Managing Complex Adaptive Networks

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Managing Complex Adaptive Networks
Nice paper submitted in one of the comments on the other blog describing how a complex adaptive network can be managed to enable the communicating, developing and sharing of knowledge. In the course of the discussion, the author looks at the theories of Actor-networks, Foucault's Discourse, and Complex Adaptive Systems, which means that we're getting not just the technology of the systems but some understanding of (what I would call) the semantics behind them. The paper rewards a close reading. Take note especially of the outline of a 'complex system' in part 4. I'm less happy with the representation that results in terms of equity and capital, but I think that this is a matter of perspective rather than of any substantial disagreement. More...