Creating the Corporate Future: Plan or be Planned For

by Russell L. Ackoff

Here's why thousands of readers in business and management turn to Russell Ackoff for innovative and effective ideas: "Russell Ackoff has probably influenced more managers than any other living person.. Two of his books, Scientific Method (1962) and Redesigning the Future (1974), are the cornerstones of much of the theory and methods for systematic analysis of problems in management and planning." --APA Journal "Russell Ackoff is undoubtedly one of the great masters of this art." [of storytelling as a means of conveying information]. --Omega, The International Journal of Management Science The Art of Problem Solving is. "A witty, literate, and most of all convincing reflection.. He shines an often bright light into corners where problems hide, showing the manager how to understand the consequences of his own behavior; identify real, rather than supposed, elements of problems; perceive another's aims; determine what is controllable; and deal with other nettlesome factors." --INC.

Genres: Business

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Russell Lincoln Ackoff was Anheuser Busch Professor Emeritus of management science at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Professor Ackoff was an American organizational theorist and consultant, and a pioneer in the fields of operations research and management science.

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most compelling book I have read about systems thinking perspective and the purpose of organizations. Organizations play a significant part in the transformation of culture and society. Ackoff describes in this book with great precision what is organizations' main reason for existance and prescribes how they can recreate themselves in alignment with the 21th century needs to bring society to greater levels of developement and quality of life."

[Denise Mitnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guide book for Systems Thinkers and Leaders in Organizations.

[Mauricio González Abrigo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Después de décadas de intentos, al fin pude leer este clásico del pensamiento de sistemas en general y de la planeación organizacional en particular.
El libro propone una metodología para imaginar y diseñar el futuro de una organización e imaginar y elegir los medios para alcanzarlo. Si bien incluye el aspecto procedimental y metódico involucrado en la planeación, Ackoff tiene la virtud de presentar y fundamentar muy bien la idea central de su metodología: el diseño idealizado como imagen de lo que los miembros de una organización quisieran que ella sea, no en el futuro sino en el presente dado su futuro. El libro ayuda mucho en términos de imaginación e idealización. Ayuda mucho a entender la esencia de la planeación, sin caer en lo estrictamente metodológico, procedimental y metódico. Por lo mismo, es fácil imaginar como la Planeación Interactiva podría ser usada para abordar problemas no necesariamente organizacionales, pero cuyas naturalezas permitirían imaginar presentes-futuros deseados, idealizados y el modo de intentar alcanzarlos.
Bueno, no por nada Ackoff fue un grande del pensamiento de sistemas y de la planeación.