In this important book Enid Mumford, one of the pioneers in putting human values at the centre of successful change strategies, sets out by means of a series of case studies the problems faced by change managers and the way these can be met in order to build systems which deliver satisfactory jobs and at the same time robust efficient systems.
Enid Mumford is a phenomenon. Throughout her long and active life as an academic and researcher she has championed the importance of the human participant in the design of organizational systems. She has demonstrated again and again that we can design better, more robust and efficient systems by involving all the stakeholders in the design process. This book is both a reprise of her work and at the same time a practical step by step guide on how to set about redesigning organizations. Essential reading for all managers about to engage in organizational change, and a necessary text for students and researchers.
– Frank Land, London School of Economics, UK
Enid Mumford's book is a must read for anyone interested in the potential and impact of socio-technical design. She takes us into a wonderful journey of work system advocates for dignity, participation and good working life for everyone included. This book shows that beneath all the hype of management, there is a continuing need to establish management as a noble profession in which management can enhance human freedom, democracy and creativity. In this effort, Enid Mumford's voice has been significant over the last four decades. This book is an excellent testimony to this. This is a rare book on design and research on design. You can learn from real experiences of real people, and see their struggle and anxiety. It shows that good research at the end must address somehow what it means to be a human being, and what constitutes good life for all of us.
– Kalle Lyytinen, Department of Information Systems, Case Western Reserve University, USA