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Essay / me - 823
Complexity theory is a subset of chaos theory, it focuses on the behavior of groups of living things. Its main progress came from its application in biology with the search for an explanation of the evolutionary complexity of living organisms (5). Mikulecky in The emergence of complexity: is science maturing or is science getting old? offers a concise definition of complexity: “Complexity is the property of a real-world system that manifests itself in the inability of any formalism to be adequate to capture all of its properties” (1). This has major implications on the ability of project managers to follow through on every project parameter. Complexity theory aims to define how order and patterns arise from seemingly chaotic systems and how complex behaviors and structures emerge from simple underlying rules (2). The goal is to determine how systems consisting of many elements can lead to well-organized and predictable behavior. Although it is not possible to calculate the inevitable chaos in a project, it is possible to study the implications of complexity theory in order to develop better strategies for dealing with changes caused by disorder and unpredictable circumstances. . Simply put, the current “control systems” that are currently in the project manager's toolbox are not the controlling entities: people control their actions and the environment dictates many variables. The philosophies and ideas that underpin complexity theory should be used to encourage different managerial thinking processes regarding the functioning of systems and organizations. A fundamental point about complexity theory in the context of project management is that a project team is a social network: a social activity that emphasizes reductionist techniques and methods of control (4). These characteristics assume stability and predictability, which prevents organizations from initiating required changes. Additionally, these project management practices reduce people to predictable parts of a machine and therefore discourage learning and flexibility. Traditional project management approaches seem to remain valid when the project objective remains stable and the work is simple and obvious; however, it is increasingly recognized that for complex, uncertain and time-limited projects, conventional methods may be inappropriate (4). In light of this information, it can be concluded that chaos and complexity perspectives provide deeper insight into the dynamic nature of projects and can provide accountability to the project managers who lead them..