Health and Well-Being Risks for Organizations and People How Innovative Business Strategies Can Better Understand and Address These Challenges

Chap. 1 Risk Ecosystem

·       Introduction

·       Overall Ecosystem

·       Relationships Among Domains

·       Causal Chains

·       Causes of Death

·       Critical National Infrastructures

·       Sustainability & Resilience

·       Physical Nature vs. Human Nature

·       Overview of Book

·       Conclusions

Chap. 2 Climate & Weather

·       Climate vs. Weather

·       Causal Chains

·       Asheville Floods

·       Mitigations

·       Governing the Commons

·       Other Natural Risks

·       Conclusions

Chap. 3 Water & Food

·       Introduction

·       Causal Chains

·       Mitigations

·       Other Consumer Risks

·       Conclusions

Chap. 4 Technologies & Practices

·       Business Practices

·       Causal Chains

·       Mitigations

·       Litigations

·       Other Technology Risks

·       Conclusions

Chap. 5 Overall Ecosystem

·       Introduction

·       Multi-Level Ecosystem Model

·       Mechanisms vs. Phenomena

·       Mitigation Portfolio

·       Top-Down vs Bottom-Up

·       Overall Economic Drivers

·       Key Actors & Stakeholders

·       Legal, Regulatory & Policy Mechanisms

·       Investment Decisions

·       Decision Support

·       Managing Physical vs. Human Nature

·       Conclusions

Chap. 6 Prospects

·       Introduction

·       Exploitation

·       Mitigating Exploitation

·       Mitigation Strategies

·       Challenges

·       Disruptive Forces

·       Discussion

·       Conclusions

Biography

William B. Rouse, PhD, is Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has served on the faculties of Tufts University, University of Illinois, Delft University of Technology, Georgia Tech, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Georgetown University. He was founder and CEO of two software companies, Search Technology, Inc. and Enterprise Support Systems, Inc.

His research focuses on understanding and managing complex public-private systems such as healthcare delivery, higher education, energy, transportation, urban systems, and national security, with emphasis on mathematical and computational modeling of these systems for the purpose of policy design and analysis. His recent books include Innovations for Transformation (Routledge, 2025), Essential Business Challenges (Routledge, 2025), Innovation Ecosystems (Routledge, 2024), The Power of Games (Routledge, 2024), From Human-Centered Design to Human-Centered Society (Routledge, 2024), Beyond Quick Fixes (Oxford, 2023), Bigger Pictures for Innovation (Routledge, 2023), Transforming Public-Private Ecosystems (Oxford, 2022), Failure Management (Oxford, 2021), and Computing Possible Futures (Oxford, 2019).

Among many advisory roles, he has served as Chair of the Committee on Human Factors (now Board on Human Systems Integration) of the National Academies, a member of the advisory committee for the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education of the National Academies, a member of the US Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, and a member of the DoD Senior Advisory Group on Modeling and Simulation. He has been designated a lifetime National Associate of the National Research Council and National Academies.

Rouse is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and has been elected a fellow of four professional societies—the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS), and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES). He received his B.S. from the University of Rhode Island, and his S.M. and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rouse exposes the interconnected dangers of climate change, pollution, and technology that threaten our health and longevity, urging readers to confront the systemic failures and societal responsibilities behind them. With evidence-based insights and practical strategies, Rouse empowers us to demand accountability and create a human-centered future where well-being prevails over exploitation.
-- Michael Johns, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs and CEO of Emory Healthcare, Member of the National Academy of Medicine

An amazing volume bringing optimism and resilience to these difficult issues.
-- James Curran, Dean Emeritus, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Member of the National Academy of Medicine

This book provides an excellent roadmap for mitigating evidence-based risks for creating a human-centered society. This book should be read by all who are concerned with the effect of a variety of diversified risks on human well-being.
-- Gavriel Salvendy, University Distinguished Professor, University of Central Florida, Member of National Academy of Engineering

Within the chaos are significant players trying to fix things. This book tells why it is possible and important.
-- John Lombardi, President Emeritus, University of Florida

A catalyst for addressing some of our underlying societal and technology issues.
-- John Gilligan, CEO, Center for Internet Security

Only a systems thinker with Professor Rouse’s skills can abstract the notion of a ‘societal ecosystem’ to a level that is simple but not simplistic. He then defines a risk framework with three thematic foci – Food and Water, Climate and Weather, and Technologies and Practices. It is within this holistic frame that he discusses “risks” to communities and how to mitigate them.
--Dinesh Verma, Executive Director, Systems Engineering Research Center & Acquisition Innovation Research Center, Stevens Institute of Technology