an online book by David Gurteen
A complex system is a system composed of many components which may interact with each other. Examples of complex systems are Earth's global climate, organisms, the human brain, infrastructure such as power grid, transportation or communication systems, complex software and electronic systems, social and economic organizations (like cities), an ecosystem, a living cell, and, ultimately, for some authors, the entire universe.
Complex systems are systems whose behavior is intrinsically difficult to model due to the dependencies, competitions, relationships, or other types of interactions between their parts or between a given system and its environment. Systems that are "complex" have distinct properties that arise from these relationships, such as nonlinearity, emergence, spontaneous order, adaptation, and feedback loops, among others. Because such systems appear in a wide variety of fields, the commonalities among them have become the topic of their independent area of research. In many cases, it is useful to represent such a system as a network where the nodes represent the components and links to their interactions.
The term complex systems often refers to the study of complex systems, which is an approach to science that investigates how relationships between a system's parts give rise to its collective behaviors and how the system interacts and forms relationships with its environment. The study of complex systems regards collective, or system-wide, behaviors as the fundamental object of study; for this reason, complex systems can be understood as an alternative paradigm to reductionism, which attempts to explain systems in terms of their constituent parts and the individual interactions between them.
As an interdisciplinary domain, complex systems draw contributions from many different fields, such as the study of self-organization and critical phenomena from physics, of spontaneous order from the social sciences, chaos from mathematics, adaptation from biology, and many others. Complex systems is therefore often used as a broad term encompassing a research approach to problems in many diverse disciplines, including statistical physics, information theory, nonlinear dynamics, anthropology, computer science, meteorology, sociology, economics, psychology, and biology.
Credit: Wikipedia - complex_systemMany people believe that complexity is just higher-order complicatedness i.e. that there is a continuum and that the difference is one of degree, not type. When one considers however how very different these states are from each other, I tend to agree with Dave Snowden when he says that there are in fact phase shifts … Continue reading Complex and Complicated Systems Are Fundamentally Different Sonja Blignaut
The idea of a “problem” in a complex or complex adaptive system is misleading, as it suggests the existence of a clear, identifiable issue that can be resolved independently. In reality, what we perceive as problems are often symptoms of deeper, systemic patterns and interactions. Credit: David Gurteen People: David GurteenDavid Gurteen Keynote speaker, writer … Continue reading There Are No Problems in Complex Systems David Gurteen
In a complex or complex adaptive system, the notion of “problem-solving” is an illusion. Instead of definitive solutions, there is only an endless series of adaptive responses. Credit: David Gurteen People: David GurteenDavid Gurteen Keynote speaker, writer and conversational facilitatorBooks: David GurteenA Conversation Architect Designs Strategic Conversations David GurteenAPM Conference: Conversational Leadership David Gurteen (2016)Being … Continue reading There Are No Solutions Only Responses in Complex Adaptive Systems David Gurteen
Retrospective Coherence in a Complex World What Is a System? ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The world is fast-changing and increasingly more turbulent. The problems and challenges we face are both complex and adaptive and thus more resilient in the face of traditional approaches and ways of working. Posts that link to … Continue reading Introduction: Complexity The world is fast-changing and increasingly more turbulent
Introduction: Complexity Complex Is Not the Same as Complicated Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Systems are integral to various aspects of life, from nature to technology. Understanding systems can be challenging due to their complexity and interdependence. By examining their components and relationships, we can gain insights and develop solutions for effectively managing … Continue reading What Is a System? ** An interconnected set of elements organized in a way that achieves something
Complex Is Not the Same as Complicated Complex Systems ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Distinguishing between complex systems and complex adaptive systems is essential. The challenge is that these terms are often used interchangeably. By understanding the key differences, we can better analyze and predict system behaviors in diverse domains. Introduction People … Continue reading Complex Systems and Complex Adaptive Systems ** Complexity
Complex Systems and Complex Adaptive Systems ** Complex Adaptive Systems ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Complex Systems A complex system consists of many highly interconnected parts that dynamically interact with each other. The Internet and the global economy are good examples. Complex is not the same as complicated In everyday language, we … Continue reading Complex Systems ** Many parts interacting with each other in multiple ways
Dispositional States ** The Vector Theory of Change Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Emergence in a complex system refers to the phenomenon where new patterns, behaviors, or properties arise at the system level that cannot be easily predicted or explained by analyzing the system’s individual components in isolation. In other words, the system’s … Continue reading Emergence ** Complexity
Emergence ** Navigating Complexity with Safe-to-fail Probes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Traditional change management methods, with their rigid plans and fixed outcomes, often struggle in today’s complex, unpredictable environments. Dave Snowden’s Vector Theory of Change offers a more adaptable solution by focusing on setting a broad direction (vector) rather than a specific … Continue reading The Vector Theory of Change Navigating change in a complex world
The Vector Theory of Change Exploring Uncertainty – the Role of Catalytic and Safe-to-fail Probes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Navigating complex systems requires innovative problem-solving approaches. Traditional linear methods often prove ineffective in unpredictable environments. Safe-to-fail probes offer a valuable tool for gaining insights, building resilience, and driving sustainable change through small-scale … Continue reading Navigating Complexity with Safe-to-fail Probes The power of safe-to-fail probes
Navigating Complexity with Safe-to-fail Probes Technical Challenges and Complex Adaptive Challenges Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Navigating complexity requires experimental techniques. Catalytic probes stimulate system reactions, while safe-to-fail probes allow controlled failure. Both enable learning and adaptation through small-scale interventions in unpredictable environments. The concept of a “catalytic probe” is closely related to … Continue reading Exploring Uncertainty – the Role of Catalytic and Safe-to-fail Probes Essential Tools for Understanding and Influencing Complex Systems
Technical Challenges and Complex Adaptive Challenges Unintended Consequences Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Complex systems defy simplistic problem-solving. Rather than definitive solutions, we can only respond to the intricate web of interconnected elements. In a complex environment, there are no solutions, only an endless series of adaptive responses. Complex systems are characterized by … Continue reading There Are No Solutions to Complex Challenges Only an endless series of adaptive responses
Three Forms of Reasoning: Deductive, Inductive and Abductive Attitudes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Belief systems shape our understanding of reality. They are interconnected networks of ideas, not always accurate representations of truth. Examining and evolving our beliefs, while challenging, is crucial for personal growth and social progress. A belief system is a … Continue reading Belief Systems Our beliefs are not isolated pieces of data that we can take and discard at will
Our World Is Hyperconnected We Humans Are Complex Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter In our hyperconnected world, complexity has surged, leading to heightened volatility, uncertainty, and ambiguity. This increased complexity poses significant challenges in predicting outcomes, planning for the future, and understanding global events. We live in a hyperconnected world that has led … Continue reading Our World Is Complex It is a VUCA world
