Decision and Control: The Meaning of Operational Research and Management Cybernetics

by Stafford Beer

Overview

Presents the basic approaches underlying Stafford Beer's thinking since the publication of his first book in 1959. Deals with a philosophy of science relevant to management and particularly with the nature of models. Demonstrates all major points through examples quoted of management science applications to industry and government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471948384
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/06/1995
Series:	Classic Beer Series , #8
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	576
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.39(h) x 1.27(d)

About the Author

Stafford Beer was a British theorist, consultant and professor at the Manchester Business School. He is best known for his work in the fields of operational research and management cybernetics.

Table of Contents

THE NATURE OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH.

An Initial Posture.

On Fixing Belief.

Some Dangerous Precedents.

The Wedged Bear.

The New Look.

THE ACTIVITY OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH.

About Models.

Models in Aspic.

The Formal Languages.

A Walk in the Ramified System.

Apollo's Gift.

THE RELEVANCE OF CYBERNETICS.

About Systems.

Coping with Complexity.

Controlling Operations.

Self-Organizing Systems.

Controlling Enterprises.

OUTCOMES.

The Outcome for Industry.

Information and Automation.

The Outcome for Government.

The Outcome for Management Science.

On Practicability.

Index.