2007

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Strategic Modelling and Business Dynamics: A Feedback Systems Approach

Strategic Modelling and Business Dynamics introduces the system dynamics approach to modelling strategic problems in business and society, based on the author’s successful MBA course at London Business School. The book covers all stages of model building (from conceptual to technical) including problem articulation, mapping, equation formulation and simulation. It includes a range of in-depth practical examples that vividly illustrate important or puzzling dynamics in business, society and everyday life (e. g. drug-related crime, perverse hotel showers, intended supply chain cyclicality, spontaneous product growth from word of mouth, managed market growth leading to premature decline, boom and bust in oil and housing, the collapse of fisheries etc). In order to bridge the experience gap for the undergraduate students the book includes gaming simulations and microworlds. The easy to use simulators expose students to the vagaries of communication and cross functional co-ordination in organizations, highlighting blindspots that unintentionally undermine strategy. These tools allow readers to roleplay in dynamically complex and loosely coordinated systems. The simulations include a baffling hotel shower, a start-up low-cost airline, an international radio broadcaster, a commercial oil producer and a fishing firm.

APM Introduction to Programme Management: 1

A clear and concise introduction to programme management. The impact of new technologies has led many organisations to adopt programmes as a means of achieving organisational change. Programmes are temporary management structures designed to help organisations achieve specific objectives. Programmes come in many different shapes and sizes and the term programme is applied to many different structures. This guide will help to clarify what a programme consists of and its components. This guide was written by authors working in the Programme Management SIG (Specific Interest Group) affiliated to the Association for Project Management, Europes largest single national professional body dedicated to project management.

The End of Government… as We Know It: Making Public Policy Work

In the last decades of the 20th century, many political leaders declared that government was, in the words of Ronald Reagan, “the problem, not the solution.” But on closer inspection, argues Elaine Kamarck, the revolt against “government” was and is a revolt against bureaucracy – a revolt that has taken place in first world, developing, and avowedly communist countries alike. To some, this looks like the end of government. Kamarck, however, counters that what we are seeing is the replacement of the traditional bureaucratic approach with new models more in keeping with the information age economy. “The End of Government” explores the emerging contours of this new, postbureaucratic state – the sequel to government as we know it – considering: What forms will it take? Will it work in all policy arenas? Will it serve democratic ideals more effectively than did the bureaucratic state of the previous century? Perhaps most significantly, how will leadership be redefined in these new circumstances? Kamarck’s provocative work makes it clear that, in addition to figuring out what to do, today’s government leaders face an unprecedented number of options when it comes to how to do things. The challenge of government increasingly will be to choose an implementation mode, match it to a policy problem, and manage it well in the postbureaucratic world.

The Secret Language of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire Action Through Narrative

The book introduces the concept of narrative intelligence – an ability to understand and act and react agilely in the quicksilver world of interacting narratives. It shows why this is key to the central task of leadership, what its dimensions are, and how you can measure it. The book’s lucid explanations, vivid examples and practical tips are essential reading for CEOs, managers, change agents, marketers, salespersons, brand managers, politicians, teachers, parents—anyone who is setting out to the change the world.

Presenting a Theory-Based Model for IT Management Responsibilities

Enterprise architecture is all about the IT systems, the IT organization, and how they provide value to the business. Nonetheless, the complex relations within this trinity have previously been overlooked in literature. The herein proposed reference model for IT management responsibilities therefore aims at explaining how IT organizations and IT systems serve as value enablers to the business, thus clarifying the boundaries of IT management’s responsibilities. The model is based on extensive literature studies and has been tested in a series of empirical studies.