I am very grateful to have discovered Ralph Stacey's work, last year, while studying at Roskilde University in Denmark.  I very much appreciated his straightforwardness and clarity.  His perspectives seemed to rely upon clear insight, that address complex realities; rather than the common reverse in academics.  

In particular I appreciated his sensible conclusion in respect to irresolvable complexity.  The emancipatory influence his writing (and a few videos) had on me was simple.  I read his work, thought a lot about it and agreed that the future is not producible by intention and planning, non matter how strong or sophisticated.  That simple insight in application helped me reorient my thinking significantly, discard a bunch of impoverished ideas, and expand significantly many more.  It clicked.  And it was a relief to release the burden that mumbo jumbo hype hype management theory often includes.  Intimate engagement with people, and the world, rather than generating some sort of individual exceptionalism, is the best shot toward better outcomes.   I have found its also more interesting fun challenging and humane than playing Sisyphus ever was. 

I wish his family and friends the very best.