This page describes the organizational forces that limit change.
It explains how to overcome
them when necessary.
This page uses an example to illustrate how:
- A business can gain focus from targeting key customers,
- Business planning activities performed by the whole organization can build awareness, empowerment and coherence.
- A program approach can ensure strategic alignment.
This page uses the example of HP's printer organization freeing
itself from its organizational constraints to sell a printer
targeted at the IBM pc user.
The constraints are described.
The techniques to overcome them are implied.
The constraints are described.
The techniques to overcome them are implied.
Representation of fitness landscapes
Summary
This web page reviews opportunities to find and capture new niches based on studying fitness landscapes using complex adaptive system ( This page introduces the complex adaptive system (CAS) theory
frame. The theory is positioned relative to the natural
sciences. It catalogs the laws and strategies which
underpin the operation of systems that are based on the
interaction of emergent agents.
John Holland's framework for representing complexity is outlined. Links to other key aspects of CAS theory discussed at the site are presented.
CAS) theory.
John Holland's framework for representing complexity is outlined. Links to other key aspects of CAS theory discussed at the site are presented.
Introduction
The geneticist Sewell Wright suggested that each point in a genetic combinatorial set be assigned a measure of its adaptiveness. As a three dimensional representation this has been described as a fitness landscape.While its an attractive metaphor and it has inspired key work on
This web page reviews opportunities to enhance computing theory
and practice by using biological mechanisms and complex adaptive
system (CAS) theory.
evolutionary computation the vision
of a landscape can be misinterpreted. Stuart
Kauffman's 'adjacent
possible' seems to better illustrate the way Plans are interpreted and implemented by agents. This page
discusses the properties of agents in a complex adaptive system
(CAS).
It then presents examples of agents in different CAS. The examples include a computer program where modeling and actions are performed by software agents. These software agents are aggregates.
The participation of agents in flows is introduced and some implications of this are outlined.
agents explore niches. That
fitness changes as the agents and It then presents examples of agents in different CAS. The examples include a computer program where modeling and actions are performed by software agents. These software agents are aggregates.
The participation of agents in flows is introduced and some implications of this are outlined.
The complex adaptive system (CAS)
nature of a value delivery system is first introduced. It's a network
of agents acting as relays.
The critical nature of hub agents and the difficulty of altering an aligned network is reviewed.
The nature of and exceptional opportunities created by platforms are discussed.
Finally an example of aligning a VDS is presented.
environment
alter adds further complications. The critical nature of hub agents and the difficulty of altering an aligned network is reviewed.
The nature of and exceptional opportunities created by platforms are discussed.
Finally an example of aligning a VDS is presented.
The early adjacent possible is going to be limited. One can imagine that early agents had access to a very small set of
Plans emerge in complex adaptive
systems (CAS) to provide the
instructions that agents use to
perform actions. The component architecture and structure
of the plans is reviewed.
schematic plans, types of Agents use sensors to detect events in their environment.
This page reviews how these events become signals associated
with beneficial responses in a complex adaptive system (CAS). CAS signals emerge from
the Darwinian information model. Signals can indicate decision summaries and level of
uncertainty.
sensor or The agents in complex adaptive
systems (CAS) must model their
environment to respond effectively to it. Samuel
modeling is described as an approach.
models
of the environment. Indeed the agents may well have been
identical and placing each other under heavy threat in using the
same strategies to compete directly for the few niches they
could utilize. But
This page reviews the implications of selection, variation and
heredity in a complex adaptive system (CAS).
The mechanism and its emergence are
discussed.
evolution has the effect of Richard Dawkin's explores how nature has created implementations
of designs, without any need for planning or design, through the
accumulation of small advantageous changes.
gathering mechanisms that create, or
gain access to, additional niches into the schematic grab
bag. The pressure to specialize and the capability to do
so ensure that any action that enhances a mechanism that
creates, or improves access to, an additional niche will be
captured. Epistasis tends to
help extend the portfolio of the schematic structure.
Significantly the niches that evolution gains access to are
almost all of
its creation. Contrary to the pressure to change are mechanisms that drive superior phenotypic strategies into dominance and
This page reviews the inhibiting effect of the value delivery system on the
expression of new phenotypic
effects within an agent.
extend phenotypic alignment beyond the
This page reviews the implications of reproduction initially
generating a single child cell.
The mechanism and resulting strategic options are
discussed.
organism. Hence the presence of disjoint, environmentally different, niches can have the effect of assisting in additional niche capture and support
This page reviews Christensen's disruption
of a complex adaptive system (CAS).
The mechanism is discussed with examples from biology and
business.
disruption of
aligned networks. Operations,
such as membrane, formed from a lipid (fat) bilayer which creates a barrier between aqueous (water soluble) media. In AWF a key property of membranes - their providing a catalytic environment and supporting the suspension of enzymatically active proteins within the membrane; is simulated with a Workspace list where 'active' structures can be inserted and codelets can detect and act on the structure's active promise configured as an association in the Slipnet.
formation and tooth
construction, that actively generate layered deployments
of new niches, such as in coral
reef formation, extend the adjacent possible by: - Increasing the carrying capacity of the local environment,
- Providing opportunities to Flows of different kinds are essential to the operation of complex adaptive systems (CAS).control flows and capture and leverage outsize access to resources,
Example flows are outlined. Constraints on flows support the emergence of the systems. Examples of constraints are discussed.
- Enabling This page discusses the effect of the network on the agents participating in a complex adaptive system (CAS). Small world and scale free networks are considered.network effects, including extended memetic mixing, added opportunities for agents in adjacent regions and
This page discusses the benefits of geographic clusters of agents and resources at the center of a complex adaptive system (CAS).geographic clustering,
- Competitive interactions pressuring the combatants to This page reviews the strategy of setting up an arms race. At its core this strategy depends on being able to alter, or take advantage of an alteration in, the genome or equivalent. The situation is illustrated with examples from biology, high tech and politics.respond schematically to each other's adaptations.
- Recycling of resources and
agents into adjacent niches.
This page discusses the impact of random events which once they
occur encourage a particular direction forward for a complex
adaptive system (CAS).
frozen
accidents will also ensure that the situation will evolve
in a totally unique way. So schematic fitness seems to depend both on the specific environmental opportunities, and the specific ordered actions of the current set of adapting agents and a landscape metaphor should be used with caution.
The application of fitness functions by
Plans change in complex adaptive systems (CAS) due to the action of genetic
operations such as mutation, splitting and recombination.
The nature of the operations is described.
genetic
algorithms to This page discusses the mechanisms and effects of emergence
underpinning any complex adaptive system (CAS). Key research is
reviewed.
emergent
environments certainly requires careful scrutiny. It
utilizes desired target values of selected capabilities to
represent fitness. Schemata controlling agents which most
closely meet those targets in any particular generation are
selected to develop subsequent generations. Due to the
testing of multiple offspring and the representation of many
parts of the fitness landscape within each schematic string
selection will drive subsequent generations to increasingly
match the target capabilities. The evolutionary process applied to generations of competing agents will select for optimum competitive use of accessible niches. However, the genetic algorithm leverages the designer's choices of capabilities and target values to explore the fitness landscape. Evolution, in contrast, must use the schematically associated collection of tools available to agents, and the evolved relationship between these and the environment that the agents exist in. With these evolution supports competition in indirectly forcing adjacent possibilities into becoming accessible opportunities. Evolution's genetic operators probe the nature of the tool set and environment, and are supported in the search by the constraining nature of the changes operators can make to the schematic strings.
Adaptive agents can successfully tie actions to schematic structures analogous to genetic algorithms when the environment is constrained and
This page discusses the physical foundations of complex adaptive
systems (CAS). A small set of
rules is obeyed. New [epi]phenomena then emerge. Examples are
discussed.
rules are
known. It is also important that the parallel search
amplification of genetic algorithms be present. Evolving with an adapted environment
Early complex adaptive system ( This page introduces the complex adaptive system (CAS) theory
frame. The theory is positioned relative to the natural
sciences. It catalogs the laws and strategies which
underpin the operation of systems that are based on the
interaction of emergent agents.
John Holland's framework for representing complexity is outlined. Links to other key aspects of CAS theory discussed at the site are presented.
CAS)
agents would be formed from a limited schematic database.
The schematic building blocks of proteins, a relatively long chain (polymer) of peptides. Shorter chains of peptides are termed polypeptides. are 20 amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The 20 main variants differ by the nature of their side chain. Some are positively charged, others negatively charged. Some are water seeking while others are fat seeking. The genetic code mapping of DNA base pair triplets thus specifies the primary sequence of amino-acids in any protein polymer. John Holland's framework for representing complexity is outlined. Links to other key aspects of CAS theory discussed at the site are presented.
associated by translation is the process where messenger m-RNA is cross coded by Ribosomal agents and t-RNA into an amino-acid polymer. with the 61 active triplets of the genetic code (DNA), a polymer composed of a chain of deoxy ribose sugars with purine or pyrimidine side chains. DNA naturally forms into helical pairs with the side chains stacked in the center of the helix. It is a natural form of schematic string. The purines and pyrimidines couple so that AT and GC pairs make up the stackable items. A code of triplets of base pairs (enabling 64 separate items to be named) has evolved which now redundantly represents each of the 20 amino-acids that are deployed into proteins, along with triplets representing the termination sequence. Chemical modifications and histone binding (chromatin) allow cells to represent state directly on the DNA schema. To cope with inconsistencies in the cell wide state second messenger and evolved amplification strategies are used.
.
The limited set of triplets constrains mutational events to triplet deletions, triplet additions, codon, a DNA triplet that represents a specific amino-acid, or termination sequence of the genetic code.
replacements as well as missense replications. So the mutational operator is well-defined and limited in scope.
The 20 amino acids, deployed by the translation is the process where messenger m-RNA is cross coded by Ribosomal agents and t-RNA into an amino-acid polymer. of the DNA (DNA), a polymer composed of a chain of deoxy ribose sugars with purine or pyrimidine side chains. DNA naturally forms into helical pairs with the side chains stacked in the center of the helix. It is a natural form of schematic string. The purines and pyrimidines couple so that AT and GC pairs make up the stackable items. A code of triplets of base pairs (enabling 64 separate items to be named) has evolved which now redundantly represents each of the 20 amino-acids that are deployed into proteins, along with triplets representing the termination sequence. Chemical modifications and histone binding (chromatin) allow cells to represent state directly on the DNA schema. To cope with inconsistencies in the cell wide state second messenger and evolved amplification strategies are used.
schematic string, indirectly associate the plan with chemical, molecules obtain chemical properties from the atoms from which they are composed and from the environment in which they exist. Being relatively small they are subject to phenomena which move them about, inducing collisions and possibly reactions with other molecules. AWF's Smiley simulates a chemical environment including associating the 'molecule' like strings with codelet based forces that allow the strings to react based on their component parts, sequence etc. and physical
This page discusses the physical foundations of complex adaptive
systems (CAS). A small set of
rules is obeyed. New [epi]phenomena then emerge. Examples are
discussed.
phenomena. The
translation process is limited to building blocks that can be
directly, or indirectly specified by the schematic string, and
yet it extends the forces associated with the schemata more
broadly. - The amino acid variable side chain introduces variations in polarity, charge (acid and base), shape and size.
- The peptide bond links two amino-acids together by their C and N terminals. It orients the side chains. The resulting polymer has vast degrees of freedom that become limited by the specific side chains that are deployed. So the DNA sequence mapped through the genetic code is able to generate a vast variety of chemically different poly peptides. Evolutionarily retained variants include alpha helix, beta sheets, beta bends and many active site structures which in aggregate have proven to be excellent structural and enzymatic building blocks.
introduces the planar trans configuration, and main chain hydrogen bonding, there are different types of chemical bonds. Ionic bonds stabilize two oppositely charged ionized atoms when the negative atom gives up an electron to the positively charged atom. Covalent bonds stabilize the two reactants when they adopt a more stable structure with electrons shared between them. Hydrogen bonds stabilize charged groups when they are surrounded by water molecules. In Copycat codelets can bond two Workspace objects together. In the Smiley implementation a bondbuilder adds a bonding descriptor to one of the objects bonding it to the other.
to enable alpha helices provides a structural building block (a helical tube) that can be conserved and used by natural selection. , parallel and anti-parallel beta sheet provides a structural building block (a sheet with consistent electrical and physical properties) that can be conserved and used by natural selection. , and beta bends, provides a structural building block (a turn) that can be conserved and used by natural selection.
, and exclusion of water molecules, multiple atoms bonded together. The physical and chemical phenomena associated with the molecule such as charge, size, shape, and potential energy reflect the constituent atoms, the types of bonds between them and the topology of the bonding. Charged molecules dissolve in aqueous solutions (water). Uncharged molecules dissolve in lipid bilayers. from otherwise non-polar environments.
The competitive development of schematically defined cooperative structures with phenotypic value such as
This page reviews the strategy of setting up an arms race. At its
core this strategy depends on being able to alter, or take
advantage of an alteration in, the genome
or equivalent. The situation is illustrated with examples
from biology, high tech and politics.
substrate
complementary enzyme active sites results directly from
the genetic operations. Each addition of new structure
potentially extended the environment and schematically reachable
possibilities. The presence of phenomenologically active building blocks that can be built up, with incorporated free energy, and torn down, with release of energy, by agents constructed from the same building blocks supports the efficient development of platforms, and
The complex adaptive system (CAS)
nature of a value delivery system is first introduced. It's a network
of agents acting as relays.
The critical nature of hub agents and the difficulty of altering an aligned network is reviewed.
The nature of and exceptional opportunities created by platforms are discussed.
Finally an example of aligning a VDS is presented.
value chains as described
above. The critical nature of hub agents and the difficulty of altering an aligned network is reviewed.
The nature of and exceptional opportunities created by platforms are discussed.
Finally an example of aligning a VDS is presented.
Strategic clustering
Inspecting the grab bag of mechanisms and how these are deployed so creatively, in biology, to leverage specific niche opportunities gains some credence from the recurrence of This page looks at schematic structures
and their uses. It discusses a number of examples:
As a working example it presents part of the contents and schematic details from the Adaptive Web Framework (AWF)'s operational plan.
Finally it includes a section presenting our formal representation of schematic goals.
Each goal has a series of associated complex adaptive system (CAS) strategy strings.
These goals plus strings are detailed for various chess and business examples.
schematic goals, such as: - Schematic ideas are recombined in creativity.
- Similarly designers take ideas and rules about materials and components and combine them.
- Schematic Recipes help to standardize operations.
- Modular components are combined into strategies for use in business plans and business models.
As a working example it presents part of the contents and schematic details from the Adaptive Web Framework (AWF)'s operational plan.
Finally it includes a section presenting our formal representation of schematic goals.
Each goal has a series of associated complex adaptive system (CAS) strategy strings.
These goals plus strings are detailed for various chess and business examples.
Flows of different kinds are essential to the operation of
complex adaptive systems (CAS).
Example flows are outlined. Constraints on flows support the emergence of the systems. Examples of constraints are discussed.
control of flows, Example flows are outlined. Constraints on flows support the emergence of the systems. Examples of constraints are discussed.
This page discusses the effect of the network on the agents participating in a complex
adaptive system (CAS). Small
world and scale free networks are considered.
network effects, This page discusses the benefits of geographic clusters of agents and resources at the center of a complex adaptive
system (CAS).
geographic clustering; at each level
of emergent agent. While the structures, phenomena and mechanisms change the goals are often similar. But the dynamics and partitioning used by real agents, challenges the scientist's techniques. The use of computer models that reflect schematic cascades, partitioning and control of flows can support the understanding of real agent's operating strategies.
The state space of real agents is represented in the aggregate schematic structures, schematic controls and deployed infrastructure controls. Computer programmed models demand accurate control of the state system to function at all so they can help reject impossible scenarios from the alternatives scientists are struggling to rationalize. The performance of real agents is also typically critical so
Representing state in emergent entities is essential but
difficult. Various structures are used to enhance the rate
and scope of state transitions. Examples are
discussed.
the management of state is constrained by
the requirement to respond in a timely manner.
Additionally real agents must This page reviews the catalytic
impact of infrastructure on the expression of phenotypic effects by an
agent. The infrastructure
reduces the cost the agent must pay to perform the selected
action. The catalysis is enhanced by positive returns.
amplify
significant signals so that they ensure to transform the
collective state representation of the agent. The presence of amplified second messengers, provide an amplified form of signals within a cell. Since cells need to stabilize their overall state with many operations happening in parallel second messengers are useful in clarifying the signals effect. The second messenger strategy is seen repeatedly in CAS including: neuro-transmitter guidance signals such as dopamine distribution in the brain, corporate positioning email messages in response to new situations, newspaper articles aligning the population; provides this service. However, it means that a specific agent must have its
Representing state in emergent entities is essential but
difficult. Various structures are used to enhance the rate
and scope of state transitions. Examples are
discussed.
deployed
infrastructure pre allocated to the required response of
the initiating signal. Hence multi agent systems have a
multitude of similar infrastructure, from the evolved grab bag,
configured for the specific responses particular agents are
responsible for. Aggregate analysis, ignoring the
distributed deployment, just ends up with a bewildering
collection of similar infrastructure apparently responding to
the same second messengers. The schematic structures operations are also likely to be far more
To benefit from shifts in the environment agents must be flexible. Being
sensitive to environmental signals
agents who adjust strategic priorities can constrain their
competitors.
flexible than initially
conceived by geneticists. Inspection of the operation of a
computer program, such as the This page describes the Adaptive Web framework (AWF) test system
and the agent programming framework (Smiley) that supports its
operation.
Example test system statements are included. To begin a test a test statement is loaded into Smiley while Smiley executes on the Perl interpreter.
Part of Smiley's Perl code focused on setting up the infrastructure is included bellow.
The setup includes:
Adaptive
web framework (AWF) test infrastructure, which utilizes Example test system statements are included. To begin a test a test statement is loaded into Smiley while Smiley executes on the Perl interpreter.
Part of Smiley's Perl code focused on setting up the infrastructure is included bellow.
The setup includes:
- Loading the 'Meta file'
specification,
- Initializing the Slipnet,
and Workspaces and loading them
- So that the Coderack can be called.
This page discusses how Smiley
provides deployment guarantees to its agent-based
applications.
Smiley's transaction services are reviewed.
The complex interactions of codelets participating in a deployment cascade are discussed including:
Tools to associate transaction protection to an operon deployed codelet are described.
Special support for sub-program codelets is described. Completion of transactional sub-programs presents special challenges.
Priority and synchronization support includes:
The use of signals to coordinate siblings is described.
The structural binding operon for the wait and relay service is included.
The codelets and supporting functions are included.
schematic cascades, partitioning and
control of flows indicates that there is little benefit to
sticking with one process. The evolutionary grab bag (epi-genetic
structures represent state surfaces within cells and eggs which can be operationally modified so as to provide a heritable structure. DNA, histones and other stable structures provide surfaces where these states may be setup. Egg carriers are in a particularly powerful position to induce epi-genetic changes. Smiley's transaction services are reviewed.
The complex interactions of codelets participating in a deployment cascade are discussed including:
- The implementation of schematic switches.
- The cooperative use of goal suppression.
- Evaluator codelets promotion
of other siblings.
Tools to associate transaction protection to an operon deployed codelet are described.
Special support for sub-program codelets is described. Completion of transactional sub-programs presents special challenges.
Priority and synchronization support includes:
- Delaying the
operaton of the cascade sponsor.
- Delaying
the notgcompleting
cascade participant.
- Waiting for completion of parallel operations with the wait and relay service.
The use of signals to coordinate siblings is described.
The structural binding operon for the wait and relay service is included.
The codelets and supporting functions are included.
, proteins, a relatively long chain (polymer) of peptides. Shorter chains of peptides are termed polypeptides. , structural domains, evolution conserves many useful structures including DNA base sequence (content) addressable binding regions, protein active sites and signal structures which can then be reused through the mutation genetic operator.
, RNA (RNA), a polymer composed of a chain of ribose sugars. It does not naturally form into a paired double helix and so is far less stable than DNA. Chains of DNA are converted by transcription into equivalently sequenced messenger m-RNA. RNA also provides the associations that encode the genetic code. Transfer t-RNAs have a site that maps to the codon and match the associated amino-acid. Stuart Kauffman argues that RNA polymers may be the precursor to our current DNA based genome and protein based enzymes. In the adaptive web framework's (AWF) Smiley we use a similar paradigm with no proteins.
and other active structures) will be used when there is advantage in doing so.
 Politics, Economics & Evolutionary Psychology |
Business Physics |
 |
integrating quality appropriate for each market |
This page looks at schematic structures
and their uses. It discusses a number of examples:
As a working example it presents part of the contents and schematic details from the Adaptive Web Framework (AWF)'s operational plan.
Finally it includes a section presenting our formal representation of schematic goals.
Each goal has a series of associated complex adaptive system (CAS) strategy strings.
These goals plus strings are detailed for various chess and business examples.
Strategy |
Design |
- Schematic ideas are recombined in creativity.
- Similarly designers take ideas and rules about materials and components and combine them.
- Schematic Recipes help to standardize operations.
- Modular components are combined into strategies for use in business plans and business models.
As a working example it presents part of the contents and schematic details from the Adaptive Web Framework (AWF)'s operational plan.
Finally it includes a section presenting our formal representation of schematic goals.
Each goal has a series of associated complex adaptive system (CAS) strategy strings.
These goals plus strings are detailed for various chess and business examples.
This page uses an example to illustrate how:
Program Management |
Home
- A business can gain focus from targeting key customers,
- Business planning activities performed by the whole organization can build awareness, empowerment and coherence.
- A program approach can ensure strategic alignment.
Profiles | Papers | Glossary | E-mail us