Managing Complexity and Speed of Processes in the Organizations—A Philosophical and Practical Approach

The business challenges of today are managing complexity and the speed of changes with processes and systems since there are continuously new requirements from market, consumers, suppliers, employees, government etc. For example, when product and service innovations are launched on the market, the relevant processes, policies, people, systems, and technologies should have been prepared and set up in advance. Depending on the business sector, the implementation of new processes and systems as well as their continuous improvement can be easy to very complex and of course very costly. Responding to those challenges, there are several methodologies and approaches like Continuous Improvement Process, Lean Management and Kaizen etc. On the other hand, the application of these methodologies to other industries like service and technology companies is not always successful since their conditions and requirements are different than those of manufacturing organizations. Because of these reasons, the management needs to find out （new） ways of working and to implement new solutions in order to master those challenges and problems. This is not always easy and successful. There are different types of solution options that can be applied situational in every organization. Philosophy can help essentially by asking and answering critical questions in order to provide with solution options to reduce the complexity and to increase the speed of processes. There are several proven and new governance concepts, frameworks, and tools which follow their philosophies. This paper demonstrates how those challenges can be responded and managed as well as how a philosophical approach can help primarily to provide with appropriate solutions.

Study on the Complexity of Sustainable Development System and Its Management

Research on the sustainable development system (SDS) and its management by the theory and method of complexity science is very important to coordinate social economic and environmental development. This paper focuses on the features of the SDS, including irreversibility and nonlinearity, openness and strong coupling, dynamic and catastrophe, feedback and controllability. It also studies the complexity of sustainable development management and puts forward several questions needed for thorough study in future.

Laparoscopic surgery for complex and recurrent Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease(CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of digestive tract. Approximately 70% of patients with CD require surgical intervention within 10 years of their initial diagnosis, despite advanced medical treatment alternatives including biologics, immune suppressive drugs and steroids. Refractory to medical treatment in CD patients is the common indication for surgery. Unfortunately, surgery cannot cure the disease. Minimally invasive treatment modalities can be suitable for CD patients due to the benign nature of the disease especially at the time of index surgery. However,laparoscopic management in fistulizing or recurrent disease is controversial. Intractable fibrotic strictures with obstruction, fistulas with abscess formation and hemorrhage are the surgical indications of recurrent CD,which are also complicating laparoscopic treatments.Nevertheless, laparoscopy can be performed in selected CD patients with safety, and may provide better outcomes compared to open surgery. The common complication after laparoscopic intervention is postoperative ileus seems and this may strongly relate excessive manipulation of the bowel during dissection. But additionally, unsuccessful laparoscopic attempts requiring conversion to open surgery have been a major concern due to presumed risk of worse outcomes. However, recent data show that conversions do not to worsen the outcomes of colorectal surgery in experienced hands. In conclusion, laparoscopic treatment modalities in recurrent CD patients have promising outcomes when it is used selectively.

Digital twin-driven complexity management in intelligent manufacturing[version 1;peer review:2 approved]

Complexity management is one of the most crucial and challenging issues in manufacturing.As an emerging technology,digital twin provides an innovative approach to manage complexity in a more autonomous,analytical and comprehensive manner.This paper proposes an innovative framework of digital twin-driven complexity management in intelligent manufacturing.The framework will cover three sources of manufacturing complexity,including product design,production lines and supply chains.Digital twin provides three services to manage complexity:(1)real-time monitors and data collections;(2)identifications,diagnoses and predictions of manufacturing complexity;(3)fortification of human-machine interaction.A case study of airplane manufacturing is presented to illustrate the proposed framework.

From systematicness to complexity: Fundamental thinking of mega-project management

Mega-projects are characterized by their large-scale investments, long life-cycle, and extraordinary levels of organizational, technological, and environmental complexity （Flyvbjerg, 2017）. They are naturally regarded as large, coupled human, and physical systems consisting of coupled sub-systems linked through flows of human, information, and matter; these systems evolve through time （Bakhshi et al., 2016; Kiridena and Sense, 2016）. Not about let systems be, engineering refers to ＂making things happen＂ with convergence, optimum design, and operation consistency （Mihm et al., 2003; Ottino, 2004）. Specially, mega-projects, which are regarded as typically artificial complex systems, are composed of elements with different properties; connections among those elements change invariably. Mega-project management is proposed to analyze and deal with complexity （Sheng, 2018）.

Complex Use of the Water Spring Istog

While living in the century of crisis （of energy and water）, more focus should be given on renewable energy. Since Kosovo is more limited in hydro-energy resources than the neighboring countries, it is essential to study them and put to use more efficiently. Subject of this study is Istog spring as it is the most important spring of Mokra Gora together with Vrella and White Drino. The spring is analyzed as a complex resource on water economy providing： fish （trout）, potable water, water for irrigation and hydro-energy （currently not in function）. The focus of the study remains the hydro-energetic component, not just a revitalization process but as an upgrade of the existing facility to increase the capacity by 2-3 times. This study is based on information selection and processing regarding detailed technical and economic analysis providing a method for other springs that will be studied in the future. Two technical solutions to the problem are provided as the best economical and technical solution. Solution I has one level and a calculated flow of 7.5 m^3/s and consists generally of renovation works on existing facilities; Solution 2 plans the construction of another level 3 m lower than the existing one, increasing so both the hydro-power capacity and implementation cost for the project Both solutions provide little to no impact on the spring main attributes. The valley ecology will not be influenced because the water after HPP （Hydro Power Plant） will be flowing in its own bed. After this study, Istog spring will be more attractive to donors and will contribute in improvement of energetic structure in Kosovo that for the time being is poor in hydro component.

Introducing Sustainability Concepts Into University Curricula Through Systems Thinking

The aim of this paper is to explore the major issues involved in introducing sustainability concepts into university curricula in an interdisciplinary manner, through Systems Thinking. It is generally accepted that a holistic approach is essential in sustainability studies, but teaching such a new and complex topic to a diverse student population is by no means easy. In this study, sustainability is viewed in the context of Systems Thinking, particularly in Complexity Management domain. A general framework is proposed with the intension of guiding potential instructors who are planning to teach sustainability through Systems Thinking. The framework includes only the suggested systems-oriented material and a review of some system methodologies; it does not cover sustainability issues. Methodologies known as System Dynamics and Soft Cybernetics are explored and emphasized particularly in the paper due to their importance. The framework is kept general enough so that it appeals to students and instructors with a variety of background.

Supply chain process optimisation via the management of variance

This paper presents a new optimisation approach for variance within a supply chain management process.The approach is presented by the variance cube of purchasing(VCP)that involves a lean method for variance optimisation,namely the cost and variance driver analysis.The approach focuses on the optimisation and the control of existing process variance within the supply chain.The application of the cube is presented by a case study involving a globally acting Tier 1 supplier,who produces steering systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.In this case,the sourcing process of this Tier 1 supplier will be analysed,evaluated and optimised regarding variance.The variance is presented in the form of the number of suppliers who are involved in the sourcing process.Unnecessary existing process variance,like an unnecessary huge number of suppliers within the sourcing process,is a type of waste.Time,money,quality and technology can be saved through a greater understanding of the optimal number of suppliers within a sourcing process.The results of the case study led to a generalised method to optimise the existing process variance,present cost improvements as well as optimising the key performance indicator to manage the number of suppliers in the sourcing process.The general approach can be used for other company departments like logistics and for different industries other than automotive.The insights of this article support the operative user and the strategic company management in order to reduce and improve unnecessary variance in different sections.The structured analysis of supply chain process variance via the VCP and the key performance indicator“optimal supplier number per sourcing process”are new to company management.

A Quantitative Description of Complex Adaptive System:The Self-Adaptive Mechanism of the Material Purchasing Management System Towards the Changing Environment

This paper demonstrates a new interpretation of the material purchasing management system(MPMS) from the perspective of complex adaptive systems(CAS).Within the framework of CAS,the authors design the self-adaptive mechanism of the MPMS responding to the changing environment,such as the change of the price,by using risk measurement theory,modern portfolio theory(MPT) and the information of the material's modifying priority.As a bottom-up systems view,CAS focuses on the individual level and studies system's overall complexity by analyzing the mutual competition and adaptation among the individuals.This paper demonstrates a quantitative description of CAS by discussing the MPMS which can be viewed as a kind of CAS,and makes numerical simulations of Daqing oilfield MPMS.Compared to the benchmarks,the authors set the simulations show that the self-adaptive mechanism adapts well to the change of the material's market price.Hence,this paper accomplishes a numerical simulation of CAS's quantitative self-adaptive mechanism responding to the environment's change.