Product Details
Redesigning Society (Stanford Business Books)

Redesigning Society (Stanford Business Books)
By Russell Ackoff, Sheldon Rovin

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Product Description

Health care, education, welfare, law—the perceived success or failure of these social institutions is constantly being debated in the public arena. In this book, Ackoff and Rovin join the discussion, using systems theory to develop new approaches to governance, the structure and function of our cities, and civic leadership in general.

Each chapter tackles a different, important, and timely issue. The authors develop and present specific solutions, with the intention of starting a national dialogue about the structure and organization of American society. Their redesign, radical in its scope and ambition, draws upon existing technology and social constructs, but provides innovative ways to apply them. As the authors contend, “it is only through creative thought and innovation that our society will be transformed into one that provides a more equitable distribution of wealth, quality of life, and opportunities for development.”

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #835013 in Books
  • Published on: 2003-06-10
  • Released on: 2003-06-10
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 200 pages

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is an important, original treatise on all the critical problems of our time. No one treats complex systems better than Ackoff and Rovin!” —Ian Mitroff,University of Southern California


“Redesigning Society presents a fresh, intellectually invigorating way of looking at many of the major issues that confront American society today. In an increasingly complex world, this book provides much-needed clarity and direction, both establishing conceptual principles that can guide planning and presenting concrete, detailed alternatives to stimulate discussion and new thinking.” —Chun Wei Choo,University of Toronto

From the Inside Flap

Health care, education, welfare, law—the perceived success or failure of these social institutions is constantly being debated in the public arena. In this book, Ackoff and Rovin join the discussion, using systems theory to develop new approaches to governance, the structure and function of our cities, and civic leadership in general.
Each chapter tackles a different, important, and timely issue. The authors develop and present specific solutions, with the intention of starting a national dialogue about the structure and organization of American society. Their redesign, radical in its scope and ambition, draws upon existing technology and social constructs, but provides innovative ways to apply them. As the authors contend, “it is only through creative thought and innovation that our society will be transformed into one that provides a more equitable distribution of wealth, quality of life, and opportunities for development.”

From the Back Cover

“This is an important, original treatise on all the critical problems of our time. No one treats complex systems better than Ackoff and Rovin!” —Ian Mitroff,University of Southern California
“Redesigning Society presents a fresh, intellectually invigorating way of looking at many of the major issues that confront American society today. In an increasingly complex world, this book provides much-needed clarity and direction, both establishing conceptual principles that can guide planning and presenting concrete, detailed alternatives to stimulate discussion and new thinking.” —Chun Wei Choo,University of Toronto

Customer Reviews

Be aware of your expectations before reading a book4
Reading this book was both terribly interesting and terribly frustrating.
Ackoff proposes many changes to many aspects of society, and has well argued reasons for making them. What Ackoff doesn't do is propose methods for implementing these changes without starting a handful of civil wars. And make no mistake, when you start suggesting *required* integration of neighborhoods (along various axes; racial, economic, etc.), you had better believe that there are a number of people who will not willingly and peacably accept such a change. I certainly agree we could all benefit from such integration, but I can't fathom how we could require such a thing and get there without bloodshed.
Other suggestions also sound completely sane, but are made without accounting for the fact that existing power-blocs and wealthy/powerful individuals will never accept a reduction in their power without a struggle. In Ackoff's defense, I believe he intended this book not as an instruction manual, but as a broad outline or design; I believe he would argue that proposing specific solutions isn't as important as encouraging thinking systemically. If enough people would perceive society as a system, then implementing changes to society would become feasible.
Interesting, yes, but more as an idea-generator than as a handbook or toolbox; which is, I suspect, as Ackoff intended.

Redesigning Society5
The product is what I expected. It arrived on time and in the condition advertised.