Thriving at the Edge of Chaos: Managing Projects as Complex Adaptive Systems

For many organizations, the way in which projects are managed is a fundamental factor in how well they can prosper in today’s marketplace. Unfortunately, the current solutions available to companies for managing projects are proving to be increasingly ineffective in a complex world that is becoming more and more dynamic and unpredictable. 
Organization’s pay for this complexity in delayed time-to-market, slow response to customer needs, and decreased productivity. While tweaking the current project management paradigm may provide some minimal gains, to have a real impact requires a fundamental change in mindset. 
New business models like Uber and AirBnB show us that the most efficient operations in today’s business environment behave like complex adaptive systems (CAS) where self-managing participants, following a set of simple rules, organize themselves to solve incredibly complex problems. Instead of trying to function like a "well-oiled machine" where things "work like clockwork", companies like Uber function more like an organism that is alive and constantly changing. They fully embrace the characteristics of a CAS. 
Viewing an organization as a complex adaptive system drives a radically new philosophy of project management that is much better suited to the needs of the 21st-century organization and can provide the quantum leap improvement in project production that we are looking for. 
This book exposes the assumptions underlying the accepted paradigm of project management, describes the common practices that are based on those assumptions, analyzes why these practices are unhelpful and even harmful, and proposes an alternative, sometimes seemingly counter intuitive approach to project management based on CAS thinking. 
By the end of the book, the reader will have a completely new perspective on the way projects can be managed in their organization, and how they can quickly start reaping the benefits provided by a CAS-driven management methodology and supporting toolset that is more in tune with today’s business demands - and that turns complexity into a competitive advantage.

Business & Money

Sapir, Jonathan

Economics

Productivity Press

For many organizations, the way in which projects are managed is a fundamental factor in how well they can prosper in today's marketplace. Unfortunately, the current solutions available to companies for managing projects are proving to be increasingly ineffective in a complex world that is becoming more and more dynamic and unpredictable. Organization's pay for this complexity in delayed time-to-market, slow response to customer needs, and decreased productivity. While tweaking the current project management paradigm may provide some minimal gains, to have a real impact requires a fundamental change in mindset. New business models like Uber and AirBnB show us that the most efficient operations in today's business environment behave like complex adaptive systems (CAS) where self-managing participants, following a set of simple rules, organize themselves to solve incredibly complex problems. Instead of trying to function like a "well-oiled machine" where things "work like clockwork", companies like Uber function more like an organism that is alive and constantly changing. They fully embrace the characteristics of a CAS. Viewing an organization as a complex adaptive system drives a radically new philosophy of project management that is much better suited to the needs of the 21st-century organization and can provide the quantum leap improvement in project production that we are looking for. This book exposes the assumptions underlying the accepted paradigm of project management, describes the common practices that are based on those assumptions, analyzes why these practices are unhelpful and even harmful, and proposes an alternative, sometimes seemingly counter intuitive approach to project management based on CAS thinking. By the end of the book, the reader will have a completely new perspective on the way projects can be managed in their organization, and how they can quickly start reaping the benefits provided by a CAS-driven management methodology and supporting toolset that is more in tune with today's business demands - and that turns complexity into a competitive advantage.

THIS BOOK HAS BEEN REPLACED BY "Master your untamed business processes".

Force.com for Everyone: How to power your Customer Company with Smart Process Applications

Fingar, Peter

Management & Leadership

SilverTree Publishing

Igniting the Phoenix: A New Vision for IT

Like most people in any industry, information technologists tend to take a very narrow view of their world. This is unfortunate, because as Einstein pointed out, "Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them." An understanding of other fields can provide the broader perspective needed to bring about significant change. This book applies ideas from other fields to information technology. The author believes that if we are to dramatically reduce the amount of time and effort it takes to build business software, we need to completely re-think how we go about it. Improving methodologies, changing programming languages, using offshore resources - these answers will lead to incremental improvements, at best. What is needed is dramatic change. To do this requires an equally dramatic change in thinking. Applying insights from the world of science, sociology and psychology, the author offers a vision for a new IT.

Computers & Technology

Xlibris, Corp.

Like most people in any industry, information technologists tend to take a very narrow view of their world. This is unfortunate, because as Einstein pointed out, "Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them." An understanding of other fields can provide the broader perspective needed to bring about significant change. What is needed is dramatic change. To do this requires an equally dramatic change in thinking. Applying insights from the world of science, sociology and psychology, the author offers a vision for a new IT.

THIS BOOK HAS BEEN REPLACED BY "Salesforce1 101".

Force.com 101: 101 things you should know about Force.com

Braunold, Jorie X

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sapir, Jonathan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Sapir, Jonathan

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sapir, Jonathan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Thriving at the Edge of Chaos: Managing Projects as Complex Adaptive Systems

Thriving at the Edge of Chaos: Managing Projects as Complex Adaptive Systems

Force.com for Everyone: How to power your Customer Company with Smart Process Applications

Igniting the Phoenix: A New Vision for IT

Igniting the Phoenix: A New Vision for IT

Force.com 101: 101 things you should know about Force.com