Robert Louis (Bob) Flood (born 1955) is a British organizational scientist, former Professor ofManagement Sciences at theUniversity of Hull,^[1] specialized in appliedsystemic thinking, particularly in the areas ofstrategic management,organizational behavior and organizational improvement.^[2][3]

Born in London in February 1955, Robert Flood received a first class B.A. in Systems and Management in 1983 atCity University and his PhD in Philosophy in Systems Science atCity University in 1985. In 1997, he was awarded a Doctor of Science from theUniversity of Hull for his sustained and authoritative contribution to the field of systems science.^[1]

Prior to university Flood worked several years in the film business in the management of Paramount Pictures, in the health service for the Berkshire Area Health Authority, and at National Opinion Polls in London. In 1989 he was appointed Professor ofSystems Science at the University of Hull, and currently is a Professor ofAction Research at theNorwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.^[1] Flood has practiced as an independent action researcher since 1997, having left Hull under a cloud following questions regarding management style, use of departmental funds and plagiarism.

Flood is founding and current editor of the international journal "Systemic Practice and Action Research" and is also associate editor of the "Systems Research and Behavioral Science" journal. He also has been a Fellow of theInstitute of Measurement and Control and was a registered Chartered Engineer.^[1]

Flood was a nominee for the 'MCA (Management Consultants Association) 1993 Management Book of the Year Award' for Beyond TQM.

Flood has authored and co-authored a dozen books and more than 100 articles. A selection:

• Flood, Robert L., andEwart Carson.Dealing with complexity: an introduction to the theory and application of systems science. Springer Science & Business Media, 1988, 1993.
• Flood, Robert L., andMichael C. Jackson.Creative problem solving: Total systems intervention. Chichester: Wiley, 1991.
• Flood, Robert L., andMichael C. Jackson.Critical systems thinking: Directed readings. Chichester: Wiley, 1991.
• Flood, Robert L.Beyond TQM. Chichester: Wiley, 1993.
• Flood, Robert L., andRomm N. R. A.Diversity management: Triple loop learning. Chichester: Wiley, 1996.
• Flood, Robert L., and Romm N. R. A.Critical systems thinking: Current research and practice. Plenum: New York, 1996.
• Flood, Robert L.Rethinking the fifth discipline: Learning within the unknowable. Routledge, 1999; 2002.

More recent well-cited articles include:

• Flood, Robert L. 2010. The Relationship of systems thinking to action research. Systemic Practice and Action Research 23: 269-284.
• Flood, Robert L., andNorma RA Romm. 2018. A systemic approach to processes of power in learning organisations. Part 1: Literature, theory, and methodology of triple loop learning. The Learning Organisation 25: 1-14.

Quotations related toRobert L. Flood at Wikiquote

• 1955 births
• Living people
• British business theorists
• British systems scientists
• Academics of the University of Hull
• Alumni of City, University of London
• Academics from London

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