Application Of Complexity Theory Research Articles

Application of Complexity Theory and Systems Thinking to Leadership and Governance Issues in Ghana

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the application of complexity theory and systems thinking to leadership and governance issues in Ghana.
 Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
 Findings: In Ghana, the application of complexity theory and systems thinking to leadership and governance has shown promise in addressing the country's multifaceted challenges. By embracing decentralized decision-making and recognizing the interconnectedness of various societal factors, leaders have fostered more adaptive governance structures. This approach has led to improved responsiveness to emerging issues, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and a more holistic understanding of governance dynamics. Overall, the integration of complexity theory and systems thinking has contributed to more effective and resilient leadership and governance practices in Ghana.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Complexity theory, systems thinking & adaptive leadership theory may be used to anchor future studies on the application of complexity theory and systems thinking to leadership and governance issues in Ghana. Integrate complexity theory and systems thinking principles into leadership development programs across various sectors. Advocate for the adoption of adaptive governance structures that are responsive to changing environmental conditions and stakeholder needs.

The Application of Complexity Theory in Health and Social Care Research: A Scoping Review

Background: Complexity theory has been utilised by many researchers as an appropriate lens through which to examine health and care. Notwithstanding its potential value, many studies apply complexity theory in a tokenistic manner without engaging with its underlying concepts and underpinnings.
 Objectives: This scoping review aimed to map and synthesise available research which has utilised complexity theory in health and social care settings. The research question was: “How has complexity theory been applied in health and social care research?”.
 Eligibility criteria: Qualitative and quantitative empirical research that utilised complexity theory informed approaches, published in English between 2012 and 2021.
 Sources of evidence: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, PSYCHINFO, The NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), The Health Economic Evaluations Database (HEED). Additionally, a hand search of the reference lists of relevant articles was conducted.
 Charting methods: Data extraction was performed employing Covidence and a data extraction tool was created to produce a descriptive summary of the results, addressing the research question. The review employed the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) revised six-step framework and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).
 Results: A total of 2021 records were identified. 676 duplicate entries were removed before screening and a further 1108 did not meet the inclusion criteria. In total, 61 articles were subjected to data abstraction.
 Complexity theory was poorly defined and described and was frequently applied as a theoretical and analytical framework. Studies were predominantly hospital or health system focused and did not encompass the full continuum of care. Several studies used complexity theory within qualitative research to analyse and code data. The review also identified several case studies in which authors sought to understand a setting or service using a complexity-informed lens. Most publications originated in the United States and Canada. Complexity was applied in contexts where multi-disciplinary teams were involved, which has implications for managing the complexity of context. To perform research into complex systems in which power law distributions operate, there is a requirement to interpret the processes of dynamicity and that requires qualitative and longitudinal studies. There is also value in an abductive logic of inquiry, which allows for the interweaving and entanglement of previous evidence into a greater understanding of the whole complex adaptive system. It is recognised that engaging with complex systems requires theoretical and methodological pluralism so researchers should embrace a rich tapestry of approaches to develop a rich understanding of the complex health and care systems in which we work. As there is currently no definitive procedure for reporting such studies, the authors propose guidance to be interpreted and adapted to support the reporting of theoretically and methodologically divergent research.
 Conclusion: Heterogeneity was inherent in the empirical studies regarding the application of complexity theory. The authors provide guidance on conducting primary research which uses complexity theory as a conceptual, theoretical or analytical framework which seeks to promote rigor and transparency in the area.

Reseña Applications of Complexity Theory in Language and Communication Sciences

La presente obra es una recopilación de estudios del lenguaje natural en áreas donde el paradigma de la complejidad aún no se ha aplicado. Se presentan cuatro bloques con aplicaciones concretas, correspondientes al cambio lingüístico, la sociolingüística, el análisis del discurso y un apartado que incluye desarrollos en sintaxis, semántica y cognición.

Dimension-free bounds and structural results in communication complexity

The purpose of this article is to initiate a systematic study of dimension-free relations between basic communication and query complexity measures and various matrix norms. In other words, our goal is to obtain inequalities that bound a parameter solely as a function of another parameter. This is in contrast to perhaps the more common framework in communication complexity where poly-logarithmic dependencies on the number of input bits are tolerated.Dimension-free bounds are also closely related to structural results, where one seeks to describe the structure of Boolean matrices and functions that have low complexity. We prove such theorems for several communication and query complexity measures as well as various matrix and operator norms. In several other cases we show that such bounds do not exist.We propose several conjectures, and establish that, in addition to applications in complexity theory, these problems are central to characterization of the idempotents of the algebra of Schur multipliers, and could lead to new extensions of Cohen’s celebrated idempotent theorem regarding the Fourier algebra.

The emergence of interstellar molecular complexity explained by interacting networks

Recent years have witnessed the detection of an increasing number of complex organic molecules in interstellar space, some of them being of prebiotic interest. Disentangling the origin of interstellar prebiotic chemistry and its connection to biochemistry and ultimately, to biology is an enormously challenging scientific goal where the application of complexity theory and network science has not been fully exploited. Encouraged by this idea, we present a theoretical and computational framework to model the evolution of simple networked structures toward complexity. In our environment, complex networks represent simplified chemical compounds and interact optimizing the dynamical importance of their nodes. We describe the emergence of a transition from simple networks toward complexity when the parameter representing the environment reaches a critical value. Notably, although our system does not attempt to model the rules of real chemistry nor is dependent on external input data, the results describe the emergence of complexity in the evolution of chemical diversity in the interstellar medium. Furthermore, they reveal an as yet unknown relationship between the abundances of molecules in dark clouds and the potential number of chemical reactions that yield them as products, supporting the ability of the conceptual framework presented here to shed light on real scenarios. Our work reinforces the notion that some of the properties that condition the extremely complex journey from the chemistry in space to prebiotic chemistry and finally, to life could show relatively simple and universal patterns.

How to Construct Quantum Random Functions

Pseudorandom functions ( PRFs ) are one of the foundational concepts in theoretical computer science, with numerous applications in complexity theory and cryptography. In this work, we study the security of PRFs when evaluated on quantum superpositions of inputs. The classical techniques for arguing the security of PRFs do not carry over to this setting, even if the underlying building blocks are quantum resistant. We therefore develop a new proof technique to show that many of the classical PRF constructions remain secure when evaluated on superpositions.

A Generalization of Strassen’s Theorem on Preordered Semirings

Given a commutative semiring with a compatible preorder satisfying a version of the Archimedean property, the asymptotic spectrum, as introduced by Strassen (J. reine angew. Math. 1988), is an essentially unique compact Hausdorff space together with a map from the semiring to the ring of continuous functions. Strassen’s theorem characterizes an asymptotic relaxation of the preorder that asymptotically compares large powers of the elements up to a subexponential factor as the pointwise partial order of the corresponding functions, realizing the asymptotic spectrum as the space of monotone semiring homomorphisms to the nonnegative real numbers. Such preordered semirings have found applications in complexity theory and information theory. We prove a generalization of this theorem to preordered semirings that satisfy a weaker polynomial growth condition. This weaker hypothesis does not ensure in itself that nonnegative real-valued monotone homomorphisms characterize the (appropriate modification of the) asymptotic preorder. We find a sufficient condition as well as an equivalent condition for this to hold. Under these conditions the asymptotic spectrum is a locally compact Hausdorff space satisfying a similar universal property as in Strassen’s work.

Managing consumer privacy concerns and defensive behaviours in the digital marketplace

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine privacy issues in the e-commerce context from a power-responsibility equilibrium theory (PRE) perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe data was collected using an online survey (n= 335) from online shopping consumers. This study used partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) techniques to empirically examine the proposed relationships.FindingsA lack of corporate privacy responsibility and regulatory protection can deprive consumers of privacy empowerment and damage consumer trust to trigger privacy concerns and subsequent defensive responses. Also, the fsQCA revealed five causal configurations to explain high consumer defensive behaviours.Research limitations/implicationsThis study identifies the importance of PRE theory in the privacy context. Consumer privacy concerns, privacy empowerment and trust are established as strong mediators between corporate/regulatory privacy protection efforts and consumer backlash. The application of fsQCA verified that consumer privacy behaviour can be better explained by different configurations of the same causal antecedents.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the importance of increasing trust and privacy empowerment as mechanisms to manage privacy concerns and consumer backlash through responsible organisational and regulatory privacy protections. The importance of balancing power and responsibility dynamics for maintaining a healthy information exchange environment is identified.Originality/valueThis study extends the PRE framework of privacy to include corporate privacy responsibility, privacy empowerment and trust. This is one of the first studies to explore both antecedents and outcomes of privacy empowerment. Also, the application of complexity theory and fsQCA to explain consumers’ defensive responses is novel to the literature.

Complexity Theory, Game Theory, and Economics: The Barbados Lectures

This document collects the lecture notes from my mini-course "Complexity Theory, Game Theory, and Economics," taught at the Bellairs Research Institute of McGill University, Holetown, Barbados, February 19--23, 2017, as the 29th McGill Invitational Workshop on Computational Complexity. The goal of this mini-course is twofold: (i) to explain how complexity theory has helped illuminate several barriers in economics and game theory; and (ii) to illustrate how game-theoretic questions have led to new and interesting complexity theory, including recent several breakthroughs. It consists of two five-lecture sequences: the Solar Lectures, focusing on the communication and computational complexity of computing equilibria; and the Lunar Lectures, focusing on applications of complexity theory in game theory and economics. No background in game theory is assumed.

A Study on the Complexity Process of School Report System: Application of Complexity Theory

A Study on the Complexity Process of School Report System: Application of Complexity Theory

Capturing heterogeneities in orchestrating resources for accurately forecasting high (separately low) project management performance

Applying complexity theory tenets, the study here contributes an asymmetric modeling perspective for examining resources orchestrations that indicate high (separately low) project management performance (PMP) accurately. Complexity theory tenets include recognizing that the causal conditions resulting in high PMP have different conditions (i.e., ingredients) typically than the causal conditions resulting in low PMP—adopting this perspective supports the usefulness of asymmetric point or interval estimation rather than the currently pervasive symmetric approach to theory construction and empirical modeling of variable directional relationships (VDR). This study constructs a general model and specific configurational propositions that include social capital, processes, and knowledge management effectiveness as causal conditions indicating case outcomes of high and separately low PMP. Using survey data, the study includes examining propositions and models empirically on the causal conditions for completed projects (n = 302, USA sample of executives in product and service industrial firms). The findings support the perspective that high (as well as low) PMP depends on resource orchestration (configurational) antecedent conditions. The findings serve to support the general proposition that applications of complexity theory in project management research respond effectively in building in the requisite variety for deep understanding and accurate forecasting of performance outcomes. This study includes contributions to theory and empirical research that support the perspective that separate sets of resource orchestrations of alternative complex antecedents (rather than a VDR, symmetric, net effects perspective) forecast high (low) project management performances accurately.

Canal boat tourism: Application of complexity theory

This study applies complexity theory to explain how a cognitive-affective model indicates canal boat tour participants' desired behaviour. An in-situ survey was administered to collect data from 202 boat tour participants following a tour of the Canal du Faux-Rempart in Strasbourg, France. The study applies an asymmetrical analysis to investigate the cognitive-affective factors deriving participants’ intentions to recommend canal boat tours. This study uses an asymmetrical approach to explore causal recipes from three configurations of socio-demographic factors with prior experience and cognitive and affective factors, leading to both high and low scores of recommendation intention. An analysis of necessary conditions was performed to identify the factors required to achieve the expected outcome. The results revealed that complexity theory supports causal interactions, leading to intention to recommend. Overall image, perceived quality, emotion and satisfaction are necessary factors to recommend canal boat tours. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications.

Developing a game and learning-centred flexible teaching model for transforming play

ABSTRACTBackground: Slade [“Do the Structures Used by International Hockey Coaches for Practising Field-Goal Shooting Reflect Game Centred Learning Within a Representative Learning Design?” The International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching 10 (4): 655–668] argued that because no two students learn or conceive knowledge in exactly the same way, teaching contexts require a flexible approach to instruction, based on a methodological continuum of empirical to radical constructivism. In short, providing novice learners with sufficient opportunities to learn requires flexibility and a holistic experiential approach to teaching that is appropriate for the learner, activity and context.Purpose: This paper examines an evolving understanding of TGfU and Game-Centred Learning (GCL). The medium for articulating this is through the presentation of a proposed model of GCL. At the heart of this model is the notion of play, invented games and its attendant qualities of creativity, fun, affiliation and exploration. The process of arriving at this model of GCL has involved an evaluation of various models of GCL, and exploring associated questions related to teaching games, especially for the generalist teacher.Discussion: This proposed model also reflects a discussion of arguments along ideological continuums of instruction in games; for example, should fundamental movement skills (FMS) be taught before game instruction or should game pedagogy be solely based on GCL? In this paper, these positions are brought together through reference to Fundamental Game Skills [Smith, W. “Fundamental Movement Skills and Fundamental Games Skills Are Complementary Pairs and Should be Taught in Complementary Ways at all Stages of Skill Development.” Sport, Education and Society 21 (3): 431–442], the application of complexity theory [Ovens, A., T. Hopper, and J. Butler. 2013. Complexity Thinking in Physical Education: Reframing Curriculum, Pedagogy and Research. Oxon: Routledge], and complementary learning in skill acquisition [Kelso, J. A. S., and D. A. Engstrom. 2006. The Complementary Nature. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press]. Smith’s practitioner position provides further justification for a GCL model from a skill acquisition perspective.Conclusion: The proposed model of GCL focuses on flexibility and pragmatism, with the intent of making a GCL approach accessible to those who teach games to novices or to more experienced athletes.

The Context of Inference

There is an ambiguity in the concept of deductive validity that went unnoticed until the middle of the twentieth century. Sometimes an inference rule is called valid because its conclusion is a theorem whenever its premises are. But often something different is meant: The rule's conclusion follows from its premises even in the presence of other assumptions. In many logical environments, these two definitions pick out the same rules. But other environments are context-sensitive, and in these environments the second notion is stronger. Sorting out this ambiguity has led to profound mathematical investigations with applications in complexity theory and computer science. The origins of this ambiguity and the history of its resolution deserve philosophical attention, because our understanding of logic stands to benefit from their details.I am eager to examine together with you, Crito, whether this argument will appear in any way different to me in my present circumstances, or whether it remains the same, whether we are to abandon it or believe in it.—Plato Crito, 46d

An application of complexity theory for guiding organizational change.

An application of complexity theory for guiding organizational change.

The complexity of innovation: an assessment and review of the complexity perspective

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the innovation literature, with special focus on studies applying a complexity perspective. As a contribution in its own right to the innovation literature, the review clarifies the concept of complexity, explores possible points of relevance and the “added value” gained from complexity theory (CT) to the study of innovation, and identifies some of the applications of the theory.Design/methodology/approach– A literature search was conducted which yielded 20 relevant articles. These articles were analyzed by focusing on the key concepts of complexity and studying their applications in the context of innovation research.Findings– Based on the approach adopted, the literature was divided into three categories, namely research focusing on microdynamics, macrodynamics, and leadership and management. The key complexity concepts identified in the innovation literature were “edge of chaos”, “phase shift”, “emergence and self-organization”, “(co)evolution”, and “complexity regulation”. The articles reviewed differed in terms of their perspectives on complexity and, accordingly, their operationalization of the complexity concepts. Key areas of development suggested by the authors include forging a stronger link with existing innovation theory and giving greater weight to empirical evidence.Research limitations/implications– While a systematic review strategy was adopted to identify all relevant research on “open innovation” and complexity, a selective snowball strategy was deemed the only feasible approach to cover research conducted on “innovation” and complexity.Practical implications– Practitioners can learn to put CT-based research in context and also learn to recognize the value of CT for innovation management. The authors distilled three important lessons for practice from the research done: embracing complexity, embracing ambidexterity, and embracing failure.Originality/value– To the best of the authors’ knowledge no review has as yet been undertaken to encapsulate the current state of applications of CT to innovation research.

Response to Janine de Peyer’s “Uncanny Communication and the Porous Mind”

Janine de Peyer has done pioneering work in (re)opening the exploration of uncanny phenomena within the context of the psychoanalytic encounter. In this response her achievement is celebrated and placed against the backdrop of recent advances in Jungian or Analytical Psychology. In particular the application of complexity theory to synchronistic phenomena is suggested as a valuable means of assess these experiences. The use of field theory to help capture the distributed, nonlocal aspect of the interactive field active in such material is traced back to 19th-century physics and William James’s introduction of this concept into psychology. In an attempt to take another step forward, an ecological approach to these phenomena is suggested.

Complexity Theory and the Constraints on Environmental Policymaking

Complexity theory has been highly influential within environmental studies circles, including among environmental legal scholars. The focus of the majority of this research has been on the implications of complex natural systems for policymaking; how best to design and implement public policy instruments in the context of complex natural systems in order to achieve desired objectives. Far less attention has been paid to the application of complexity theory to the policy process itself. This article addresses this gap by looking at what complexity theory adds to the study of environmental policymaking. To do this, the article builds a bounded model of environmental policymaking based on a meta-analysis of the existing non-complexity related theoretical and empirical policy literature. The model is used to illustrate how complexity theory changes and how environmental policy processes are perceived and studied.

Application of simplified Complexity Theory concepts for healthcare social systems to explain the implementation of evidence into practice.

To examine the application of core concepts from Complexity Theory to explain the findings from a process evaluation undertaken in a trial evaluating implementation strategies for recommendations about reducing surgical fasting times. The proliferation of evidence-based guidance requires a greater focus on its implementation. Theory is required to explain the complex processes across the multiple healthcare organizational levels. This social healthcare context involves the interaction between professionals, patients and the organizational systems in care delivery. Complexity Theory may provide an explanatory framework to explain the complexities inherent in implementation in social healthcare contexts. A secondary thematic analysis of qualitative process evaluation data informed by Complexity Theory. Seminal texts applying Complexity Theory to the social context were annotated, key concepts extracted and core Complexity Theory concepts identified. These core concepts were applied as a theoretical lens to provide an explanation of themes from a process evaluation of a trial evaluating the implementation of strategies to reduce surgical fasting times. Sampled substantive texts provided a representative spread of theoretical development and application of Complexity Theory from late 1990's-2013 in social science, healthcare, management and philosophy. Five Complexity Theory core concepts extracted were 'self-organization', 'interaction', 'emergence', 'system history' and 'temporality'. Application of these concepts suggests routine surgical fasting practice is habituated in the social healthcare system and therefore it cannot easily be reversed. A reduction to fasting times requires an incentivised new approach to emerge in the surgical system's priority of completing the operating list. The application of Complexity Theory provides a useful explanation for resistance to change fasting practice. Its utility in implementation research warrants further attention and evaluation.

Understanding complexity: Are we making progress?

In recent years a new conceptual tool called Complexity Theory has come to the attention of scientists and philosophers. This approach is concerned with the emergent properties of interacting systems. It has found wide applicability from cosmology to Social Structure Analysis. However, practitioners are still struggling to find the best way to define complexity and then to measure it. A new book Complexity and the arrow of time by Lineweaver et al. (2013) contains contributions from scholars who provide critical reviews of Complexity Theory and its wider applications. This is a huge task and this essay examines how well the authors have succeeded in satisfying the claim made by the book’s three editors to have clarified the leading questions. I also explore the application of Complexity Theory to Biology as a means to explain the popular view that biological complexity (as viewed in many guises and at many levels) has increased over time. In this regard, I conclude by recommending an Information Theory approach which urges that physical complexity arises from accumulation of genetic coding sequences.