The Fractal Organization: Creating sustainable organizations with the Viable System Model

Theworldofmanagementisincrisis–theoldremediesnolongerworkandorganizations?arefailingatanincreasingrate.Althoughmanytalkof‘joinedupthinking’,fewofferpracticalguidanceonhowtoachievethisinorganizations.TheFractalOrganizationsetsdownthepracticalimplicationsofawelltestedsystemicapproachtobuildingorganizations?thatarecapableofsurvivingandflourishingintheseturbulenttimes.“Anexcellentread…Manyorganizationsfailatthemercyoftheirownignorance.Theauthorhasdoneanexcellentjobinmaking‘thescienceofeffectiveorganization’accessibletomanagement,providingthemwithanewknowledgetodealwiththeuncertaintiesthatthemarketsplaceuponthem.”StephenJ.Brewis,BusinessArchitect,BritishTelecom.“..oneofthemostinteresting,thoroughandrigorousguidestomanagementthatIhaveeverread,…introducesnewinsightsineverychapter…carriesacredibilitywhichactsasacounterbalancetothesometimesdifficultmessagewhichheconveyswhichisthatalotofmainstreammanagementpracticeisatbestineffectiveandatworstdownrightdestructive.Iwouldrecommendthisbooktoanyoneinterestedinmanagementorsystemsthinking.”PennyMarrington,CourseChair,SystemsGroup,OpenUniversity“Inmyopinionthisbookmanagestopresentsoundacademictheorythatisrelevantandhelpfultothepractitionerinthebusiness.IexperiencedseveralA–HAmoments.”PaulineMarsh,StrategyDirector,CS&SInternational,BAESYSTEMS."TheinsightsoftheViableSystemModelhavebeenopenonlytoaselectfewformuchtoolong.Hoverstadthasgonefurthestinbringingtheseideastoawideraudience…Managementbookshavetoooftenbeenseriousbutnotpractical,orpracticalbutnotserious.Thisbookisbothbrilliantlyseriousandpractical,andoftenentertainingtoo.”Prof.?PeterKawalak,?ManchesterBusinessSchool.“IntegratesmainstreammanagementideaswiththesystemsideasunderpinningtheVSM,andflowsandreadswell.AsastartingpointfordevelopingunderstandingoftheVSMintoday’sworldthisbookimprovesgreatlyonallbooksthathavegonebefore,Iwouldcertainlyrecommendittocolleagues,clients,andstudents”.?Dr.RobinAsby,CourseChair,CommunicationandSystems,OpenUniversity