ICASRes

ICAS (The Intelligent Complex Adaptive System)

Research Objective: Develop a new theory of the firm based on the living system metaphor which can effectively respond to a changing, uncertain, and complex environment.

As we begin to understand and hopefully anticipate the behavior of the current and future environment, it becomes clear that neither the classic bureaucratic nor the popular matrix and flat organizations provide the unity, complexity, and selectivity necessary for survival. A different approach is needed to create an organizational system that can enter into a symbiotic relationship with other organizations within its enterprise and with the external environment while retaining its own unity of purpose and selectivity of incoming threats and opportunities, i.e., turning the living system metaphor into a reality.

The ICAS organization builds on the knowledge organization to become a living system composed of living subsystems that combine, interact, and co-evolve to provide the capabilities of an advanced intelligent techno-sociological adaptive enterprise. The system we propose can best be described as an intelligent complex adaptive system (ICAS).

The ICAS Model (Overview, PDF, 21 pages ) is a conceptual model developed to bring out the most important capabilities necessary to live and contribute in an unpredictable, dynamic, and complex society. As an idealization, it is described in somewhat pure form and perfect structures, neither of which is found in practice. The variation in human experience and behavior, together with the practical demands of the workforce and natural difficulties in communication create a reality that is often far from ideal. Nevertheless, new concepts, perceptions, relationships, and communications are essential if our organizations are to keep up with the pace, direction, and demands of society.

Two baseline papers are included in this section, an introduction to the model and a paper that looks at the relationships among the emergent characteristics of the ICAS model and, specifically, at culture as an emergent characteristic.

The ICAS Model for Organizations (PDF, 21 pages)

Exploring Relationships Among Emergent Characteristics

in the ICAS (PDF, 16 pages)

See also the papers in the ICAS area of the Publications section of this website.

This research culminated in the foundational ICAS book Organizational Survival in the New World: The Intelligent Complex Adaptive System (Elsevier, 2004) available from Amazon in hard copy and as an eBook. As described on the jacket: This book is filled with ideas married to practical advice—all embedded within a thorough description of the new organization in terms of structure, culture, strategy, leadership, knowledge workers and integrative competencies. Theory and practice are combined in a new vision of the organization that empowers leaders, managers and professionals who must excel in the age of complexity. Review the contents (PDF, 3 pages) and see what thought leaders say about the book (PDF, 1 page).

Key Definitions

Adaptation is the process by which an organization improves its ability to survive and grow through internal adjustments and structural changes. Adaptation may be responsive, internally adjusting to external forces, or it may be proactive, internally changing so that it can influence the external environment.

Complexity is a measure of the number of possible states a system can take on, i.e., the condition of a system, situation, or organization that is integrated with some degree of order but has too many elements and relationships to understand in simple analytic or logical ways.

A complex adaptive system is made up of a large number of self-organizing semi-independent agents that seek to maximize their own goals but operate according to rules and, in the context of relationships, with other semi-independent agents. These activities and relationships are such as to result in overall cohesion of the system as a whole even as it adapts to changes in its environment.

CUCA is the environment characterized by accelerating change, rising uncertainty, increasing complexity, and the human response of higher anxiety.

Emergence is a global property of a complex system (organization) that results from the interactions and relationships among its agents (people), and between the agents and their environment. These characteristics represent stable patterns of the organization that are qualitative and exert a strong influence back on the individuals and their relationships.

Intelligence is perceiving, interpreting and responding to the environment in an effective way.

If there is any part of this collection of thoughts that you do not understand or would like to discuss, please call 304-799-7267 and ask for David or Alex. If we are not available please leave your name and phone number and we will return your call as soon as possible. You may email Alex at alex@mountainquestinstitute.com