Complexity theory and organizations

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This article is about the application of complexity science to strategy. For its application to the problems of economics, see Complexity economics. For other uses, see Complexity theory (disambiguation).

Complexity theory and organizations, also called complexity strategy or complex adaptive organizations, is the use of the study of

organizational studies.[1][2][3][4] It draws from research in the natural sciences that examines uncertainty and non-linearity.[5] Complexity theory emphasizes interactions and the accompanying feedback loops that constantly change systems. While it proposes that systems are unpredictable, they are also constrained by order-generating rules.[6]
: 74 

Complexity theory has been used in the fields of

self-organize corresponding to a change-initiating micro-event or collection of events.[7][8]

Key concepts

Complex adaptive systems

Organizations can be treated as

complex adaptive systems (CAS) as they exhibit fundamental CAS principles like self-organization, complexity, emergence,[9] interdependence, space of possibilities, co-evolution,[10][11][12] chaos,[13][14][11][12] and self-similarity.[7][15][11][12]

CAS are contrasted with ordered and

self-organizing nature is an important characteristic of CAS; and its ability to learn to adapt, differentiate it from other self-organizing systems.[7][13][14][11][12]

Organizational environments can be viewed as complex adaptive systems where

decentralized, non-hierarchical network structures.[16][13][4][11]

Implications for organizational management

CAS approaches to strategy seek to understand the nature of system constraints and agent interaction and generally takes an evolutionary or naturalistic approach to strategy. Some research integrates computer simulation and organizational studies.

Complexity theory and knowledge management

Complexity theory also relates to knowledge management (KM) and organizational learning (OL). "Complex systems are, by any other definition, learning organizations."[18] Complexity Theory, KM, and OL are all complementary and co-dependent.[18] “KM and OL each lack a theory of how cognition happens in human social systems – complexity theory offers this missing piece”.[18]

Complexity theory and project management

Complexity theory is also being used to better understand new ways of doing project management, as traditional models have been found lacking to current challenges.[19]: 23  This approaches advocates forming a "culture of trust" that "welcomes outsiders, embraces new ideas, and promotes cooperation."[19]: 35 

Recommendations for managers

Complexity Theory implies approaches that focus on flatter, more flexible organizations, rather than top-down, command-and-control styles of management.[6]: 84 [4][16]

Practical examples

A typical example for an organization behaving as CAS is Wikipedia itself,[20] which is collaborated and managed by a loosely organized management structure[20] that is composed of a complex mix of human–computer interactions.[21][22][23] By managing behavior, and not only mere content, Wikipedia uses simple rules to produce a complex, evolving knowledge base that has largely replaced older sources in popular use.[citation needed]

Other examples include:

This new macro level state may create difficulty for an observer in explaining and describing the collective behavior in terms of its constituent parts, as a result of the complex dynamic networks of interactions, outlined earlier.[7]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 9781446209745
    . Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  2. ISBN 9781446209745
    . Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  3. ISBN 9781461506010
    . Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d L. Levy, David. "Applications and Limitations of Complexity Theory in Organization Theory and Strategy" (PDF). umb.edu. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  5. ^ Grobman, Gary M. (2005). "Complexity Theory: a new way to look at organizational change" (PDF). Public Administration Quarterly. 29 (3). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  6. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2005.00107.x
    .
  7. ^ a b c d "Insights from Complexity Theory: Understanding Organisations better". by Assoc. Prof. Amit Gupta, Student contributor - S. Anish, IIM Bangalore. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Ten Principles of Complexity & Enabling Infrastructures" (PDF). by Professor Eve Mitleton-Kelly, Director Complexity Research Programme, London School of Economics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Complex Adaptive Systems as a Model for Evaluating Organisational Change Caused by the Introduction of Health Information Systems" (PDF). Kieren Diment, Ping Yu, Karin Garrety, Health Informatics Research Lab, Faculty of Informatics, University of Wollongong, School of Management, University of Wollongong, NSW. uow.edu.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  10. ^ a b Kauffman, Stuart (15 January 1992). "Coevolution in Complex Adaptive Systems". Santa Fe Institute. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  11. ^
    doi:10.1002/sres.2379
    .
  12. ^
    S2CID 149946425
    .
  13. ^ a b c d e Berreby, David (1 April 1996). "Between Chaos and Order: What Complexity Theory Can Teach Business". strategy-business.com. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  14. ^ a b Birkinshaw, Julian (11 November 2013). "Managing Complexity Is the Epic Battle Between Emergence and Entropy". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Page 3, Similar fundamental between CAS and organisations, from paper "Ten Principles of Complexity & Enabling Infrastructures"" (PDF). by Professor Eve Mitleton-Kelly, Director Complexity Research Programme, London School of Economics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  16. ^ a b c B. Porter, Terry. "Coevolution as a research framework for organizations and the natural environment" (PDF). University of Maine. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  17. ^ A Lambert, Philip (June 2018). "The Order-Chaos Dynamic of Creativity". University of New Brunswick. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  18. ^
    doi:10.1108/13673270010377652
    . Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  19. ^
    S2CID 47040850
    .
  20. ^ a b Faucher, Jean-Baptiste. "A Complex Adaptive Organization Under the Lens of the LIFE Model:The Case of Wikipedia". Egosnet.org. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  21. ^ "The Internet Analyzed as a Complex Adaptive System". Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Cyberspace: The Ultimate Complex Adaptive System" (PDF). The International C2 Journal. Retrieved 25 August 2012. by Paul W. Phister Jr
  23. ^ "Complex Adaptive Systems" (PDF). mit.edu. 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2012. by Serena Chan, Research Seminar in Engineering Systems
  24. ^ "Toward a Complex Adaptive Intelligence Community The Wiki and the Blog". D. Calvin Andrus. cia.gov. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

Further reading

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