Introduction to complex systems

Course subject(s) Module 3: Complexity theory

Introduction to complex systems

‘Complexity science is not a single theory – it encompasses more than one theoretical framework and is highly interdisciplinary, seeking the answers to some fundamental questions about living, adaptable, changeable systems’.

In order to explain the characteristics and behaviour of infra-systems we first have to gain understanding of complex systems. As we explained in the previous unit,  infrastructures are complex systems, because:

  • They contain many actors.
  • Exhibit  technical complexity.
  •  Are faced with drastic changes because of technical, instítutional, economic and social changes (internationalization, privatization, web-based, clean technologies, smart grids, new ways of regulation, liberalization, standardization) and bottom-up initiatives (‘inverse infrastructures’).
  •  Maintain and increase strong interdependencies (‘network of networks).
  •  That generate a large number of uncertainties.
  • While performing critical roles for society.

There is a  huge difference between complicated and complex problems: Basically:

·     Complicated problems or systems are predictable. These systems are often engineered. We can understand these systems by taking them apart and analyzing the details.

  •  The opposite is true for complex problems or systems. The outcome is unpredictable because of many uncertainties, interconnectedness and interdependencies of networks. We have to deal with emergent behavior, non-linearity and social and technical complexity. 

Complex systems can be found in various fields and disciplines, like biology, chemistry and economics. Think about the brain, migration of birds or the stock market.

In this unit we will have 3 web lectures by Professor Eve Mitleton-Kelly. She is founder and director of the Complexity Research Group of the London School of Economics. She is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Complex Systems.

We will start with the  generic characteristics of complex systems.

  • The first web lecture  will be about the four basic characteristics of complex systems  and are:  connectivity, interdependence, feedback and emergence. You wil see the link with what we discused in moduele 1 and 2.
  • In the second web lecture part she  will look at the other characteristics which arise from the theory of complexity.

After that we are  going to discuss what complexity means in terms of governance and management of complex systems (web lecture # 3) .

Web lectures

In this module (section 3.2) unit we will have 3 web lectures by Professor Eve Mitleton-Kelly. She is founder and director of the Complexity Research Group of the London School of Economics. She is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Complex Systems.

We will start with the generic characteristics of complex systems:

  • The first web lecture  will be about the four basic characteristics of complex systems, these have been articulated by systems theory, and are:  connectivity, interdependence, feedback and emergence.
  • In the second web lecture part she  will look at the other characteristics which arise from the theory of complexity.

After that (the third web lecture) we are  going to discuss what complexity means in terms of governance and management of complex systems.

Questions for pondering.

if you watch the web lectures try to reflect on:

  • What are the key elements of complexity theory?
  • What is the relationship between panicking sheep and complex systems?
  • Do you understand why  the behaviour of complex systems is very difficult or even impossible to predict and why this has a  big impact on the way we can  manage and govern complex infrastructures?
  • Do you recognize complex problems whem your read the newspaper or watch the news on television? or if you try to understand the mirgration of birds or the financial crisis?

 

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Next Generation Infrastructures by TU Delft OpenCourseWare is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://ocw.tudelft.nl/courses/next-generation-infrastructures/.
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