Managing large systems : organizations for the future

Bibliographic Information

Managing large systems : organizations for the future

Leonard R. Sayles, Margaret K. Chandler ; with a new introduction by Leonard R. Sayles

(Classics in organization and management series)

Transaction Publishers, c1993

  • : paper

Available at  / 8 libraries

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Note

Originally published: New York : Harper & Row, 1971

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Managing Large Systems examines a range of human, organizational, and managerial challenges associated with large systems. Special attention is given to the behavioral relationships among scientists and engineers, business and technical managers, sponsor organizations and their contractors, business and government officials, and line and functional managers. The descriptions of problems of technical organization and performance motivation are based primarily on an extended field study of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Managing Large Systems includes a description of the unique management system developed by NASA under the leadership of James Webb that many believe was responsible for their extraordinary technological achievements that culminated in the first moon landing. Parallels are drawn to other large-scale technology programs in aerospace and atomic energy. The authors find traditional managerial principles regarding controls, incentive systems, and planning to be inadequate in the context of large systems. They look to organizational clusters to manage future projects in advanced technological areas and in public sectors such as urban development, massive medical programs, and ecological improvements.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO THE TRANSACTION EDITION, FOREWORD by James E. Webb, PREFACE, 1 The New Organization: From Here to Tranquility, 2 The Planning Function for New Technologies, 3 Scientists in Planning, 4 Sponsor and Satellite: The Prince of Dependency, 5 Inducing Excellence: The Self-Forcing, Self-Enforcing System, 6 Achieving Excellence in the International Project, 7 From Development to Operations: Relationships with User Organizations, 8 Designing the internal Structure of the Sponsor Organization, 9 Building the Project Organization, 10 The Project Manager: Organizational Metronome, 11 The Project Manager's Interface with Scientists, 12 Systems Integration: Assuring Confidence and Compatibility, 13 Technical Goals vs. Business Requirements, 14 Motivating Systems Responsibility, 15 Technology and Social Administration, INDEX

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