This page describes the organizational forces that limit change.
It explains how to overcome
them when necessary.
This page uses an example to illustrate how:
- A business can gain focus from targeting key customers,
- Business planning activities performed by the whole organization can build awareness, empowerment and coherence.
- A program approach can ensure strategic alignment.
This page uses the example of HP's printer organization freeing
itself from its organizational constraints to sell a printer
targeted at the IBM pc user.
The constraints are described.
The techniques to overcome them are implied.
The constraints are described.
The techniques to overcome them are implied.
Barriers to flows
Summary
Barriers are particular types of constraints on Flows of different kinds are essential to the operation of
complex adaptive systems (CAS).
Example flows are outlined. Constraints on flows support the emergence of the systems. Examples of constraints are discussed.
flows. They can enforce
separation of a network of agents allowing evolution to build
diversity. Examples of different types of barriers: physical
barriers, chemical
molecules can form membranes, probability based,
cell membranes can include controllable
channels, eukaryotes
leverage membranes, symbiosis, human emotions, chess, business; and
their effects are described. Example flows are outlined. Constraints on flows support the emergence of the systems. Examples of constraints are discussed.
Introduction
The existence of barriers blocking Flows of different kinds are essential to the operation of
complex adaptive systems (CAS).
Example flows are outlined. Constraints on flows support the emergence of the systems. Examples of constraints are discussed.
flows,
allow multiple discrete environments to exist within which
separate Example flows are outlined. Constraints on flows support the emergence of the systems. Examples of constraints are discussed.
This page introduces the complex adaptive system (CAS) theory
frame. The theory provides an organizing framework that is
used by 'life.' It can illuminate and clarify complex situations and
be applied flexibly. It can be used to evaluate and rank
models that claim to describe our perceived reality. It
catalogs the laws and strategies which underpin the operation of
systems that are based on the interaction of emergent agents.
It highlights the constraints that shape CAS and so predicts
their form. A proposal that does not conform is
wrong.
John Holland's framework for representing complexity is outlined. Links to other key aspects of CAS theory discussed at the site are presented.
complex adaptive systems
(CAS) can develop. John Holland's framework for representing complexity is outlined. Links to other key aspects of CAS theory discussed at the site are presented.
Physical barriers including mountain ranges, seas, and rivers reflect the dynamic nature of the Earth's crust shifting around. The barriers will appear and disappear over
Carlo Rovelli resolves the paradox of time.
Rovelli initially explains that low level physics does not include time:
time. In consequence CAS may
become split-up and separated. Later they may be
rejoined. The effect can be Rovelli initially explains that low level physics does not include time:
- A present that is common throughout the universe does not exist
- Events are only partially ordered. The present is localized
- The difference between past and future is not foundational. It occurs because of state that through our blurring appears particular to us
- Time passes at different speeds dependent on where we are and how fast we travel
- Time's rhythms are due to
the gravitational field
- Our quantized physics shows neither
space nor time, just processes transforming physical
variables.
- Fundamentally there is no time. The basic equations evolve together with events, not things
- Our familiar time emerges
- Our interaction with the world is partial, blurred,
quantum indeterminate
- The ignorance determines the existence of thermal time
and entropy that quantifies our uncertainty
- Directionality of time is real
but perspectival. The entropy of the world in
relation to us increases with our thermal time. The
growth of entropy distinguishes past from future: resulting in
traces and memories
- Each human is a
unified being because: we reflect the world, we
formed an image of a unified entity by
interacting with our kind, and because of the perspective
of memory
- The variable time: is one of the variables of the gravitational field. With our scale we don't register quantum fluctuations, making space-time appear determined. At our speed we don't perceive differences in time of different clocks, so we experience a single time: universal, uniform, ordered; which is helpful to our decisions
This page reviews Christensen's disruption
of a complex adaptive system (CAS).
The mechanism is discussed with examples from biology and
business.
disruptive.
The presence of barriers can be viewed as partitioning the environment. As described above physical forces can produce these effects. However, random networks of simple Boolean elements can also produce
This page discusses the mechanisms and effects of emergence
underpinning any complex adaptive system (CAS). Physical forces and
constraints follow the rules of complexity. They generate
phenomena and support the indirect emergence of epiphenomena.
Flows of epiphenomena interact in events which support the
emergence of equilibrium and autonomous
entities. Autonomous entities enable evolution
to operate broadening the adjacent possible.
Key research is reviewed.
emergent
attractor
regions, where the network state will remain unless
perturbed. Equally significant are barriers created by Terrence Deacon explores how constraints on dynamic flows can
induce emergent phenomena
which can do real work. He shows how these phenomena are
sustained. The mechanism enables
the development of Darwinian competition.
constraints generated through the
interactions of sustained interacting dynamic flows. Low probability of occurrence can be a significant barrier to action. When energy is required to move molecules, multiple atoms bonded together. The physical and chemical phenomena associated with the molecule such as charge, size, shape, and potential energy reflect the constituent atoms, the types of bonds between them and the topology of the bonding. Charged molecules dissolve in aqueous solutions (water). Uncharged molecules dissolve in lipid bilayers. so they can collide, and hence react, the probability of reaction becomes associated with an energy barrier. Reducing the energy required to create a collision in effect removes the barrier. Many
This page reviews the catalytic
impact of infrastructure on the expression of phenotypic effects by an
agent. The infrastructure
reduces the cost the agent must pay to perform the selected
action. The catalysis is enhanced by positive returns.
catalysts
work in this way increasing the probability of a reactive
collision between reagents. Probability based barriers are
important in limiting people's ability to share knowledge and to
collaborate. CAS
Plans are interpreted and implemented by agents. This page
discusses the properties of agents in a complex adaptive system
(CAS).
It then presents examples of agents in different CAS. The examples include a computer program where modeling and actions are performed by software agents. These software agents are aggregates.
The participation of agents in flows is introduced and some implications of this are outlined.
agents can also induce barriers
to their own flows. It then presents examples of agents in different CAS. The examples include a computer program where modeling and actions are performed by software agents. These software agents are aggregates.
The participation of agents in flows is introduced and some implications of this are outlined.
Molecules, multiple atoms bonded together. The physical and chemical phenomena associated with the molecule such as charge, size, shape, and potential energy reflect the constituent atoms, the types of bonds between them and the topology of the bonding. Charged molecules dissolve in aqueous solutions (water). Uncharged molecules dissolve in lipid bilayers. vary in the nature of their charges. The presence of charges on a molecule renders it effected by chemical forces. Like molecules join together creating phases with the chemical forces creating barriers between the phases. Membranes, formed from a lipid (fat) bilayer which creates a barrier between aqueous (water soluble) media. In AWF a key property of membranes - their providing a catalytic environment and supporting the suspension of enzymatically active proteins within the membrane; is simulated with a Workspace list where 'active' structures can be inserted and codelets can detect and act on the structure's active promise configured as an association in the Slipnet. are a significant phase separating structure in cellular biology. Lipid, a long chain fatty acid. Some can bend in the middle resulting in a polar end and a non-polar end. The charged end of the bent lipids gather together forming a lipid bilayer. Externally the lipid bilayer appears hydrophobic. Such lipid bilayers are the foundation of biological membranes. molecules with charged ends and uncharged centers coalesce into hydrophobic, environment with neutral molecules dissolved in lipids. Hydrophobic molecules avoid aqueous solutions (water). bilayers separating hydrophilic, environment with charged molecules dissolved in aqueous solution (water). Hydrophilic molecules seek aqueous solutions.
environments.
The presence of membrane enclosures allows for division of cells into multiple compartments. Such eukaryotic is a relatively large multi-component cell type. It initially emerged from prokaryotic archaea subsuming eubacteria, from which single and multi-celled plants, multi celled fungi, including single-cell variant yeast, drips, protozoa and metazoa, including humans, are constructed. A eukaryotic cell contains modules including a nucleus and production functions such as chloroplasts and mitochondria.
cellular strategies can leverage the
This page discusses the strategy of modularity in a complex
adaptive system (CAS). The
benefits, mechanism and its emergence
are discussed.
membrane
barriers to support different states in each compartment.
Multi-cellular systems allow for the replication of plans and
structures but different states to exist within each cell of the
system. Barriers can be total, but often they are leaky. Much of the flora and fauna that exist on volcanically created islands arrives by chance deposited by birds, driftwood or vehicles. Having arrived there are likely to be many niches that can be exploited. Successful breeding soon induces competition. The niches become important for survival and help drive the selection of life exhibiting competitive advantage in the niche.
The geologically young lake Victoria is home to a huge number of endemic cichlid fish. Victoria is a wide shallow basin. In the past it was connected with the other African great lakes. They also have cichlid fish. But the distribution of genes differs. Physical barriers between the lakes are augmented in the case of Victoria by its width and many isolated reefs as Richard Dawkins explains in The Ancestor's Tale.
Desmond & Moore paint a picture of Charles Darwin's life,
expanded from his own highlights:
Darwin realized
that the triple-sex arrangement of some flowers' constructs a
barrier encouraging cross-fertilization. - His naughty childhood,
- Wasted
schooldays,
- Apprenticeship with Grant,
- His extramural
activities at Cambridge, walks with Henslow,
life with FitzRoy on the
Beagle,
- His growing
love for science,
- London: geology, journal and Lyell.
- Moving from
Gower Street to Down and writing Origin and other
books.
- He reviewed his position on religion: the long dispute with Emma, his slow collapse of belief - damnation for unbelievers like his father and brother, inward conviction being evolved and unreliable, regretting he had ignored his father's advice; while describing Emma's side of the argument. He felt happy with his decision to dedicate his life to science. He closed by asserting after Self & Cross-fertilization his strength will be exhausted.
Cell membranes, formed from a lipid (fat) bilayer which creates a barrier between aqueous (water soluble) media. In AWF a key property of membranes - their providing a catalytic environment and supporting the suspension of enzymatically active proteins within the membrane; is simulated with a Workspace list where 'active' structures can be inserted and codelets can detect and act on the structure's active promise configured as an association in the Slipnet. can be made semi-permeable with the insertion of donut shaped molecules that create hydrophilic pores in the lipid bilayer, a long chain fatty acid. Some can bend in the middle resulting in a polar end and a non-polar end. The charged end of the bent lipids gather together forming a lipid bilayer. Externally the lipid bilayer appears hydrophobic. Such lipid bilayers are the foundation of biological membranes. . There is also the opportunity to use energy to drive a molecular pump which can move reagents across the membrane barrier. Such channels, an active membrane spanning protein with a central pore through which a targeted ion is driven until the channel is opened by a signal which then allows the ions back across the channel continuing the electro-chemical wave.
and pumps are often able to be inactivated by phosphorylation is an enzyme which catalyzes the addition of a phosphate group to a side chain of a specific protein. When paired with a phosphatase that targets the same protein and side chain it gives the cell a schematically controlled switching capability. , creating a controlled barrier to the flows.
Symbiosis is a long term situation between two, or more, different agents where the resources of both are shared for mutual benefit. Some of the relationships have built remarkable dependencies: Tremblaya's partnership with citrus mealybugs and bacterial DNA residing in the mealybug's genome, Aphids with species of secondary symbiont bacteria deployed sexually from a male aphid sperm reservoir and propagated asexually by female aphids only while their local diet induces a dependency. If the power relations and opportunities change for the participants then they will adapt and the situation may transform into separation, predation or parasitism.
can introduce barriers of various types:
- The external membrane of multicellular eukaryotes is a relatively large multi-component cell type. It initially emerged from prokaryotic archaea subsuming eubacteria, from which single and multi-celled plants, multi celled fungi, including single-cell variant yeast, drips, protozoa and metazoa, including humans, are constructed. A eukaryotic cell contains modules including a nucleus and production functions such as chloroplasts and mitochondria.
is often reinforced with a mucus is used to cover tissues that are exposed. It is made from mucins. Mucous membranes may secrete mucus to generate a robust barrier.
based structure supporting a symbiotic is a long term situation between two, or more, different agents where the resources of both are shared for mutual benefit. Some of the relationships have built remarkable dependencies: Tremblaya's partnership with citrus mealybugs and bacterial DNA residing in the mealybug's genome, Aphids with species of secondary symbiont bacteria deployed sexually from a male aphid sperm reservoir and propagated asexually by female aphids only while their local diet induces a dependency. If the power relations and opportunities change for the participants then they will adapt and the situation may transform into separation, predation or parasitism.
microbiome, the trillions of bacteria and viruses that live inside higher animals' guts, on their skin etc. These bacteria and viruses seem to play a role in: immune responses, digesting food, making nutrients, controlling mental health and maintaining a healthy weight. The signals from the gut microbiota are relayed by major nerve fibers: vagus; to the central nervous system. The symbiotic relationship must be actively managed. Human armpits include glands which provide food favoring certain symbionts who build a defensive shield above the skin. In the human gut: Barriers are setup: Mucus secretions form a physical constraint and provide sites for bacteriophages to anchor and attack pathogenic bacteria; Symbiont tailored nourishment: Plant-heavy food creates opportunities for fibre specialists like Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; is provided, Selective binding sites are provided, Poisons are deployed against the unwelcome, and Temperature, acidity and oxygenation are managed. High throughput sequencing allows the characterization of bacterial populations inside guts. Beginning at birth, as they pass down the birth canal infants are supplied with a microbiome from their mothers. If they are borne via cesarean they never receive some of the key bacteria: Bifidobaterium infantis which is also dependent on oligosaccharides in breast milk; from their mothers. A variety of diseases may be caused by changes in the microbiome:- Eczema can be related to changes in the skin microbiome.
- Obesity can be induced by changes to the gut microbiome.
- Chronic inflammation
- Allergies
- Type 1 diabetes
- Eczema can be related to changes in the skin microbiome.
- Insects can build symbiotic relationships with bacteria
which provide signals that act as sexual selectors.
Insects with identical schematic addressing in their genes
may avoid breeding when the bacterial symbionts of the other
insect are different.
The
Computational
theory of the mind and evolutionary
psychology provide Steven Pinker with a framework on which
to develop his psychological arguments about the mind and its
relationship to the brain. Humans captured a cognitive niche by
natural selection 'building out'
specialized aspects of their bodies and brains resulting in a system of mental organs
we call the mind.
He garnishes and defends the framework with findings from psychology regarding: The visual system - an example of natural selections solutions to the sensory challenges of inverse modeling of our environment; Intensions - where he highlights the challenges of hunter-gatherers - making sense of the objects they perceive and predicting what they imply and natural selections powerful solutions; Emotions - which Pinker argues are essential to human prioritizing and decision making; Relationships - natural selection's strategies for coping with the most dangerous competitors, other people. He helps us understand marriage, friendships and war.
These conclusions allow him to understand the development and maintenance of higher callings: Art, Music, Literature, Humor, Religion, & Philosophy; and develop a position on the meaning of life.
Complex adaptive system (CAS) modeling allows RSS to frame Pinker's arguments within humanity's current situation, induced by powerful evolved amplifiers: Globalization, Cliodynamics, The green revolution and resource bottlenecks; melding his powerful predictions of the drivers of human behavior with system wide constraints. The implications are discussed.
human mind includes passionate is a doomsday machine emotion, providing the participant in a strategic conflict with a constraint on rational arguments. He garnishes and defends the framework with findings from psychology regarding: The visual system - an example of natural selections solutions to the sensory challenges of inverse modeling of our environment; Intensions - where he highlights the challenges of hunter-gatherers - making sense of the objects they perceive and predicting what they imply and natural selections powerful solutions; Emotions - which Pinker argues are essential to human prioritizing and decision making; Relationships - natural selection's strategies for coping with the most dangerous competitors, other people. He helps us understand marriage, friendships and war.
These conclusions allow him to understand the development and maintenance of higher callings: Art, Music, Literature, Humor, Religion, & Philosophy; and develop a position on the meaning of life.
Complex adaptive system (CAS) modeling allows RSS to frame Pinker's arguments within humanity's current situation, induced by powerful evolved amplifiers: Globalization, Cliodynamics, The green revolution and resource bottlenecks; melding his powerful predictions of the drivers of human behavior with system wide constraints. The implications are discussed.
emotions are low level fast unconscious agents distributed across the brain and body which associate, via the amygdala and rich club hubs, important environmental signals with encoded high speed sensors, and distributed programs of action to model: predict, prioritize guidance signals, select and respond effectively, coherently and rapidly to the initial signal. The majority of emotion centered brain regions interface to the midbrain through the hypothalamus. The cerebellum and basal ganglia support the integration of emotion and motor functions, rewarding rhythmic movement. The most accessible signs of emotions are the hard to control and universal facial expressions. Emotions provide prioritization for conscious access given that an animal has only one body, but possibly many cells, with which to achieve its highest level goals. Because of this, base emotions clash with group goals and are disparaged by the powerful. Pinker notes a set of group selected emotions which he classes as: other-condemning, other-praising, other-suffering and self-conscious emotions. Evolutionary psychology argues evolution shaped human emotions during the long period of hunter-gatherer existence in the African savanna. Human emotions are universal and include: Anger, Appreciation of natural beauty, Contempt, Disgust, Embarrassment, Fear, Gratitude, Grief, Guilt, Happiness, Honor, Jealousy, Liking, Love, Moral awe, Rage, Romantic love, Lust for revenge, Passion, Sadness, Self-control, Shame, Sympathy, Surprise; and the sham emotions and distrust induced by reciprocal altruism.
which can act as barriers to conflicting party's strategies by providing a Doomsday Machine. The doomsday machine architecture integrates a:
- Signal that advertises the presence of the doomsday machine
- Machine that once started can't be stopped.
- Uncontrollable initiation of the machine based on some constraint.
- Catastrophic result for all parties once the machine is started. There is the potential for both parties to participate in an arms race.
, Vengeance, or vengeance, is a doomsday machine emotion. In hunter-gatherer bands the major constraint on a relative or loved one being murdered was the 'guarantee' of revenge. Revenge pairs with the emotional signal honor. It must be advertised and hard to turn off. Traditional societies incorporate it into legal frameworks as retribution, a legitimate goal of criminal punishment.
; an agent based institutional strategy such as the police or some physical constraint.
In chess the rules allow a piece to project control or to be positioned to become a barrier to flows through the affected square.
In business there are many barriers:
- High potential market segments may require new knowledge,
presence in the local geography, customer awareness, ability
to cope with large risks, is an assessment of the likelihood of an independent problem occurring. It can be assigned an accurate probability since it is independent of other variables in the system. As such it is different from uncertainty.
.
- Employees ideas can create barriers, and demotivation can
limit their desire
to turn goals
into effective actions.
- Competition may be discouraged since it will bring a business into conflict with a key power base.
- A government sanctioned monopoly supported the construction of a superOrganism American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T). Within this Bell Labs was at the center of three networks:Bell laboratories, and later Hewlett-Packard (HP), gave their researchers and engineers time during each week to pursue their own ideas. This introduces a barrier between the organization's top-down goals and these bottom-up competitive ideas.
- The evolving global scientific
network.
- The Bell telephone network. And
- The military industrial network deploying 'fire and missile control' systems.
They monitored the opportunities to leverage the developing ideas, reorganizing to replace incumbent opposition and enable the creation and growth of new ideas.
Once the monopoly was dismantled, AT&T disrupted.
Complex adaptive system (CAS) models of the innovation mechanisms are discussed.
- The evolving global scientific
network.
- Organizations may be artificially structured to create
internal competition. At HP Wim. Roelandts separated
his network connectivity organization into parts. The
OSI (OSI), a set of communications interconnection standards defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO) global standards body. OSI competed unsuccessfully with the IETF's TCP/IP. The basic seven layer 'model' of OSI is still influential.
divisions and the TCP (TCP), a point-to-point connection oriented protocol specified and standardized by IETF and widely implemented in Internet communications.
/IP (IP), a datagram based connectionless protocol specified by the IETF. It can be used by TCP as its network layer protocol when sending and receiving data packets. divisions were asked to compete for the same target customers. Each sub-organization responded by introducing barriers and increasing its search for ways to outcompete the other.
Barriers enable action and control.
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Business Physics |
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integrating quality appropriate for each market |
This page looks at schematic structures
and their uses. It discusses a number of examples:
As a working example it presents part of the contents and schematic details from the Adaptive Web Framework (AWF)'s operational plan.
Finally it includes a section presenting our formal representation of schematic goals.
Each goal has a series of associated complex adaptive system (CAS) strategy strings.
These goals plus strings are detailed for various chess and business examples.
Strategy |
Design |
- Schematic ideas are recombined in creativity.
- Similarly designers take ideas and rules about materials and components and combine them.
- Schematic Recipes help to standardize operations.
- Modular components are combined into strategies for use in business plans and business models.
As a working example it presents part of the contents and schematic details from the Adaptive Web Framework (AWF)'s operational plan.
Finally it includes a section presenting our formal representation of schematic goals.
Each goal has a series of associated complex adaptive system (CAS) strategy strings.
These goals plus strings are detailed for various chess and business examples.
This page uses an example to illustrate how:
Program Management |
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- A business can gain focus from targeting key customers,
- Business planning activities performed by the whole organization can build awareness, empowerment and coherence.
- A program approach can ensure strategic alignment.
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