Clarifying terms that we use a lot in Alphalink articles, we now turn to Complex and Complicated.
These definitions may not be strictly from the dictionary, but they are the sense in which we use these terms. If nothing else, it’s important to realise that there are two concepts of complication/complexity, and we should be aware of them when evaluating a process or system.
Complicated
A system made up of many parts, the functioning of which is not obvious or is difficult to understand.
A complicated system nevertheless obeys cause and effect principles.
A clock, for example, is a complicated system.
Complex
A system composed in such a way that cause and effect relationships generally don’t apply.
Any organisation that involves people and relationships tends to be a complex system.
The climate is a complex system.
