A discussion on "In Commentary: The Potential of Chaos Theory and Complexity Theory for Health Services Management", by Margaret Arndt and Barbara Bigelow.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, 2005, $ 53.95
Abstract This paper examines Margaret Arndt and Barbara Bigelow's book which discusses the relevance and potential of the chaos and complexity theories in terms of improving health services management in the United States. It highlights that reevaluating professional knowledge and assumptions in a field as complex as health care can be unsettling, but it can also invigorating.
From the Paper "In "Commentary: The Potential of Chaos Theory and Complexity Theory for Health Services Management", Margaret Arndt and Barbara Bigelow examine the relevance and potential of these theories in terms of improving health services management in the United States. They emphasize that reevaluating professional knowledge and assumptions in a field as complex as health care can be unsettling, but it can also invigorating. Because of the potential benefits of such an approach, Arndt and Bigelow (2000) argue in their article that applying chaos theory and complexity theory to health services management is worthy of pursuit, despite potential controversy or disputes regarding the validity of this approach. Since America's health care system is plagued by inherent complexity and chaos, applying ..."
Abstract This paper examines the complex challenges facing the health care system in the United States as discussed by Shari Myce in her book. It emphasizes that giving up control and embracing uncertainty can lead to surprising creativity. The paper explains that she acknowledges that like most managers and people in authority, health care leaders instinctively equate uncertainty and chaos with management failure, and feel compelled to assert control and be proactive.
From the Paper "In "Teetering on the Edge of Chaos" Shari Mycek examines the complex challenges facing the health care system in the United States and emphasizes that giving up control and embracing uncertainty can lead to surprising creativity. She acknowledges that like most managers and people in authority, health care leaders instinctively equate uncertainty and chaos with management failure, and feel compelled to assert control and be rigidly proactive. Unfortunately, such efforts can be counterproductive, disruptive, and increase chaos and uncertainty instead of reducing them. Consequently, Mycek (1999) argues that uncertainty should be capitalized upon when it occurs, for uncertainty and disagreement can "breed creativity and innovation." In her view, "complexity principles can guide us in ..."
This paper discusses chaos theory based on James Gleick's "Chaos: Making a New Science" and Ian Stewart's "Does God Play Dice?: The Mathematics of Chaos".
Abstract This paper explains that James Gleick believes that chaos theory is revolution in thinking, a major shift from the ordered universe of Newton and even the less mechanical universe of Einstein. The author points out that chaos theory says that the universe is decided on the basis of chance to a great degree and that the aggregate of those chances cannot be predicted or even discerned to allow a clear cause-and-effect assessment. The paper relates that chaos theory says that a small change in a system, which takes place all the time and cannot be tracked or even relied upon, can produce more and more changes until something much greater and unforeseen occurs.
From the Paper "Ian Stewart is trained as a mathematician, while Gleick writes about science for the New York Times. Stewart is British, and Gleick American. They write about the same subject from different points of view. Stewart begins his book noting that the direction for creation has been first from chaos into order, and that physics has now found that order is something of an illusion masking the continuing chaos of reality. He also cites Newton and the Newtonian era as affirming that nature has laws and man can discover what these laws are. The world described by Newton was a clockwork world which operated like a machine, and Stewart discusses the nature of that world and world-view much more directly than does Gleick."
This paper discusses the possibility of more accurately forecasting weather through the application of Edward Lorenz' chaos theory as based on James Gleick's book "Chaos: Making a New Science".
Abstract This paper explains that James Gleick in his book "Chaos: Making a New Science" reports the work of meteorologist and pioneer of the chaos theory, Edward Lorenz, to computerize the forecasting of weather based on physical laws. The author points out that Gleick explains, even though the straight-forward mathematical attempt by Lorenz to find weather averages was a "failure", Lorenz discovered that the phenomenon of climate instability was related to the chaos theory. The paper relates that Lorenz' two non-linear discoveries are (1) that models of chaotic systems have an exquisitely sensitive dependence on initial dependence called the butterfly effect and (2) that even simple systems can show complex, chaotic behavior proving that the "clockwork" universe doesn't exist.
Table of Contents
Gleick's Belief of the Possibility to Forecast Weather
The Butterfly Effect
Nonlinear and Linear Systems
Similar to Predicting the Motions of Planets
Link between Aperiodic Behavior and Unpredictable Behavior
Thermal Convection
From the Paper "The very act of predicting weather is "fragile" when it comes to computer modeling, even though the data may be "reasonable trustworthy" and the laws of science are "purely physical" (20). But the computer modeling of weather patterns and air movement and temperatures and all the other ingredients that go into the stew, are only good for a day or two; "beyond two or three days the world's best forecasts" are / were speculative, and "beyond six or seven," Gleick writes, "they were worthless." Why were they worthless? "The Butterfly Effect was the reason.""
Abstract This paper explains that organizations are becoming aware of the serious need to cope with and quickly adapt to change; therefore, they increasingly are turning to chaos theory in order to understand and manage change in a dynamic business environment. The author points out that chaos theory, also known as non-linear systems theory, is based on the premise that the world is made up of complex systems that are non-linear, dynamic, unstable and unpredictable, contrasting sharp with Newtonian science, which believed that the universe functioned in an ordered, stable, linear and predictable manner. The paper relates that chaos theory has led to organizations being viewed as organic or living systems that will find orderly solutions if they are allowed to do so; however, organizational management needs to be more sensitized to environmental changes, leading to flexibility, responsiveness, dynamism and a reduced reliance on precise planning.
From the Paper "True, that discerning the underlying structure of the complex systems that bring about change is often difficult because there are a number of myriad factors involved. However, chaos theory is nevertheless useful in understanding and managing what was previously considered to be uncontrollable, chaotic events and behavior. This is achieved by defining chaos as "the range of behaviors that deterministic processes can adopt." One such deterministic process is deemed as the organizational culture and structure itself. Indeed, this is precisely the reason why modern organizations are moving towards decentralized, leaner, flatter structures that allow for employee empowerment, self-organization and emergence."
Abstract This paper explains chaos theory and looks at how it can be applied to the educational field, noting that the classroom is a place where the initial state is one where students know nothing of the class ahead of them, and teachers are faced with a group of students that are, in the beginning, completely foreign to them in their backgrounds, behavior, and the way they learn. By employing methods set out in "Chaos in the Classroom: A New Theory of Teaching and Learning" by E. Davis and D. Smith, the paper examines both the pros and cons of the practical introduction of chaos theory in the area of education.
From the Paper "The "cons" of the chaos theory in its application to education are minimal, if they exist at all. Though one can be considered the fact that all students learn differently and therefore the chaos theory can not possibly encompass all students' needs, the work done by the authors of Chaos in the Classroom have accounted for this in their theory by describing the innate uncertainty and variety of students' functioning in the classroom. The authors state that students come to class with their own unique set of experiences, beliefs, problems, and assumptions. There is no way to truly coordinate every student's needs, but the authors say that this should set teachers free of the worry and belief that they can meet every need. Instead, teachers must approach their job by expressing the educational material in a way that mimics how we receive information in the "real world". "
Abstract This paper discusses how Homer, Sophocles and Aeschylus were all writing about life, essentially, in which chaos and order are to be found in almost equal measure. Art, adhering as it does itself to some general rules, seems to be, like science and religion, a means of providing the world with some kind of moral order and of keeping chaos at bay.
A review of the history of Europe and American in the period after the First World War, focusing on the chaos in the social, political and economic spheres that led to the Second World War.
Abstract The paper examines the social and political struggles in various European countries and America during the Twenties. It describes the social crises and class conflicts that led to the rise of communism in Russia, the chaos in Germany, and the rise of fascism in Italy. The paper also describes the growth of nationalism around Europe and in America, and their contributions to the general chaos. It reviews the economic collapse of the Great Depression of the Thirties, and concludes that this was the last straw, plunging the world into a state of desperation and leading to bloodshed in World War II.
From the Paper "The class conflict in the interwar years did create massive chaos in Europe. Prior to World War I, parliamentary democracy appeared to have been sweeping through Europe, with Russia beginning to establish parliamentary institutions and Italy extending suffrage to all adult males. Indeed, "the war that ended with the victory of the democracies might have been expected to confirm the superiority of the parliamentary form of government." (1) However, with the Russian revolution of 1917 establishing the Bolsheviks in power, democracy seemed endangered. The prosperity of the pre-war calm was merely a myth, as Marxist teachings had grown popular in such regions as Germany, with the Social Democratic Party, in Britain with the British Labour movement, and in France. However, these movements, as reactions to the exploitation and sharp division of socio-economic classes growing out of the mass industrialization of the nineteenth century, first caused sweeping change in Russia, a nation backwards in terms of Europe, with legalized slavery in the form of serfdom. By appealing not to workers, but severely disenfranchised peasants, the Communists achieved victory."
Abstract This paper discusses how, from the opening act of "A Midsummer Night's Dream", it's clear that Shakespeare is setting up a framework for unbalance and potential chaos, a theme which is the thrust of the play beneath all its magical trappings. The paper examines how the first act is spent showcasing the way that everything has been thrown out of synch and how it is clear that things will need to reach homeostasis before the play can come to a resolution. The paper then analyzes how this orderliness seems to be only attainable through figures of authority and how the initial chaos is caused by disrupting monarchical authority, and only draws to a suitable close at the will of the respective rulers, Theseus and Oberon.
From the Paper "The play's resolution is only possible through the will of the respective kings. The lovers, now appropriately matched--through the heavy-handed intervention of the fairies--return to Athens, but would have returned to exactly the same circumstances under which they had left if Theseus did not decide to grant Lysander and Hermia's wish to wed; it is the somewhat arbitrary judgment of the duke of Athens which resolves these matters of the heart, not the enduring power of love, and certainly not the depth of human reasoning. Love notwithstanding, the only thing that brought the lot of them to any sort of peace was the manipulation and good graces of higher authority."
Abstract This paper discusses the English School of International Relations' stress upon cooperation and order, rather than upon chaos, within the international system. It discusses their theories and their arguments and then specifically looks at why according to the English School of International Relations, there is such a high degree of order in the international system.
From the Paper "Within these spheres of overlap there is also a possibility to cement as well as destabilize a nation and a world. An American of Jewish origin may support the existence of Israel, for example, and draw attention to the plight of the Middle East, stimulating interest in this region of the world within his or her own nation. An economic alliance between two corporations generates a community, and a mutual interest in regional stability, as well as an opportunity of human beings working in a foreign land to better understand another culture. The potential for community ties thus is just as great as the potential of non-state communities to strain the borders of nations and to influence national politics--and thus, the 'center' does 'hold.'"
Abstract To assess whether chaos theory is a good theory one must first do two things - define chaos theory itself and then define what one means in general as a good theory. The initial proposition is the easier of the two, and so is taken up first in this paper.
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From the Paper "Chaos Theory
To assess whether chaos theory is a good theory one must first do two things - define chaos theory itself and then define what one means in general as a good theory. The initial proposition is the easier of the two, and so is taken up first in this paper.
Chaos theory is in fact a broader-ranging set of ideas than is usually described by the title "theory", for it puts forth not a proposition about a particular and specific set of events (such as in the case in something like the theory of angular momentum) but instead makes a rather sweeping generalization about the way the natural - as well as perhaps also the social - world is put together. Chaos theory is in fact a sort of meta-theory, the basic ideas of which can be extracted and applied in a variety of situations. Some of these ..."
Abstract This paper studies how ancient Greek art and thought were affected by their sense of chaos in the world. The paper argues that, from at least the time of Homer, the Greeks displayed an anxiety about their chaotic world. The paper charts the evolution of their response to this chaos, both creatively and philosophically, as depicted in their art and writings. The paper then turns to Greek drama, which it asserts is the culmination of this evolution. The paper assesses how drama served as an inquisition into the nature of man and a fusing of humanist expression with religious tradition. The paper quotes from a variety of original texts to support its argument.
From the Paper "As an early example of orally presented poetry, the Iliad is clearly an ancestor of drama on a technical level, both as performance art and as verse. The purpose of Homer's epic was primarily to provide a poetic record of an important event in the history of his people from which they could draw a sense of identity and pride after the fall of Mycenean society. In it, however, we can also see "three persistent themes of human interest: the nature of the supernatural, the intervention of the supernatural in human events, and acute observations about the behavior of men toward one another" (Hooper, 60). These themes would continue to influence the development of artistic expression and philosophic thought through Classical Greece and the rise of drama."
This paper examines the different management styles of chaos management, entrepreneurship management, marionette management and partnership management.
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that in the business world today, the old cliche, that change is the only constant, is more dynamically true than ever before. Indeed, the writer notes that change has become so prevalent and multifaceted that specific management theories have been developed to focus on this phenomenon alone. Further, the writer points out that in order to most effectively survive in the changing business world today, it is perhaps best to focus on not one single, but on a multiplicity of management styles. In this essay the writer presents a description of the theories and philosophies behind four management styles and looks at how they integrate with the new modern business paradigm: chaos management; entrepreneurship management; marionette management; and partnership management.
From the Paper "The basic reason for the necessary shift in business paradigm is the shift in actual business from the physical in the workplace to the mental. Whereas labor in the past was mostly manual, this has been replaced by technology, leaving workers free to make more use of the mental paradigm in the workplace. The rapid advance of Information Technology has made this all the more complex and difficult to manage. Information, unlike physical labor, is a not a physical phenomenon that can be seen and quantified easily. This is why chaos so easily results. The traditional methods, while still valid, need to be supplemented to ensure that they can be adequately applied to the new business paradigm."
"To develop additional strategies for chaos management, Wojick suggests a clear distinction between attention and thought: attention being the aspect of the cognitive industry that can be managed, while thought is mysterious, creative, often chaotic, and hence impossible to manage."
An examination of the use of lighting, camera angles and props to symbolize the changing characters of Othello and Iago in Orson Welles' film version of William Shakespeare's "Othello".
Abstract This paper discusses how, in his play "Othello", Shakespeare establishes Iago as a manipulative character who brings chaos and pain to Othello's world of order and respect. Iago's influence on Othello is seen in the text as Othello's lines become progressively shorter and more violent, and Othello loses everything he loves. The paper then looks at how Welles, in his 1952 adaptation of the play, brings these men's opposing styles, chaos and order, to film through the use of visuals and how he emphasizes Othello's loss of power and order at the hands of Iago with the use of lighting, props and confining sets.
From the Paper "In his play Othello, Shakespeare establishes Iago as a manipulative character who brings chaos and pain to Othello's world of order and respect. Iago's influence on Othello is seen in the text as Othello's lines become progressively shorter and more violent, and Othello loses everything he loves. Welles brings these men's opposing styles, chaos and order, to film through the use of visuals. In his 1952 adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello, Orson Welles emphasizes Othello's loss of power and order at the hands of Iago with the use of lighting, props, and confining sets."
Abstract This paper examines how Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) and Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) can be assessed as theorists influenced by direct exposure to political failure and its resulting chaos. It looks as how Machiavelli suggested that the prince was a person who knew he could not have something for nothing, whereas Hobbes was inclined to place the citizen in similar shoes, needing to adjust to a directed social order aware that without small compromises, he would lose the order so needed and wanted to achieve his ambitions. The paper concludes that in the early 21st century, there is much in international political life to remind us of Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Hobbes' "The Leviathan" in different demonstrations of both leadership and political failure and how war, anarchy, alienation and social chaos do seem the prices of poor leadership approaches and the failure to provide what is needed.
Outline:
Introduction
Machiavelli on Political Failure
Hobbes on Political Failure
Lessons of being a Bad Leader, or a Bad Subject
Concluding Remarks
From the Paper "Both Machiavelli and Hobbes had few illusions about human nature and the difficulties of governance. Machiavelli saw political failure as owing directly to the nature of the leader and whether or not he was a prince, in a person astute and evolved enough to wield power, and as Hobbes agreed in places but also expected subjects to understand that beyond a symbolic leader they needed to see their own culpability when political systems fell to pieces, that they were merely parts of the same organic social machine. Political failure meant that one party of another was not complying as necessary to make the machine function and that this should be recognized. In other words, whatever kind of leader or ruler was produced, human unwillingness to put cooperation ahead of competition and greed, or a failure to respect the law towards other anarchy would bring political failure's result in the anarchy of which human beings were also much afraid. "
