Anatomy of complexity presentation Khaled Wahba-mba-masterclass2011

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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


Anatomy

A branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of

the structure of living things


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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)


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


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


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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


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


Complexity

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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


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"


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




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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distinction

(differences)

connection (dependency)

Very Low and Low High and Very High

Area of

Isolation

Area of

Integration





distinction

(differences)


Very Low and Low

High and Very High

Area of

Order

Area of

Disorder


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Complexity Matrix



distinction

(differences)


Are

a of

Iso

lati

on

Area of Integration

Area of Disorder

Area of Order


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)


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)


Perfect

Order


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)


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)


Perfect

Disorder


Complexity Matrix Complete

Complexity can only exist if both aspects are present:

neither perfect disorder, nor perfect order

distinction

(differences)


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)


Perfect

Disorder

Perfect

Order

Complexity

Simplicity


Complexity Types

Weaver has defined two types of Complexities:

Disorganized and Organized

distinction

(differences)


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)


Perfect

Disorder

Perfect

Order

Complexity

Simplicity

Disorganized


Complexity Types

Organized coming from lack of randomness, high

correlation and dependency, connection to outside,

emerges, self-organized

distinction

(differences)


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)


Perfect

Disorder

Perfect

Order

Complexity

Simplicity

Organized Disorganized


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


More Complexity …

distinction

(differences)


Perfect

Disorder

Perfect

Order

Complexity

Simplicity

Organized Disorganized

time

(dynamical)


Systems

Thinking

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Systems Thinking


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