Systems Thinking


Book Description

This Systems Thinking Special Issue contains 12 papers on the nature of systems thinking as it applies to systems engineering, systems science, system dynamics, and related fields. Systems thinking can be broadly considered the activity of thinking applied in a systems context, forming a basis for fundamental approaches to several systems disciplines, including systems engineering, systems science, and system dynamics. Although these are somewhat distinct fields, they are bound by common approaches in regard to systems. Whereas systems engineering seeks to apply a multidisciplinary, holistic approach to the development of systems, systems science seeks to understand the basics related to systems of all kinds, from natural to man-made, and system dynamics seeks to understand system structures in order to influence its dynamics. Man-made systems have become more ubiquitous and complex. The study of systems, both natural and engineered, presents new challenges and opportunities to understand emergent, dynamic behaviors that inform the process of sense-making based on systems thinking.




The Schizophrenia Spectrum


Book Description

An essential reference for assessing and treating people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders – now updated and even more comprehensive. The new edition of this highly acclaimed volume provides a fully updated and comprehensive account of the psychopathology, clinical assessment, and treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It emphasizes functional assessment and modern psychological treatment and rehabilitation methods, which continue to be under-used despite overwhelming evidence that they improve outcomes. The compact and easy-to-read text provides both experienced practitioners and students with an evidencebased guide incorporating the major developments of the last decade: the new diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5, introducing the schizophrenia spectrum and neurodevelopmental disorders, the further evolution of recovery as central to treatment and rehabilitation, advances in understanding the psychopathology of schizophrenia, and the proliferation of psychological and psychosocial modalities for treatment and rehabilitation.




Practice-Based Research


Book Description

Practice-Based Research shows mental-health practitioners how to establish viable and productive research programs in routine clinical settings. Chapters written by experts in practice-based research use real-world examples to help clinicians work through some of the most common barriers to research output in these settings, including lack of access to institutional review boards, lack of organizational support, and limited access to financial resources. Specialized chapters also provide information on research methods and step-by-step suggestions tailored to a variety of practice settings. This is an essential volume for clinicians interested in establishing successful, long-lasting practice-based research programs.




Eating and Weight Disorders


Book Description

Eating disorders refer to a range of problems characterized by abnormal eating behaviours and beliefs about eating, weight, and shape. Eating disorders, which are classified as psychiatric problems, and obesity, which is classified as a general medical condition, reflect a diverse and perplexing array of biological, social, and psychological phenomena. Beginning with a comprehensive overview of eating and weight disorders, this volume also covers: anorexia nervosa bulimia nervosa atypical eating disorders and binge eating disorders obesity. Including the most up-to-date research, Carlos Grilo provides a balanced and authoritative overview of current thinking in the fields of eating disorders and obesity with broad yet in-depth coverage of the areas. This highly readable book is an indispensable resource to students and professionals in clinical psychology, health psychology, and psychiatry.




Behavior Analysis Around the World


Book Description

Behaviour analysis has tradionally been one of the main areas and main approaches to psychology. It is based on laboratory research and in conceptualizations from distinguished figures of the discipline, such as Skinner, Pavlov, Mach, and even Watson and Thorndike. It has generated a science (the experimental analysis of behaviour), a philosophy (behaviourism), and numerous practical applications (applied behaviour analysis). For several decades it was even considered to be the dominant paradigm in psychology. This special issue contains scientific articles in the main areas of behaviour analysis, both as a laboratory science and as an applied discipline. It covers representative research and applications of behaviour analysis at the beginning of the 21st century. The authors come from countries including the United States, China, Mexico, Spain, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Colombia, Poland, Greece. This special issue is an indication of the international relevance of this area of psychology, and its current state.




Understanding Complexity in Organizations


Book Description

Organizations are complex entities that must adapt the practices of their employees and management to meet the demands of a dynamic environment. Organizations are behavioral systems that coordinate interactions among its members and environment. Changing practices in one area of an organization can generate a reaction throughout the entire system, thus affecting the behaviors of those working within other areas, the experience of customers, and important organizational results. Behavioral Systems Analysis (BSA) focuses on these complex contingencies from the macro system all the way down to individual behavior. This book contains articles by internationally recognized experts in Behavioral Systems Analysis who discuss the role of organizational practices in their study of performance improvement and cultural change from both practical and conceptual perspectives. Business and non-profit managers will find tools and case studies to help understand and diagnose their organization’s dynamics. Scholars will appreciate articles’ theory and real-world descriptions when considering their own research direction. Finally, all students of management theory, behavior analysis, and human resources will find this collection a thought-provoking tool for their understanding of behavioral systems and their application in organizations. This book was published as a special issue in the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management.




Smart Business Networks


Book Description

Scientists from management and strategy, information systems, engineering and telecommunications have discussed a novel concept: Smart Business Networks. They see the future as a developing web of people and organizations, bound together in a dynamic and unpredictable way, creating smart outcomes from quickly (re-)configuring links between actors. The question is: What should be done to make the outcomes of such a network 'smart', that is, just a little better than that of your competitor? More agile, with less pain, with more return to all the members of the network, now and over time? The technical answer is to create a 'business operating system' that should run business processes on different organisational platforms. Business processes would become portable: The end-to-end management of processes running across many different organizations in many different forms would become possible. This book presents you the outcomes of an energizing and new direction in management science.




Understanding Complexity in Organizations


Book Description

Organizations are complex entities that must adapt the practices of their employees and management to meet the demands of a dynamic environment. Organizations are behavioral systems that coordinate interactions among its members and environment. Changing practices in one area of an organization can generate a reaction throughout the entire system, thus affecting the behaviors of those working within other areas, the experience of customers, and important organizational results. Behavioral Systems Analysis (BSA) focuses on these complex contingencies from the macro system all the way down to individual behavior. This book contains articles by internationally recognized experts in Behavioral Systems Analysis who discuss the role of organizational practices in their study of performance improvement and cultural change from both practical and conceptual perspectives. Business and non-profit managers will find tools and case studies to help understand and diagnose their organization’s dynamics. Scholars will appreciate articles’ theory and real-world descriptions when considering their own research direction. Finally, all students of management theory, behavior analysis, and human resources will find this collection a thought-provoking tool for their understanding of behavioral systems and their application in organizations. This book was published as a special issue in the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management.