Understanding Complexity: Defining a Moving Target

IF 1 4区工程技术 Q4 INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Insight Pub Date : 2025-09-12 DOI:10.1002/inst.12552

Rudolph Oosthuizen, Dean Beale, Francesco Dazzi, Andrew C Pickard, Dorothy McKinney, Kenneth Cureton, Eileen Patrice Arnold

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Abstract

Systems engineering has transformed its understanding and management of complexity over the past 25 years. This article traces the evolution by analyzing 121 publications from INCOSE's journal and symposium proceedings between 1997 and 2024 to explore how definitions of complexity have shifted from structural metrics to dynamic, context-dependent phenomena shaped by emergent behaviors, stakeholder diversity, and uncertainty. It highlights key distinctions between complicated and complex systems, emphasizing why this matters in design, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. By embracing ambiguity, iterative learning, and multidisciplinary collaboration, engineers can design systems that are resilient and responsive to disruption. The results also underscore the vital role of human factors, including decision-making, cognition, and organizational behavior. We need a mindset shift: success in modern systems engineering depends not on eliminating complexity but on understanding, navigating, and leveraging it to build sustainable, adaptable systems for a changing world.

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理解复杂性：定义移动目标

在过去的25年里，系统工程已经改变了它对复杂性的理解和管理。本文通过分析1997年至2024年间INCOSE期刊和研讨会论文集中的121篇出版物，追溯了复杂性的演变过程，探讨了复杂性的定义如何从结构度量转变为由紧急行为、利益相关者多样性和不确定性形成的动态、情境依赖现象。它强调了复杂系统和复杂系统之间的关键区别，强调了为什么这在设计、风险管理和涉众参与中很重要。通过拥抱模糊性、迭代学习和多学科协作，工程师可以设计出有弹性的系统，并对中断做出反应。研究结果还强调了人为因素的重要作用，包括决策、认知和组织行为。我们需要一种思维方式的转变：现代系统工程的成功并不取决于消除复杂性，而是取决于理解、驾驭和利用复杂性来为不断变化的世界构建可持续的、适应性强的系统。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Insight 工程技术-材料科学：表征与测试

CiteScore

1.50

自引率

9.10%

发文量

审稿时长

2.8 months

期刊介绍： Official Journal of The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing - includes original research and devlopment papers, technical and scientific reviews and case studies in the fields of NDT and CM.