What is the difference between complexity and complicatedness

In short, one can always use physical models in non-physical contexts. This does not mean, however, that these models are able to capture the proprium of different situations.

Similarly, it is always possible to quantify psychological and social phenomena, without being able to capture their nature.

It is our claim that the difference between complicated and complex systems is of the same kind: one can always exploit complicated systems to understand complex ones — e.

To see what is at stake, I shall now dig deeper into the difference between complicated and complex systems. If, as we claim, the difference between complicated and complex systems is a difference of type and not of degree, suitable reasons should be provided.

As a matter of fact, quite a few reasons can be proposed. The following are the three most obvious reasons for the difference between complicated and complex systems:. The primary way to understand complicated systems is through their structural decomposition — that is, through the segmentation of the whole system into disjoined structural parts and their relations, and the further subdivision of these parts into smaller subparts and their relations.

On the other hand, the primary way to understand complex systems is through functional analysis — that is, through the activities exerted by the system. Structural and functional analyses mirror each other only in very special cases. In general, they are different, and the relations among them are far from trivial. One way to see their difference is to note that the same structural part can perform different functions, and the same function can be performed by different structural parts.

The main reason why complex systems have these apparently strange features is that they are creative. Being creative includes the capacity to change, learn, and over time become different from what one was before. But it is more than this. Everything changes, but not everything is creative. To mention but one component of creativity, the capacity to either implicitly or explicitly reframe is one of the defining features of creativity.

The metaphor that Glouberman and Zimmerman use for complex systems is like raising a child. Formula have limited application. Raising one child provides experience but no assurance of success with the next. Expertise can contribute but is neither necessary nor sufficient to assure success. Every child is unique and must be understood as an individual. A number of interventions can be expected to fail as a matter of course.

Uncertainty of the outcome remains. The most useful solutions usually emerge from discussions within the wider family and involve values. These differences have important implications for management. Complicated systems are all fully predictable. These systems are often engineered.

We can understand these systems by taking them apart and analyzing the details. From a management point of view we can create these systems by first designing the parts, and then putting them together. However, we cannot build a complex adaptive system CAS from scratch and expect it to turn out exactly in the way that we intended.

CAS are made up of multiple interconnected elements, and are adaptive in that they have the capacity to change and learn from experience — their history is important. Examples of CAS include ourselves human beings , a flock of birds e. CAS defy attempts to be created in an engineering effort, and the components in the system co-evolve through their relationships with other components.

But we can achieve some understanding by studying how the whole system operates, and we can influence the system by implementing a range of well-thought-out and constructive interventions.

Getting people to work collectively in a coordinated fashion in areas such as poverty alleviation or catchment management is therefore better seen by agencies as a complex, rather than a complicated problem — a fact many managers are happy to acknowledge ….

Indicators of progress in managing a complicated system are directly linked through cause and effect. However, indicators of progress in a complex system are better seen as providing a focus around which different stakeholders can come together and discuss, with a view to potentially changing their practices to improve the way the wider system is trending. Complicated systems are highly predictable; complex systems are the complete opposite.

Understanding the distinction between the two is necessary for organisations because, to date, they have mostly viewed the world as complicated and, therefore, something they can control. What is increasingly evident is that the world is, in fact, complex and unpredictable and we must accept and adapt to this to succeed. Complicated systems, such as a car engine or a aeroplane, are made up of parts that work together to achieve the desired outcome.

Crucially, everything can be mapped out and if we invest the necessary time understood. We might find complicated situations confusing, but the relationships between the various parts are predictable, so we know what will happen if we change something. In complex scenarios, it is almost impossible to predict what will happen when we change something, even in cases where there are only a few parts.

Ask Question. Asked 10 years, 9 months ago. Active 9 years, 10 months ago. Viewed k times. I can't understand: what's the difference between complicated and complex? They seem to be used interchangeably. Are they actually different at all? Improve this question. Lauren 1 1 gold badge 6 6 silver badges 11 11 bronze badges. Nobody Nobody 1, 2 2 gold badges 10 10 silver badges 9 9 bronze badges.

Or do I mean complex? Read this larrycuban. In system theory: a system can be very complicated but not complex at all. Is system is complex when it has emergent behaviour. Complicated systems can be solved with enough computing power. Complex systems cannot be solved. Complex means a system which is elegant, reasonable and beautiful but takes time to learn and comprehend. Complicated means a system which is ugly and cobbled together without any explainable justification other than 'it seems to work'.

This is weird. Different people use these same words with completely opposite meaning. But, for example, the larrycuban article linked to by user uses them completely opposite to that! So, too, does a poll of these answers here. So what is it? Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. Borror0 Borror0 2, 2 2 gold badges 22 22 silver badges 27 27 bronze badges.

This is not correct from a mathematical perspective. Complicated problems or systems are 'large' but still solvable or deterministic. Very simple systems can also be complex. Very complicated systems don't need to be complex. These is a good primer on complexity.