Title: The Intranet as a Complex Ecology
Author: Dave Snowden
Details:
There are profound implications for the design of Intranets once it has been recognized that human systems are complex, rather than complicated. The profound changes caused by increased flow of information, and the failure of thinking based on Taylorist concepts of Management Science to adapt to this new age demand a new model, but change is disruptive, painful and not without its casualties.
Complex systems require an ecology; this is achieved by drawing boundaries between spaces to reduce uncertainties and intervening to encourage growth. Intranets are shown to be complex systems, requiring attention to issues of context, learning and privacy.
