In looking at the predator-prey dynamic in organisations, it becomes interesting; especially using metaphor tools such as Arthur Shelley’s ‘Organisational Zoo‘. If predation is the regulating dynamic in organisations then what impact does that have on variety? Is it a simple case of survival of the fittest? Do individuals adapt, become more agile or dynamic, in order to survive the environment (gazelles, using Arthur’s metaphor)? If the population of dynamic, agile individuals increases then, according to Allesina & Tang, so will the number of predators (lions in Arthur’s organisational zoo metaphor). Does this make sense for organisations?

This book is about complexity science, data structures and algorithms, intermediate programming in Python, and the philosophy of science

Was mir an seiner These latürnich schwer zupass kommt, ist die Tatsache, dass sie mich in meiner Überzeugung unterstützt, dass wir, wenn wir ein "demokratisches" Netz haben wollen, in dem die Produktionswerkzeuge in den Händen möglichst vieler liegen, wir nicht anders können, als die Technologie so einfach wie möglich zu gestalten. Und umgekehrt sollten wir bei denen die komplexe Technologien fordern und fördern, vorsichtig sein, ob sie nicht einen Zentralismus im Netz befördern oder gar aktiv zentralistische Ziele verfolgen.

sechs Ansätze des Komplexitäts- und Ungewissheitsmanagements knapp zusammen. Sie zeigen, dass praxistaugliche Ansätze stets über eine Verhaltensänderung gehen. Gutgemeinte Ratschläge, wie sie z.B. in 6 Ways to Master Entrepreneurial Uncertainty feil gehalten werden, sind in der Praxis wenig hilfreich. Nur Reither macht deutlich, dass die Veränderung eingefahrener Verhaltens- und Denkmuster Geduld und Mühe erfordert.

In an earlier column, I wrote about the science of complex adaptive systems (see Nov./Dec. 2008 KMWorld), which is a key piece of underlying theory to help us comprehend the increasingly interdependent and co-evolving worlds of knowledge management, social computing and learning.

eine kurze und knappe Geschichte der Theorie der Komplexität in den unterschiedlichen miteinander vernetzten Disziplinen seit dem Ende des 2. Weltkrieges veröffentlicht: "The theories of complexity comprise a system of great breadth. But what is included under this umbrella? Here we attempt a portrait of complexity theory, seen through the lens of complexity theory itself. That is, we portray the subject as an evolving complex dynamical system, or social network, with bifurcations, emergent properties, and so on. This is a capsule history covering the 20th century."

Does the Model Relate to Complexity Theory?

Yes. It is systemic in its core but it could be misunderstood as a mechanistic model. Only if individual growth, team learning, and organizational development are harmonized, the change process can be successful and satisfying for those impacted by the change.

Strengths

* It is circular
* It takes into consideration change at different levels: Individual, Team, Organization and Environment
* It helps you define where you are

Weaknesses

* Because of it's phased structure, people tend to understand it as a linear model
* It might suggest that if all phases are well planned, the project will succeed
* It does not define roles and responsibilities

Informal Coalitions adopts a similar position to Stacey’s on the dynamics of organizations. And a number of earlier posts on this blog echo Stacey’s comments. Examples include Does it make sense to differentiate between levels of complexity? and The dynamics of continuity and change in organizations - an analogy. So I sit four-square with Stacey and his colleagues in their challenge to conventional management wisdom and most of the conclusions that they draw.

Does the Model Relate to Complexity Theory?

AI and the 4D-Model are deeply rooted in complexity theory. The underlying principle of simultaneity (change of mind and change of organizations happen at the same time) and the principle of poetry (the story of organizations can be recreated in conversations) relate to a basic systemic process: organizations can not be described as the sum of its parts but only as a whole.

Does the Model Relate to Complexity Theory?

No. The model is a linear one, describing the behavior of individuals on a clearly defined path. However, the cycle of grief can enrich a systemic model of change that tries to explain what actually happens in organizations. So, like a weather model can explain why a thunderstorm happens, Kuebler-Ross' cycle can explain why people do not cooperate in certain stages of the change, particularly when combined with a human needs model such as the one of Manfred Max-Neef that I favor.

“Selbstorganisation im Sinne der Selbststeuerung und der Selbstbestimmung ist eine Herausforderung, die eine ganze Reihe kognitiver Fähigkeiten, Vorwissen, Interesse, Wille und Strategien voraussetzt, die man sich erst einmal aneignen muss.” In diesem Zusammenhang ortet Reinmann auch die Gefahr, dass Lernen im Web 2.0 zu einem Elitekonzept werden könnte: Wer nämlich privilegiert ist und die Möglichkeiten hat, die personalen und situationalen Voraussetzungen für das Lernen zu schaffen, hat einen klaren Vorteil gegenüber anderen.

Today, Stacey is recognized as a leading and radical thinker on the application of complexity principles to organizational change and performance. De Bono, on the other hand, is thought of primarily as a teacher of lateral thinking techniques and an author of populist books on the subject.

However, in the same way that Stacey uses complexity science as a source of analogy for human interaction in organizations, I believe that de Bono’s early writing provides a similarly rich seam of analogies. For me, the principles of ‘brain dynamics’ that underpin his writing and teaching offer some important insights into the dynamics of organizations, if managers and organizational specialists are prepared to look for them.

Projekte sind komplexe Systeme. Komplexe Systeme verfügen über viele Elemente oder Variablen, die ihre Verbindungen gleichzeitig dynamisch verändern.

Komplexe System zu planen, zu steuern und schlussendlich zu beherrschen (wenn man in diesem Zusammenhang überhaupt von “beherrschen” sprechen darf) ist eine große Herausforderung für einen Projektmanager und sein Team. Ich meine, dass Wissen über Systemtheorie, Komplexität und Managementkybernetik zur Grundausstattung eines jeden Projektmanagers gehören sollte. Zumindest ab einer gewissen Projektgröße und Komplexität.

Having dabbled with the implications of chaos and complexity theory for development and emergencies work for a number of years, I think it provides more than a useful metaphor.

Alternative development policies have to be based on alternative thinking. Current policies of International Aid Agencies are the product of an existing way of looking at the world which is seriously limited. The failures of development agencies, multilaterals, and often NGOs is not only one of political will but also a conceptual one.

Knowledges, Capacities and Learning for Development: Insights from Complexity approaches

Heute besteht die Notwendigkeit, Systeme zu bauen, die stören. Denn: Die Komplexität und Dynamik innerhalb eines Systems muss mindestens so groß sein wie die Komplexität und Dynamik am Markt

how insights from complexity science and other writing might usefully inform our understanding of organizational dynamics

What are the key requirements for social software to create social environments and communities that can become self-sustainable? Ken Thompson and Robin Good suggest the answer can be found in the ground-breaking "theory of living systems" developed by tw

an important but oft-misunderstood concept critical to any forecasting or planning endeavor --- Lorenz und so

a great overview of the state of understanding and research in and around complex social systems. I found this a good foundation for deeper digging, particularly understanding what happens in some of the social networks on the web as they scale

die erste wissenschaftliche Arbeit, die GTD genauer untersucht. Die ECCO-Wissenschaftler (Evolution, Complexity and Cognition research group) verglichen die Prinzipien, die GTD zu Grunde liegen, mit aktueller wissenschaftlicher Literatur

Why do we need metaphors? Because we can't accept the fact that this stuff isn't rocket science or consultancy fodder - I'm not sure that using the image of a bee connotes that social media participants are "interchangeable workers." - bees have quite a c

describe a complex system in such a way that you ca move to a management approach which has some coherence. It is still in its early stages, but it is starting to inform the design of narrative databases and I have used it experimentally with success

Complexity theory is a broad church, so here is a summary

dass er auf Selbstorganisation statt Vernetzung mittels Sensorik setzte. Denn im Prinzip ist jeder Verkehrsteilnehmer bereits seine eigene Sensoreinheit. Die funktioniert offenbar dann besser, wenn sie nicht durch ausgeklügelte Verkehrsleitsysteme eingel

The objective of this blog is to offer a forum for the discussion of the intertwined subjects of network analysis and complex systems theory.

excellent ... One of the most popular terms in management is business model. Wallin builds his definition on value-creation ... so do I

“Adapt or die” is a common phrase that highlights the importance of survival for firms. As firms adapt and evolve, the organization determines and selects the traits necessary for the survival and through its culture continuously reinforces it. This c

Who still speaks of sociotechnical systems? who thinks that self-organizing teams and complex adaptive systems are relevant in org theory? Not too many people, it seems.

complex systems are impossible to predict in detail especially as your forcast extends into the future. I point out that there are so many connections among the objects affecting the system and many of the cause and effect relationships are non-linear

In the complex environment of the current business world, leaders often will be called upon to act against their instincts. They will need to know when to share power and when to wield it alone, when to look to the wisdom of the group and when to take the

In der aktuellen Kompetenzdebatte fallen immer wieder die Begriffe “Komplexität” und “Selbstorganisation”.

A single ant or bee isn't smart, but their colonies are. The study of swarm intelligence is providing insights that can help humans manage complex systems, from truck routing to military robots.

For a company looking to enter in the social computing domain, there are lessons we can learn from nature. The ability to harness social computing and mass collaboration requires opportunity but also individual assessment.

We need breakthrough innovations to enable us to better deal with these increasingly complex organizational systems

dynamic complexity, social complexity and emerging complexity ... dc = nichtlinearität ???