Complexity Theory and the Diffusion of Innovations

In recent years, complexity theory has been shown to throw light on a number of issues related to the management of organizations. Examples include the use of complexity notions to help understand situations such as mergers and acquisitions and assist in the successful facilitation of these events by suggesting appropriate enabling infrastructures (Mitleton-Kelly 2004). Complexity theory has similarly helped in an understanding of information systems failures and perhaps goes some way to explaining perennial problems such as the alignment problem: a problem near the top of serious issues reported by researchers into concerns expressed by CIOs and business managers. Complexity theory may also be useful in providing a framework for helping to understand the diffusion of innovations. An innovation can be regarded as a disturbance