Complexity,simplicity, simplexity

“In the midst of order, there is chaos; but in the midst of chaos, there is order”, John Gribbin wrote in his book Deep Simplicity (p. 76). In this dialectical spirit, we discuss the generative tension between complexity and simplicity in the theory and practice of management and organization. Complexity theory suggests that the relationship between complex environments and complex organizations advanced by the well-known Ashby’s law, may be reconsidered: only simple organization provides enough space for individual agency to match environmental turbulence in the form of complex organizational responses. We suggest that complex organizing may be paradoxically facilitated by a simple infrastructure, and that the theory of organizations may be viewed as resulting from the dialectical interplay between simplicity and complexity.     

The leadership of emergence: A complex systems leadership theory of emergence at successive organizational levels

Complexity science reframes leadership by focusing on the dynamic interactions between all individuals, explaining how those interactions can, under certain conditions, produce emergent outcomes. We develop a Leadership of Emergence using this approach, through an analysis of three empirical studies which document emergence in distinct contexts. Each of these studies identifies the same four “conditions” for emergence: the presence of a Dis-equilibrium state, Amplifying actions, Recombination/“Self-organization”, and Stabilizing feedback. From these studies we also show how these conditions can be generated through nine specific behaviors which leaders can enact, including: Disrupt existing patterns through embracing uncertainty and creating controversy, Encourage novelty by allowing experiments and supporting collective action, Provide sensemaking and sensegiving through the artful use of language and symbols, and Stabilize the system by Integrating local constraints. Finally, we suggest ways for advancing a meso-model of leadership, and show how our findings can improve complexity science applications in management.     

Towards a Comprehensive Typology of Knowledge for Social Work and Alcohol

This article presents a theoretical model of knowledge acquisition by social workers with regards to alcohol, which formed the propositional element of a recently awarded doctoral thesis submission. It begins by briefly contextualising the relationship between alcohol and social work, the profession's response to the increasing sense of alcohol-related issues in workloads and calls for more effective intervention responses. In considering how this is often reflected in demands for social workers to receive more education about alcohol, it critically examines existing considerations of possible typologies of knowledge for social work, before encapsulating them within a model focusing on alcohol. The model suggests that any such typology is likely to be composed of multiple sources, including both codified and non-codified elements. It concludes by considerations of some of the implications for research approaches that could be used to gain a better understanding of these knowledge frameworks. In doing so it proposes that it is through these alternative considerations that more holistic understandings of social work knowledge will be established. Discussion of the implications of working within more inclusive knowledge frameworks, for social work education, policy, practice and research, are contained throughout the article.     

气关笔力韵由墨彩--黄宾虹对"六法"之独见

谢赫提出"六法"以来,"六法"逐步发展为中国画的核心理论,尤其"气韵生动"更是被奉为圭臬,自宋郭若虚在<图画见闻志>的<论气韵非师>篇中强调了"气韵"是人的先天性气质,是不可学的以后,把谢赫具有内在联系的"六法"机械地割裂为两个部分,让后学迷茫,黄宾虹以其毕生的实践和卓越的见识,发展了董其昌通过后天性修养的方式,也即"读万卷书,行万里路"获得"气韵"的观点,指出了"笔力"的强弱是决定"气韵生动"的关键.     

Out of machine age?: complexity, sociotechnical systems and actor network theory

This paper compares sociotechnical systems (STS) theory and actor network theory (ANT) as developed by Latour, Callon and Law. We examine how STS and ANT can be viewed as responses to rationalist/functionalist research on large sociotechnical systems and as extensions and elaborations of pragmatist/culturalist frameworks developed in sociology and anthropology. We reexamine, from an actor network perspective, Trist and Bamforth’s seminal article in which the concept of a sociotechnical system was introduced. We also discuss how STS ideas on interactive planning can be combined with concepts from ANT to investigate interdependent processes of invention and innovation in large sociotechnical networks.     

体育教学中进行德育教育的途径和方法

从德育方面对当今大学生中存在的若干问题进行了分析 ,对结合体育教学进行德育教育的途径和方法以及如何将德育融入到体育教学中作了探讨 ,使德育教育在体育教学中获得良好的效果     

三级教学中口语表达能力提高之途径

对于多数英语专业学生而言,口语难是一个不争的事实。然而口语表达能力的提高是一个由易到难,循序渐进的过程。文章结合多年高校口语教学实践,从宏观的角度将口语表达能力的提高分为三级——初级、中级和高级,并在分级教学中实施由浅入深的教学内容来提高专业学生口语表达能力,探索出了一条培养学生口语表达能力的教学模式。     

近现代蒙古王公双重的历史角色

在中国近现代史上,蒙古王公有着庞大的群体,广袤的领地,位尊权重,声名显赫。在近现代的中国与蒙古扮演了复杂而又矛盾的历史角色:是中央政权统治蒙古的工具,是蒙古人民的剥削压迫者,是蒙古近代化的推动者与阻碍者,是民族分裂的罪人与维护祖国统一的功臣。究其根源,是蒙古王公的自私的、狭隘的封建统治阶级本质所致。     

对科学发展观理论内涵的认识

本文就以胡锦涛总书记为核心的第四代领导集体提出的科学发展观这一科学理论,从科学发展的角度强调了“以人为本”,全面体现了社会主义本质;科学发展观提出了“统筹兼顾”,充分发挥社会主义制度和市场经济两种优势的合力;科学发展观突出了邓小平“发展思想”,紧紧把握住经济规律和自然规律的内在统一,在人与物、经济与自然协调发展等三个方面进行了一些探讨。希望对认识这一当代中国马克思主义新理论有一定的帮助。     

马克思社会发展理论的当代价值——兼论其把握方式与寻求途径

发展的实践凸显了马克思的社会发展理论。马克思社会发展理论的当代意义不仅体现在它所直面的时代与问题仍在“当代”之中,而且体现在它自身所特有的理论价值中。马克思社会发展理论的当代价值不是自然显现出来的,而是需要人们的自觉把握,这就要求从问题的审视、发展经验教训的总结、不同发展理论的比较、马克思社会发展理论特质与品格的领悟等方面去理解和把握。寻求马克思社会发展理论当代价值的基本途径应是切入发展实际,突出“问题意识”,实现理论与现实的合理互动。