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On Purposeful Systems
This book provides an innovative foundation for looking at human and social behavior u as a system of purposeful (teleological) events. It uses a systems theoretical approach for the study of these phenomena, and illustrates and extends general systems theory. Part One develops the concepts of traditional mechanism from which, successively, the concepts of "function," "choice," "goal-seeking," and "purposefulness" are derived, leading to a quantitative formulation of "personality". Part Two provides an analysis of aspects of purposeful behavior and personality, and Part Three explores the interaction of purposeful systems. Part Four is concerned with the study of social groups and ideal-seeking behavior. Finally, structural concepts underpinning the theoretical system are redefined in technological terms, thus demonstrating the non-vicious circularity and interdependence of all scientific concepts.
Redesigning Society
Health care, education, welfare, law the perceived success or failure of these social institutions is constantly being debated in the public arena. In this new book Ackoff and Rovin examine a variety of these issues and use systems theory to develop solutions for many of the problems society currently faces."
Ackoff's Best
Russell Ackoff is a very special management thinker. As an architect, city planner, doctor of philosophy, behavioral scientist, trailblazer in the fields of organizational, operations, and systems theory, bestselling author, distinguished Wharton School professor, and head of his own management education and consulting firm, he qualifies, as do few others in this century, for the title of "Renaissance Man." Fortunately, he makes up for this grievous shortcoming by also being an outrageously funny observer of homo commercium. Now, Ackoff's Best offers you an opportunity to become acquainted with this irreverent genius who, over the past forty years, has done so much to shape our understanding...
Planning for Human Systems
Russell Lincoln Ackoff is a recognized authority in the field of operations research and systems theory. This volume is divided into four major sections. The first deals with Ackoff's intellectual roots in the American pragmatic tradition. The second section demonstrates how systems thinkers have incorporated Ackoff's ideas in their own work. The third section shows the influence of Ackoff's thinking on decision making and problem solving, while the final section offers a reassessment of current approaches to systems planning on the national level. In addition, the editors have provided a general introduction, as well as introductions to each of the five sections. Planning for Human Systems will be of interest to students and scholars of operations research and systems theory. Contributors: Michel Chevalier, C. West Churchman, Thomas A. Cowan, Eric Trist, Ian I. Mitroff, Stafford Beer, and Ignacy Sachs.
The Art of Problem Solving
"A witty, literate and, most of all, convincing reflection...[Ackoff] shines an often bright light into corners where problems hide, showing the manager how to understand the consequences of his own behavi identify real, rather than supposed, elements of problems; perceive another's aims; determine what is controllab and deal with other nettlesome factors." -Inc. The Art of Problem Solving Russ Ackoff-author, consultant, and teacher extraordinaire. During his long career, he has shown thousands of managers, architects, engineers, attorneys, advertising people, software developers, and scientists the way to more creative, artful problem solving. This new paper edition of The Art of Problem So...
Beating the System
When was the last time you dealt with a bureaucracy—the phone company, an airline, a hospital, school, or government agency—and got what you wanted without weaving through a maze of infuriating hand-offs? Have you found these systems to be utterly indifferent to the inconvenience or hardship they cause? Russell Ackoff and Sheldon Rovin say, "Enough is enough!" They have extensively studied organizational systems—how they function and malfunction, what drives them, and where their weaknesses are. Here they share both perversely entertaining anecdotes about the abuse of individuals by various bureaucracies and detail the creative—and deeply satisfying—approaches these people used to get even. Best of all, they offer successful strategies and tactics you can use to pinpoint the weakness of any system and exploit it to your advantage.
Management F-Laws
Management f-LAWS: How Organizations Really Work brings together a collection of Professor Russell Ackoff's subversive insights into the world of business. Russell Ackoff is one of the world's leading business thinkers and one of the founding fathers of Systems Thinking. His Management f-Laws (a term coined by Ackoff) expose the conventions and laws of management - the hierarchies and power struggles, the ineptitudes and time-wasting, the prejudices and careless thinking - as flaws of management: all of which hinder successful strategies for organizational change and development.
Ackoff's Fables
In this insightful new book, bestselling author Russell Ackoff speaks out on everything from personal development and beating the system, to problem solving and the failure of public education. In a series of fables he offers practical advice that readers can put to use in every aspect of their lives. Throughout, his guiding principle is that the most direct route to problem solving is to ignore truisms and cut right to the heart of the matter.
Management in Small Doses
Ackoff gives the reader 52 small doses of sound management thinking, delivered with characteristic Ackoff wit, humor and clarity.
