Books
The following books discuss, in depth, causal mapping (cognitive mapping) and how it can be used. “Visible Thinking” is written as an accessible introduction to causal mapping, aimed at the general reader. It steps through the basics of model building using causal mapping and moves on to the advanced use of causal mapping to support decision making in organizations. “The Practice of Making Strategy” is a handbook to help you learn how to apply the causal mapping technique as part of “the journey” of strategy making. This practical handbook can be used on its own or in conjunction with “Making Strategy: the journey of strategic management” – the book which explains the theory and practice of causal mapping (cognitive mapping) in the context of strategy development.
Visual Strategy
Strategy Mapping for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
Strategic planning becomes visual with strategy maps and the tools, techniques, and guidance for turning them into effective action.
Developed as a companion workbook to John Bryson’s best-selling Strategic Planning in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, Visual Strategy: A Workbook for Strategy Mapping in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, goes beyond making the case for good and effective strategic planning to making strategy visual through effective strategy mapping. Strategy mapping prevents groups of people from talking over one another and going around in circles. It helps people speak and be heard, produce lots of ideas and understand how they fit together, make use of causal reasoning, and clarify ultimately what they want to do in terms of mission, goals, strategies, and actions. Strategy mapping can join process and content in such a way that good ideas worth implementing are found and the agreements and comments needed to implement them are reached. The result is living strategic plans that act as useful guides to action.
With detailed examples, actual strategy maps, process guidelines and hand-drawn illustrations, the book will help leaders, managers, students and other professionals see patterns across mission, goals, strategies and actions while helping to identify areas of alignment and misalignment and determine, real time, where elements are needed, missing or not useful in a strategic plan.
For leaders and managers of public and nonprofit organizations, facilitators and consultants, professors and students of strategic planning, strategic management, strategic mapping, and public policy, professional development workshops focused on strategic planning and strategy mapping.
September 2014, Jossey-Bass. John M. Bryson, Fran Ackermann, Colin Eden ISBN: 978-1-118-60592-9 240 pages
Making Strategy
Mapping out strategic success
This book takes students and practitioners through the process of making strategy in easy-to-follow steps, showing the reader how to identify the true goals of the organization and develop a clear action plan for achieving them. These techniques can be used to develop a business model and manage key strategic issues for teams, units and departments, as well as for a complete organization.
The Second Edition includes more real-life examples, added resource appendices, and deeper guidance in identifying and developing the distinctive competencies unique to individual organizations.
Publication Date: 24 Aug 2011 | ISBN-10: 184920120X | ISBN-13: 978-1849201209
Visible Thinking
Unlocking causal mapping for practical business results
Causal mapping is a tool that enables you to make sense of challenging situations so that you can get more out of them. A causal map is a word and arrow diagram in which ideas and actions are causally linked with one another through the use of arrows. Typically, only specialists such as physical or social scientists and operations researchers know about causal mapping and the tool is therefore not widely known or its broad applicability understood. Until now there has been no guidance available on how to make use of the tool for more general purposes. This book lets managers understand the theory and practice of causal mapping in layman’s terms for use in both individual and group settings. It shows managers how to develop and use action-oriented strategy maps and logic models in business decision making. The authors show how causal mapping can be used as a tool to make sense of challenging situations and develop effective business responses.
Publication Date: 22 Jun 2004 | ISBN-10: 0470869151 | ISBN-13: 978-0470869154
The Practice of Making Strategy
A step by step guide
The Practice of Making Strategy takes you through the process of making strategy with a management team. It is a highly practical book based on a wealth of organizational applications in large and small organizations, public and not-for-profit as well as commercial settings. It presents techniques that can be used to develop a business model, and manage key strategic issues. The techniques are used to develop strategies for units, departments and operating companies, as well as for a complete organization
Publication Date: 18 Aug 2004 | ISBN-10: 076194494X | ISBN-13: 978-0761944942
Making Strategy
The Journey of Strategic Management
In this major book, Making Strategy: The Journey of Strategic Management, Professor Colin Eden and Dr Fran Ackermann of the Strathclyde Business School provide an integrated and practical resource for all those concerned with translating strategic theory into management practice.
Publication Date: 1 Oct 1998 | ISBN-10: 076195225X | ISBN-13: 978-0761952251
