COMPLEXITY IN PRODUCTIONS INTERORGANIZATIONAL OPERATIONS: THEORETICAL REVIEW

Abstract

This paper presents the theoretical review that will be the foundation of future research in search of a method for assessment and eventual control for complexity in interorganizational arrays, like supply-chain and networks. According to a complexity indicator, the management can decide about increasing, reducing or even sustain it, in a strategic perspective. The paper describes and contextualizes the complex thinking in the organizational environment and review perspectives, like the non-linear causation, systemic theory, self-organized systems, information theory, cybernetics, chaos, autopoiesis and dissipative structures. At the end, we present directions for future research in the field.