Description
The systems that surround us are often multidimensional, and complex, consisting of a large collection of networked components with convoluted connections between them. Designing and managing such systems can be challenging, particularly in organizations. Designing and Managing Complex Systems introduces readers to the theory of complex systems, examining the role of human within larger systems, the factors that affect system performance, and how such systems can be optimized. The first section reviews the history of one particularly fruitful approach to complexity, one based on knowledge of the human nervous system. Next, the author discusses the current understanding of complex systems in a variety of domains including physical, biological, mechanical, and organizational. Within these chapters the author also introduces the idea that there are marked similarities in how complexity is successfully managed across these different domains and how the ideas from one domain can be useful in other domains. Next, these ideas are synthesized into a framework for successfully designing and managing complex systems. The fourth section focuses on case studies concerning failures and successes within complex systems.- Provides an overview of the background and scope of complexity science- Reviews current understanding of complex systems in a variety of domains (physical, biological, mechanical, and organizational)- Introduces the idea of using successful techniques from one domain to help design and manage complex systems in other domains- Includes case studies analysing failures and successes within complex systems
Table of Contents
Part I: Cybernetics1.1 Control and communicationPart II: Learning from systems2.1 The simplification imperative2.2 The language of systems2.3 Classes of systems2.4 Neurobiological systems2.5 Sociotechnical systems2.6 Consilient dynamics across scalesPart III: Creating and managing systems3.1 Introduction to part 33.2 Structure and function3.3 Capability and adaptive capacity3.4 Engineering resilience3.5 Assessing the system properties of your organizationPart IV: Case studies4.1 Challenger and Columbia4.2 Walmart, FEMA, and Hurricane Katrina4.3 Lake Peigneur4.4 The water temples of Bali4.5 The global financial crisis4.6 Continental Airlines4.7 Three Mile Island4.8 Cybersyn and the trucking strike4.9 Biological and informational viruses4.10 Netflix4.11 Fukushima4.12 The Mumbai Dabbawalas4.13 Flash Crash4.14 Alphafold 2Part V: Conclusion5.1 Consilience with the arts5.2 Conclusion
