A Guide to Controlling Your Corporation's Future

Book excerpt: Praise for Russell Ackoff’s previous book: Creating the Corporate Future &146;Russell Ackoff is a compelling and thoughtful writer…His ability to think in historical terms about the development of work and work organizations and to put in perspective the short-term dilemmas today’s manager must face puts him in a class of explainer populated by the likes of Harry Levinson and Lewis Thomas…. Creating the Corporate Future [is] compelling, challenging and perhaps even a little disturbing." —Training Magazine "Ackoff is best described as a pragmatic philosopher. His latest book on corporate planning is full of practical advice and examples. Yet it takes an extraordinarily broad view of the planning process and sets it in the context of a whole changing concept of the world, which is moving from preoccupation with discrete elements to new methodologies for dealing with interdependent systems." —Choice "What he calls ‘formulating the mess’ involves describing the present business situation, including present obstructions to corporate development, and projecting future performance. He discusses how to formulate goals, objectives and ideals, and offers advice for identifying and acquiring the necessary resources." —Harvard Business Review "…Stimulating thought for the senior executive who is considering—or should be considering—the future of his or her organization." —Industry Week