CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Seeing and Influencing Self-Organization
Kristine Quade and Royce Holladay
This chapter is based on Human Systems Dynamics (HSD), an emerging field of study and practice. HSD emerges at the intersection of complexity theory and social sciences, using metaphors and perspectives from complexity to understand and influence human interactions. We provide a basic definition of two foundational principles of HSD: complex adaptive systems (CAS) and patterns, along with tools from HSD to help understand how constraints influence pattern development across a system. We believe tapping into new theories such as HSD will become paramount for OD practitioner skills to remain cutting edge and influential in complex systems.