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THE ENTROPY VECTOR
Connecting Science and Business
by Robert D Handscombe (University of Sheffield, UK)
& Eann A Patterson (Michigan State University,
USA)
Contents (29k)
Preface (27k)
Chapter 1: Disorderly
Signposts (302k)
How do managers and entrepreneurs evaluate risk, encourage
creativity or manage change? Might a better grasp of science
help? The authors of this book suggest that there is real
value in trying to connect science to business and that
science is far too important just to be left to the
scientists.
All of science is too large a prospect, so the authors
limit themselves to looking at disorder. We must all learn to
manage and control change, and there is plenty of social,
technical and business change going on. The authors suggest
that a clearer understanding of entropy and the choices it
presents will assist in that management of change — or, as
they put it, to manage disorder one needs to control the
entropy vector.
This book is for scientists and engineers aspiring to
business success and for business people interested in new
approaches.
Contents:
- Disorderly Signposts
- Planck's Inspiration: Nature, Philosophy and Business
- Life, the Universe and Entropy
- The Entropy Vector
- Energy and Entropy
- Time and Entropy
- Managing Disorder
- Creativity and Innovation
- Risk and Entropy
- Mental Entropy
- Entropy Trade-offs
- The Entropy Tool-Kit
Readership: Engineers and scientists interested in or
studying management; middle and top managers.
“This is a well-researched, well written, amusing and
stimulating read … Overall, this is a book that makes you
think ... Read and enjoy it.”
Martin
Sandford
Vice-President, LES Britain & Ireland |
“This book is short and easy to read. It illustrates
points with many original cartoons and diagrams ... it is well
indexed and is designed to allow sampling it randomly.”
| Journal
of Product Innovation Management |
“There is more reason, sense and entertainment here than
in most pop management books. Verdict: recommended if you feel
like a different perspective on that productive gap between
stability and disorder from authors who do actually know their
science and engineering.”
Sam
Garrett-Jones
University of Wollongong, Australia
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| 200pp |
Pub.
date: Apr 2004 |
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