Complex adaptive systems exists at different scales, both spatial and temporal. As Lance Gunderson and Crawford Holling described it, those different scales form of structure of nested adaptive cycles. To make this idea a bit more tangible, let's take weather and climate: we are all exposed to the very local patterns every minute we are outdoors; we take into … Continue reading Different scales, different purposes, all intertwined
Tag: resilience
Telling the story
We all know that a picture says more than a thousand words. The problem with that truism only is that it takes most of us far more time to create that picture than it takes us to generate those thousand words. We are a wordy culture, and the more complex our ideas become, the more we tend … Continue reading Telling the story
Opposing objectives
The front–loop of the adaptive cycle is very present in our daily experience, no wonder that it dominates our thinking as well. It's the place where we are most comfortable, where we want to be. Continued growth and the accumulation of resources create an impression that all change is positive, that all change is progress: your business model is … Continue reading Opposing objectives
The dynamic ups and downs of human systems
No matter how hard we try to keep things simple and under control, many man-made systems turn out to be – or to become over time – quite complex and unpredictable. Despite our effort. Against our intentions. In stark contrast to our preference for simple, linear, static, controllable, predictable systems. Computer software, stock markets and tax codes are … Continue reading The dynamic ups and downs of human systems
How much innovation can society cope with?
Earlier on I posted that innovation essentially is change that generates value for society. From that perspective, society should just embrace every bit of innovation it could get hold of, shouldn’t it?
understanding innovation 