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Chaordic systems thinking: Some suggestions for a complexity framework to inform a learning organization

Frans M. van Eijnatten (Department of Technology Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

The Learning Organization

ISSN: 0969-6474

Publication date: 1 December 2004

Abstract

This contribution suggests a conceptual framework for using complexity to understand human interactions in learning organizations. The particular lens adopted for this purpose is that of the Chaos perspective. The following general concepts are described: discontinuous growth, attractors: their basins and landscapes, the chaordic properties of consciousness, connectivity, indeterminacy, dissipation and emergence, orienteering and path finding, holons and holonic capacity, dialogue, emergent leadership, and individual and organizational mind. Because all human individuals act as agents and are seen as part of the holon, this framework helps to prevent any split between different frameworks of causality. It exclusively supports the use of a transformative teleology.

Keywords

  • Chaos theory
  • Complexity theory
  • Learning
  • Learning organizations

Citation

van Eijnatten, F.M. (2004), "Chaordic systems thinking: Some suggestions for a complexity framework to inform a learning organization", The Learning Organization, Vol. 11 No. 6, pp. 430-449. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696470410548791

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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