A Brief Introduction to Complexity Theory in Managing Public Services

Sowels, Nicholas

doi:10.4000/rfcb.8103

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Until the issues with the adoption of new technologies are solved, simple tools such as checklists, charts, diagrams, and decision-trees may suffice. Diagrams can be developed with system boundaries, key actors and points of connection, core activities, where outputs occur, and listing resources for inputs and activities (Sowels, 2021). Organizational and work breakdown structures (WBS) and "RACI (responsible, accountable, consult, and inform) charts" (p. 261) may help to clarify roles and responsibilities for project deliverables (Project Management Institute, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Technologies Useful and Easy to Use: Results of A Cross-Sectional Survey

Lock

2024

Adv. J Social Sci.

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Tools and technologies have strengths and weaknesses and can either reduce or increase complexity and make work easier or harder. This article aims to report the results of a survey that assessed the usefulness and ease of use of tools and technologies, and perceptions of participants about tools and technologies as a factor in complexity and project failure. A cross-sectional survey of 114 project managers, researchers, and decision-makers was conducted to assess if tools and technologies that participants use in their work are useful and easy to use by asking two questions based on a validated tool of user acceptance of technologies. Additionally, two questions asked participants which tools and technologies were most helpful in their work – one was an open question, and the other provided pre-selected choices of tools and technologies. Few participants chose tools and technologies as a factor that contributes to complexity and project failure, and most participants rated tools and technologies as useful and easy to use. However, the tools and technologies that were chosen by most as helpful for work, tend to be older and simpler and include tools such as checklists. In conclusion, even though tools and technologies are advancing rapidly, most participants in the current survey chose older tools and technologies as helpful in their work. The relevance of these findings is that there appears to be barriers to the adoption of newer technologies such as artificial intelligence and algorithms. The barriers to the adoption of new tools and technologies should be explored further.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Technologies Useful and Easy to Use: Results of A Cross-Sectional Survey

Lock

2024

Adv. J Social Sci.

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“…According to complexity theory, complex systems and interactions can produce predictable and simple effects (Anderson, 1999;Cooke-Davies, Cicmil, Crawford, & Richardson, 2007). Complexity theory resulted in new public management, privatization, de-regulation, outsourcing of managerialism, vertical integration with stronger executive control measures and capacity, and horizontal collaboration and coordination (networks, projects, teams) (Sowels, 2021). This resulted in hybrid structures that are very complex, i.e.…”

Section: Critical Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This resulted in hybrid structures that are very complex, i.e. complex adaptive systems (Sowels, 2021). Public services became more diverse and fragmented with parts becoming mutually dependent on one another (Sowels, 2021).…”

Section: Critical Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…complex adaptive systems (Sowels, 2021). Public services became more diverse and fragmented with parts becoming mutually dependent on one another (Sowels, 2021). Complexity theory also entails cross-level research, but it creates too much ambiguity, complexity, uncertainty and unpredictability to be practical for researchers or project managers (Anderson, 1999;Cooke-Davies et al, 2007;Daniel & Daniel, 2018;Mercer, 2020;Saynisch, 2010;Sialm, 2021).…”

Section: Critical Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Cross-Sectional Online Survey of Researchers, Project Managers, and Decision-Makers to Assess Factors That Contribute to Complexity and Project Success

Lock,

Sergeenko

2024

Adv. J Social Sci.

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Complexity is a major problem for managers and decision-makers and needs to be addressed for projects to succeed. The aim of this study was to explore the factors contributing to complexity and project failure and success. An online cross-sectional survey of 114 researchers, project managers and decision-makers was conducted to explore these factors. Results showed that all participants who use project management indicated that it contributes to the success of their projects. Humans and human interactions were chosen by most participants as the main factor responsible for complexity. Most participants indicated that poor communication and collaboration was the biggest factor preventing them from achieving their goals. Participants mostly prefer working with people that they have a lot in common with, and most indicated that smaller teams of four to five people are better for optimal performance compared with larger team sizes. Feeling valued, respected, and being adequately rewarded motivated participants to perform well. In conclusion, project management may be able to improve the chances of project success. Addressing human factors and interactions may reduce complexity and motivate people to perform well. Limitations of this research include convenience sampling and subjective responses to a cross-sectional survey rather than objective measurement of outcomes.

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Complexity Theory in sociological theorizing and metamodern culture — the contours of mutual legitimation

Bevzenko

2022

STMM

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The focus of the article is on two large-scale transformation processes that are currently taking place in the Western scientific and socio-cultural spaces. On the one hand, it is the emergence on the cultural horizon of a new macrocultural era, called Metamodern, on the other hand — the transformation in the paradigm field of Western science and the emergence of a paradigm of complexity (complexity theory). The statement is argued, that they are the different manifestations of the general large-scale socio-cultural and scientific tectonics and can serve as contours for mutual legitimacy and justification. The metamodern project captures the emergence of a new worldview in Western culture, which is characterized by a new sincerity, openness, holism in contrast to postmodern alienation, irony and sсepticism. In terms of experiencing the I-World relationship, the logic of cultural progress from Tradition to Metamodern can be described as a movement from complete immersion of the Self in the World (Tradition), through confrontation and struggle between the Self and the World (Modern), chaos of the I (multiple identity) and the World (current modernity) in the postmodern era, to a new dialectical combination of the I and the World in the Metamodern era. Complexity Theory in its sociological theoretical proposals can offer a parallel view on the process of changing cultural epochs, but through the prism of transforming the dominant mechanism of change and maintenance of social order, emphasizing the existence of two such mechanisms — organizational one and self-organizational one. The logic of changes in this dominance leads us from Tradition (self-organization), through Modern (organization), and Postmodern (chaos, no domination, the mutual distancing) to Metamodern — dialectics, tense unity of organization and self-organization. In socio-cultural terms, it looks like a dialectic of modernity (rationality, purposefulness, result, organization) and tradition (myth, game, process, self-organization), and at the level of basic experience of the world as a dialectic of acute experience of one's self combined with the experience of its unity with the world. It is at this point that the metamodern project and the paradigm of complexity in its sociological interpretation do meet. Here, they can give each other legitimizing support.

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A Brief Introduction to Complexity Theory in Managing Public Services

Cited by 3 publications

References 20 publications

Are Technologies Useful and Easy to Use: Results of A Cross-Sectional Survey

Are Technologies Useful and Easy to Use: Results of A Cross-Sectional Survey

A Cross-Sectional Online Survey of Researchers, Project Managers, and Decision-Makers to Assess Factors That Contribute to Complexity and Project Success

Complexity Theory in sociological theorizing and metamodern culture — the contours of mutual legitimation

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