This core textbook provides a practical, holistic introduction to systems thinking. Blending theory and practice, Systems Thinking for Business reviews the fundamentals and includes a wide range of global cases and examples from business, showing how systems thinking can be applied to real-world organizational contexts. Students will learn to apply their knowledge to solve business system problems, carry out systemic organizational analysis and design solutions to address complex organizational problems. They will build valuable skills in systems analysis, business process modelling, problem solving and decision making. Features include: · An evaluation of the different models, theories and frameworks for generic systems, system properties and system classifications · An overview of the different methods used for modelling and analysing different systems, specifically hard systems, soft systems and complex systems · Discussion of how system thinkers can imagine and model future systems · Experiential, engaging pedagogy, such as a running case study, practical activities and reflective exercises in each chapter · Online resources to support teaching and learning, such as a customizable set of PowerPoint slides and video links The book's approach has been tried and tested over ten years of postgraduate and executive teaching. It will be an essential text for introductory modules on systems thinking at undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA levels. It will also be of interest to practitioners looking to apply systems thinking to improve their organizations.

Gamification is the application of game-design elements and game principles to non-game contexts, and has been used to solve problems by applying characteristics of games. Though it has principally been applied in the areas of business and education, this book seeks to expand focus beyond this, looking at how gamification can be used for social change, the development of organizations and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development goals. Including contributors from across the glove, it draws on a rich array of case studies, from inclusivity in the workplace to ecosystems in the Amazon. A timely contribution to an exciting, growing field, this book engages with the theoretical framework and lays out the foundations for a rigorous theory-based stream of research. It will be valuable reading to scholars and practitioners interested in social change, sustainability, gamification and organizational studies. Agnessa Spanellis (PhD, MEng) is an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University, Scotland and a member of the Research Centre for Logistics and Sustainability at Edinburgh Business School, leading research on gamification for sustainable development and exploring how gamification can improve social and environmental sustainability, especially in more deprived and impoverished communities in low-income counties. J. Tuomas Harviainen (PhD, MBA) works as Associate Professor of information Practices at Tampere University, Finland. Harviainen's work ranges from information sharing in creative organizations to games and gamification. He firmly believes that good research can also be a form of societal activism.

Gamification is the application of game-design elements and game principles to non-game contexts, and has been used to solve problems by applying characteristics of games. Though it has principally been applied in the areas of business and education, this book seeks to expand focus beyond this, looking at how gamification can be used for social change, the development of organizations and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development goals. Including contributors from across the glove, it draws on a rich array of case studies, from inclusivity in the workplace to ecosystems in the Amazon. A timely contribution to an exciting, growing field, this book engages with the theoretical framework and lays out the foundations for a rigorous theory-based stream of research. It will be valuable reading to scholars and practitioners interested in social change, sustainability, gamification and organizational studies. Agnessa Spanellis (PhD, MEng) is an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University, Scotland and a member of the Research Centre for Logistics and Sustainability at Edinburgh Business School, leading research on gamification for sustainable development and exploring how gamification can improve social and environmental sustainability, especially in more deprived and impoverished communities in low-income counties. J. Tuomas Harviainen (PhD, MBA) works as Associate Professor of information Practices at Tampere University, Finland. Harviainen's work ranges from information sharing in creative organizations to games and gamification. He firmly believes that good research can also be a form of societal activism.

This core textbook provides a practical, holistic introduction to systems thinking. Blending theory and practice, Systems Thinking for Business reviews the fundamentals and includes a wide range of global cases and examples from business, showing how systems thinking can be applied to real-world organizational contexts. Students will learn to apply their knowledge to solve business system problems, carry out systemic organizational analysis and design solutions to address complex organizational problems. They will build valuable skills in systems analysis, business process modelling, problem solving and decision making. Features include: · An evaluation of the different models, theories and frameworks for generic systems, system properties and system classifications · An overview of the different methods used for modelling and analysing different systems, specifically hard systems, soft systems and complex systems · Discussion of how system thinkers can imagine and model future systems · Experiential, engaging pedagogy, such as a running case study, practical activities and reflective exercises in each chapter · Online resources to support teaching and learning, such as a customizable set of PowerPoint slides and video links The book's approach has been tried and tested over ten years of postgraduate and executive teaching. It will be an essential text for introductory modules on systems thinking at undergraduate, postgraduate and MBA levels. It will also be of interest to practitioners looking to apply systems thinking to improve their organizations.