SCoG:s Model of Complexity

SCOG:s Model of Complexity is a White Paper answering on how we can approach challenges in society where no one owns the problem - download the White Paper on the button bellow to read the full version.

How can we approach societal complexity?

Complex systems are defined as systems with no clear cause and effect relationships, at least not obvious at the outset of the observation, or the approach. Systems with a clear cause and effect relationship are defined as either simple, or complicated: Whereas complicated need specialists to be under- stood and resolved, simple systems can be solved without much special expertise.

All our societal institutions are based on a more or less strong causality (i. e. cause and effect relationship). For example, we expect the police and the juridical system to have resources and competences to solve crime, the health care sector to heal diseases and the educational institutions to deliver knowledgeable and capable citizens. But as conditions change and society be- comes increasingly complex, both the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ become less apparent. The issues no longer “sort” themselves within existing structures and institutions who lose their impact on the issues they are supposed to handle.

This article’s aim is to contribute to a better understanding of complex societal challenges and thereby also to the improvement of some of the crucial issues we are facing.