Page 7 - The Complexity Perspective 20 02 18

If the Complexity Perspective has been slow to infiltrate business, the
reason may lie in the undoubted fact that complexity theory the way it
is typically presented, is really confusing to the business layperson!!

Founded in the hard sciences, it is stuffed with their jargon often
differing from one discipline to the next. Additionally, it is usually

expressed in mathematics that is difficult to follow. Here we try to
strip it down to the concepts of which you should be aware.
Additionally, terms from complexity thinking are slipping into the

vocabulary, such as emergence, systems, ecosystems.

Do I have to Drop the Analytical Approach?

Absolutely not! Learning to think in a holistic fashion is akin to
learning a second language. You use it when you need to. In France
you speak French in the USA you speak English. Faced with a

complicated, technical problem, you will most likely use analytic
techniques; faced with understanding a complex dynamic problem you
need to think about it using a complexity mindset.

How the Guide Works

This Guide captures each of the core constructs that together comprise
the Complexity Perspective. Each is covered in a non-technical

overview from a business perspective.

The Guide is an extract from a website that provides links to the
enormous body of materials that flesh out specific terms of complexity
or provide greater depth or case examples This Supplementary
Material will take you as deep as you wish to go into the Complexity

Perspective, whereas the Guide will provide an Executive overview.
Where applicable on the website, linkages are also made to the core
academic disciplines and accepted practice models that underlie the

study of business with links to appropriate academic and practice
papers for those who want to go into greater depth.

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