Perspective: Management

The Sciences of the Artificial

The Sciences of the Artificial

Posted by | Sep 19, 2020 | |

Continuing his exploration of the organization of complexity and the science of design, this new edition of Herbert Simon’s classic work on artificial intelligence adds a chapter that sorts out the current themes and tools—chaos, adaptive systems, genetic algorithms—for analyzing complexity and complex systems. There are updates throughout the book as well. These take into account important advances in cognitive psychology and the science of design while confirming and extending the book’s basic thesis: that a physical symbol system has the necessary and sufficient means for intelligent action. The chapter “Economic Reality” has also been revised to reflect a change in emphasis in Simon’s thinking about the respective roles of organizations and markets in economic systems.

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The Paradox of Control in Organizations

The Paradox of Control in Organizations

Posted by | Sep 19, 2020 | |

Business leaders are expected to be ‘in control’ of the situation in which their businesses find themselves. But how can organizational leaders and managers control matters entirely out of their hands; such as the next action a competitor takes, or the next law a government may pass? In this book, Philip Streatfield reflects on his own experience as a manager to explore the question: who, or what is ‘in control’ in an organization?

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The Myths We Live By

The Myths We Live By

Posted by | Sep 19, 2020 | |

Mary Midgley argues in her powerful new book that far from being the opposite of science, myth is a central part of it. In brilliant prose, she claims that myths are neither lies nor mere stories but a network of powerful symbols that suggest particular ways of interpreting the world.

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The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering

The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering

Posted by | Sep 19, 2020 | |

Few books on software project management have been as influential and timeless as The Mythical Man-Month. With a blend of software engineering facts and thought-provoking opinions, Fred Brooks offers insight for anyone managing complex projects. These essays draw from his experience as project manager for the IBM System/360 computer family and then for OS/360, its massive software system. Now, 20 years after the initial publication of his book, Brooks has revisited his original ideas and added new thoughts and advice, both for readers already familiar with his work and for readers discovering it for the first time.

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The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World

Posted by | Sep 19, 2020 | |

This pioneering account sets out to understand the structure of the human brain – the place where mind meets matter. Until recently, the left hemisphere of our brain has been seen as the ‘rational’ side, the superior partner to the right. But is this distinction true?

Drawing on a vast body of experimental research, Iain McGilchrist argues while our left brain makes for a wonderful servant, it is a very poor master. As he shows, it is the right side which is the more reliable and insightful. Without it, our world would be mechanistic – stripped of depth, colour and value.

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