{"title":"Series: Classic Beer Series","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eClassic Beer Series\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a richly varied exploration across subjects as diverse as philosophy, finance, history, and health. Readers can expect thoughtful insights that challenge conventional thinking alongside practical knowledge in areas like investment strategies and wellness. Each title invites a deeper understanding of its field, blending clarity with intellectual depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom captivating travel narratives and engaging children’s stories to detailed guides on computing and security, this collection caters to curious minds eager to explore new perspectives. Whether you seek inspiration, education or a fresh viewpoint, the series presents works that are both accessible and enlightening.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"brain-of-the-firm-by-stafford-beer-9780471948391","title":"Brain of the Firm","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStafford Beer\u003c\/em\u003e is undoubtedly among the world's most provocative, creative, and profound thinkers on the subject of management, and he records his thinking with a flair that is unmatched. His writing is as much art as it is science. He is the most viable system I know.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e—\u003cstrong\u003eDr Russell L Ackoff\u003c\/strong\u003e, The Institute for Interactive Management, Pennsylvania, USA\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf anyone can make it [Operations Research] understandably readable and positively interesting, it is Stafford Beer. Everyone in management should be grateful to him for using clear and at times elegant English and even elegant diagrams.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e—\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the second edition of a book which has already become a management 'standard' both in universities and on the bookshelves of managers and their advisers. \u003cem\u003eBrain of the Firm\u003c\/em\u003e develops an account of the firm based upon insights derived from the study of the human nervous system, and is a basic text from the author's theory of viable systems. Despite the neurophysiology, the book is written for managers to understand. The companion volume to this book is \u003cem\u003eThe Heart of Enterprise\u003c\/em\u003e, which is intended to support and complement this text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStafford Beer's works represent required reading for everyone who believes that a capacity for rigorous thinking is an essential attribute of today's successful managers and administrators. \u003cem\u003eBrain of the Firm\u003c\/em\u003e shows a first-rate intellect at work and provides concepts, models, and inspiration for both practitioners and teachers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e—\u003cstrong\u003eSir Douglas Hague\u003c\/strong\u003e, CBE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46854136365292,"sku":"9780471948391","price":128.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/162673482356.jpg?v=1759234888"},{"product_id":"decision-and-control-by-stafford-beer-9780471948384","title":"Decision and Control","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStafford Beer is undoubtedly among the world's most provocative, creative, and profound thinkers on the subject of management, and he records his thinking with a flair that is unmatched. His writing is as much art as it is science. He is the most viable system I know.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDr Russell L Ackoff, The Institute for Interactive Management, Pennsylvania, USA\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf anyone can make it [Operations Research] understandably readable and positively interesting, it is Stafford Beer—everyone in management should be grateful to him for using clear and, at times, elegant English and even elegant diagrams.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAwarded the 1966 Lanchester Prize by the Operations Research Society of America for the best work published in 1966 in the field of management science, this book has been regarded as a Classic ever since.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"In the literature of management, there is nothing to be compared with it.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOperational Research Quarterly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis superb book is one of the very best I have ever read on management science.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eManagement Science\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA brilliant book which rose far above the ruck of jargon-ridden ephemera. This is a study profound, wide-ranging, witty, graceful, and self-critical of the working of managerial systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Sunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe sheer scale and scope of Beer's book would rate it management text of the year in any list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Statist\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDecision and Control\u003c\/em\u003e is a major work, both elegant and erudite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeer’s imagination and enthusiasm stimulate those with whom he works to seek and cause improvements?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Director\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46854440485100,"sku":"9780471948384","price":123.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/e40cb5e9feda382be170f52fd31044dc.jpg?v=1759270127"},{"product_id":"the-heart-of-enterprise-by-stafford-beer-9780471948377","title":"The Heart of Enterprise","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStafford Beer is undoubtedly among the world's most provocative, creative, and profound thinkers on the subject of management, and he records his thinking with a flair that is unmatched. His writing is as much art as it is science. He is the most viable system I know.\" - Dr Russell L Ackoff, The Institute for Interactive Management, Pennsylvania, USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"If anyone can make it [Operations Research] understandably readable and positively interesting it is Stafford Beer. Everyone in management should be grateful to him for using clear and at times elegant English and even elegant diagrams.\" - \u003cem\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the companion volume to \u003cem\u003eBrain of the Firm\u003c\/em\u003e and addresses the nature of viable systems, those capable of surviving. It does not use the neurophysiological basis elucidated in \u003cem\u003eBrain\u003c\/em\u003e, but develops the same theory from first principles. This book declares that every enterprise is a system, and in particular must be a viable system. Viability is not just a matter of economic solvency; we need laws that govern the capacity of any enterprise to maintain independent existence. \u003cem\u003eThe Heart of Enterprise\u003c\/em\u003e is full of examples (actual, author-generated examples) taken from management practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\"I consistently find that Stafford Beer provides the most useful analytical framework for understanding and managing an enterprise - public or private. \u003cem\u003eThe Heart of Enterprise\u003c\/em\u003e offers a demanding but rewarding exposition of his approach and applications.\" - Sir Douglas Hague, CBE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855004455148,"sku":"9780471948377","price":128.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/7c28f59411b88304868ff3b3b1c733ed.jpg?v=1759262703"},{"product_id":"platform-for-change-by-stafford-beer-9780471948407","title":"Platform for Change","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Stafford Beer is undoubtedly among the world's most provocative, creative, and profound thinkers on the subject of management, and he records his thinking with a flair that is unmatched. His writing is as much art as it is science. He is the most viable system I know.\" - Dr Russell L. Ackoff, The Institute for Interactive Management, Pennsylvania, USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a highly original book both in content and format. It presents thirteen 'arguments for change', which are linked by a personal commentary, and by a deeper, 'metalinguistic', commentary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlatform for Change\u003c\/em\u003e is completely self-contained. It does not deal at all with the nature of viable systems, but is directed towards the hope that our planet may yet remain viable—and the human race survive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47471374598380,"sku":"9780471948407","price":123.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780471948407-platform-for-change.jpg?v=1775241028"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/series-classic-beer-series.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}