Complex Systems—A New Paradigm for the Integrative Study of Management, Physical, and Technological Systems (original) (raw)

MANAGING COMPLEXITY: THEORY AND PRACTICE

— Complexity of the social, economic, technological, political, scientific and cultural aspects of the environment in which we grow, develop, live and work is increasing relentlessly. As a result we have been exposed to an unprecedented dynamics and uncertainty. Experimental evidence shows that complex situations cannot be adequately represented with deterministic models without loosing important, the so-called, emergent features. Therefore models of complex situations must be complex. The paper outlines fundamentals of the new science of complexity and how these fundamentals can be applied to solving complex business problems.

Complexity Theory in Management

Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoły Humanitas Zarządzanie

Complexity theory is an interesting complement to classic scientific theories. Although this topic is at the center of interest of a large group of researchers, there are only a few publications on this subject that can be found in Polish literature. The aim of this article is to fill this gap partially. Basic assumptions of complexity theory have been discussed. Examples of its applications in social and economic sciences as well as numerous applications in other areas have been analyzed. Particular attention was paid to the possibilities of practical application of elements of this theory in the management of complex business systems. The benefits resulting from the development of complexity theory were also shown

Managing complex organizations: Complexity thinking and the science and art of management

Emergence: Complexity & Organization, 2008

This article is an attempt to explore the implications of the emerging science of complexity for the management of organizations. It is not intended as an introduction to complexity thinking, but rather an attempt to consider how thinking ‘complexly’ might affect the way in which managers do their jobs. This is achieved in a rather abstract way with some theory, but I hope the general message that there is no one way to manage comes through loud and clear, and that management is as much an art as it is a science. In a sense complexity thinking is about limits, limits to what we can know about our organizations. And if there are limits to what we can know, then there are limits to what we can achieve in a pre-determined, planned way.

Complex systems theory: implications and promises for manufacturing organizations

This paper discusses the body of knowledge known as complex systems theory and its relevance to manufacturing organizations. It begins by addressing the development of systems thinking, in order to explore the different views on how systems should be studied. This initial commentary provides an introduction to the concepts of the complex systems theory approach, along with its various metaphors, tools and techniques. This is followed by a discussion on how manufacturing organizations conform to complex systems theory, and in particular complex adaptive systems. An account of the complex systems characteristics of manufacturing organizations, and the relationship between manufacturing complexity is also given. Finally, the paper concludes by discussing the potential application and advantage for manufacturing organizations from using a complex systems theory approach to model, understand and in some cases optimize manufacturing operations and strategy.

Complexity in Economic and Social Systems

Entropy, 2021

During recent years we have witnessed a systematic progress in the understanding of complex systems, both in the case of particular systems that are classified into this group and, in general, as regards the phenomenon of complexity [...]