Learn six principles and practices to design complex systems that can produce positive outcomes, such as innovation, collaboration, or resilience.

This is why deliberately seeking to build trusting relationships ought to be priority one on any strategic plan. There can be no experimentation or openness to innovation without high levels of trust.

How can you design complex systems to ensure emergent behavior is positive?

Complex systems are composed of many interacting parts that can produce unexpected and unpredictable outcomes, also known as emergent behavior. Emergent behavior can be positive, such as innovation, collaboration, or resilience, or negative, such as chaos, conflict, or collapse. How can you design complex systems to ensure emergent behavior is positive? Here are some principles and practices that can help you achieve this goal.

1 Define the purpose

The first step in designing complex systems is to define the purpose of the system, or the desired outcome that you want to achieve. The purpose should be clear, specific, and aligned with the values and goals of the stakeholders involved. The purpose should also be flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances and feedback. A well-defined purpose can guide the behavior of the system and its components, and help evaluate the results.

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Nick Hart

Principal @CognitaSchools | MBA Educational Leadership (International) | Author of #ImpactBook and #CultureBook
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Leadership of a school needs to have the desired outcome for children at the forefront of strategic intent or purpose. In a previous school, this was termed as 'Every child flourishing'. In my current school, we have 3 horizons: a flourishing school; an evolving curriculum; and serving our community.

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2 Design for diversity

The second step in designing complex systems is to design for diversity, or the variety of elements and interactions that make up the system. Diversity can enhance the creativity, adaptability, and resilience of the system, as well as reduce the risk of homogeneity, stagnation, and fragility. Diversity can be achieved by including different perspectives, skills, roles, and resources in the system, and by enabling cross-fertilization and learning among them.

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Nick Hart

Principal @CognitaSchools | MBA Educational Leadership (International) | Author of #ImpactBook and #CultureBook
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Our most recent recruitment of a senior leader included analyzing the way that members of the existing team (including the leader who was moving on) think and noticing what was missing. Our recruitment process included tasks and questions designed to reveal candidates' diversity of thought in order to make a selection that was right for the team.

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3 Establish feedback loops

The third step in designing complex systems is to establish feedback loops, or the mechanisms that allow the system and its components to monitor, communicate, and adjust their behavior based on the inputs and outputs of the system. Feedback loops can help the system to self-organize, self-regulate, and self-correct, as well as to detect and respond to emergent behavior. Feedback loops can be positive, reinforcing the behavior of the system, or negative, counteracting the behavior of the system.

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4 Foster emergence

The fourth step in designing complex systems is to foster emergence, or the ability of the system to generate new and novel behavior that is not predetermined or planned. Emergence can be facilitated by creating conditions that enable experimentation, exploration, and discovery in the system, such as autonomy, openness, and diversity. Emergence can also be encouraged by rewarding and recognizing the positive outcomes of emergent behavior, such as innovation, collaboration, or resilience.

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Nick Hart

Principal @CognitaSchools | MBA Educational Leadership (International) | Author of #ImpactBook and #CultureBook
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This is why deliberately seeking to build trusting relationships ought to be priority one on any strategic plan. There can be no experimentation or openness to innovation without high levels of trust.

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5 Manage complexity

The fifth step in designing complex systems is to manage complexity, or the degree of difficulty and uncertainty that arises from the interactions and dynamics of the system. Complexity can be managed by applying appropriate methods and tools to analyze, model, and visualize the system, such as systems thinking, simulation, and mapping. Complexity can also be managed by applying appropriate strategies and techniques to intervene and influence the system, such as prototyping, iteration, and scaling.

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6 Learn and adapt

The sixth and final step in designing complex systems is to learn and adapt, or the process of continuously observing, reflecting, and improving the system and its behavior. Learning and adapting can be achieved by collecting and evaluating data and evidence on the performance and impact of the system, such as metrics, indicators, and stories. Learning and adapting can also be achieved by applying and testing new ideas and solutions to enhance the system, such as experiments, pilots, and reviews.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you design complex systems to ensure emergent behavior is positive?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define the purpose

2 Design for diversity

3 Establish feedback loops

4 Foster emergence

5 Manage complexity

6 Learn and adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Systems Design

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How can you design complex systems to ensure emergent behavior is positive?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Define the purpose

2 Design for diversity

3 Establish feedback loops

4 Foster emergence

5 Manage complexity

6 Learn and adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Systems Design

Rate this article

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