Posts

Showing posts from May, 2025

& The Words: A review of Brain of the Firm by Stafford Beer

Image
The Brain of the Firm:   Your Organization, Your Orchestra: Composing a Cybernetic Symphony with Agile Instruments. Three Power Notes from "The Brain of the Firm" The Viable System Model (VSM) as an Autopoietic Framework: Beer introduces the VSM as a recursive model for any viable (i.e., surviving and adapting) organization, emphasizing its inherent ability to self-organize and maintain identity through a series of interconnected systems designed for operations, coordination, intelligence, policy, and identity. Information Flow and Control for Systemic Health: The book critically highlights that effective organizational management hinges on understanding and optimizing the flow of information, arguing that dysfunctional structures often stem from inadequate communication channels and control mechanisms, rather than individual failings. Organizational Resilience Through Cybernetic Principles : Beer demonstrates how applying cybernetic principles—feedback loops, variety at...

& The Words: A review of Strategy Pathfinder by Stephen Cummings and Duncan Angwin

Image
  The Strategy Pathfinder:  Your method-of-methods compass for dynamically adapting and applying strategic frameworks to fit any situation. Three Power Notes Active Learning Through Real-World Micro-Cases:  The book uses interactive, live cases from companies like Apple, Nike, LEGO, and SpaceX to engage readers in applying strategy concepts, encouraging learning by doing rather than passive consumption . Flexible, Open Frameworks for Strategic Thinking:  It promotes an open, interpretive approach where readers adapt classic and contemporary strategic tools to their unique contexts, fostering creativity and innovation in strategy formulation. Comprehensive Pathways to Strategic Mastery:  Organized into 11 thematic pathways covering environment, corporate identity, strategic advantage, and futures, it guides readers to integrate orientation, animation, and integration in their strategic thinking and practice . Summary The Strategy Pathfinder  by Stephen Cummi...