Do the Teams in your Organisation Propagate or Absorb Complexity?

Introduction: Simon’s Legacy—Managing Complexity Through Modularity

In his seminal essay T he Architecture of Complexity , Herbert A. Simon argued that complex systems evolve and function most effectively when composed of stable, hierarchical subassemblies. These subsystems—whether molecules, cells, departments, or teams—interact more intensely within themselves than with others, allowing the broader system to remain adaptable and resilient. He termed such structures nearly decomposable systems.

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