Doing it Differently: Systems for rethinking infrastructure - Softcover

Blockley, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0727760823 ISBN 13: 9780727760821

Publisher: ICE Publishing, 2017

Synopsis

Doing it Differently: Systems for Rethinking Infrastructure proposes ‘systems thinking’ as a methodology to deliver change. The book sets out the theory, concepts and tools using real-life examples to persuade people to think differently rather than simply relying on specific techniques or methods for particular types of problem.

The first edition was published in 2000 to respond to the Egan Report of 1998 which called for radical change in the construction industry. With UK Government spending in the order of £200bn over the next 10 years, this book is being directly helpful to those responsible for changes in the delivery of infrastructure needs.

The second edition has been updated to reflect the current and growing realisation of the importance of infrastructure to the national economy and to manage the effects of climate change. It is organised using a simple framework to help improve systems thinking capability and shared learning. It also includes a coherent treatment of complexity in construction with new clarifications of terms such as risk, vulnerability and resilience, and more on how to use tools such as the “Italian Flag”, as well as a new treatment of high consequence, low probability events to improve resilience.

Doing it Differently: Systems for Rethinking Infrastructure

• reflects the current and growing realisation of the importance of infrastructure to the national economy in UK and internationally including USA.
• includes numerous practical examples and case study boxes that help to illustrate major points
• provides the inspiration and resources to enable all infrastructure players to rethink and deliver change by doing it differently

About this title

About the Author

David Blockley is Emeritus Professor at the University of Bristol. Patrick Godfrey is Professor of Systems Engineering at the University of Bristol, and Director of the Systems Centre and the EPSRC Industrial Doctorate Centre in Systems at University of Bristol and University of Bath.

Review

'This book provides an excellent framework for the development of the resilient and effective infrastructure that we need for economic growth and global competitiveness. It provides the basis for integrated thought leadership, a broadened perspective and a facilitated progression to digitally enabled design, construction and use.'; Tim Broyd, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 2016-2017, and Director of the UCL for Digital Innovation in the Built Environment; 'This book is a tour de force. It advocates facing up to the reality of complexity. Solving a simplified problem, just because you can, may be worse than not trying to solve it at all - it is delusional and unethical. Clearly elaborated in the book is the idea that collaboration is at least as important as competition as different parts of the solution to a wicked problem change at different intrinsic rates, and are affected by a greater or lesser extent by each other.' Brian Collins, Professor of Engineering Policy at University College London, Director of the International Centre for Infrastructure Futures (ICIF) and convenor of UKCRIC; 'The Infrastructure Industry faces many complex challenges in the 21st century. This book promotes systems thinking as a way to overcome them by improving collaboration, building trust and connecting with society. It is an invaluable practical resource for anyone in the sector.' John Browne, Baron Browne of Madingley, Chief Executive of BP 1995-2007 and President of the Royal Academy of Engineering 2006-2011

Edition details

• Publisher: ICE Publishing
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0727760823
• ISBN 13: 9780727760821
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 256