Based on this
week's reading, reflect on complexity science and theory in organizations and
the butterfly effect (p.66). Identify 2 examples where “small changes
yield large results” in your organization. What are the implications of
complexity theory for you and your organization and how can you use this to
drive improvements.
As discussed in the article Complexity Science
Focus, “Complexity science is the scientific study of complex systems, systems
with many parts that interact to produce global behavior that cannot easily be
explained in terms of interactions between the individual constituent elements.
Complex systems present some of the most pressing real-world challenges for
society, government and industry in the environment, health and medicine, finance
and economics, population growth, technology and transportation”.
More
specifically embracing complexity and its three adaptive characteristics of
heterogeneous agents and how each is instrumental on creating behavioral
decisions, as well as how these agents’ ability to interact with one another.
The third is emergence and how the whole eventually becomes greater than the
sum of its parts.
The butterfly effect as described in Obolensky
(2010,) besides from the on-set of breaking the law of thermodynamics aka, the
law of the conservation of energy. The butterfly effect can be summarized as
what you put into an organization dictates what you get out. In other words if
you pay it forward you will reap the benefits of prudent investments.
The implications of complexity as discussed in
Sullivan, (2011) would include getting the organization in the right mindset to
create effective change through exposing the culture to diverse points of view,
and consistently looking into outside organizations whereby diversity is
in-fact in jeopardy.
By the use of diversity in jeopardy both organizations can
take a macro approach to see what has failed and what has been beneficial. It
is this interoperability that many organizations can and do benefit from an
increased sustainability and its counter… unsustainability to drive those small
changes that create a cascade effect from which lasting improvements are
realized.
References:
Complexity sciences
focus (2014, April 01). [Online forum comment]. Retrieved from
www.complexity.ecs.soton.ac.uk
Sargut, G., & McGrath, R. (2011). Learning
To Live with Complexity. Harvard Business Review, 89(9), 68-76.
Morieux, Y. (2011). Smart
Rules: Six Ways to Get People to Solve Problems without You. Harvard Business Review,
89(9), 78-86.
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