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Harnessing Complexity: Organizational Implications of a Scientific Frontier (Paperback)

by Robert Axelrod (Author), Michael D. Cohen (Author) "Whether or not we are aware of it, we all intervene in complex systems ..." (more)

3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Basic Books; Reprint edition (12 Jul 2001)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0465005500
ISBN-13: 978-0465005505
Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.6 x 1.4 cm

Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 92,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description
A state-of-the-art guide to the new field of complexity-the tool leaders use to understand how people and organizations adapt in a world of rapid change.. Harnessing Complexity will be indispensable to anyone who wants to better comprehend how people and organizations can adapt effectively in the information age. This book is a step-by-step guide to understanding the processes of variation, interaction, and selection that are at work in all organizations. The authors show how to use their own paradigm of "bottom up" management, the Complex Adaptive System-whether in science, public policy, or private commerce. This simple model of how people work together will change forever how we think about getting things done in a group."Harnessing Complexity distills the managerial essence of current research on complexity.A very valuable contribution to the emerging theory of competition and competitive advantage. "-C.K. Prahalad, University of Michigan, coauthor of Competing for the Future"A brilliant exposition that demystifies both the theory and use of Complex Adaptive Systems."-John Seely Brown, Xerox Corporation and Palo Alto Research Center

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
Whether or not we are aware of it, we all intervene in complex systems. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews

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4 star:		(1)
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3.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Logic of Failure Prevention, 27 Nov 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Harnessing Complexity: Organisational Implications of a Scientific Frontier (Hardcover)

It is interesting to read Axelrod's and Cohen's "Harnessing Complexity" and link its lessons with these found in D�rner's "The Logic of Failure". Both books show how ignoring the behavior of complex systems leads to disastrous decisions. But, instead of saying only this, both books show how it is possible to go through complex situations and prevent disastrous consequences in decision-making.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Book on Getting Benefits from Complexity Science, 28 May 2004

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Harnessing Complexity: Organisational Implications of a Scientific Frontier (Hardcover)

HARNESSING COMPLEXITY is a breakthrough book on complexity science. It provides the first useful framework and vocabulary for evaluating complex adaptive systems, while giving you the first guidelines for considering how to use the circumstances of your complex adaptive system to your organization's advantage.

All of this is beautifully summarized in a brief concluding chapter. I suggest you begin by reading that chapter, so you will have a better idea of why you are learning what you are learning.

This approach will also be improved by keeping in mind some problem or opportunity that you want to think about in terms of complexity science as you read the book. You'll get more out of the book that way.

But do be warned that the book starts off like a typical popular book on a technical subject by academics. There are lots of references to the work of others, lots of pages of definitions, and a very long introduction. But don't be fooled; it's just laying the groundwork for enabling you to apply a new framework to your situation. But the writing is simple and clear. The examples are varied and interesting -- drawn from computer sciences, evolutionary biology and social design. One of those areas is bound to interest you.

The framework is pretty simple: Variation (we usually encourage too little of it -- that's our old friend complacency fooling us, again); Interaction (connections cause ideas and physical changes to grow in significance -- showing the importance of overcoming the communications stall); and Selection (watch the tendency to close off experimentation too quickly or to reward the wrong behavior -- avoiding the misconception and disbelief stalls).

I found that the framework immediately worked in thinking about problems that I have been considering, like how to spread the awareness of superior practices.

In fact, the framework itself is a good example of a theoretical best practice thinking exercise. I highly commend it to you.

Unfortunately, the book will appear to be too difficult and too abstract in concepts for many. I suggest the authors plan to follow this book with one more along the lines of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Complexity Harnessers (I'm sure they'll find a better title). The point is that most readers will want more help with application, and less development of the framework.

I strongly recommend this book to those who want to understand more about complexity science. The nontechnical overview is excellent. But more importantly, I strongly recommend that you try to apply the book's principles as expressed in the conclusion to your own issues, those of your organization, and those of humanity and the other species on Earth. I think this book can be a big help in speeding human-led progress.

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1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book cannot be printed - its a scam and a rip off, 7 Jun 2005

By	g n walker (Tunbridge Wells, Kent United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This book is a complete rip off. YOu pay the price as listed for something which you cannot print off, no matter how hard you try. Adobe Acrobat is miraculourly locked to make printing of this document impossible. It downloads OK - but expecting people to read hundreds of pages off their screen is not what I want when I buy a book. I want to be able to print it and read it at my leisure. I actually wanted to be able to take it on holiday with me.
The Amazon returns policy seems no help, and trying to contact the help desk via email merely directs me to this page. so I am trying by this method.

Until this book can be printed, it is a rip off, and the relevant authorities will be notified shortly if you don't sort the problem for me - and any other hapless individuals

Signed - a previously satisfied Amazon customer

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4.0 out of 5 stars Using the rules of complexity to understand the social world
This book brings the lessons from Complex Adaptive Systems to understanding business situations. The book is intended for those who want to use the ideas practically and does not... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Andrew Dalby

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