Guest Edited by: KURT A RICHARDSON, WENDY J. GREGORY, GERALD MIDGLEY

Issue Articles


ACADEMIC

Mutual empathy, ambiguity, and the implementation of electronic knowledge management within the complex health system*

Healthcare can be characterized as a complex adaptive system. New Zealand is recognized as having one of the highest rates of enmeshed clinical information and communication technology within this complex system. This paper describes the implementati... Read More

with MARTIN ORR SHANKAR SANKARAN

PRACTITIONER

Complex systems, governance and policy administration consequences*

This paper combines insights from literature on complex systems theory and the conjunctive state, applies them to new challenges facing public administrators in metropolitan areas, and tests them in a case study of the Peace Officers Association of L... Read More

with JACK MEEK JOE LADURANTEY WILLIAM NEWELL

PHILOSOPHY

Emergence and computability

This paper presents a discussion of the possible influence of incomputability and the incompleteness of mathematics as a source of apparent emergence in complex systems. The suggestion is made that the analysis of complex systems as a specific instan... Read More

with FABIO BOSCHETTI RANDALL GRAY

ACADEMIC

Systemic planning: Dealing with complexity by a wider approach to planning

On the basis of the author’s latest book, Systemic Planning, this paper addresses systems thinking and complexity in the context of planning. Specifically, renewal of planning thinking on this background is set out as so-called systemic plannin... Read More

FORUM

From complicated to complex:

A common assumption in the ‘modern’ era is that ‘being connected’ can only be a good thing for individuals and for businesses, and even nation states and continents. This short article aims to explore this assumption with the ... Read More

PRACTITIONER

A complexity view of three Maori tribal groups of the South Island of New Zealand and the Moriori of the Chatham Islands

Indigenous tribal groups can operate as complex adaptive systems. Tribal members are then autonomous agents interacting intensely among themselves and with their environment. Technology, social structure, economics, education, and so on develop over ... Read More

with VICTOR MACGILL

PHILOSOPHY

Ecology is not rocket science

Ecology is the foundation of the methods used in conservation, pest, rangeland, forest and fisheries management. A theme among many ecologists is the need to justify the science as a rigorous discipline. Coupled with this is the notion that physics r... Read More

with DALE LOCKWOOD

ACADEMIC

Complexity challenges of critical situations caused by flooding

In cases of flooding many authorities and organizations become involved and it can be a problem to take in the whole situation and have a common picture when many incidents are happening at the same time. There is also a lack of efficient tools that ... Read More

with VIVECA ASPROTH ANITA

FORUM

Systems Thinking for Community Involvement in Policy Analysis

This paper is the text of a presentation to the 1st International Workshop on Complexity and Policy Analysis delivered by Gerald Midgley and transcribed and edited by Kurt Richardson. It charts the development of systems thinking since the 1960s, ide... Read More

with GERALD MIDGLEY KURT RICHARDSON

PRACTITIONER

Transforming education: Evidential support for a complex systems approach

This paper documents the findings of research into a rare example of successful school-based education reform. The reform commenced within the South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services in 1999 and is ongoing. It drew expl... Read More

PRACTITIONER

A complexity perspective on work with offenders and victims of crime*

Internationally, cognitive behavioral theories form the foundation of work with offenders, because they have proved to be the most effective in bringing about changes and reducing levels of reoffending. As with any theory, the original theory has bee... Read More

with VICTOR MACGILL

FORUM

"Don't dis' the ants, man!" Acknowledging the place of ants, termites, birds, and bees

Complexity science literature abounds with anecdotes from the life sciences. Ants, termites, birds, and bees have been a popular choice of metaphor and provided inspiration in the development of simulations beneficial to learning and technological de... Read More

with CAROL WEBB FIONA LETTICE IP-SHING FAN

PHILOSOPHY

Complexity theory applied to itself

This paper describes how complexity theory can be applied to itself at a metaphorical level to generate ideas about complexity, including proposals for modeling the evolution of complexity theory and treating computer modeling as a part of complexity... Read More

with ROBIN NUNN