Catalysts for Change

Of related interest. Design for Success A Human-Centered Approachto Designing Successful Products and Systems William B. Rouse Thisgroundbreaking book offers a comprehensive, methodologicalframework for the human-centered design of complex systems. Thisdynamic new approach to system design includes four phases --naturalist, marketing, engineering, and sales and service -- whichcover the entire product life cycle, including:
* Evaluating users' needs and preferences
* Concept and market evaluation of alternative ways to satisfythese demands
* Detailed design and engineering evaluation of products andsystems
* Fielding and ongoing in-use evaluation
A wide variety of methods and tools is discussed within thismethodological framework. Applications are illustrated with casestudies of actual applications in a variety of industries. Thisbook makes human-centered design very concrete and readilyapplicable to practical and realistically complex design problems."How to" guidance is provided in the form of case histories andalmost 100 figures and tables, as well as principles and guidelinesfor implementing the design "toolbox" outlined throughout the book.1991 (0471-52483-2) 287 pp. Strategies for Innovation CreatingSuccessful Products, Systems, and Organizations William B. RouseConcentrating on technology-based businesses, Strategies forInnovation presents a comprehensive methodology for businessplanning and market development. The author demonstrates theseprinciples with actual plans successfully implemented in his owninnovative software company. In addition, he has included a wealthof real-life examples, case studies and vignettes, with which heexplores marketing strategies, business techniques, and planningmethodologies that have worked for companies ranging fromtechnology-based Fortune 500 companies to small new venturestart-ups. The book includes more than 100 figures and tables thatprovide easy access to critical information, and an extensivebibliography. This highly practical guide is an important resourcefor executives in technology-based businesses, as well as systemsengineers and engineering managers. It is also an excellent textfor MBA candidates and graduate students and teachers in areasrelated to the design and management of technology-basedenterprises. 1992 (0-471-55904-0) 272 pp. Outline of the Model.

Culture and Religion.

Science and Technology.

Elaboration and Integration of the Model.

Understanding the Marketplace.

Enabling the Enterprise.

Settling Sociotechnical Disputes.

Resolving Political Conflicts.

Enabling Change.

Indexes. About the author WILLIAM B. ROUSE, PhD, is Chief Executive Officer of Search Technology, an innovative software company. He has been a professor of systems engineering at both the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois. Dr. Rouse is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and recipient of the Norbert Wiener Award from the Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society. He is the author of the widely read and well regarded Strategies for Innovation: Creating Successful Products, Systems, and Organizations and Design for Success: A Human-Centered Approach to Designing Successful Products and Systems. Dr. Rouse received his doctorate in systems engineering from MIT. In his very well received Design for Success, William B. Rouse detailed a methodological framework for the human-centered design of complex technological systems. In Strategies for Innovation he developed a similar methodology for business planning and market development. Now, in Catalysts for Change, the third and final volume in William Rouse’s groundbreaking series, he presents a model for addressing the complex and volatile world in which the well-planned enterprise tries to sell its well-designed products. In the global marketplace, each separate market represents a different culture — corporate, national, ethnic, or institutional. The ability to recognize, understand, and adapt to diversity in the marketplace is a distinct competitive advantage. Using his simple yet incisive Needs-Beliefs-Perceptions Model (NBP). Rouse examines numerous situations, both domestic and international, to which companies must adapt in order to remain competitive, and he offers precise guidelines on dealing with them. Key topics discussed include:

• Adapting to cultural and religious differences
• Differences among scientific disciplines
• Marketing and sales of software products
• Adapting defense technology to civilian applications
• Changing from service to product markets
• Changing from defense to nondefense markets
• Environment vs. economy disputes
• Trade disputes
• Political conflicts

For engineers, managers, and executives in technology-based enterprises, Catalysts for Change will, itself, be a catalyst for change. Of related interest… Design for Success A Human-Centered Approach to Designing Successful Products and Systems William B. Rouse This groundbreaking book offers a comprehensive, methodological framework for the human-centered design of complex systems. This dynamic new approach to system design includes four phases — naturalist, marketing, engineering, and sales and service — which cover the entire product life cycle, including:

• Evaluating users’ needs and preferences
• Concept and market evaluation of alternative ways to satisfy these demands
• Detailed design and engineering evaluation of products and systems
• Fielding and ongoing in-use evaluation

A wide variety of methods and tools is discussed within this methodological framework. Applications are illustrated with case studies of actual applications in a variety of industries. This book makes human-centered design very concrete and readily applicable to practical and realistically complex design problems. "How to" guidance is provided in the form of case histories and almost 100 figures and tables, as well as principles and guidelines for implementing the design "toolbox" outlined throughout the book. 1991 (0471-52483-2) 287 pp. Strategies for Innovation Creating Successful Products, Systems, and Organizations William B. Rouse Concentrating on technology-based businesses, Strategies for Innovation presents a comprehensive methodology for business planning and market development. The author demonstrates these principles with actual plans successfully implemented in his own innovative software company. In addition, he has included a wealth of real-life examples, case studies and vignettes, with which he explores marketing strategies, business techniques, and planning methodologies that have worked for companies ranging from technology-based Fortune 500 companies to small new venture start-ups. The book includes more than 100 figures and tables that provide easy access to critical information, and an extensive bibliography. This highly practical guide is an important resource for executives in technology-based businesses, as well as systems engineers and engineering managers. It is also an excellent text for MBA candidates and graduate students and teachers in areas related to the design and management of technology-based enterprises. 1992 (0-471-55904-0) 272 pp.