Complexity and chaos are terms that more and more management literature is using "vaguely". It seems to become fashionable. But indeed, there is something interesting and relevant behind these concepts. "Managing project uncertainty: from variation to chaos" (Sloan Management Review, Winter 2002) is yet another example. Project management failure would be due to failing recognizing the different types of uncertainty, ranging from foreseen uncertainty to chaos.
But still we attempt to control; still we attempt to limit complexity; and still we want to limit diversity. When are we finally changing our paradigm, in order to really study emergence in systems and not consider it anymore as a disturbing factor, but rather as a creative force. When the article suggests that one could create in "chaos" an iterative decision tree, I am afraid we force reality.
In my own research, I have been able to observe that in chaos (a particular state of a complex system) one observes synchronicity, rather than causality. For those interested, they can read my HDR thesis. The others will have to wait for my next book: Complexity, organisations and learning: the quantumstructure of business, programmed to appear the second part of this year with Routledge.
And indeed, Europe lacks vision on innovation (FT, March 10, 2005).
Hi, I would like to know is there any different between chaos and complexity. Are these two concepts are the same thing? Why people describe complexity is "the edge of chaos"? Thanks
Posted by: Crystal | August 01, 2005 at 03:50 PM