Seeing Systems: Unlocking the Mysteries of Organizational LifeIn this extensively revised and updated edition of his classic book, Barry Oshry shows how we can transform "system blindness" into "system sight," enabling us to live and work together in productive partnership. Based on more than thirty years of research and packed with illustrative cases and solid systems theory on human interaction, Seeing Systems provides a penetrating look at the dynamics of systems and a unique foundation for revolutionizing our understanding of system life. This new edition features an extensive new section on having the wisdom and courage to face and work with the reality of uncertainty, and a new epilogue describing how Oshry is currently using theater, blogs, and podcasts to extend his multi-pronged revolution aimed at transforming system blindness into system sight. |
Contents
Overcoming System Blindness | xi |
Act I Seeing Big Picture | 1 |
Act II Seeing Patterns of Relationship | 51 |
Act III Seeing Patterns of Process | 129 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
agendas agerial Alienation Amebocytes Anthropologists Barry Oshry become Blind Reflex Bottom group Burdened Top coach complexity and responsibility create Customers Dance of Blind Daniel deal decisions delivery develop Dominated earthworm Eddie Edgar Elite Ends/Middle Dance Ends/Middle relationships environment Ernest Evelyn experience explore fall group members GroupThink happen High-Power human Immigrants interaction invisible issues and conflicts Jack Low-Power Manager Martha meeting Mick Middle group Middle power Mutant Moment NANCY HANK National Training Laboratories old dance shaking Organization Workshop ourselves pattern pinball Power & Systems Power Lab Provider/Customer Relationship Breakdowns resistance responsible for resolving Righteously Done-to Robust System says share Slugs society sometimes story strategies stuff swim system members system processes talking there's things TIM ROGER tion TOOT Top and Bottom Top system Top/Bottom relationship transformation Turf Warfare unfolding Universal Civics Course Unsupported vulnerability Warner Burke wipeout Workers