The way to build a complex system that works is to build it from very simple systems that work.

Quote by Kevin Kelly

Topics: Kevin Kelly Quotes

One of the functions of an organization, of any organism, is to anticipate the future,...

One of the functions of an organization, of any organism, is to anticipate the future,...

But in fact, when you try to model that on a computer you find that...

But in fact, when you try to model that on a computer you find that...

In a broad systems sense, an organism's environment is indistinguishable from the organism itself.

In a broad systems sense, an organism's environment is indistinguishable from the organism itself.

The great advance of personal computers was not the computing power per se but the...

The great advance of personal computers was not the computing power per se but the...

It has become evident that the primary lesson of the study of evolution is that...

It has become evident that the primary lesson of the study of evolution is that...

Organisms by their design are not made to adapt too far.

Organisms by their design are not made to adapt too far.

Changing things from the top down works when things are stable.

Changing things from the top down works when things are stable.

Complexity that works is built up out of modules that work perfectly, layered one over...

Complexity that works is built up out of modules that work perfectly, layered one over...

A brain is a society of very small, simple modules that cannot be said to...

A brain is a society of very small, simple modules that cannot be said to...

Much of outcomes research is a systematic attempt to exploit what is known and make...

Much of outcomes research is a systematic attempt to exploit what is known and make...

The organization and the environment are in concert.

The organization and the environment are in concert.

We are infected by our own misunderstanding of how our own minds work.

We are infected by our own misunderstanding of how our own minds work.

It's generally much easier to kill an organization than to change it substantially.

It's generally much easier to kill an organization than to change it substantially.

The nature of an innovation is that it will arise at a fringe where it...

The nature of an innovation is that it will arise at a fringe where it...

Managers tend to treat organizations as if they are infinitely plastic. They hire and fire,...

Managers tend to treat organizations as if they are infinitely plastic. They hire and fire,...

This is actually a very important principle that science is learning about large systems like...

This is actually a very important principle that science is learning about large systems like...

Each system is trying to anticipate change in the environment.

Each system is trying to anticipate change in the environment.

Managing bottom-up change is its own art.

Managing bottom-up change is its own art.

But in a turbulent environment the change is so widespread that it just routes around...

But in a turbulent environment the change is so widespread that it just routes around...

Everything that we are making, we are making more and more complex.

Everything that we are making, we are making more and more complex.