AUTHOR=Secchi Davide , Neumann Martin , Festila Maria S. , Gahrn-Andersen Rasmus TITLE=What about adaptiveness? The case of organisational resilience and cognition JOURNAL=Frontiers in Complex Systems VOLUME=2 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/complex-systems/articles/10.3389/fcpxs.2024.1329794 DOI=10.3389/fcpxs.2024.1329794 ISSN=2813-6187 ABSTRACT=

This paper makes the very simple, perhaps straightforward point that adaptiveness cannot be taken for granted when analysing a complex system. The paradigm of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory makes it clear that a key feature of complex systems is the ability to adapt to changes in their environment. This is, indeed, relevant to many systems (e.g., living and social systems) since change is embedded in the way in which systems evolve over time. At the same time, adaptiveness is a strong assumption to make, since it prioritises change over stability and it can be a straight jacket, especially when it comes to studying complexity in the context of human social organising. By using a Case Study, this paper highlights the limits of a focus on adaptiveness and pushes for a more “neutral” perspective that allows researchers to appreciate a wider set of mechanisms, norms, and behaviours pertaining to complex social systems.