January 11, 2007Russ Abbott Complex systems are no longer mysterious.Complex systems are no longer mysterious. We have a broad consensus aboutWe have a broad consensus about –what we mean by a complex system, –what their properties are, and –how they operate. It’s time to put complex systems to work.It’s time to put complex systems to work.

January 11, 2007Russ Abbott Multi-scalar, i.e., multiple levels of abstractionMulti-scalar, i.e., multiple levels of abstraction –IT systems involve quantum physics, solid-state electronics, gates & logic, software (often many levels), CONOPs, … –Prone to phase transitions/chaos: small change → big effect. –Each level illustrates emergence, sometimes planned sometime unplanned. If the system involves real physical stuff …If the system involves real physical stuff … –No useful bottom level. Quarks? Quantum waves? Strings? Hence no good models of evolutionary arms races.Hence no good models of evolutionary arms races. –The levels cannot be completely isolated from each other … or we would have magic, i.e., new sources of causation, e.g., vitalism.or we would have magic, i.e., new sources of causation, e.g., vitalism. except when implemented in software.except when implemented in software. Includes “loosely coupled” components with a certain degree of autonomy, e.g., agents.Includes “loosely coupled” components with a certain degree of autonomy, e.g., agents.

January 11, 2007Russ Abbott Intimately entangled with its environment.Intimately entangled with its environment. –Built to interact with its environment—to do something in the world. –Can often be controlled/manipulated by modifying its environment. Each level of abstraction is often a multi-sided platform.Each level of abstraction is often a multi-sided platform. –A shopping center, an operating system, a browser, a standard. –Whoever owns it controls it! (See governance below.) Boundaries are deliberately permeable and indistinct.Boundaries are deliberately permeable and indistinct. –Must extract energy from its environment to persist. (“Far from equilibrium.”) –Societies (of internal and external “agents”); not monolithic structures. System of systems; the operator goes home; a new president is elected.System of systems; the operator goes home; a new president is elected. Must adapt to a continually changing environmentMust adapt to a continually changing environment –The environment continually adapts to it. –Simultaneously (a) deployed and (b) under development and self-repair. e.g., us (you and me), a government, a corporation, Wikipedia.e.g., us (you and me), a government, a corporation, Wikipedia. –A social entity; hardware and software are only bones and nerves. –Requires a well thought out governance structure.

January 11, 2007Russ Abbott To refine, clarify, and formalize them.To refine, clarify, and formalize them. To evangelize.To evangelize. –To make them intuitive, commonplace, and everyday—a part of everyone’s vernacular. To use them to conceptualize our systems.To use them to conceptualize our systems. To make them operational.To make them operational. –To adapt them to practice in building real systems. –To create development processes based on them. –To build tools that allow anyone to use them.