Decision-making and adaptability: Why complex systems fail

What is the purpose of decision-making? The question may seem trivial, even silly. Perhaps it is. But, in reality, decision-making does have a purpose. One can identify several purposes for it, but fundamentally it is aimed at survival.

This brings us to survival tactics. What does survival require? Let's first establish the basics: food and shelter. Simple. In principle. Admittedly, in practice it isn't always quite so straightforward. In the modern world, and particularly in Western and other affluent countries, obtaining food has been made easy; a quick pop to the local supermarket does the trick.

We rarely have to make an effort to get a meal, unless you count the time it takes to prepare it. Food has, in practice, become a given for us; we don't always appreciate it to the full, and we can even afford to throw it in the bin. This wouldn't happen if food wasn`'t constantly available.

Convenience and constant availability put us on autopilot, causing us to act like robots. Carefree living is a pleasant thing – no stress or fear of running out of food. Modern society is a never-ending buffet table, brimming with delicacies to suit every taste. Most of us are happy to pay for this abundance, as long as someone else does the work: sourcing the ingredients and preparing them for consumption.

When everything is running smoothly and life is a steady routine – with a roof over our heads and a permanent job – there's no need to worry. But what if we lose our job, fall ill or lose all our money in a scam? What are we to do then? Unless we're deliberately trying to die, we have to adapt.

When the buffet table is groaning with delicacies, we've basically got no reason to worry – we're doing just fine. Until we're not. An endless buffet is an illusion and a lie. No one can guarantee an endless supply; besides, it's a very recent phenomenon.

Life a game of constant adaptation

In reality, life is a constant process of adaptation; life cannot run like clockwork – every day is different. Only the most adaptable survive unscathed or with very few knocks. In the bigger picture, adaptation is critical to the survival of the species. The question is this: does the individual choose to adapt or not?

Adaptation – that is, adjusting and changing – is no easy matter, as it requires stepping away from the old and familiar. Under pressure, one either adapts or breaks. There are, in a sense, indestructible substances, such as water; water is, in practice, an incompressible compound, and if it is pressurised sufficiently in a sealed space, it will break through the weakest point of the container.

A person is not like water; a human will break under intense pressure unless she change. A person or a community – which may also be any organisation – may choose not to change; in that case, they choose to absorb the blow rather than move out of the way. Many a storm has sunk ships, so it is not worth staying in the eye of the storm unless you have to.

Humanity's superpower is its ability to adapt; humans are one of the few species that have been able to inhabit every corner of the world, from the poles to the high altitudes. This is why humans are such a successful species, at least if geographical distribution is used as a measure.

Why are humans so adaptable? Two reasons: food and technology. Humans are capable of utilising a wide variety of food sources, which is a great advantage when moving between places and regions. This is why our buffet table can be laden with plant-based fare and animal-derived delicacies. We know of no other species with such a wide-ranging diet – which, of course, varies from region to region – and nowadays we can afford to be choosy about what we eat.

Human have two cutting edge tools for adaptation

Technology is another of humanity's superpowers. No other species produces technology on the same scale as humans. However, humans have had to compensate for their own shortcomings, such as a lack of strength, size, toxicity, insulation against the cold, speed and strong chewing apparatus.

Our instincts and subconscious are constantly seeking ways to adapt to the small changes of everyday life. When it comes to a major change, that ease disappears and is replaced by a sense of letting go. It is clearly self-deception to claim that life and the world are stable – they are not. For this reason, we must be prepared for change, because it is bound to come.

Anything that ties us down stands in the way of adaptation. When your hands are behind your back in handcuffs, your ability to act is significantly restricted. If you're in a locked cage, you're stuck when you should be running; it simply won't work. It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link; a long chain is more likely to contain a weak spot, or several weak spots.

Modern society serves as a good example of this. Why? Modern society is a complex affair; it consists of many long chains, branches and compartments. The basic idea is for a small group at the top to conduct this motley orchestra. There is one small problem with this idea: communication and differing realities.

No orchestra can function if the musicians do not play the same piece in time with one another, that is, in synchronisation. In a large society, there are too many parts that are difficult to control and reach; moreover, the structure attempts to shackle people and rob them of their adaptability and opportunities.

There are numerous examples of this throughout history, and the same pattern seems to repeat itself time and again: something complex is built that cannot be controlled – and which fails to adapt.

Complex structures: The enemy of adaptability

The importance of adaptation is evident everywhere. Society has already been cited as an example of a slow and inflexible giant. Many companies are struggling with profitability and competitiveness; if you want to be competitive, you need to benchmark your own operations against your competitors and adapt to the changing market.

The individual is the most adaptable of all. Why? Because they have the fewest obstacles and shackles around their ankles. Generally speaking, the smaller the unit, the easier it is for it to adapt and react. Responsiveness is essential for adaptation; a large ship turns slowly, and by the time it has turned, it may be too late, as the wind may be blowing from a different direction again.

To summarise: Complex and expansive structures make adaptation slow, even impossible, with disastrous consequences.

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