COMPLEXITY (Factors of)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 552 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
G. WENG et al. write: “In physical systems, complexity is determined by such factors as the number of components and the intricacy of the interfaces between them, the number and intricacy of conditional branches , the degree of nesting , and the types of data structures . Biological signaling networks possess many of these attributes , as well as dynamic assembly, translocation , degradation and channeling of chemical reactions. All of these activities occur simultaneously, and each component participates in several different activities” (1999, p.92).
This description, based on the study of molecules and cells , seems applicable mutatis mutandis, to all kinds of social systems in general.
The distinct elements , attributes and types of relationships would have to be identified and described at this higher level of complexity