Complex systems: Network thinking

Complex systems: Network thinking

In this article, I discuss some recent ideas in complex systems on the topic of networks, contained in or inspired by three recent complex systems books. The general science of networks is the subject of Albert-Lazlo Barabási’s Linked [A.-L. Barabási, Linked: The New Science of Networks, Perseus, New York, 2002] and Duncan Watts’ Six Degrees [D. Watts, Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Ag...

Thinking Systemically About Complex Systems

Acting with systems thinking: complex responsive processes and systems intelligence Short title: Acting with systems thinking

The conception that systems thinking is relevant for managers is widespread. This fact stands in contrast to the fact that few organizations have adopted systems thinking. Ralph D. Stacey and his collaborators approach this gap by questioning the relevance of systems thinking altogether. They present the theory of complex responsive processes as an alternative to systems thinking. We analyse th...

Systems Thinking in Complex Responsive Processes and Systems Intelligence

Systems Intelligence attempts to combine the holistic orientation of systems approaches to an appreciation of the everyday subtleties which continually mould the systems we are a part of. George H. Mead’s theory of the emergence of individuals and social organizations holds that neither individuals nor organizations are stored anywhere but that both are continuously being formed by each other. ...

Complex Adaptive Systems, Systems Thinking, and Agent-Based Modeling

Systems thinking and complex adaptive systems theories share a number of components, namely emergence, self-organization, and hierarchies of interacting systems. We seek to integrate these schools of thought and discuss the similarities and differences of these two models, to introduce systems dynamics and agent-based modeling as methods for modeling complex systems, and how causal-loop diagram...