Selected Papers

Selected Papers and Stories

Experience without theory is blind, but theory

without experience is mere intellectual play. Immanuel Kant

Keith orchestrating a Complex Adaptive System "flocking" simulation in Brazil. Photos by David Gasser.

Articles in a complexity-science-inspired series follow:

"Safely Taking Risks: Complexity and Patient Safety," 2008. Exploring what will help safety leaders match effective approaches to simple, complicated and complex challenges, focusing on the most entangled and chronic. How nascent and latent and solutions emerge when people are fully engaged at the front lines? PDF file

“Mastering the Art of Innovating: A Funny, Wonderful Thing Happened on the Way to My Deliverable!” (2006) with Linda DeWolf. How do innovators master the interplay of make-it-happen and let-it-happen strategies to successfully design and spread their work? PDF file

“Oil, Water, Apples, Oranges: Bootstrapping Innovation with Social Networks,” (2005) with Linda DeWolf. How can creating a vibrant learning network support success in the innovation process? PDF file

“A Primordial Pedagogy: Caves, Campfires & Watering Holes at the Mayo/Plexus Summit,” (2003). How can inspiration from complexity science transform a conference for scholars and leaders? PDF file

“The Sky Is Falling, Or Is It? A Strategic Planning Self Assessment,” (2003) What can help you notice and amplify practices that make your strategic planning more creative and resilient? Word file

“Surprise & Serendipity At Work: Managing the Unknowable Future,” (2002) with Jim Smith. Scenario-planning insights with a complexity twist at Group Health Cooperative. How do we prepare strategically for the unknowable, always surprising future? Word file

“Conversation As A Creative Advance Into Novelty;

A Collaborative Hunch-In-Progress,” (2002). Exploring how dialogue unleashes creative adaptability & resilience via Seattle’s Conversation Cafés. How does generative dialogue organize itself? Word file

“Reliability, Resilience and Results in Operations: Designed Autopilot and Collective Mindfulness At Work,” (2002). What behaviors help people collectively and mindfully respond to surprise and massively entangled complexity? Word file

“Integrated-Autonomy: From Shilly-Shallying to Unleashing System Vitality,” (2002). Reflecting on the paradoxical development of distributed systems. What helps us move beyond “bi-polar swings” between decentralized and centralized strategies? Word file

"Working Confidently Without A Script." Reflections on working with Positive Deviance & MRSA prevention. What helps us work confidently without a script? Word file

If a living system is suffering from ill health,

the remedy is to connect it with more of itself. Francisco Varella

Social Invention Group

Complexity Science Inspired Consulting~Coaching~Teaching~Facilitating