Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but...
Review:
The author attempts to apply the notions of chaotic systems, fractals, non-linear systems to organizations, management and leadership.
The author offers very interesting analogies and intuition to support her ideas. This is clearly a thoughtful book. And maybe someday some of the very interesting ideas expressed here will be known to have been insightful.
However, analogies and intuition are seldom compelling enough to "make the case," and such is the case here.
If you're into organizational theory and things like that, then you will probably want this book on your "to read" list. If you're into non-linear systems and have wondered if/how they might be part of our organizations (workplace, etc.), then you would probably find the analogies interesting.
This book is a worthwhile read for the analogies. I thought they were really interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: bad for business
Review: As a leader, this book was recommended to me as a great tool in understanding change as it related to my organization. This book provided absolutely no insight as to how I may effectively lead, or change my organization. I am very dissapointed and will not recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read!
Review: Author Margaret J. Wheatley describes how new developments in the sciences show us how to design a new, more effective organizational structure. The new structure is more responsive to human needs and to our rapidly changing times. Based on this understanding, you need to make your organization more flexible and adaptable. Using leadership and vision as a guiding force in an organization involves participation, self-management and shared information and power. This excellent, thoughtful, break-through book offers a new way of thinking about organizations and leadership. In clear, compelling language, it emphasizes the ways we are all part of an ever-changing natural order. Wheatley explains the need to get rid of our old out-dated mechanistic models and adapt our organizations to prosper in the future. Our accepted analytical world view, based on using logical analysis and relying numbers to chart progress, should be replaced, Wheatley says. She makes a compelling case and urges organizations to become more effective by becoming more human and natural. We [...] recommend this pivotal book to leaders at all levels.
Rating: 
Summary: A Phenomenal Book!
Review: Delving into the complex intricacies of living systems theory, quantum physics, and chaos and complexity theory, Wheatley writes in language that renders the subject clear, concise, easy to understand, and nothing short of inspirational. She draws a straight path between the hard sciences and the role of leadership in all living, open organizations that refers, without apology, to a deep and intimate order -- a quantum interconnectedness.She writes, "This is a world of independence and interdependence, of processes that resolve so many of the dualisms we created in thought. The seeming paradoxes of order and freedom, of being and becoming, whirl into a new image that is very ancient -- the unifying spiral dance of creation. Stasis, balance, equilibrium, these are temporary states. What endures is process -- dynamic, adaptive, creative." She then moves easily from theory into practice by offering three simple techniques for use in unifying whole organizations into a cohesive, working unit. Using one of her suggested techniques, that of producing a time-line, I constructed and fascilitated a "whole system" workshop entitled "A Quantum Perspective" which met with great success. I am delighted to have this book in my library.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for all leaders!
Review: Excellent! I highly recommend her book or audiotape! It was difficult at first to understand some of the scientific concepts but after wrestling with these concepts I see now how they fit and how they are applied to leadership. Newtonian thinking of engineering people no longer fits. Now, with new scientific evidence and thinking of quantum physics, showing the relationships and the interconnectedness of all things including sub-atomic particles; organizations therefore, need to move towards the direction of interconnectedness and interdependence as a way of functioning together; we do need to realize that a butterfly flapping its wings in Japan does have an effect on the wind patterns in the United States. And what we do, say, think, and feel does have an effect on the entire organization.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for all leaders!
Review: Excellent! I highly recommend her book or audiotape! It was difficult at first to understand some of the scientific concepts but after wrestling with these concepts I see now how they fit and how they are applied to leadership. Newtonian thinking of engineering people no longer fits. Now, with new scientific evidence and thinking of quantum physics, showing the relationships and the interconnectedness of all things including sub-atomic particles; organizations therefore, need to move towards the direction of interconnectedness and interdependence as a way of functioning together; we do need to realize that a butterfly flapping its wings in Japan does have an effect on the wind patterns in the United States. And what we do, say, think, and feel does have an effect on the entire organization.
Rating:
Summary: What a find!
Review: Executive Summary for the Leadership and the New Science Presentation Margaret Wheatley opens up a whole new world of thought in her book Leadership and the New Science. She brings about a revolutionary way of thinking about organizations by relating scientific discoveries to organizational behavior. She abandons 17th century Newtonian mindsets to embrace a more holistic and organic view of the world. This book can help give you the tools to successfully navigate the rough waters of rapid change in organizations; you find yourself welcoming change rather than fearing it. A must read for anyone that aspires to succeed and values personal growth. She touches scientific breakthroughs in the areas of quantum physics, chemistry, and biology. Other topics that are covered include chaos theory and change. She uses discoveries in quantum physics to explain that the universe is interconnected and relies on an infinite series of relationships. Biology and chemistry discoveries are used as metaphors to explain that disequilibrium and change are requirements for systems to grow and survive in our ever-changing universe. Chaos theory is used to explain that chaos is needed to create new order. She explains that stability is never guaranteed and should not be desired. Fractals are used as metaphors to explain these concepts.
Rating:
Summary: What science??
Review: First off, the author is not a scientist. Second, the author tries to link PHYSICAL science with human leadership. I only read 1/4 of the book, and I had to put it into trash because I felt like barfing everytime I lay my eyes on it. If you think a non-scientist has any right to write a book with "New Science" on its title, then you should buy this book. Otherwise, stay away from this LSD induced junk.
Rating:
Summary: where the rubber meets the air
Review: Her original version of this book in 1992? was breath of fresh air, even 'groundbreaking'. This version continues on, but does not share anything practical she has learned in the 8 years. Maybe we are supposed to hire her consulting firm? This lack of application, and her increasing hubris [I'm right, other social scientists are not] bothered me as I progressed through the book. By the end, her subtle bragging and 'new age' wanderings had totally turned me off. I used to recommend this book to frineds and clients, but will no longer do so.
Rating: 
Summary: Tedious and overly ambitious
Review: I don't know if the revised version of this book is any better than the original 1992 version, which I read. But that version, I can assure you, is disappointing. What I thought would be a fascinating and well-written work revealed itself to be pretentious, tedious, and confusing. I couldn't wait to turn each page...not because it was a gripping read, but because each turned page brought me closer to the end. I think the topic is intriguing, but a better, less pretentious author could have taken the concepts and produced a book of real worth.
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