Complex adaptive systems

What Hacker News says

1. orielJul 2024
   This has been a topic of interest for me for almost a decade so far.

   See also: non-linear dynamics, dynamical systems

   The study of Complexity in the US Sciences is fairly recent, with the notable kickoff of the Santa Fe Institute [1]. They have all the resources there, from classes to scientific conferences.

   A few book recommendations I've picked up over the years:

   - Lewin, Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos [2] (recommended for a gentle introduction with history)

   - Gleick, Chaos: Making a New Science [3]

   - Holland, Emergence: From Chaos To Order [4]

   - Holland, Signals and Boundaries: Building Blocks for Complex Adaptive Systems [5]

   - Holland, Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity [6] (unread but part of the series)

   - Miller, Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life [7]

   - Strogatz, Nonlinear Dynamics And Chaos: With Applications To Physics, Biology, Chemistry, And Engineering [11] (edit: forgot i had this on my desk)

   Also a shoutout to Stephen Wolfram, reading one of his articles [8] about underlying structures while stuck at an airport proved to be a pivotal moment in my life.

   - Wolfram's New Kind of Science, as an exploration of simple rules computed to the point of complex behavior. [9]

   - Wolfram's Physics Project, a later iteration on NKS ideas with some significant and thorough publication of work. [10]

   Links:

   [1] https://www.santafe.edu/

   [2] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226476553

   [3] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143113453

   [4] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738201421

   [5] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262525933

   [6] https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Order-Adaptation-Builds-Comple...

   [7] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691127026

   [8] https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2015/12/what-is-spacetim...

   [9] https://www.wolframscience.com/nks/

   [10] https://wolframphysics.org/

   [11] https://www.amazon.com/Nonlinear-Dynamics-Chaos-Applications...

   Show morethread
2. ismailMay 2019
   It would depend in what scenario you wanted to apply the concepts. I find that the best ROT (return on time) can be had by reading research papers. You need to have an understanding of the terminology or be prepared to slog through it. There are some books that have very useful information.

   Below are some of the resources i have been using/used:

   A brilliant introduction to systems thinking by John Sterman who is a legend in the field.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnTwZVviXyY

   Limits to Growth by Donella Meadows is a classic and a great introduction to some of the concepts.

   https://www.amazon.com/Limits-Growth-Donella-H-Meadows/dp/19...

   My review:

   https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2231577740

   Books focused on Application of the theory, with various approaches to systems thinking that can be applied to solve challenges. There is some overlap between the two books below as they both have a catalogue of methods. They are categorized differently. I would read the introductory chapters of both of these and then review the chapter layout and see which of the two i prefer.

   Systems Thinking: Creative Holism for Managers by Michael C. Jackson

   https://www.amazon.com/Systems-Thinking-Creative-Holism-Mana...

   And

   Systems Concepts In Action by Bob Williams and Richard Hummelbrunner

   https://www.amazon.com/Systems-Concepts-Action-Practitioners...

   Research Papers/Book Extracts:

   A Definition of Systems Thinking: A Systems Approach by Ross D. Arnold, Jon P. Wade

   Soft systems methodology: a thirty year retrospective by Peter Checkland

   Guidelines for Drawing Causal Loop Diagrams By: Daniel H. Kim The Systems Thinker, Vol 3, No 1, pp5-6 (Feb 1992)

   More at: https://thesystemsthinker.com/

   A brief guide to interactive planning and idealized design by Russel Ackoff

   Application of soft systems methodology to the real world process of teaching and learning by Nandish V. Patel

   An Application of Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology to the Development of a Military Information Operations Capability for the Australian Defence Force by R. J. Staker

   Defining innovation: Using soft systems methodology to approach the complexity of innovation in educational technology by Glenda Cox

   The viable system model: A briefing about organisational structure by Raul Espejo

   Complex Adaptive Systems by JASON BROWNLEE

   Sustainability, complexity and learning: insights from complex systems approaches by A. Espinosa, T. Porter

   Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model An Interpretation By Trevor Hilder

   Principles of the self-organizing system by W. Ross Ashby

   Guidance on applying the viable system model by Sandra Hildbrand Shamim Bodhanya

   Embracing Human Experience in Applied Systems-Thinking by José-Rodrigo Córdoba-Pachón

   The Need for a Systemic Approach to Change Management—A Case Study by Guangming Cao, Steve Clarke and Brian Lehaney

   I have just included titles and authors, not direct download links to the PDF as unsure about copyrights. Some of my copies of the PDF are stamped with the date-time i downloaded. My email is in my profile if you want more.

   Show morethread