Why Chaos Theory?
“Chaos” is a sensational misnomer for a dynamic systems theory that evolved out of physics and mathematics over the last forty years. It has since been developed in various fields, from economics to psychology. Above all, chaos theory is an interpretive tool – my most important one – that enables a more realistic assessment of reality, based on a set of truths about behavior — how and why things occur in complex systems, which can be wide ranging. A relationship with a teenager is as much a “system” as a global ecosystem or Wall Street or a classroom. The term “chaos” is flamboyantly ironic: the theory’s premise is that even when things seem out of control, if you step back far enough in space or time, there is order. As an organizational leader, I find chaos theory relevant both for the attitude and knowledge necessary for systems work in several respects: • Energy is a destabilizing force. Even positive acts with the best intentions create turbulence initially. • Control is not real
