Small differences can lead to large consequences or change outcomes. A popular example of this is that a butterfly could flap its wings in New York and the next day in Tokyo there will be rain instead of sunshine. This phenomenon is commonly known as the ‘Butterfly Effect’ and it highlights the relationship between minute conditions and ending outcomes within a system. Although interesting, the Butterfly Effect is only a piece in the puzzle of understanding our greater world. A larger piece to the puzzle, but by no means the complete picture, are Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). If the Butterfly Effect represents the relationship in a system, then a CAS is the system itself.

Small differences can lead to large consequences or change outcomes. A popular example of this is that a butterfly could flap its wings in New York and the next day in Tokyo there will be rain instead of sunshine. This phenomenon is commonly known as the ‘Butterfly Effect’ and it highlights the relationship between minute conditions and ending outcomes within a system. Although interesting, the Butterfly Effect is only a piece in the puzzle of understanding our greater world. A larger piece to the puzzle, but by no means the complete picture, are Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). If the Butterfly Effect represents the relationship in a system, then a CAS is the system itself.