Table 1 Characteristics of complex system and their application to our work
Characteristic | Definition | Application |
|---|---|---|
Individuals who learn | Individuals can process information and react to changes [23]. | Focus on individuals in the system |
Interconnections between agents | Individuals in the system are interconnected. Outcomes are the result of interactions across individuals rather than individual skill sets or behaviors [22]. | Focus on how they relate, learn, and make sense |
Self-organization | Order emerges from the interactions between individuals. These interactions cannot be completely understood or imposed from outside of the system [16]. | Focus on patterns of relationships over time |
Non-linearity and emergence | Complex behaviors emerge from simple rules. Inputs and outputs are not proportional or predictable [16]. System performance is not predictable over time [14],[15]. | Focus on how individuals make sense of unexpected events and changes over time and learn from these experiences |
Co-evolution and feedback loops | Individuals and microsystems are nested within other systems, which evolve and feed back over time [15],[21]. |