Dr Kelly Page

July 18. 2007 13:21

I agree complexity is not as tangible as traditional management practice. Complexity doesn't provide tools and techniques that 'espouse' security or comfort in decision making ... something to hang your hat on shall we say to apparently justify why the business is performing as it is or why it's going belly up ... even though they don't really provide security and comfort in decision making ... people and environments do... tools and techniques are really micro-management and categorisation of historical events and information! So which box does your business fit into? Do they ever?

But what complexity does provide is a perspective. A view of the world and human-systems within it and how they work that is not constrained by beliefs on how things 'should be done', but by what is natural and organic .... the overall picture of the system and how it evolves... Perhaps its about engageing managers to step back and critically reflect on the human-system within which they co-exist ... to listen to the system ... to see a different perspective as a means to moving forward with the system ... not struggling to control and constrain it becuase they are fearful of the future ... and thus working against it ..

To move forward, perhaps we need to listen more to the agents within the system and less to the theorists and strategists who 'espouse' to know so much about our business and how it 'should' be managed and run ... and all without taking a step in our front door ...

Complexity might not be a simple way forward, but it is certainly a more natural way forward!

kp :)

Dr Kelly Page

August 4. 2007 20:38

... yes most certainly I agree complexity is a very deep and meaningful way of life ... and yes the natural rules of life itself, esp. since grounded in the natural sciences, a position from which complexity science is highly researched ...

... however organisations are human-systems ... we as human agents within a natural human-social system differ somewhat to agents in a natural system comprising birds, or bees or ants ... in that we have a far more developed cognitive and perceptual system ... so we question, analyse, interpret and apply meaning ... to the systems within which we co-exist, agents within and their responses, for evolution ...

... hence perhaps with reference to a human-social system complexity is both a deep and meaningful way of life grounded in natural rules that we naturally respond and adapt to and further a perspective of how one perceives the systems within which they life and work ... but these may not be one in the same ... we live in complex adaptive systems, but we might not realise it or see it that way ... and that could be for a number of reasons (e.g., how we were socialised into seeing the world from a very young age!)

.... I think perhaps its about changing the mindset of agents (people) in organisations (be it staff, managers, supplier etc).. removing the labels perhaps ... and educating and inspiring that their is perhaps a different way, a more natural and meaningful way by which all staff can coexist within an organisation ... and to the benefit of creativity, innovation, staff, customers and importantly sustainability ...

Is Wales doomed? ... I'm not such a cynic ... I don't think Wales is doomed just yet, but I do think it won't change over night ... I just think their needs to be a little more inspiration and changing of mindsets as to what an organisation is (a human-social system) and how we within it (Welsh or not) how we coexist ...

kp :)

Mr Trevor Suter

September 4. 2007 17:33

The wheels are in motion and the vehicle is moving forward - even though it may seem we are trying to push a cart uphill on square wheels. As suggested, this is a completely new paradigm shift and as such it may well take a long time (or not) in order to deem to have any visual effect on our western societies. For too long now we have been taught to behave in a clockwork, command and control environment where, as small people, we have learnt that by "standing on the shoulders of giants, we can see further than the giant itself". (only of course if we know what we are looking at or what for) This has become part of our 'mind-set' and to break out of this mould is not going to be easy. However, the snowball has already started its roll and maybe, with a little purturbation here and there (in the form of avid proponents of complexity theory) a far wider understanding of this completely different way of thinking will be better understood and perceived. It will certainly help if we put a few 'flapping' butterfly's in the areas of education starting at the lowest levels possible and including both implicit and explicit knowledge in every other form of learning, across all levels and industries, right to the very top of our 'so called' educational systems. From an organisation viewpoint, everyone must have exposure to this way of thinking. Those in higher levels or at the 'top' of their professions must be intoduced in some way or another to the 'world-changing' way in which this completely different way of looking at life and business IS going to impact upon them some time very soon.

Mr John Ward

September 12. 2007 11:16

A Late entry here!

The comments so far are, of course, based very much on an academic view, so I thought it may help if I add some comments from my personal experience as a business man.

WIIFM? - Everyone wants to know What's In It For Me?

I believe that the way for DNA Wales to spread the word is to first understand the personal benefits business leaders can gain using a complexity approach to business.

We all know, but maybe don't admit, that personal benefits have to come before business benefits. At the moment we (DNA Wales) are fighting against people whom have spent many years climbing their power ladders and are very frightened of stepping off. These folk build mental barriers because they don't understand what complexity can mean to them.

Now then....Opening minds to the possibilities of complexity is an extremely difficult job.... so whenever I discuss complexity with my clients, I stress the personal benefits first. What the control freaks don't get is that by understanding and using a complexity approach, their lives become more rewarding and much much much less stressful. People work because they enjoy it - not because they are told to; system improvements and change become the norm instead of a constant challenge. No more 'change management' and 'process re-engineering' from consultants - think of the cost savings on that alone!!

OK, so I've gone on a bit.......and....what do I know?

A number of years ago I ws fortunate enough to have Paul's support to help us develop a new complexity based way of thinking into our business which completely change the way we operated - from a traditional command & control hierarchical company into a free-thinking, self-organising team of highly motivated people.

It certainly aint easy and we made a shed load of mistakes, but what we learned has made us all better people (I think).

I hope this helps a little.