Title

Leadership In Complex Organizations

Abstract

This paper asks how complexity theory informs the role of leadership in organizations. Complexity theory is a science of complexly interacting systems; it explores the nature of interaction and adaptation in such systems and how they influence such things as emergence, innovation, and fitness. We argue that complexity theory focuses leadership efforts on behaviors that enable organizational effectiveness, as opposed to determining or guiding effectiveness. Complexity science broadens conceptualizations of leadership from perspectives that are heavily invested in psychology and social psychology (e.g., human relations models) to include processes for managing dynamic systems and interconnectivity. We develop a definition of organizational complexity and apply it to leadership science, discuss strategies for enabling complexity and effectiveness, and delve into the relationship between complexity theory and other currently important leadership theories. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible implications for research strategies in the social sciences. © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Date

12-1-2001

Publication Title

Leadership Quarterly

Volume

12

Issue

4

Number of Pages

389-418

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1048-9843(01)00092-3

Socpus ID

0035716935 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0035716935

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