Re-Creating the Corporation : A Design of Organizations for the 21st Century

Over the last three decades the average life expectancy of a corporation in North America has dipped well below 20 years. In fact, by 1983 a full third of the 1970 Fortune 500 companies had been acquired, merged, or broken apart. In this landmark book, one of the business world's foremost pioneers, Russell L. Ackoff, delivers this indispensable guide for those hoping to beat these odds--and to better navigate the corporate challenges of the next millennium. While most business and management schools continue to teach the functions of a corporation separately--production, marketing, finance, personnel--the reality is that for a corporation to endure each division must work with the others to create an effective system. Re-Creating the Corporation is Ackoff's masterful blueprint for understanding and creating these model corporate systems. In four comprehensive sections--Background, Process, Designs, and Change--Ackoff lays out in clear concise prose the five organizational goals of successful corporate systems: plan effectively, learn and adapt rapidly, democratize, introduce internal market economies, and employ a flexible structure that will minimize the need for future restructuring. And through a deft mix of practical and theoretical examples drawn from a wide range of applications in a wide range of firms, this book ultimately guides executives to the system best suited to meet their organizational goals. Re-Creating the Corporation, which is the culmination of a lifetime of innovative and insightful business thought from one of the business world's premier thinkers, is essential reading for those attempting to navigate the rapidly changing economic environment of the next millennium. While Most Business And Management Schools Continue To Teach The Functions Of A Corporation Separately - Production, Marketing, Finance, Personnel - The Reality Is That For A Corporation To Endure Each Division Must Work With The Others To Create An Effective System. Re-creating The Corporation Is Ackoff's Blueprint For Understanding And Creating These Model Corporate Systems. In Four Comprehensive Sections - Background, Process, Designs, And Change - Ackoff Lays Out In Clear Concise Prose The Five Organizational Goals Of Successful Corporate Systems: Plan Effectively, Learn And Adapt Rapidly, Democratize, Introduce Internal Market Economies, And Employ A Flexible Structure That Will Minimize The Need For Future Restructuring. And Through A Deft Mix Of Practical And Theoretical Examples Drawn From A Wide Range Of Applications In A Wide Range Of Firms, This Book Ultimately Guides Executives To The System Best Suited To Meet Their Organizational Goals.--jacket. Pt. I. Background -- 1. Nature Of Systems -- 2. Types Of Systems And Models -- 3. Types Of Management -- Pt. Ii. Process: Planning, Design, Implementation, And Learning -- 4. Formulating The Mess: Sensing And Making Sense Of The Situation -- 5. Ends Planning: Where To Go -- 6. Means Planning: How To Get There -- 7. Resource Planning: What's Needed To Get There -- 8. Implementation And Control: Doing It And Learning -- Pt. Iii. Designs: Democracy, Economy, And Flexibility -- 9. Democratic Hierarchy: The Circular Organization -- 10. Internal Market Economy -- 11. Permanently Structured Multidimensional Organization -- Pt. Iv. Change: Reformations And Transformations -- 12. Panaceas, Fads, And Quick Fixes -- 13. Organizational Development And Transformational Leadership. App. B. Application Of Interactive Planning. Russell L. Ackoff. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [317]-321) And Index. Over the last three decades the average life expectancy of a corporation in North America has dipped well below 20 years. In fact, by 1983 a full third of the 1970 Fortune 500 companies had been acquired, merged, or broken apart. In this landmark book, one of the business world's foremost pioneers, Russell L. Ackoff, delivers this indispensable guide for those hoping to beat these odds--and to better navigate the corporate challenges of the next millennium. While most business and management schools continue to teach the functions of a corporation separately--production, marketing, finance, personnel--the reality is that for a corporation to endure each division must work with the others to create an effective system. Re-Creating the Corporation is Ackoff's masterful blueprint for understanding and creating these model corporate systems. In four comprehensive sections-- Background, Process, Designs, and Change --Ackoff lays out in clear concise prose the five organizational goals of successful corporate plan effectively, learn and adapt rapidly, democratize, introduce internal market economies, and employ a flexible structure that will minimize the need for future restructuring. And through a deft mix of practical and theoretical examples drawn from a wide range of applications in a wide range of firms, this book ultimately guides executives to the system best suited to meet their organizational goals. Re-Creating the Corporation , which is the culmination of a lifetime of innovative and insightful business thought from one of the business world's premier thinkers, is essential reading for those attempting to navigate the rapidly changing economic environment of the next millennium. A comprehensive overview of the thought of one of the most important management thinkers today. Explains the author's pioneering work applying systems thinking to the problems of organizations as they face the next millennium. Over time, every way of thinking generates important problems that it cannot solve.