Properties of Complex Adaptive Systems
Complex adaptive systems are all around us
Complex adaptive systems (CASs) exist in almost every aspect of life. Examples of CASs include human systems, human society, ecosystems, stock markets, immune systems, health care systems, economic systems, supply chain management systems, language, social systems, and business models. How do we know if a system can be considered a CAS?
What properties have Complex Adaptive Systems?
-
Complexity
A system is a Complex System if and only if it contains multiple interconnected and interdependent interacting agents, and these agents exhibit nonlinear behaviour.
-
Autonomous, pro-active & reactive agents
The agents that constitute a Complex Adaptive System are autonomous, pro-active, and reactive.
-
Learning & Adaptation
The Agents in a Complex Adaptive System have social ability and memory, facilitating learning. The ability of the system to change its rules leads towards adaptations.
-
Self-Organization & Emergence
The Agents in a Complex Adaptive System exhibit aggregate behaviour and evolutionary processes. They also show self-organisation and emergence.
Curious to learn more about Complex Adaptive Systems?
Source: Defining Complex Adaptive Systems: An Algorithmic Approach by Muhammad Ayyaz Ahmad, George Baryannis and Richard Hill, Department of Computer Science, School of Computing and Engineering, University of Huddersfield, Systems 2024, 12(2), 45
