Once Upon A Complex Time: Using Stories to Understand Systems - Softcover

Richard Brynteson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0971930481 ISBN 13: 9780971930483

Publisher: Sparrow Media Group, 2006

Synopsis

Systems thinking is thinking with a wide-angle lens, a way of thinking about the whole instead of the parts. It is seeing connections and patterns in the isolated events that occur around us. Books about systems thinking have generally followed a pattern of moving from general principles to specific examples. In Richard Brynteson’s new book, Once Upon a Complex Time: Using Stories to Understand Systems, he takes a unique perspective. He reverses this traditional methodology by using stories to illuminate complex systems theory. Stories are a powerful teaching tool. They awaken and inspire to action, they touch people at a very deep level. The author uses stories from all aspects of life, some familiar, some personal, and looks at them through the lens of complex systems. Brynteson tells stories of people who did the opposite of what they desired because they did not understand the complexities of the system. Richard Brynteson’s systems stories invite the reader to examine ourselves and actions, to understand the complexities of life and to begin to use a wide-angle lens when viewing the world. Once Upon a Complex Time challenges the reader to look at organizations—and life—in a whole new way.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Richard Brynteson, is a professor, consultant, and speaker. During his 25 year career, he has worked and lived in South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. His current occupational mission is to push the systemic, creative, innovative, strategic, and critical thinking of his students and his clients. Richard has a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College, an M.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Chicago, and a PhD. in Education from the University of Minnesota.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the Introduction

Many people think strategy is some mysterious process, conducted behind closed doors by people who have special knowledge or, perhaps, special powers. People hear of shadowy strategic cabals that meet to create a mystical thing called "strategy."

In reality, strategy is not a mysterious process. It's not complicated. It's not mystical. It's not difficult to understand.

Strategy is simply "a plan for gaining an advantage." Nothing mysterious. No special knowledge. But in fact, many of the people who conduct the strategic process do it very poorly. A few do it really well. And almost everyone can improve on their ability to think strategically.

We use strategy in almost every facet of life, whether we know it or not. Strategy can be as complicated as, "We are a multinational organization preparing multifaceted strategy to create a sustainable advantage with global competitors," or as simple as, "I need a strategy so I don't step on the dog when I get out of bed" (an advantage for you and the dog).

Strategy is about planning for a sustainable, competitive advantage. It's your plan to provide value to your customers or clients. It's your plan to get and keep customers.

This book provides an overview of strategy for the beginning strategist. The book looks at the definition of terms, the history of strategy, schools of thought, tasks in the process of strategy, some basic core strategies, and a little about becoming a better strategic thinker. The intended reader is the person who is making their first foray into the world of strategy and strategic thinking. The hope is that we can get our arms around the basics of strategy and build a foundation for the field. When we have that basic foundation, then future learning will make more sense.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sparrow Media Group
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0971930481
• ISBN 13: 9780971930483
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 80