Harnessing Complexity by Axelrod and Cohen is an excellent introduction to Complex Adaptive Systems, specifically focusing on what this means for management. There is a lot in this book, and I can’t even scratch the surface here, but it is worth sharing a few points around three key interwoven processes: variation, interaction, and selection. Variation Variation is the diversity in

This week I want to focus on a very practical book on complexity, Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps: How to thrive in complexity by Jennifer Garvey Berger. Garvery Berger outlines five quirks of thinking that have historically been beneficial but can create challenges when dealing with complexity. Simple Stories Humans have been elevated and connected by stories. Telling stories is part of

I realized I missed the opportunity to highlight a woman’s work for international women’s day, so while it is a week late, I want to share the work of Nora Bateson. Bateson is a writer, filmmaker, and researcher. She practices transcontextual research. This is a study of the interdependencies that form complex systems. This research produces relational information Bateson calls

Complexity: A Key Idea for Business and Society Chris Mowles book is a Professor of Complexity and Management at Hertfordshire Business School, and this book is somewhat academic. However, Mowles has spent time in the public sector, and that experience helps him bridge the academic to share the practical implications of his work. One of the large themes of the

This week I wanted to share Sand Talk, a book by Tyson Yunkaporta. Yunkaporta is an Aboriginal scholar. His work applies Indigenous inquiry methods to resolve complex issues and explore global crises. This book is different because it ” examines global systems from an Indigenous Knowledge perspective.” This book opened my eyes to a different way of seeing that was