Designed to Thrive: A Pathway to Building Resilient Systems

In a world increasingly defined by complexity, interdependence, and rapid change, resilience is not just a desirable trait, it is an imperative. Designed to Thrive: A Pathway to Building Resilient Systems offers a transformative blueprint for individuals, organizations, and institutions seeking to create human systems that endure, adapt, and flourish in the face of uncertainty. Authored by Dr. Alison S. Foster, a scientist-turned-strategist with decades of experience across public service, industry, and consulting, this book is an insightful exploration of systems thinking-presented with refreshing clarity and grounded in real-world application, centered on the human's perspective.Dr. Foster bridges her background in physical sciences with experience in governance, management and organizational development, to reveal how the same principles that govern natural systems can be leveraged to build more effective and sustainable human systems. The book unfolds in three powerful sections: Part I: Understanding System Dynamics introduces what systems truly are, how to recognize them, and how feedback loops and system behavior shape outcomes. Part II: Designing the System You Want guides readers through standardizing processes, developing rules and procedures, and stabilizing operations for management of quality and long-term effectiveness. Part III: The Art of Building Resilience explores the mindset, strategy, and structural elements needed to grow and foster thriving systems-within families, institutions, governments, and nations. From personal systems like belief structures to national institutions tackling climate and economic shocks, Designed to Thrive provides a universal methodology for diagnosing dysfunction, and designing and implementing solutions that last. It's especially relevant for organizational leaders in small island developing states (SIDS) and other resource-constrained environments, yet its lessons are globally applicable.The author's voice is both accessible and motivating, making this book essential reading for: Policymakers and institutional leaders Organizational developers and consultants Educators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers Business owners and managers Leaders Anyone who is interested in managing their business or organization for success With deep empathy, scientific insight, and practical tools, Designed to Thrive empowers readers to stop firefighting problems-and start architecting success.

About the Author :
After years working in leadership and management positions within public and private entities, including the food and light manufacturing businesses which she co-founded and operated, Dr. Alison Gajadhar-Foster became frustrated by the continued systemic limitations to growth that had to be overcome. In 2017, she moved on to establish her consulting firm, KMA Consulting, through which she helps organizational leaders solve complex development problems that intersect leadership, governance, management, and operations. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Graduate Diploma in Law, coupled with her training in quality and project management, Alison uses a systems-approach and systems-thinking, combined with her business and public sector experience to help her clients produce high-impact outcomes. She has been recognised for her contributions to quality and standards within the English-speaking Caribbean, and she continues to volunteer her time contributing to national and international standards development, and in other quality infrastructure-related areas.

Review :
A practical guide to not only understanding how systems function but what we can do to determine our own paths within. At its core, it's a prompt to be open eyed and inquisitive; a reminder to continually assess the direction envisaged; and to accept core inputs (feedback loops) - all which will ensure that we bring the best of ourselves to the fore, and importantly, that we not lose that best of ourselves to that space we entered. Filled with easy-to-understand examples from an expert in systems dynamics, this is a worthwhile read and should be re-read, each time we enter a new environment, and or question our role and or the direction of the place we work. I do wish I had access to this insight earlier in my career. Anton E. EdmundsDevelopment practitioner, former diplomat, Caribbean citizenGeneral Manager, Country Department Caribbean Group, Inter-American Development BankDr. Gajadhar-Foster provides an insightful exploration into the principles and practice of systems thinking and resilience. She effectively uses real-world examples and personal experience to illustrate complex concepts, and make them accessible, relatable and implementable. She also provides a unique perspective, and practical framework, to encourage the reader to apply these concepts for their professional and personal benefit. From my perspective as an international expert working in developing and strengthening quality infrastructure in developing countries over many years, "Designed to Thrive" is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of systems and practically apply the concepts to create resilient, sustainable systems in both their personal and professional lives.Mike Peet PhD, MBA.International ConsultantThis book offers an excellent primer on how organizations can become self-correcting and future ready. It demystifies systems thinking in a way that will appeal to various audiences - students, business and thought leaders, and policy makers, with a compelling narrative: resilience arises from deliberate, well-informed design and monitoring of systems. The Author lays the foundation that system attributes of boundaries, interlinkages, and feedback loops apply universally across disciplines and are essential to understanding dynamics within a system and across various systems. Consequently, the complexities of real-world challenges (especially in a digital age) dictate a sustained attention to boundary conditions and how violating them can change the dynamic evolution of systems. In practical terms, the Author concludes that organizations can better anticipate and survive shocks if they embrace the CTS framework of Clarity (on role and purpose), Teamwork (collaborative support networks), and Systems (effective fit-for-purpose linked processes). Looking beyond the business world focus of the book, the text provides a bridging role for advancing resilience concepts and applications in engineering and biology, in explorations of control theory and sustainability science, and for organizational and community leaders interested in translating theoretical frameworks into actionable guides for "designing to thrive". Designed to Thrive is timely and highly recommended as an essential read for all interested in resilience as the key to long-term sustainability.Gene Leon, Ph.D.Executive DirectorDevelopment Bank for Resilient ProsperityGlobal appeal! As someone who has been employed in and remains involved in standardisation, I mai