It's Not Complicated: The Art and Science of Complexity in Business

by Richard Ronald Nason

In the new knowledge economy, traditional modes of thinking are no longer effective. Compartmentalizing problems and solutions and assuming everything can be solved with the right formula can no longer keep pace with the radical changes occurring daily in the modern business world.

It’s Not Complicated offers a paradigm shift for business professionals looking for simplified solutions to complex problems. In his straightforward and highly engaging style, Rick Nason introduces the principles of “complexity thinking” which empower managers to understand, correlate, and explain a diverse range of business phenomena. For example, why some new products go viral while others remain unnoticed, how office cliques develop despite collaborative work policies and spaces, how economic bubbles form, and how an unknown retiree foiled one of the most carefully planned product launches ever with a single letter to the editor of his local newspaper. Rather than consider complicated and complex as interchangeable terms, Rick Nason explains what complexity is, how it arises, and the errors in solving complex situations with complicated thinking. It’s Not Complicated provides managers with fresh, counterintuitive, and actionable models for dealing with challenging business problems.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Management

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2017

Reviews

[Larkin Tackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complexity is a guiding framework for my life and work, and a topic for a book I'm considering writing in the future. This book by a Canadian business professor applies complexity to business dynamics like the 2008 financial crisis. His descriptions of complexity are accessible, although I wish there were more humorous anecdotes like the story of a former student passing out due to being overwhelmed by complexity and the lack of a simple answer. The characteristics of complexity -- both the state and the way to manage -- diversity, relationships, learning, etc. are clear in the text. "As the world becomes more complex," he writes, "complexity itself needs to emerge as a field of study, a topic for discussion, and a movement promoting the conscious utilization of complexity techniques."

[Timothy Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot give it 5 stars even though it was an enlightening read. I agree with other reviewers who felt it somewhat repetitive and light on practical recommendations for dealing with complexity. However, the book did supply tactics, albeit a little light on implementation. I write my bulleted summary below:
-Extra Planning with Creative Scenarios
-Learn & Adapt
-Adopt a Complexity Mindset
-Introduce Randomness into your organization
-Introduce Diversity, not everyone having the same traits, education and backgrounds
-Utilize Weak-link connections in your network
-Be a Life-long learner
-Playbooks, not Rulebooks
-Check Context, make decisions, act on context loops
-Build a nimble organization, avoid rigid frameworks
-Managers of Complexity need to be highly empathetic

[Quinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve read that describes complex vs complicated

The book is very wordy and could have been shortened greatly. But the content is spot on and worth plowing through if you want to get a grip on complexity and complex adaptive systems theory.

This topic becomes ever more important as the world changes. We need new understanding, new business models, new leaders, and new political strategies for the new world that is right on our doorstep.

[Brendan Chard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and extremely readable introduction to the use of complexity in the business world. There will be huge benefits to reap for managers and business that embrace complexity thinking before their competitors, and Nason does a terrific job of enforcing this point in an approachable way.

[Theodore Kinni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex and complicated are not the same thing when it comes to business--and if you don't know the difference, read this book fast. I introduced a curated excerpt here: http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/th...

[Dmytro · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most impractical, high-level and shallow book I have read recently. Explains the difference between “complicated” and “complex” over and over again while not offering any meaningful or practical framework of how to solve it.

[Jennifer Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

Redundant and also tackles topics that are now very outdated.