The Intelligent Complex Adaptive System Model for Organizations

This paper proposes a new model for organizations that live in a dynamic, complex environment. The model proposes to represent a new theory of the organization, one that starts with the fact that organizations are not metaphors of living systems but are living systems. As such, they have the potential to take advantage of those facets of living organisms that have proven efficacious throughout evolution. By that we mean that evolutionary survival has repeatedly shown that complexity in the form of variety, selectivity and adaptation have been the hallmarks of successful organisms throughout evolution, especially when their environment was changing and threatening. What organizational form will have the best capability to support their workforce and coevolve with a rapidly changing, uncertain and highly complex world?  This paper proposes a model of an organization that is designed to answer this question. To be successful in the new world requires Knowledge Workers to have new competencies, competencies that promote collaboration, understanding and the integration of action. These competencies, discussed here under multidimensionality, include knowledge management, learning, critical thinking, risk management, systems thinking, complexity thinking, information literacy, relationship network management and knowing.

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