scholarly journals Participation in Decision Making as a Property of Complex Adaptive Systems: Developing and Testing a Measure

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth A. Anderson ◽  
Donde Plowman ◽  
Kirsten Corazzini ◽  
Pi-Ching Hsieh ◽  
Hui Fang Su ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Participation In Decision Making ◽  
Level Property

Objectives.To (1) describe participation in decision-making as a systems-level property of complex adaptive systems and (2) present empirical evidence of reliability and validity of a corresponding measure.Method.Study 1 was a mail survey of a single respondent (administrators or directors of nursing) in each of 197 nursing homes. Study 2 was a field study using random, proportionally stratified sampling procedure that included 195 organizations with 3,968 respondents.Analysis.In Study 1, we analyzed the data to reduce the number of scale items and establish initial reliability and validity. In Study 2, we strengthened the psychometric test using a large sample.Results.Results demonstrated validity and reliability of the participation in decision-making instrument (PDMI) while measuring participation of workers in two distinct job categories (RNs and CNAs). We established reliability at the organizational level aggregated items scores. We established validity of the multidimensional properties using convergent and discriminant validity and confirmatory factor analysis.Conclusions.Participation in decision making, when modeled as a systems-level property of organization, has multiple dimensions and is more complex than is being traditionally measured. Managers can use this model to form decision teams that maximize the depth and breadth of expertise needed and to foster connection among them.

scholarly journals Public Reform Paradoxes and the Old Effectiveness–Efficiency Problem

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-529
Author(s):  
Mirko Pečarič
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Or Methodology ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Human Decision ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency

Although effectiveness and efficiency are old comrades of public administrations, they still often cause unintended consequences. The relation between (absent) effectiveness and (overly emphasised) efficiency remains unresolved. The paper shows that effectiveness and efficiency are still used interchangeably, and despite the presence of negative effects, it comes as a surprise that important documents still address these terms without procedure or methodology to provide the content whereby they could be more clearly elaborated. Not only is the goal to achieve clearer meaning, but to accomplish results with the fewest possible negative effects. Alongside different management reforms, decision-makers must not lose sight of the whole; all reforms are only specific answers to inadequate previous ones, and it could be valuable to take a step back to see how/why different reforms emerge. The paper addresses the success/failure of reforms and the outcomes thereof. It claims the core problem of rational decision-making lies not in rationality per se, but in a lack of concept and/or insufficient attention to the behaviour of complex adaptive systems. With the help of complex adaptive systems, cybernetics, and combinations of effectiveness and efficiency, the paper presents the essential elements for adaptive (human) decision-making (such as diversity, variation, selection, adaptation, and integration) as the framework whereby unintended, reverse, and neutral effects can be reduced. New rules/decisions should be based on different levels of planning and adaptation, and on moving from the general to the more specific, in accordance with context specificity and unplanned, emergent things. It seems the hardest thing to address is the human character that does not (want to) recognise a situation as the situation in which some things must be spotted, evaluated, and changed if needed.

scholarly journals The viable decision maker for CAS survival: how to change and adapt through fitting process

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1006-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Carrubbo ◽  
Francesca Iandolo ◽  
Valentina Pitardi ◽  
Mario Calabrese
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Maker ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
General Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Adaptive

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the decision-making process in the management of the complex adaptive systems (CAS), particularly focusing on the dimensions that affect the individual decision maker (DM) when passing from decision to behavior in fitting processes. Although the importance of the general process of fitting in terms of organizational design has been highlighted in earlier studies, a closer focus on the DM perspective is required. Design/methodology/approach Starting from the theoretical frameworks of viable systems approach (vSa) and addressing the evolving concepts of change and adaptation in CAS, the work takes the DM perspective and investigates the dimensions involved in the paths that lead complex decisions into behaviors, when referring to fitting processes. The paper reviews the vSa and the concept of CAS, deepening the decision making in fitting processes. Then, the paper proceeds to discuss the schemes and the categories that affect, at different levels, the decision and behavioral choices by proposing an interpretative framework. Findings The paper proposes a general framework useful to recognize/identify which are the elements/dimensions that have to be considered when organizations change in pursuing survival. The findings of the paper also show how adopting a vSa as a meta-model can be insightful to the understanding of service systems and useful in fully comprehending decision-making processes and behavior in complex adaptive system. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in exploring the decision making process in CAS, adopting a closer perspective on the single DM through the lens of the vSa.

scholarly journals Optimality of Social Choice Systems: Complexity, Wisdom, and Wellbeing Centrality

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Boik
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Social Choice ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Multidisciplinary Program ◽  
Wise Decision ◽  
Complex Adaptive

Since circa 1900, civilization has experienced radical changes including changes in the size and distribution of populations, the power of technologies, the magnitude of energy and materials use, and the depth of scientific knowledge. With these have come increasingly complex challenges and elevated risks, and thus a heightened need for wise decision making. Accordingly, the need has grown for efficient and functional decision-making systems, also called social choice systems. I use these terms to refer to economic, governance, and legal systems. The seeming inability of societies, both individually and collectively, to effectively mitigate excessive climate change, poverty, income inequality, pollution, habitat loss, and other major problems suggests that underlying social choice systems are sub-optimal relative to need. I raise two overarching questions: (1) What characteristics would more optimal social choice systems exhibit? (2) How could research and development of more optimal systems best proceed? The answers I explore in this paper are based on the premise that the relative optimality of a social choice system is a measure of its relative capacity to help communities solve problems and organize activities such that collective wellbeing is elevated. The characteristics of complex adaptive systems, successful problem-solving systems found in nature, are explored in order to suggest useful design motifs and monitoring indicators. I emphasize the need for research and development of new social choice system designs, and argue that field testing of these can best occur at the local (e.g., community, city, or county) level. Efforts in this direction by the science and technology sectors and academic community are still nascent. The work described here suggests a new multidisciplinary program that I term wellbeing centrality: the design, testing, promotion, and operation of social choice systems that place wellbeing measurement, evaluation, forecasting, and deliberation at the center of decision-making activities.

A Complex Adaptive Systems-Based Enterprise Knowledge Sharing Model

2011 ◽  
pp. 35-59
Author(s):  
Cynthia T. Small ◽  
Andrew P. Sage
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Emergent Behavior ◽  
Agent Simulation ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Multi Agent

This paper describes a complex adaptive systems (CAS)-based enterprise knowledge-sharing (KnS) model. The CAS-based enterprise KnS model consists of a CAS-based KnS framework and a multi-agent simulation model. Enterprise knowledge sharing is modeled as the emergent behavior of knowledge workers interacting with the KnS environment and other knowledge workers. The CAS-based enterprise KnS model is developed to aid knowledge management (KM) leadership and other KnS researchers in gaining an enhanced understanding of KnS behavior and its influences. A premise of this research is that a better understanding of KnS influences can result in enhanced decision-making of KnS interventions that can result in improvements in KnS behavior.

A Complex Adaptive Systems-Based Enterprise Knowledge Sharing Model

2009 ◽  
pp. 281-300
Author(s):  
Andrew P. Sage ◽  
Cynthia T. Small
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Emergent Behavior ◽  
Agent Simulation ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Multi Agent

This chapter describes a complex adaptive systems (CAS)-based enterprise knowledge-sharing (KnS) model. The CAS-based enterprise KnS model consists of a CAS-based KnS framework and a multi-agent simulation model. Enterprise knowledge sharing is modeled as the emergent behavior of knowledge workers interacting with the KnS environment and other knowledge workers. The CAS-based enterprise KnS model is developed to aid Knowledge Management (KM) leadership and other KnS researchers in gaining an enhanced understanding of KnS behavior and its influences. A premise of this research is that a better understanding of KnS influences can result in enhanced decision-making of KnS interventions that can result in improvements in KnS behavior.

Relatonics as a Key Concept for Networked Organizations

2011 ◽  
pp. 1367-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Backström ◽  
Marianne Döös
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Learning ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Virtual Organizations ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Everyday Learning ◽  
Practical Implications

Learning in organizations, and the competence the organization thereby obtains for performing its core tasks, has come into ever sharper focus when attempts have been made to explain the degree of competitiveness of companies. Much learning takes place when people interact, converse, or co-act. In their research, the current authors have found themselves in need of a new concept, relatonic, that can be applied to the study of interaction and relations at organizational level. To focus interactions and relations is important for all organizations, and extra important for networked and virtual organizations, where persons not as often meet naturally just by working close to each other. The authors have defined and used the concept on the basis of their respective theoretical platforms. These concern recent thinking within the theories of workplace learning (WPL) and organization pedagogics (Döös, 2004, 2007) and theories of complex adaptive systems (CAS) (Backström, 2004). The possibility of a joint definition of the concept of relatonics has been explored (Backström & Döös, 2005), thereby initiating integration of parts of the theories of WPL and CAS. Next, in the Background, follows the joint definition of relatonics and the concept relatonic is expounded from a CAS perspective. Thereafter, follows a description of practical implications of relatonics. The aim is to describe the importance of relatonics for networked and virtual organizations. The main underlying problem concerns which opportunities for everyday learning and competence development are offered in working life, both at an individual and organizational level, but also the problem of stabilizing and integrating organizations composed of relatively autonomous parts.

Implementation of shared decision-making in healthcare policy and practice: a complex adaptive systems perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Munro ◽  
Jude Kornelsen ◽  
Elizabeth Wilcox ◽  
Sarah Kaufman ◽  
Nick Bansback ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Social Risks ◽  
Complex Adaptive

Background:Despite the suggested benefits of shared decision-making (SDM), its implementation in policy and practice has been slow and inconsistent. Use of complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory may provide understanding of how healthcare system factors influence implementation of SDM. Methods:Using the example of choice of mode of birth after a previous caesarean section, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients, providers, and decision makers in British Columbia, Canada, to explore the system characteristics and processes that influence implementation of SDM. Implementation and knowledge translation principles guided study design, and constructionist grounded theory informed iterative data collection and analysis. Findings:Analysis of interviews (n=58) revealed that patients formed early preferences for mode of delivery (after the primary caesarean) through careful deliberation of social risks and benefits. Physicians acted as information providers of clinical risks and benefits, while decision makers revealed concerns related to liability and patient safety. These concerns stemmed from perceptions of limited access to surgical resources, which had resulted from budget constraints. Discussion and conclusions:To facilitate the effective implementation of SDM in policy and practice it may be critical to initiate SDM once patients become aware of their healthcare options, assist patients to address the social risks that influence their preferences, manage perceptions of risk related to patient safety and litigation among physicians, and enhance access to healthcare resources.

Complex Adaptive Systems Integrating the Decision Making Process in Industrial Companies: A Scientific Conceptual Model

2014 ◽  
Vol 670-671 ◽  
pp. 1601-1607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dewey Wollmann ◽  
Maria Teresinha Arns Steiner
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Optimization Methods ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Industrial Companies ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
World Class

A company operating in a competitive and ever changing environment that wishes to be recognized as world class requires a management model that affords its executives a systemic vision. This article aims to describe a scientific conceptual model of an integrated support system for decision making (marketing, production, human resources and finance) for industrial companies based on the rules that originated in the theories and concepts of: (i) systemic administration; (ii) complex adaptive systems; and (iii) optimization methods (more specifically of artificial neural networks, the analytic hierarchy process and linear programing). The proposed model was presented to a group of 10 executives and consultants from industrial companies. The Collective Subject Discourse of these executives includes the possibility of having “tools” that guide their companies to World Class management, although the computerization and automation process of decision making can be “something” difficult and burdensome.

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