Tutorial

Abstract

Chaos theory, also called nonlinear systems theory, provides new insights into processes previously thought to be unpredictable and random. It also provides a new set of tools that can be used to analyze common administrative and clinical data. This tutorial provides an introduction to chaos theory. Subsequent articles will address applications of those principles to the administrative activities of health care organizations, implications of those principles for clinical data, and application of chaos theory concepts to our understanding of organizational dynamics.

A scoping review of complexity science in nursing

“…Jeffers, Robinson, Luxner, and Redding (2008) stressed that healthcare organizations are complex because “the changes occur both within and across organizational boundaries” (p. E10). Several articles criticized the old‐fashioned way of organizing healthcare settings and stressed the need to put forward a complexity framework (Kramer et al., 2017; Lindberg & Clancy, 2010; Litaker et al., 2006; Murray, 1992; Priesmeyer & Sharp, 1995; Sharp & Priesmeyer, 1995; Turkel & Ray, 2000; Walsh, 2000). Chinnis and White (1999) emphasized the relevance of conceptualizing emergency departments (ED) as CAS because they have a long history of involving a variety of professions and dominant logics that need to be questioned if they are to develop and change.…”

“…The two components of “scope” and “intensity,” based on complexity science, are vital to flexible organizations, meaning that shared decision‐making characterizes an adaptive leadership style (Anderson & McDaniel, 1999; Anderson et al., 2013, 2015). From this perspective, organizational issues were resistant to being managed through use of classical problem‐solving approaches (Anderson, Corazzini, & McDaniel, 2004; Brocklehurst, 2004; Bungay & Stevenson, 2013; Penprase & Norris, 2005; Priesmeyer & Sharp, 1995; Rowe & Hogarth, 2005; Sanares‐Carreon, 2016; Scott & Steinbinder, 2009; Scott & Van Norman, 2009; Sharp & Priesmeyer, 1995; Walls & McDaniels, 1999). Several studies have shown that changes in leadership provide the stimulus for chaos, giving nurses opportunities to grow together as a team (Colón‐Emeric, Ammarell, et al, 2006; Forbes‐Thompson, Leiker, & Bleich, 2007; Otten & Chen, 2011).…”