Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics: The Challenge of Complexity - Softcover

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Ralph D Stacey
Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics: The challenge of complexity
Fourth Edition

In the fourth edition of this successful text, Ralph Stacey continues to focus on a radically different approach to strategic management. The central tenets of this approach have to do with unpredictability and the limitations of control, and therefore it argues against the rational models of planning and control covered in other strategy textbooks. This is done by emphasising the importance of narrative, conversation and learning from one's own experience as the central means by which we can gain understanding and knowledge of strategy in organisations.

New to this edition:

• Sharper distinction between systemic and process thinking with new chapters on the philosophical origins of systems and process thinking, second order and critical system thinking.
• New material on theory of complex responsive processes, particularly to do with control, leadership and ethics.
• Includes 7 management narratives: personal accounts of the experience of life in organizations, inviting readers to think about the sense they make of this experience.
• Online support materials for students and lecturers including additional references and useful web links, and a commentary on the text for lecturers.

• Radically different approach to strategy only touched upon in other texts.
• Students encouraged to reflect upon their own experience.
• Emphasis on the importance of narrative as a means of learning - demonstrated by the inclusion of management narratives.

Ralph Stacey is Professor of Management at the Business School, University of Hertfordshire. He is the Director of the Complexity and Management Centre at the University of Hertfordshire and author of a number of books and papers on complexity and organisations: The Chaos Frontier (1991); Managing the Unknowable (1992); Complexity and Creativity in Organizations (1996); Complexity and Management: fad or radical challenge to systems thinking (with Griffin & Shaw, 2000); Complex Responsive processes in organizations: learning and knowledge creation, (2001). He consults to management groups in organisations and is also a member of the Institute of Group Analysis.