This paper asks how complexity theory informs the role of leadership in organizations. Complexity theory is a science of complexly interacting systems; it explores the nature of interaction and adaptation in such systems and how they influence such things as emergence, innovation, and fitness. We argue that complexity theory focuses leadership efforts on behaviors that enable organizational eff...

Identifying various capital species in use and understanding how to convert them into more tradable forms of capital is a complex task. In this paper, we discuss how unique knowledge and relational skills have facilitated capital conversion to nurture innovation and growth in a Scandinavian telecommunication corporation. The core of our discussion is to explore the parts and the process that dr...

e can manage risks only when we can identify them and ponder their possible outcomes. We can manage market risk because we know security prices are uncertain; credit risk because we know companies can default; operational risk because we know missteps are possible in settlement and clearing. But despite all the risks we can control, the greatest risks remain beyond our control. These are the ri...

I this introductory note, we describe the motivation for this special issue on complex systems. We begin by noting the potential management opportunities offered by recent advances in complexity science. After defining the nature of complex systems and the many ways they are expressed in organizations and markets, we briefly describe the main tools and concepts of complexity theory. We close wi...

The need for a special issue of Emergence on the question “What is complexity science?” is disturbing on several levels. At one level, one could be forgiven for thinking that the voluminous literature generated in recent years on chaos and complexity theory must contain a clear exposition on the definition, mission, and scope of complexity science. That this exposition has not been forthcoming,...