Systems Concepts in Action: A Practitioner's ToolkitSystems Concepts in Action: A Practitioner's Toolkit explores the application of systems ideas to investigate, evaluate, and intervene in complex and messy situations. The text serves as a field guide, with each chapter representing a method for describing and analyzing; learning about; or changing and managing a challenge or set of problems. The book is the first to cover in detail such a wide range of methods from so many different parts of the systems field. The book's Introduction gives an overview of systems thinking, its origins, and its major subfields. In addition, the introductory text to each of the book's three parts provides background information on the selected methods. Systems Concepts in Action may serve as a workbook, offering a selection of tools that readers can use immediately. The approaches presented can also be investigated more profoundly, using the recommended readings provided. While these methods are not intended to serve as "recipes," they do serve as a menu of options from which to choose. Readers are invited to combine these instruments in a creative manner in order to assemble a mix that is appropriate for their own strategic needs. |
From inside the book
... Causal Loop Diagrams System Dynamics Social Network Analysis Outcome Mapping Process Monitoring of Impacts Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing vii 16 31 45 60 75 92 108 Part two Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Contents.
... assumptions, and context. It addresses the following questions: • How can the behavior of diverse actors be steered ... assumptions is more difficult than it seems. Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing is a well-established method ...
... assumptions is each stakeholder making about other stakeholders in believing that the preferred strategy will succeed? • Which assumptions of the other stakeholders does each stakeholder find the most troubling? • How can these ...
... assumptions are sustained? • What can be done to make the plan more robust to assumption failure? Cynefin Cynefin is a framework drawn from the network analysis, knowledge management, and the complex systems fields. It distinguishes ...
... assumptions we make when we observe and make sense of a situation. We intuitively put ourselves, our values, our beliefs at the center of the analysis. Instead, thinking systemically forces you into being an observer of your own mind ...
Other editions - View all
Systems Concepts in Action: A Practitioner's Toolkit Bob Williams,Richard Hummelbrunner Limited preview - 2010 |
Systems Concepts in Action: A Practitioner's Toolkit Bob Williams,Richard Hummelbrunner No preview available - 2010 |