The Omnipresence of Complexity

Abstract

Following the news makes it seem like “complexity is the most important challenge” of the future. Sometimes, descriptions of “complexities” appear. Apparently, the plural gets applied in the absence of a comparative degree and not to express the occurrence of different types of complexity. Just declaring a question as complex and selecting a method is not enough. The selection of a method requires knowledge about the complex problem and certainty about the desired objective. The dilemma is that if a “complex” problem means that it is not understood, it is hardly possible to determine a specific objective. Thus, the acknowledgement of complexity requires measures for creating a better understanding first. Systematic complexity management initially identifies underlying causes for the undesired effects called complexity, specifies the type of complexity and then determines suitable strategies and methods to be applied for solving the challenge.