Exploring the Management of Chaos by Claudiu Oteleanu

 

Exploring the Management of Chaos 

by Claudiu Oteleanu

What we call chaos is, in fact, the effect and the sensitive dependence of the deterministic nonlinear systems on their initial conditions (P. K. Anisherov).

Thus, chaos refers to a deterministic system, given by a simple rule, whose behavior becomes unpredictable after a certain period of time. In constructing mathematical models that attempt to capture the behavior of different deterministic systems, researchers use mathematical equations. The mathematical equations used are a model that is intended to predict the behavior of the original deterministic system. But frequently, the real systems are so complicated that their behavior cannot be usefully predicted by a model - they are said to be chaotic.

These deterministic systems are, in fact, models derived and solved mathematically (often with a computer) from the mathematical equations that were knowingly or unknowingly chosen. The earliest studies on the aspect of the determinist nonlinearity were concentrated upon stability (A. Liapunov 1892), especially to the stability theory of motion.

Contrary to the widespread belief, the foundations of the chaotic theory were laid well before the 1960s and Edward Lorenz's famous article, contributions that were even awarded Nobel prizes afterwards (H. Poincaré for the three body problem, A. Liapunov for its studies concerning stability).

Created as an interdisciplinary area in the early 1970s by mathematicians, physicists, chemists, biologists, and economists, nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory became rapidly one and single, that of chaos theory, identifying perfectly with the ideas and aspirations of the period, associating to the concept of chaos, from antiquity till that moment, meaning, effects, and universal applications. Chaology, a neologism created by analogy with ecology, psychoanalysis, or numismatics (from the dictionary of root words of Macedonski).

The conclusions leave a positive note for Claudiu Oteleanu as he provides direction, or key concepts, but not a specific method, to the manager.

Such a position is meaningful and intellectuals should not be afraid to assert their opinions. In addition, I feel that the latter statement resonates with the reflexive nature of systems and other sciences.

Managers and scientists produce understandings that are used by the general public or less informed members of an organization. In historical research, for example, where there are certain ideas in situ within people's minds, as a historian, I strongly believe that it is not a "tabula rasa," but one must start with understanding the ideas, i.e. the initial conditions, attractors of the past.

By providing these simple concepts, Claudiu Oteleanu offers valuable insight into the application of chaos and complexity in organizational management by revisiting the ordinary.

The author does not shy away from making daring claims in an age dominated by chaos and complexity theories.

More specifically, Claudiu Oteleanu argues that the chaos and complexity literature does not truly advance our understanding of how organizations can be managed. In overcoming these challenges, we are not presented with a specific method. This is to be expected.

For Claudiu Oteleanu, the key concepts of chaos and complexity can guide us toward this future. These four key concepts are outlined at the beginning of the book: attractors - a concept derived from Poincare and then utilized by Prigogine who treated their evolution in time; autocatalysis, encatality - derived from Hayek's work on knowledge and based on Shackle's effort; and, self-reference - derived from Gödel, Turing and then popularized and extended by Ashby and Von Bertalanffy.

With these concepts assisting the manager, one does not have a method, but it will be possible to "manage systems better than before."

I am very convinced that you did not understand anything of what I said above.

The solution would be to purchase the second volume of Managementul Hoasului, Prouniversitaria Publishing House, and you will certainly understand why Chaos is so important.