Key Vocabulary: Coherence

           Coherence is regarded by many psychologists as critical to day the productivity and effectiveness of individuals.  Both scholars and managers have adapted this belief to the world of management and organizations. Coherence is regarded as a sign of a well-run organization.

           Social Complexity Theory examines the role of coherence and emergence in organizations. The concept of a coherent thought defined as how well an idea holds together as a single entity gradually breaks down as the scale shifts to individuals, groups, and ultimately larger organizations. Adapting to and dealing with emergence is perhaps the most important task facing managers and organizations. Coherence as traditionally defined interferes with that task. By restricting the concept of coherence to measurement against definition (what we call ascribed coherence) managers and organizations implicitly are restricting their ability to deal with the unknown, the uncertain and the emergent.  Social complexity theory includes another form of coherence: emergent coherence.  Emergent coherence is context dependent and is part of the Science II world.