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unacknowledged) behind many theories in economics, organizational
behavior, sociology, and political theory.

Complexity theory is an interdisciplinary theory that grew out of
systems thinking in the 1950s and 1960s drawing on research

largely in the natural sciences. Complexity thinking has been slowly
entering business vocabulary and academic literature since the late-
1980s.

The Complexity Perspective Can Seem, Well,
Complex!!

In the hard sciences, complexity theory is an analytic tool often
expressed in mathematics far beyond the understanding of the average

layperson. Worse, each branch of science tends to have its own jargon
for the same or similar constructs, which again makes it difficult for
the uninitiated to follow. Search Google or check Wikipedia for
complexity theory concepts and they are also often expressed in

mathematical terms or generalized with a science focus; business
applications are only occasionally considered and when they are, they
are often mixed in with hard science terminology.

Luckily, in business, the constructs of complexity theory are best

thought of as metaphors that powerfully enlighten one's
understanding of business problems. This disposes of the need
for advanced math and means we need not feel guilty about expressing
complexity theory ideas in terms that make sense only to business

people.

Before we move on!

One of the aims of this Guide & Website is to simplify the confusion of
sources and jargons from hard sciences that makes the Complexity

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