Large Scale Systemic Change: Theories, Modelling and Practices

$210.00

Shamim Bodhanya (Editor)
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Graduate School of Business and Leadership, South Africa

Series: Business Issues, Competition and Entrepreneurship
BISAC: BUS069030

We face a world of increasing turbulence and uncertainty. As a result, social systems at every level, including countries, government institutions, business organisations, labour and civil societies, have to operate in situations of high causal ambiguity and complexity. This is a world characterised by turmoil, conflict, and seemingly insurmountable social, technological, political and ecological problems. It is a world where cause and effect are not easily separated in space and time, where problem solving approaches relying on knowledge and skills from individual disciplines are incapable of addressing multi-faceted problems and difficulties, and our attempts at problem solving and improvement are short-lived, resulting in transitory change accompanied by more problems and unintended consequences.

It is therefore imperative that academics, executives, professionals, managers and other practitioners be equipped with conceptual tools, methodologies, and practices for working under such conditions. Conventional analytical approaches though useful are insufficient to handle high levels of complexity, mutual and circular causality and inter-dependence. There is a need for more holistic, pluralistic and participatory approaches in order to survive in a highly interconnected, complex, turbulent environment. This calls for a shift in understanding and working with complexity. It requires a trans-disciplinary mindset, a focus on holism as opposed to reductionism, a people-centered value orientation, a blend of analytical skills with synthesis, the rationality of science combined with intuitive understanding and appreciation of the art of being human, and a posture of intellectual humility that promotes collective endeavour in learning, living, relating and working in a complex world. (Imprint: Nova)

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1. Theory and Philosophy

Chapter 1. Knowledge Construction and Learning for Systemic Engagement
Robert Taylor (Retired former Professor from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa)

Chapter 2. Complexity
Jan Hendrik Roodt (Industry Research and New Initiatives, Centre for Transdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Hamilton, New Zealand)

Chapter 3. People of the South: A Call to Jihad
Shamim Bodhanya (Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa)

Chapter 4. The Ethics of Large Scale Change
Stanley Hardman (Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa)

Part 2. Systems Methodologies

Chapter 5. Systemic Intervention
Vishal Sharma and Cecile N. Gerwel Proches (Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

Chapter 6. On Using the Viable Systems Model
Stanley Hardman (Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa)

Chapter 7. Wicked Problems Can’t be Tamed: A Complex Adaptive Systems Methodology for Working with Complexity
Shamim Bodhanya (Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa)

Chapter 8. Participatory Organisational Development
Rod G. Le Roux (Associate Lecturer, Bucks New University, United Kingdom)

Part 3. Applications

Chapter 9. The Wisdom of the Undivided System: Constructing an Alternative View of Leadership
Kriben Pillay (College Dean of Teaching and Learning, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa)

Chapter 10. On the Delusion of Deliberate Strategy: Strategy is Always Emergent
Shamim Bodhanya (Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa)

Chapter 11. Systemic Competitiveness and Local Economic Development
Jorg Mayer-Stamer (Co-founder of Mesopartner Incorporated)

Part 4. Modelling

Chapter 12. Systems Diagramming and Modelling
Andy Lane (Professor of Environmental Systems and Programme Director for Postgraduate Technologies and Computing, Department of Engineering and Innovation, The Open University, United Kingdom)

Chapter 13. Agent-Based Modelling of Complex Systems
Cornelius J Willers (Airbus Defence and Space, Airbus DS Optronics (Pty) Ltd, Development Research and Technology)

Conclusion

Index

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