Shared for a friend of a friend
Draft systems thinking reading list
Benjamin.taylor@systemspractice.org
Intro
A very partial and incomplete list!
Advice: there are *so many* flavours of systems thinking / complexity / cybernetics – do yourself a favour and don’t flog through stuff that doesn’t work for you, find things that bring your mind alive.
Start with the articles and skim through.
Many of the books can be found online for free (often pirated) – monoskop.org is good – useful for many modern management books (read the first chapter and you’ve got all the ideas) and for the old, deep stuff (read enough to see if you want to dive in) – but do buy the book if you value it.
Have a look at the core systems and the practice requirements at https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/systems-thinking-practitioner/ – you need both to be a systems practitioner
General RedQuadrant reading list (public service transformation with a flavour of systems thinking):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19ji4L38JVVJiWj9EiSglY–q_rn_fr6a7G4MjnuDYK0/edit?usp=sharing
Groups to join:
For COVID-19, Rob Young has set up a facebook group to collate all systems-related updates – https://stream.syscoi.com/2020/04/07/please-join-and-contribute-covid-19-resources-systems-community-facebook-group/
Systems Community of Inquiry https://stream.syscoi.com/
(replaces model.report – systems thinking repository and discussion – see https://syscoi.com/model.report/model.report/newest.html for static archive)
Systems thinking network https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2639211
systems thinking facebook groups at
- the ecology of systems thinking https://www.facebook.com/groups/774241602654986
- systems sciences https://www.facebook.com/groups/2391509563
SCiO – Systems and Complexity in Organisation
- systemspractice.org.uk/events
- linkedin group – members only https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8146034
- Membership very cheap!
Nick Ananin’s systems thinking events map worldwide) https://goo.gl/4PXkCg
Other key systems thinking groups:
Illuminate/SIGNAL – building the field of systems change https://mailchi.mp/cf0bdef6497a/illuminate
Systems Convening – Bev and Etienne Wenger-Trayner are writing a manual, and a good group has formed: https://groups.io/g/systems-convening / https://wenger-trayner.com/systems-convening/
Systems innovation – http://systemsinnovation.io/ and slack at http://systemsinnovationteam.slack.com
Articles
Systems One: An Introduction to Systems Thinking – Draper L. Kauffman Jr. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1btuVMWRAIg0PelXOOJ07ddq0f_nTPTP7/view?usp=sharing (short book – 48 pages)
Making Work Systems Better – Luc Hoebeke (book – 138 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/17btE9GsAMi2M5j418IgDLhpNoR5lK3rR/view?usp=sharing
Epistemological Crises, Dramatic Narrative, and the Philosophy of Science – Alasdair MacIntyre https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VPkr5mIn8vnBw_mMl5rCOgMYroyYCx4p/view?usp=sharing (journal publication – 20 pages)
A first lesson in meta-rationality – David Chapman https://meaningness.com/metablog/bongard-meta-rationality
Barry Oshry’s Organic Systems Framework (power+systems) – human systems.
- There is no new paradigm – Barry Oshry (article – 17 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/10s9btOe8UP_3vx4JJRg2SPXcZJyiM39A/view?usp=sharing
- Social Systems: Understanding the power of position: A Diagnostic Level- Michael Sales
http://www.artofthefuture.com/SocialSystems.html
An Overview of the Soft Systems Methodology – Stuart Burge (article – 14 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ngzFoLZScboUurv6TF47F3QkgXCh8vpG/view?usp=sharing
Leverage Points: Places to intervene in a System – Donnella Meadows (article – 21 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/18lO4QcbqBUhlm0EmtkjeauwDInhp1H_G/view?usp=sharing
Dancing with systems – Donnella Meadows
http://donellameadows.org/archives/dancing-with-systems/
A Systems Literacy Manifesto – Hugh Dubberly (presentation – 59 slides) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OHQqAkwL48YM8iB4R7vJqJdLbd8SxmG7/view?usp=sharing
The Viable Systems Model
- Its provenance, development, methodology and pathology – Stafford Beer (journal publication – 19 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CQkzJMbMxRej_QN5yax_8qnxpHIApNA9/view?usp=sharing
- The Viable Systems Model Presentation – Jon Walker and Angela Espinosa (presentation – 42 slides) https://drive.google.com/open?id=1s0TTyzYd-wT9MiicXoRq-ir2N5vJ933v
- The Viable System Model and its Application to Complex Organizations – Allenna Leonard, Ph.D (academic paper – 13 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D7KW09osDqHv3GEb13lsj67fOffoOZzf/view?usp=sharing
- Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model An Interpretation By Trevor Hilder (journal publication – 49 pages)
- https://drive.google.com/open?id=10DdKEtSal9Ned_sQs3Sf_rGzzLcAoccG
- The Viable Systems Model Guide (journal publication – 94 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ODB2AIXzq3aDY-FBEdc9SzgRDaxkiKwI/view?usp=sharing
- Modelling Organisations using The Viable System Model Patrick Hoverstadt & Diane Bowling (article – nine pages) https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uMcv6hAVgihtkVZVc7rFNvYLUOwOb7Wy
- The SCiO Organisational Maturity Model – free, easy questionnaire generating interesting results and archetypes http://www.scio.org.uk/organisational-maturity-model
Simple Rules for a Complex World – Kathy Eisenhardt, Donald Sull (short article – 12 pages) https://hbr.org/2012/09/simple-rules-for-a-complex-world
Adaptiveness in human social organisation: some guiding principles – Michael Church (journal publication – ten pages) https://cmapspublic.ihmc.us/rid=1LLD90NQ0-N92GXZ- 29CZ/ADAPTIVENESS%20IN%20HUMAN%20SOCIAL%20ORGANISATION.htm
Chris Argyris: Theories of action, double-loop learning and organizational learning (journal publication – 23 pages) https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FMrOWbkU0BAJzbDlawwIjb6oOZkgNMSZ
Systems Approaches to Public Sector Challenges: Working with Change, OECD (free)
Wicked Solutions – Williams and Van ‘t Hof
https://writing.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Wicked-Solutions-Second-Edition.pdf
Government
Treaty for Government – a systems thinking approach to Government – Ed Straw http://www.treatyforgovernment.com/ (book – 254 pages)
The Hidden Power of Systems Thinking – Ray Ison and Ed Straw
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Power-Systems-Thinking-Governance/dp/1138493996/
Stand & Deliver: A Design for Successful Government – Ed Straw (presentation – 21 slides) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A8NTYzR78SbWci9Lcl3xLB_eMqqMD9xS/view?usp=sharing
Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed – James Scott (long book – 460 pages)
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Seeing-Like-State-Condition-Institution/dp/0300078153
Barry Oshry’s Organic Systems Framework (power+systems)
- The Organic Systems Framework: A New Paradigm for Understanding and Intervening in Organizational Life – Barry Oshry (short book – 60 pages)
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Organic-Systems-Framework-Understanding-Organizational/dp/1911193619
RedQuadrant Library: https://redquadrant.libib.com/#52532310X
- Context, Context, Context: How Our Blindness to Context Cripples Even the Smartest Organizations – Barry Oshry (short book – 158 pages)
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Context-Blindness-Cripples-Smartest- Organizations/dp/1911193287
RedQuadrant library: https://redquadrant.libib.com/#26020488X
Navigating Complexity: The Essential Guide to Complexity Theory in Business and Management Arthur Battram (book – 270 pages)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Navigating-Complexity-Essential-Business- Management/dp/185835899X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1427326475&sr=8- 3&keywords=navigating+complexity&pldnSite=1
RedQuadrant library: https://redquadrant.libib.com/#36939049X
The Fractal Organisation – Patrick Hoverstadt (book – 338 pages)
Amazon: http://smile.amazon.co.uk/Fractal-Organization-Creating-Sustainable- Organizations/dp/0470060565/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427326460&sr=8- 1&keywords=the+fractal+organisation
RedQuadrant library: https://redquadrant.libib.com/#1029021X
Thinking in Systems: A Primer – Diana Wright, Donella H. Meadows (book – 240 pages)
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Thinking-Systems-Primer-Diana-Wright/dp/1844077268
RedQuadrant library: https://redquadrant.libib.com/#1031733X
Images of Organization – Gareth Morgan (long book – 520 pages)
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Images-Organization-Gareth-Morgan/dp/1412939798
RedQuadrant library: https://redquadrant.libib.com/#1029098X
The Little Book of Beyond Budgeting – Steve Morlidge (book – 96 pages) https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Little-Book-Beyond-Budgeting-Organisations/dp/1785899287
Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps – Jennifer Berger (article – 24 pages) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G6SFoI5YnsATXtXXWlIwJl_zIL6ojGfb/view?usp=sharing
(book – 168 pages) Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Unlocking-Leadership-Mindtraps-Thrive- Complexity/dp/1503609014
The Systems Thinking Playbook – Meadows and Sweeney
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#4133211X
Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos – Mitchell Waldrop
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#15288900X
Out of Control – Kelly
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#21553244X
Systems Thinkers – Ramage and Shipp
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#15289113X
Systems Approaches to Management – Michael Jackson
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/030646506X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
Systems Approaches to Managing Change – Reynolds and Howell
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#15289094X
Systems Thinking for Social Change – Stroh
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#60844152X
The Systems Approach and Its Enemies – West Churchman
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#21553177X
The Brain of the Firm – Beer
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Firm-2e-Classic-Beer/dp/047194839X
Safety Differently: Human Factors for a New Era, Second Edition – Dekker
https://redquadrant.libib.com/#44506149X
Strong Towns – Marohn
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Towns-Bottom-Up-Revolution-Prosperity-ebook/dp/B07YGC4K4V
Systems Community of Inquiry 