Today’s leading authority on the subject of this text is the author, MIT Standish Professor of Management and Director of the System Dynamics Group, John D. Sterman. Sterman’s objective is to explain, in a true textbook format, what system dynamics is, and how it can be successfully applied to solve business and organizational problems. System dynamics is both a currently utilized approach to organizational problem solving at the professional level, and a field of study in business, engineering, and social and physical sciences.

Insightful modelling of dynamic systems for better business strategy The business environment is constantly changing and organisations need the ability to rehearse alternative futures. By mimicking the interlocking operations of firms and industries, modelling serves as a ‘dry run’ for testing ideas, anticipating consequences, avoiding strategic pitfalls and improving future performance. Strategic Modelling and Business Dynamics is an essential guide to credible models; helping you to understand modelling as a creative process for distilling and communicating those factors that drive business success and sustainability. Written by an internationally regarded authority, the book covers all stages of model building, from conceptual to analytical. The book demonstrates a range of in-depth practical examples that vividly illustrate important or puzzling dynamics in firm operations, strategy, public policy, and everyday life. This updated new edition also offers a rich Learners' website with models, articles and videos, as well as a separate Instructors' website resource, with lecture slides and other course materials (see Related Websites/Extra section below). Together the book and websites deliver a powerful package of blended learning materials that: Introduce the system dynamics approach of modelling strategic problems in business and society Include industry examples and public sector applications with interactive simulators and contemporary visual modelling software Provide the latest state-of-the-art thinking, concepts and techniques for systems modelling The comprehensive Learners' website features models, microworlds, journal articles and videos. Easy-to-use simulators enable readers to experience dynamic complexity in business and society. Like would-be CEOs, readers can re-design operations and then re-simulate in the quest for well-coordinated strategy and better performance. The simulators include a baffling hotel shower, a start-up low-cost airline, an international radio broadcaster, a diversifying tyre maker, commercial fisheries and the global oil industry. "Much more than an introduction, John Morecroft’s Strategic Modelling and Business Dynamics uses interactive ‘mini-simulators and microworlds’ to create an engaging and effective learning environment in which readers, whatever their background, can develop their intuition about complex dynamic systems." John Sterman, Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management "Illustrated by examples from everyday life, business and policy, John Morecroft expertly demonstrates how systems thinking aided by system dynamics can improve our understanding of the world around us." Stewart Robinson, Associate Dean Research, President of the Operational Research Society, Professor of Management Science, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University

Emerging business models, value configurations, and information technologies interact over time to create competitive advantage. Modern information technology has to be studied, understood, and applied along the time dimension of months and years, where changes are the rule. Such changes created by interactions between business elements and resources are very well suited for system dynamics modeling. Business Dynamics in Information Technology presents business-technology alignment processes, business-technology interaction processes, and business-technology decision processes, serving the purpose of helping the reader study information technology from a dynamic, rather than a static, perspective. By introducing two simple tools from system dynamic modeling - causal loops and reference modes - the dynamic perspective will become important to both students and practitioners in the future.

Kim Warren presents a complete framework in the field of Strategic Management. The book combines theory with clearly illustrated examples to examine the concept of financial performance and the tools that can be used to improve it.

'Bringing the family and its related complexity back into the discussion of how to build healthy and long-term oriented relationships in business families, Annika Hall's book is both comprehensive and profound. It's a must-read for every family member involved in a family business, whether as owner, manager, potential successor, or as a family member of a business family.' – Sabine B. Rau, WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany 'A crisp thought provoking book in which Annika Hall deftly brings to life the multiple dimensions and rationalities in family enterprises. She skilfully interprets these complexities in the fascinating story of the Indiska Magasinet AB (Indiska), a third generation Swedish retail enterprise of the Thambert family, from the pre-founding years until the beginning of the 21st century. Scholars and practitioners alike will enjoy gaining a richer perspective and deeper understanding of family enterprises.' – Pramodita Sharma, University of Vermont, US and Editor, Family Business Review This engaging book reveals how and why family relations influence the dynamics of family owned businesses. The author examines the relevance of role and identity to the strategic development and the succession process of family businesses. She explores the individual and organisational implications of these roles and identities at different stages in the family and business life cycles. Annika Hall highlights that family businesses have inherent dynamics, rooted in family relations, that might advantage business development assuming that the family is able to meet the inherent challenges of role transition. The book connects micro, socio-psychological aspects to more macro business outcomes, with the purpose of elaborating how and why these connections are made. Expertly integrating a detailed case study and by concluding with concrete advice, the closeness to practice is explicit and therefore strongly appealing to practitioners. By also integrating the practice with theory, the book will prove essential for academics and students of interpretive methodology and/or family business.

This publication focuses on business dynamics across eight countries (Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom) and over time, building upon the evidence collected in the framework of the OECD DynEmp project for 22 countries.

The company isn't booming, the customers are drifting away, innovation is at a standstill – What's wrong? A rational analysis can provide you with pieces of the problem, but never the whole picture. Systemic constellations give you the missing link. Success with this method in companies such as Daimler-Chrysler, IBM, and BMW has contributed to a booming interest in Europe. When the systemic structure of a team, company or market becomes clear, it is obvious what has to happen next. Individuals who are not involved in the problem situation are used to represent people or parts of the company and a trained consultant uses feedback from the representatives to reveal hidden dynamics and point to solutions. Anyone in a position of responsibility in industry or government, or an organisation in health education or welfare can profit from this book. It is easy to read and practical, with case examples and short summaries for quick scanning. "A totally obscure situation suddenly became as clear as day. How come we couldn't see the obvious before?! For all of our company leaders it was a total revelation." O. Wassermann, CEO of Wassermann AG/Swisslog, Munich, Germany