Open AccessA Different Way to Approach the Future: Using Chaos Theory to Improve Planning
Author(s) -
Cutright Marc
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
to improve the academy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-4822
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-4822.2006.tb00449.x
Subject(s) - chaos (operating system) , chaos theory , metaphor , epistemology , management science , dynamics (music) , computer science , sociology , artificial intelligence , philosophy , economics , computer security , linguistics , pedagogy , chaotic
Strategic planning is a good idea that gets a bad name from dubious efforts carrying the title. Much of this rap comes from half‐hearted exercises, but some of it comes from efforts that founder due to faulty or limited conceptions of how the future “works.” Chaos theory is an alternative approach and metaphor with potential to let us see the future and its dynamics in new ways. Cognizance of chaos's nature and underlying structure might help us do planning in new, non‐intuitive, and more successful ways.