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MSM Romania | MBA Master Class 2011
Khaled Wahba, PhD
Visitor Professor | Maastricht School of Management | 2011
ANATOMY OF COMPLEXITY Systems Thinking Approach To Understand
Complex Systems “Social, Business, Environmental, Political”
Outlines
Anatomy
Complexity
System
System Thinking
Systems Archetypes
Application: Crisis, Revolution
2 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
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Anatomy: the Root
ἀνατομία anatomia
ἀνατέμνειν anatemnein
ana
separate or apart from
temnein
cut up or cut open
3 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
Anatomy
A branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of
the structure of living things
4 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
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Anatomy
Subdivided into Macroscopic & Microscopic Anatomy
Macroscopic Anatomy (Regional anatomy) is the study of anatomical structures
that can be seen by unaided vision with the naked eye
Microscopic Anatomy is the study of minute anatomical structures assisted
with microscopes, which includes histology (the study of the organization of
tissues), and cytology (the study of cells)
5 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
Purpose of
Anatomy?
The history of anatomy has been
characterized, over time, by a
continually developing
understanding of the functions
of organs and structures in the
body (Complexity)
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Methods for
Anatomy?
Methods have also improved
dramatically,
From examination
of animals through dissection
of cadavers (dead human bodies)
To technologically complex
techniques developed in the 20th
century including X-ray,
ultrasound, and MRI imaging
7 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
Methods for
Anatomy?
Methods have also improved
dramatically,
From examination
of animals through dissection
of cadavers (dead human bodies)
To technologically complex
techniques developed in the 20th
century including X-ray,
ultrasound, and MRI imaging
8 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
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Who uses Anatomy?
A thorough working knowledge of anatomy is required
by physicians, especially surgeons and doctors working
in some diagnostic specialties
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What Doctors, Surgeons need?
Something to look at! e.g. Technology
Use their knowledge to diagnose the case
Intervention by Medical Decision
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Anatomy: Debriefing
A way to look at Complexity (Living Organism)
Get the Structure by zooming in or out
Identify Abnormality
Intervention
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Complexity
12
2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
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Complexity
Complexity has turned out to be very
difficult to define (Heylighen)
The dozens of definitions that have been
offered all fall short in one respect or
another
The original Latin word complexus,
which signifies "entwined", "twisted
together"
In order to have a complex you need
two or more components, which are
joined in such a way that it is difficult to
separate them
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Complexity Defined
The Oxford Dictionary defines something as
"complex" if it is "made of (usually several) closely
connected parts"
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Complexity Defined
The Oxford Dictionary defines something as
"complex" if it is "made of (usually several) closely
connected parts"
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Complexity Defined
A system would be more complex if more parts could be
distinguished, and if more connections between
them existed
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Complexity: Two-Dimensional
The aspects of distinction and connection determine
two dimensions characterizing complexity
distinction
connection 17 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
Complexity: Two-Dimensional
The aspects of distinction and connection determine
two dimensions characterizing complexity
Distinction corresponds to variety, to heterogeneity, to the
fact that different parts of the complex behave differently
Connection corresponds to constraint, to the fact that
different parts are not independent, but that the knowledge of
one part allows the determination of features of the other parts
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Complexity: Two-Dimensional
The aspects of distinction and connection determine
two dimensions characterizing complexity
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Very Low and Low High and Very High
Area of
Isolation
Area of
Integration
19 2011 (c) K. Wahba, PhD | Anatomy of Complexity
Complexity: Two-Dimensional
The aspects of distinction and connection determine
two dimensions characterizing complexity
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Very Low and Low
High and Very High
Area of
Order
Area of
Disorder
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Complexity Matrix
The aspects of distinction and connection determine
two dimensions characterizing complexity
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Are
a of
Iso
lati
on
Area of Integration
Area of Disorder
Area of Order
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Complexity Matrix
Perfect Crystal, where the position of a molecule is
completely determined by the positions of the neighbouring
molecules to which it is bound
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect Order
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Complexity Matrix
Perfect Crystal, where the position of a molecule is
completely determined by the positions of the neighbouring
molecules to which it is bound
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Order
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Complexity Matrix
Perfect Disorder, chaos or entropy, like in a gas, where
the position of any gas molecule is completely independent
of the position of the other molecules
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
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Complexity Matrix
Perfect Disorder, chaos or entropy, like in a gas, where
the position of any gas molecule is completely independent
of the position of the other molecules
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
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Complexity Matrix Complete
Complexity can only exist if both aspects are present:
neither perfect disorder, nor perfect order
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
Perfect
Order
Complexity
Simplicity
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Complexity Matrix Complete
Complexity increases when the variety (distinction),
and dependency (connection) of parts or aspects increase,
and this in several dimensions
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
Perfect
Order
Complexity
Simplicity
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Complexity Types
Weaver has defined two types of Complexities:
Disorganized and Organized
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
Perfect
Order
Complexity
Simplicity
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Complexity Types
Disorganized coming from large number of parts and lack
of correlation (Chaos and disordered)
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
Perfect
Order
Complexity
Simplicity
Disorganized
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Complexity Types
Organized coming from lack of randomness, high
correlation and dependency, connection to outside,
emerges, self-organized
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
Perfect
Order
Complexity
Simplicity
Organized
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Dealing with Complexity
Disorganized Complexity needs Advanced Statistical
Methods. Organized Complexity needs Modeling and
Simulation
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
Perfect
Order
Complexity
Simplicity
Organized Disorganized
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Complexity Paradox
Complexity (Order or Disorder) is relative, and depends on:
Observer (objective, assumptions)
Level of representation
Human Body as Complex System:
Zoom in: we encounter complex structures at the levels of complete
organism, organs, tissues, cells
Though there may be superficial similarities between the levels, e.g. between
organs and organelles, the relations and dependencies between the different
levels are quite heterogeneous, characterized by both distinction and
connection, and by symmetry breaking
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Complex Systems Features
The number of parts (and types of parts) in the system and the
number of relations between the parts is non-trivial – however
The system has memory or includes feedback
The system can adapt itself according to its history or feedback
The relations between the system and its environment are non-
trivial or non-linear
The system can be influenced by, or can adapt itself to, its
environment
The system is highly sensitive to initial conditions
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More Complexity …
distinction
(differences)
connection (dependency)
Perfect
Disorder
Perfect
Order
Complexity
Simplicity
Organized Disorganized
time
(dynamical)
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Systems
Thinking
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Systems Thinking
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