TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– This paper seeks to address the need for a comprehensive theoretical reference underlying the concerns of social complexity. The shortcomings of a very powerful yet cognitively biased theoretical model like Luhmann's theory of social systems especially call for the integration of the whole person into conceptualising social complexity. The paper aims to question what the conditions are for the possibility to successfully conceptualise social complexity.Design/methodology/approach– Based on field research to explore the practical challenges of dealing with social complexity, the paper comprises discourse analysis and literature review. Luhmann's theory of social systems proved to be a fruitful starting point to integrate the latter research in neurosciences in a systemic way.Findings– The paper finds that embedded mind thinking and holonic evolution of organism, psyche and society emerged out of the research as powerful thought figures. They allow for an improved practical and theoretical navigation on the ocean of social complexity.Practical implications– The results implications for how we conceptualise social complexity and the ways we approach ourselves, how we govern, teach, heal, coach, learn, train, create, improve and innovate. Increasing our capabilities to meet social complexity will improve management, change, governance and project performance.Originality/value– Addressing Luhmann's theory of social systems in the broader context of social complexity and neurosciences allowed for a reintegration of the whole person into the field of social complexity based not only on meaning but on feeling as well.
VL  - 41
IS  - 7/8
SN  - 0368-492X
DO  - 10.1108/03684921211257829
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/03684921211257829
AU  - Klein Louis
ED  - Sifeng Liu
ED  - Jeffrey Forrest
ED  - Yingie Yangjie
ED  - Ke Zhang
ED  - Chuanmin Mi
ED  - Naiming Xie
PY  - 2012
Y1  - 2012/01/01
TI  - The three inevitabilities of human being: A conceptual hierarchy model approaching social complexity
T2  - Kybernetes
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 977
EP  - 984
Y2  - 2024/04/26
ER  -