[p2p-research] Fwd: Memories of Russ Ackoff, mgt systems thinking pioneer?

[Michel Bauwens]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Imogen Fallows <imogen at triarchypress.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 20, 2010 at 9:40 PM
Subject: Memories of Russ Ackoff
To: michelsub2004 at gmail.com




*Memories of Russ Ackoff* - a collection of stories from his life and work




*"The past is normally treated as a continuous flow of events embedded in
time. But we remember it as a series of discrete happenings and even then
not necessarily in the order in which they occurred. This memoir consists of
a set of discrete bits and pieces... they stand out in my memory and
hopefully are something that readers might find useful and, if not useful,
entertaining."*

Russell Ackoff, from his Preface to *Memories*



"Useful" and "entertaining" are the very mildest of understatements when
talking of Russ Ackoff and his life's work. His career as a pioneering
management educator brought first Operations Research then Systems Thinking
and then Design Thinking not only to the study of business, but to countless
corporations, organizations and governments, including Anheuser Busch (the
makers of Budweiser) and the Iranian government. His writing is a refreshing
mixture of razor-sharp clarity of thought and wry, sardonic, and often
mischievious, wit.


I met Russ, aged 87, when he came to the UK at the time of the launch of his
2007 book *Management f-Laws*. During those two days of press interviews,
conference events and socialising, his energy and intelligence commanded
every conversation. When he died in November 2009, he left two unpublished
manuscripts - both written in his inimitable voice. *Memories *is the first
of these: a collection of short stories drawn from his life experience.



<http://www.triarchypress.com/pages/Ackoff_Memories.htm>The "discrete bits
and pieces" in *Memories* catalogue mistakes, errors, solutions and creative
thinking amassed over the course of Russ's lifetime. For example, he tells
of accidentally broadcasting - through a wireless microphone he'd forgotten
was still on - to a learning group in the next room that they were "the
worst class I had ever addressed; its members were inert". (...UK residents
may be reminded of ex-PM Gordon Brown's similar gaff!...) Other anecdotes
include the pioneering introduction of theme parks to the US and a (less
successful) fireside chat with the Queen of Iran over her husband's
leadership strategy.



Spanning a period of 50 years, *Memories *reflects the changing social and
workplace attitudes of our recent past, but, more importantly, the insights
that they offer point to ways of
re-thinking our present interactions and changing future relationships -
both in work and outside it - for the better.



For anyone who knew Ackoff the man or his work, *Memories *is a joyful
reminder of both.



*Memories *is available as a Hardcover Collector's Edition and in Paperback
from the Triarchy Press website, published 21 October 2010. Click
here<http://www.triarchypress.com/pages/Ackoff_Memories.htm>for more
information, or to place an order now.



Many thanks for your continued support.



Imogen

 ** <http://www.triarchypress.com/>
*About Triarchy Press*
*Triarchy Press* is an independent publisher of books and pamphlets on the
life of organisations. <http://www.triarchypress.com/pages/triarchy.htm>
 * *
Triarchy Press ~ Station Offices ~ Axminster ~ Devon EX13 5PF ~ UK
*T:* 01297 631456 ~ Intl: +44 1297 631456
*imogen at triarchypress.com*<imogen at triarchypress.com>~
*www.triarchypress.com*





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