The well-ordered, fully aligned view of organization and management practice, with its unfailingly positive results, bears little relationship to the world that managers and others experience every day. This straight-line, 'do this and you'll get that' idealization is far removed from the wiggly reality. Despite this, the former continues to dominate the ways in which management is spoken about and judged in formal organizational arenas and wider society. This creates unrealistic expectations of what managers (from CEO to the front line) can sensibly achieve independently of the actions of others. Crucially, too, it distorts the ways in which they and others account formally for their actions. And so, the fantasy continues.

Against this background, the book offers a radically different way of thinking about, and engaging with, the irreducible complexity of organization and management practice. Using straightforward language throughout, it sets out to help managers and others to become consciously aware of what they already know deep down about how organization works and what they - and everyone else - are actually doing in practice. It then offers a practical approach to everyday practice that takes complexity seriously.

Armed with these new insights, readers will be better placed to apply their innate understanding and practical judgement to the demands that they and others face day to day. Whether these arise from their roles as managers, other practitioners, policy makers, regulatory authorities, or participants more generally.

About the Author

Chris Rodgers is an independent consultant, speaker and writer on leadership, change and organizational dynamics. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and was previously a senior manager in the UK power industry. His first book, Informal Coalitions, was published in 2006.

Reviews

"Chris Rodgers's timely book on the enduring complexity of organisational life is a much-needed antidote to the still-dominant prescriptions for how to lead and manage. It mobilises his substantial experience as an organisational consultant and his assiduous reading and systematic thinking, to present difficult ideas in a highly accessible way. I recommend this book to anyone interested in engaging more thoughtfully in every day organisational reality." - Chris Mowles, Professor of Complexity and Management, Hertfordshire Business School

"This is a genuinely refreshing and exciting book. It offers a clear and persuasive challenge to the prevailing taken-for-granted assumptions and conventional wisdom about how organizations work. It presents thought-provoking insights and practical advice on how to purposely and skilfully 'muddle through'. This is a 'must-read' book for anyone who wants to truly understand organizing processes and meaningfully act within organizations." - Professor Cliff Oswick Chair in Organization Theory, The Business School (formerly Cass)

"This offers a wide-ranging yet easy-to-read guide to the complex social dynamics of organisation and what these mean for day-to-day practice of managers and other practitioners. Despite challenging management orthodoxy head-on, Chris seems to have the knack of talking about complexity without talking about complexity!" - Dr Sharon Varney, Director, space for learning ltd.

"Chris Rodgers's timely book on the enduring complexity of organisational life is a much-needed antidote to the still-dominant prescriptions for how to lead and manage. It mobilises his substantial experience as an organisational consultant and his assiduous reading and systematic thinking, to present difficult ideas in a highly accessible way. I recommend this book to anyone interested in engaging more thoughtfully in every day organisational reality."
Chris Mowles, Professor of Complexity and Management, Hertfordshire Business School

"This is a genuinely refreshing and exciting book. It offers a clear and persuasive challenge to the prevailing taken-for-granted assumptions and conventional wisdom about how organizations work. It presents thought-provoking insights and practical advice on how to purposely and skilfully 'muddle through'. This is a 'must-read' book for anyone who wants to truly understand organizing processes and meaningfully act within organizations."
Professor Cliff Oswick, Chair in Organization Theory, The Business School (formerly Cass)

"This offers a wide-ranging yet easy-to-read guide to the complex social dynamics of organisation and what these mean for day-to-day practice of managers and other practitioners. Despite challenging management orthodoxy head-on, Chris seems to have a knack of talking about complexity without talking about complexity!"
Dr Sharon Varney, Director, space for learning ltd.

Book Information
ISBN 9780367744670
Author Chris Rodgers
Format Paperback
Page Count 310
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g