This paper offers empirical evidence on the power of Sornette et al's [2001] model of bubbles and crashes regarding the German stock market between 1960 and 2009. We identify relevant time periods and describe them with the function given by Sornette et al's model. Our results show some evidence in predicting crashes with the understanding of logarithmic periodic structures that are hidden in the stock price trajectories. It was shown that for the DAX most of the relevant parameters determining the shape of the logarithmic periodic structures are lying in the expected interval researched by Sornette et al. Further more the paper implicitly shows that the point of time of former crashes can be predicted with the presented formula. We conclude that the concept of financial time series conceived as purely random objects should be generalised as to admit complexity.

This article is a brief introduction to complexity, complex thinking and complexitymanagement. Its purpose is to present an update on the applications of the complexitysciences particularly to the universe of corporations and management. It includes anexample taken from the globalized world and two more stories from the corporateenvironment. Some details on how to think about complexity and how to apply theconceptual and operative tools of complex thinking are provided. The article ends withsome remarks on personal, interpersonal and corporate benefits of the complexthinking.

Military conflicts have become nonlinear and the interrelated political and socio-economic changes within these conflicts have created new challenges for American policymakers. A tool called Wallis' Propositional Analysis (PA) suggests a new paradigm that includes thinking about complexity and robustness/systemicity in a policy. The purpose of this single case study was to determine how the PA paradigm adds heuristic value to complex policy decision-making. A backdrop of Wallerstein's complexity theory and complex adaptive systems (CAS) guided this study. This study examined policy statements from the Obama administration on the Afghanistan and Pakistan conflicts in late December 2009. Data were coded and analyzed using Wallis' specific methodological approach that includes a systematic analysis of the policy's propositions and complexity and robustness/systemicity. Key findings indicated that the PA paradigm offers a heuristic method for how to think about the interrelated propositions within a policy that reflect the expected changes the policy intends to make. Specifically, this study demonstrated that an interwoven PA structural approach to policymaking affords the policymaker a method to consider the complex and nonlinear changes in the policy environment. By applying the PA paradigm, policymakers can positively impact social change by exploring policy options that consider a range of possible outcomes from the policy proposal, prior to policy implementation.

Problemas sociais complexos possuem causas profundas e relações intrincadas de causalidade. Eles surgem na intersecção das diversas esferas que fazem parte da vida moderna: física, biológica, cultural, política, social, econômica, tecnológica e ambiental. Além disso, desafiam as capacidades cognitivas limitadas dos seres humanos, pois atrasos, não-linearidades, resistência a políticas e complexas interações entre as diferentes partes de um sistema produzem consequências não previstas e padrões de comportamentos sistêmicos que são difíceis de antecipar. Por sua vez, incentivados pelo foco de curto prazo do sistema político, gestores públicos tendem a atuar sobre as partes mais visíveis dos problemas, que frequentemente não são suas causas, mas seus sintomas. As políticas que são geradas com frequência levam à piora dos problemas no longo prazo. O aprendizado em sistemas complexos, por outro lado, é prejudicado porque o feedback das políticas é tipicamente opaco e sujeito a distorções. Esta tese busca inspiração nas ciências da complexidade, no campo da dinâmica de sistemas, no marketing social e em campos do conhecimento relacionados para tratar da questão do desenvolvimento humano. Inicialmente são discutidas as características dos problemas sociais complexos, argumentando-se que disciplinas como o marketing social, baseadas em modelos mentais (mindware) individualistas, são inadequadas para lidar com esse tipo de problema. Defende-se a necessidade de um novo campo interdisciplinar (gestão de problemas sociais complexos), capaz de lidar com os desafios das sociedades modernas. Em particular, foca-se na replicação intergeracional do baixo desenvolvimento humano, discutindo-se os conceitos de pobreza, bem-estar e desenvolvimento humano, bem como as condições que favorecem o desenvolvimento de mecanismos psicobiológicos essenciais nos primeiros anos de vida. A discussão abrange os ecossistemas sociais que limitam as oportunidades para os pobres e reforçam estruturas viciadas que produzem stress tóxico e uma baixa atenção ao capital humano. Na tese, um diagrama de malhas causais identifica as malhas de feedback que explicam a persistência do fenômeno. Com base na discussão nos três primeiros capítulos, apresentam-se três modelos de dinâmicas de sistemas nos capítulos seguintes, cada qual abordando um aspecto do problema. O primeiro modelo, chamado de modelo Caped, enfatiza as capacidades essenciais de pais e crianças, bem como as demandas do ambiente social que exaurem os recursos psicológicos dos pais. O segundo modelo amplia o escopo do primeiro e foca na explicação dos mecanismos pelos quais sociedades dominadas pela caça à renda (rent-seeking) e por instituições extrativas (em particular, o Brasil) produzem ecossistemas sociais viciados. Identifica-se o que parece ser um mecanismo central, o controle de narrativas (mindware). O terceiro modelo trata de mudança social em geral e objetiva descrever os canais e condições pelos quais ela ocorre. O modelo complementa os capítulos anteriores ao identificar como uma profunda mudança social objetivando a promoção do desenvolvimento humano poderia ocorrer. A tese contribui com o estudo do desenvolvimento humano por meio do emprego de um método que é talhado para modelar problemas sociais complexos. Ao identificar malhas críticas de feedback e processos essenciais nos níveis micro e macro, apresentam-se modelos integrativos que complementam as pesquisas feitas sobre o tema. Sob uma perspectiva prática, os modelos podem auxiliar no desenho de melhores políticas públicas e no desenho de modelos mentais (mindware) adequados para a discussão do desenvolvimento humano. / Complex social problems have multilevel roots and intricate webs of causation. They arise at the intersection of several of the spheres that comprise modern life: the physical, biological, cultural, political, social, economic, technological and environmental. They challenge the limited cognitive capacities of human beings, as delays, nonlinearities, policy resistance and complex interactions between the different parts of a system produce unforeseen consequences and patterns of systemic behaviors that are difficult to anticipate. Incentivized by the short-term focus of the political system, policy makers tend to act on the most visible parts of problems, which are often not causes but symptoms. They produce policies that often lead to worse conditions over time. Learning in complex systems, on the other hand, is hindered, because feedback from policies is typically opaque and amenable to distortion. This study draws on the complexity sciences, system dynamics, social marketing and related fields to address the issue of human development. We first explore the characteristics of complex social problems, showing that disciplines such as social marketing, based on individualistic mindware, are ill equipped to address them. The dissertation defends the need for a new interdisciplinary field (complex social problems management) capable of dealing with the challenging social problems of our times. In particular, we focus on the replication of low human development across generations, discussing the concepts of poverty, well-being and human development as well as the conditions that foster the development of essential psychobiological mechanisms in the first years of life. The discussion encompasses the social ecosystems that constrain opportunities for the poor and reinforce detrimental structures that produce toxic stress and low attention to human capital. A broad causal loop diagram summarizes the feedback loops that explain the persistence of this phenomenon. Based on the discussion in the first three chapters, we present three system dynamics models in the subsequent chapters, each one addressing an aspect of the problem. The first model, which we call the Caped model, focuses on parents\' and children\'s essential capabilities and on the social environmental demands that deplete parents\' psychological resources. The second model broadens the scope of the first and focuses on explaining why societies (in particular, Brazil) that are dominated by rent-seeking and extractive institutions produce detrimental social ecosystems. We uncover what seems to be a central mechanism, which is narrative (mindware) control. The third model deals with social change in general, and it aims to describe the channels and conditions by which that change occurs. It complements the analysis in the preceding chapters by identifying how a deep societal change toward the promotion of human development can occur. This dissertation contributes to the study of human development by employing a method that is suitable for modeling complex social problems. By identifying critical feedback loops and essential processes at the micro and macro levels, it provides integrative frameworks that complement research already conducted on the subject. From a practical perspective, the models can orient the design of better public policies and the design of adequate mindware for the discussion of human development.

Problemas sociais complexos possuem causas profundas e relações intrincadas de causalidade. Eles surgem na intersecção das diversas esferas que fazem parte da vida moderna: física, biológica, cultural, política, social, econômica, tecnológica e ambiental. Além disso, desafiam as capacidades cognitivas limitadas dos seres humanos, pois atrasos, não-linearidades, resistência a políticas e complexas interações entre as diferentes partes de um sistema produzem consequências não previstas e padrões de comportamentos sistêmicos que são difíceis de antecipar. Por sua vez, incentivados pelo foco de curto prazo do sistema político, gestores públicos tendem a atuar sobre as partes mais visíveis dos problemas, que frequentemente não são suas causas, mas seus sintomas. As políticas que são geradas com frequência levam à piora dos problemas no longo prazo. O aprendizado em sistemas complexos, por outro lado, é prejudicado porque o feedback das políticas é tipicamente opaco e sujeito a distorções. Esta tese busca inspiração nas ciências da complexidade, no campo da dinâmica de sistemas, no marketing social e em campos do conhecimento relacionados para tratar da questão do desenvolvimento humano. Inicialmente são discutidas as características dos problemas sociais complexos, argumentando-se que disciplinas como o marketing social, baseadas em modelos mentais (mindware) individualistas, são inadequadas para lidar com esse tipo de problema. Defende-se a necessidade de um novo campo interdisciplinar (gestão de problemas sociais complexos), capaz de lidar com os desafios das sociedades modernas. Em particular, foca-se na replicação intergeracional do baixo desenvolvimento humano, discutindo-se os conceitos de pobreza, bem-estar e desenvolvimento humano, bem como as condições que favorecem o desenvolvimento de mecanismos psicobiológicos essenciais nos primeiros anos de vida. A discussão abrange os ecossistemas sociais que limitam as oportunidades para os pobres e reforçam estruturas viciadas que produzem stress tóxico e uma baixa atenção ao capital humano. Na tese, um diagrama de malhas causais identifica as malhas de feedback que explicam a persistência do fenômeno. Com base na discussão nos três primeiros capítulos, apresentam-se três modelos de dinâmicas de sistemas nos capítulos seguintes, cada qual abordando um aspecto do problema. O primeiro modelo, chamado de modelo Caped, enfatiza as capacidades essenciais de pais e crianças, bem como as demandas do ambiente social que exaurem os recursos psicológicos dos pais. O segundo modelo amplia o escopo do primeiro e foca na explicação dos mecanismos pelos quais sociedades dominadas pela caça à renda (rent-seeking) e por instituições extrativas (em particular, o Brasil) produzem ecossistemas sociais viciados. Identifica-se o que parece ser um mecanismo central, o controle de narrativas (mindware). O terceiro modelo trata de mudança social em geral e objetiva descrever os canais e condições pelos quais ela ocorre. O modelo complementa os capítulos anteriores ao identificar como uma profunda mudança social objetivando a promoção do desenvolvimento humano poderia ocorrer. A tese contribui com o estudo do desenvolvimento humano por meio do emprego de um método que é talhado para modelar problemas sociais complexos. Ao identificar malhas críticas de feedback e processos essenciais nos níveis micro e macro, apresentam-se modelos integrativos que complementam as pesquisas feitas sobre o tema. Sob uma perspectiva prática, os modelos podem auxiliar no desenho de melhores políticas públicas e no desenho de modelos mentais (mindware) adequados para a discussão do desenvolvimento humano. / Complex social problems have multilevel roots and intricate webs of causation. They arise at the intersection of several of the spheres that comprise modern life: the physical, biological, cultural, political, social, economic, technological and environmental. They challenge the limited cognitive capacities of human beings, as delays, nonlinearities, policy resistance and complex interactions between the different parts of a system produce unforeseen consequences and patterns of systemic behaviors that are difficult to anticipate. Incentivized by the short-term focus of the political system, policy makers tend to act on the most visible parts of problems, which are often not causes but symptoms. They produce policies that often lead to worse conditions over time. Learning in complex systems, on the other hand, is hindered, because feedback from policies is typically opaque and amenable to distortion. This study draws on the complexity sciences, system dynamics, social marketing and related fields to address the issue of human development. We first explore the characteristics of complex social problems, showing that disciplines such as social marketing, based on individualistic mindware, are ill equipped to address them. The dissertation defends the need for a new interdisciplinary field (complex social problems management) capable of dealing with the challenging social problems of our times. In particular, we focus on the replication of low human development across generations, discussing the concepts of poverty, well-being and human development as well as the conditions that foster the development of essential psychobiological mechanisms in the first years of life. The discussion encompasses the social ecosystems that constrain opportunities for the poor and reinforce detrimental structures that produce toxic stress and low attention to human capital. A broad causal loop diagram summarizes the feedback loops that explain the persistence of this phenomenon. Based on the discussion in the first three chapters, we present three system dynamics models in the subsequent chapters, each one addressing an aspect of the problem. The first model, which we call the Caped model, focuses on parents\' and children\'s essential capabilities and on the social environmental demands that deplete parents\' psychological resources. The second model broadens the scope of the first and focuses on explaining why societies (in particular, Brazil) that are dominated by rent-seeking and extractive institutions produce detrimental social ecosystems. We uncover what seems to be a central mechanism, which is narrative (mindware) control. The third model deals with social change in general, and it aims to describe the channels and conditions by which that change occurs. It complements the analysis in the preceding chapters by identifying how a deep societal change toward the promotion of human development can occur. This dissertation contributes to the study of human development by employing a method that is suitable for modeling complex social problems. By identifying critical feedback loops and essential processes at the micro and macro levels, it provides integrative frameworks that complement research already conducted on the subject. From a practical perspective, the models can orient the design of better public policies and the design of adequate mindware for the discussion of human development.

This thesis examines my experience of leading leadership development. During the last three years I have been researching my role as Head of Leadership and Organisational Development at the University of Hertfordshire (UH), with a view to making sense of and rethinking leadership and approaches to leadership development more generally. This thesis considers how my own thinking and practice has changed and developed as a consequence of paying attention to and reflecting on personal experience, whilst at the same time locating my sense-making in the broader academic scholarship. Narrative accounts of the significant incidents and interactions that I have participated in during the past three years have been shared verbally with the participants on the programmes that I lead, and explored more extensively in written form with colleagues in the learning community on the Doctorate in Management (DMan) programme at UH, as a means of intensifying my sense-making and its generalisability to a community of engaged enquirers. My research was prompted by disillusionment with the dominant discourse on leadership and leadership development based as it is on theories, frameworks, tools and techniques that privilege a form of autonomous, instrumental rationality and deceptive certainty that did not reflect the social, non-linear, uncertain day-to-day realities faced by me and the managers with whom I worked. In this thesis, I draw on my experiences as a manager, leader of leadership development, and a student of leadership development, to problematise the mainstream managerialist conceptions of leadership and organisation that are now part of the organisational habitus (Bourdieu, 1977) in the UK. The rise and naturalisation of managerialist ideology across the private, public, and charitable sectors in the UK makes it an inordinately difficult perspective to contest without risking some form of exclusion. I contend that my experience of attempting to encourage radical doubt and enquiry rather than the mindless acceptance and application of conventional wisdom contributes to knowledge in the field of leadership and organisational development by providing insight into and an alternative way of thinking about and practising leadership and leadership development. In contesting dominant conceptions, I proffer a more reality congruent alternative to mainstream thought. I draw on the perspective of complex responsive processes of relating (Stacey et al, 2000, Griffin, 2002, Shaw, 2002), critical management studies (Alvesson and Willmott, 1996), social constructionism (Berger et al, 1966), and other thinkers critical of managerialist conceptions of leadership and leadership education (Khurana, 2007) to explore leadership as a social, relational activity where leaders are co-participants, albeit highly influential ones, in the ongoing patterning of relationships that constitute organisation. However, I argue that it is insufficient for management educationalists to snipe critically at managerialism from the sidelines, problematising one perspective and simply replacing it with another (Ford et al, 2007), leaving their participants ill-equipped to navigate the potentially destructive political landscape of day-to-day organisational life. While the dominant discourse on leadership and organisation is flawed, to avoid exclusion managers must still become fluent in the language and practice of managerialism, the ideology that has come to dominate the vast majority of organisational communities in which they find themselves. In this thesis, I argue that it is crucial for managers and leaders of leadership development to engage with a polyphony of perspectives, and develop the reflective and reflexive capacity to continuously explore and answer for themselves the questions who am I, and what am I doing, who are we, and what are we doing?