Complexity Advantage: How the Science of Complexity Can Help Your Business Achieve Peak Performance ("Business Week" Books)

by Colin Cook (Introduction), Mary Ann Allison (Author), Colin Cook (Introduction), Mary Ann Allison (Author), Susanne Kelly (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  1999

  $3.25

  This text provides examples from multinational businesses to show readers concrete and practical methods, based on complexity theory, for solving practical business problems. The book also seeks to demonstrate how discoveries from the new sciences can help businesses and organizations get out of destructive practices, and embrace constructive ones. Traditional business management models have proved unsuccessful, according to the authors, including the well-mentioned quality and empowerment programmes. The book argues that in a world growing more complex, understanding complexity theory can make the difference. The text recommends specific business evolution methods and principles which use concepts from the new sciences to make business more effective and profitable. Recommendations include: understanding key concepts from the new sciences and from higher mathematics; developing a practical working knowledge of people and businesses as complex adaptive systems; engaging a few simple rules , simple and elegant, but not simple-minded; and adopting their 14 principles of business evolution , founded on an understanding of self-organizing systems and concepts from the new sciences.