) and I believe that this book is highly underappreciated by many business-types. It is arguably more dense and more abstract than what most b-school students are (and want to be) comfortable with, but given the turmoil in the business world as of late, it is high time that business practitioners re-think how they approach their work and the understanding that they have of their work and their organization.Stacey introduces many abstract theories on how to THINK about what we do as business practitioners. If you want a book that tells you step-by-step exactly what to do in your job, then this is not the book for you. Stacey's point is that if you want a step-by-step guide to tell you exactly what to do in your job, you are likely taking the wrong approach to your job. The take-away is that in order to be the best at our jobs we all must understand our own assumptions and biases and also decypher, uncover, and question the assumptions and biases of those around us - yes, even your boss'. Stacey does a pretty good job of trying to make his underlying assumptions clear, which allows to reader to better understand where he is coming from in the advice that he presents. Altough the material will no doubt make many b-school students and business practitioners uncomfortable this book should be required reading for all first-semester MBAs.
2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Worst Textbook,
By
This review is from: Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics (5th Edition) (Paperback)
Simply put this is the worst textbook I've ever read. If there was a negagtive star rating I could give it, I would. Stacey's attempts to draw analogies between business and other completely unrelated topics are overdone, belabored, verbose, and very frustrating. This book continually causes me to ask the question "Is the author going to make a point before the end of the chapter?" This book was an assigned textbook for a course I am taking so I am being tortured and forced to read it. Strange and wacky thinking doesn't equal innovative thinking!!!
If you don't have to buy it, DON'T and then beg the instructor to change his/her mind and switch to another textbook.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
