Open source software (OSS) previously regarded as a fad by many academics has been rapidly adopted by both public and private sector organizations. The challenge facing most organizations is how to evaluate OSS adoption benefits. OSS adoption is a complex phenomenon which requires an interdisciplinary approach to understand the socio-technical, political, economic and legal benefits. The comple...

This paper argues a model of complex system design for sustainable architecture within a framework of entropy evolution. The spectrum of sustainable architecture consists of the efficient use of energy and material resource in life-cycle of buildings, the active involvement of the occupants in micro-climate control within buildings, and the natural environmental context. The interactions of the...

Recent work on complexity theory has significant implications for our conceptions of the nature of social systems and for ideas about how we can gain an understanding and achieve beneficial change of such systems. This paper seeks to identify some of the key implications for our thinking about the role, purpose and practice of evaluation of policy initiatives in complex, dynamic social systems,...

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) Private Partner Scientific Board (PPSB) is comprised of representatives of private, for-profit entities (including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, imaging companies, and imaging contract research organizations), and nonprofit organizations that provide financial and scientific support to ADNI through the Foundation for the Natio...

Professionals increasingly must collaborate very closely, such as through inter-professional work arrangements. This involves learning both in and for collaboration. Some educational researchers have turned to complexity science to better understand these learning dynamics. This discussion asks, How useful is complexity science for examining professional learning in collaboration? After introdu...

In this paper an attempt is made to offer a definition of generative art that is inclusive and provides fertile ground for both technical and art theoretical development. First the use of systems is identified as a key element in generative art. Various ideas from complexity theory are then introduced. It is noted that systems exist on a continuum from the highly ordered to the highly disordere...

When developing Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) initiatives it is increasingly important to assess their outcomes in order to justify the resources spent on those infrastructures. Many researchers throughout the world have been struggling with the issue of assessing SDIs. The task is difficult due to complex, dynamic and constantly evolving nature of SDI. As SDI can be treated as a Complex A...

The task of managing information in organizations is becoming more challenging as the organizations become larger and more complex, and as information technologies and general societal developments increase the volume and sophistication of available infor­ mation. This task can best be met by the careful study of how these organizations create, use, and discard information. A practical understa...

A series of reports though the 1990’s developed a set of principles for boards of directors of UK listed companies to apply, primarily based on information that should be disclosed in the annual report. While some recognition was given to the role of directors within their organisations, little in either these reports or the contemporary literature suggests how this can be done. This paper show...